I Am the Wallpaper
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Thirteen-year-old Floey Packer feels like she’s always blended into the background. After all, she’s the frumpy younger sister of the Fabulous Lillian, a girl so popular and spontaneous that their house is always packed with a gaggle of admirers. But when Lillian suddenly gets married and heads off on a month-long honeymoon, Floey decides it’s her time to shine. Armed with her trusty diary, some books on Zen philosophy, and a jar of Deep Wild Violet hair dye, Floey embarks on a self-improvement mission—with excellent results. People are finally noticing her, especially the boy who really counts. But then disaster strikes.
Are people noticing Floey because she’s so fabulous—or because her evil cousins posted her diary on the Internet? And how will Floey ever repair the damage?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hughes's energetic first novel recounts the onslaught of disasters occurring to Floey Packer the summer after her seventh grade year. Tired of feeling like "wallpaper, there but barely noticed," when her vivacious sister, soon-to-be-married Lillian is around, the 13-year-old decides to change herself into a "bold, remarkable new Floey. But alas, adapting a brassier look (that includes a black fedora and purple hair) and acting more aggressively doesn't lead to popularity. In fact Floey manages to alienate herself from several people including Calvin, the cute 15-year-old she meets at her sister's wedding, and her best friend, Azra. Ironically enough, what does gain Floey's notice is a Web site devised by her scheming cousins that features a risqu photograph of her as well as segments of her very private diary. When Floey starts getting stares from strangers who have seen the site, it doesn't take long for her to begin wondering if it might be preferable to be invisible after all. Hughes offers a well-orchestrated plot, hilarious scenarios, snappy dialogue and a vulnerable, believable heroine. However, some may question the author's prudence in illustrating how easily and effectively revenge can be carried out through the Internet. Also, it is unclear what if any lessons Floey has learned from her experiences. Ages 10-up.
