Thursday, January 9, 2014

Brendler, Carol. Radio Girl.


Brendler, Carol.  Radio Girl.  Holiday House    2013  202p  ISBN 978-0-8234-2861-8  ms/jr  VG-BN  Historical fiction

Fourteen-year-old Cece dreams of a career as a radio star.  Her father is a professional sound effects man for The Shadow and other radio serials, so Cece is on the inside track to success.  But she gets off to a bumpy start when her mother adamantly refuses to sign her work papers.  When her father finally comes home, relationships are strained, but Cece is oblivious. Her sights are firmly fixed on her goal, and her single-minded determination to succeed leads to mix-ups and misunderstandings that come to a head in the panic surrounding the 1938 radio broadcast of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds.

An engaging cast of characters make this historical fiction
novel an appealing, believable story.  Cece’s drive and ambition are balanced with vulnerability and humor.  Her boy-crazy best friend Bev is funny and capable.  She stands by Cece through thick and thin.  The cameo appearances by radio star Orson Welles provide intriguing glimpses into his career prior to his Hollywood movie fame.

Hopefully, Brendler is penning a sequel.  Readers will want to know what happens next to Cece!       

Summary: Cece’s greatest wish is to be a radio star -- even if she has to go behind her mother’s back to become one!   

Show business-Fiction                                 --Hillary Welliver     

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