True to Your Selfie

by Megan McCafferty

Overview

The most hilarious, charming, realistic story of middle-grade friendships you'll ever read, from Megan McCafferty, the mega bestselling, beloved author of Sloppy Firsts.

Twelve-year-old Ella has everything she needs to take seventh grade by storm, from the perfect outfit to the perfect new best friend. She's still not 100% sure why cool, confident Morgan has chosen Ella to be her newest sidekick, but Ella is flattered by the attention, even if it means giving up some of the things she's always loved, like fantasy novels . . . and her former best friend, Sophie. Ella feels a little guilty about ditching Sophie, but middle school is no laughing matter, and Ella knows that it'll be safer in popular Morgan's shadow than by Sophie's side.But life as Morgan's best friend is trickier than Ella imagined. Everything has to be perfect, from their "on brand" selfies to the videos they record of them singing. And the more demanding Morgan becomes, the more Ella starts to wonder if she made the right choice. But Sophie already has a new best friend, leaving Ella feeling more alone and out of place than ever.So when Ella discovers a new activity that she's really good at — a hopelessly dorky sport that Morgan has forbidden her from pursuing, Ella has to ask herself what matters more: popularity . . . or staying true to herself? But does she even know who she really is without loyal Sophie by her side?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338296990
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	02/04/2020
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	1,145,305
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

12/09/2019

In this middle grade story of a mean girl and her social media syndicate, when wealthy, popular Morgan selects Ella to be her BFF and brand partner, 12-year-old Ella dumps her bestie, Sophie, and her favorite fantasy series. Morgan is fully in charge of #Morgan&Ella (“What’s good for you is good for me is good for Morgan & Ella”). And though Ella finds it stressful to embody Goofball Goddess (her assigned role in the duo)—as well as play ukulele and sing backup on the covers she and Morgan perform—she’s intent on keeping her friend happy. But Ella’s actions (inadvertently losing her smartphone, for example) frequently annoy Morgan, who begins bullying Sophie, and Ella’s single mother becomes bothered by her daughter’s attitude and social media obsession. Ella discovers a love of fencing—which is quickly prohibited by her counterpart—and must decide what her priorities really are. Though it is unclear why Ella tolerates Morgan’s cruelty for so long when she doesn’t seem to enjoy the popularity it affords her, McCafferty (the Jessica Darling series) effectively captures tween speak and the allure of social media while exposing its inauthenticity. 8–12. Agent: Heather Schroder, Compass Talent. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for True to Your Selfie:

"A quick, entertaining read for fans of frenemy fiction." — Kirkus Reviews

"This current and relatable novel will resonate with middle school readers, especially those who have felt the pressure to create a perfect social media presence." — School Library Journal

"McCafferty effectively captures tween speak and the allure of social media while exposing its inauthenticity." — Publishers Weekly

Praise forMegan McCafferty:

"Such a sharp, funny, poignant heroine, with an inner world we can all relate to. I love it." — Sophie Kinsella, author of the New York Times bestselling Shopaholic series

"Megan McCafferty rocks! Her sharp wit and keen satirical eye make her books automatic must-reads." — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series

"Jessica is a captivating, intelligent, acidly funny-but always believably adolescent-narrator who is unsparing in her sketches of Pineville High 'society' yet touchingly alive to her own vulnerabilities. Though the happy ending seems targeted to a YA crowd, adults will also enjoy Jessica's winning observations." —Publishers Weekly

"Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker." — Wall Street Journal

"McCafferty looks at travails with humor as well as heart." — People

Praise forSloppy Firsts:

An ALA Top 10 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

An ALA Popular Paperback

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Praise for Second Helpings:

Selected for the NYPL list

A Booklist Editor's Pick for a Best Novel of 2003

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

Gr 5–8–Ella and Morgan are not your average 12-year-olds from New Jersey. They have fans and thousands of followers for their social media posts. Morgan, aka Girl Boss, has high hopes for the duo. She makes sure Ella is always ready for the public eye by sending her Morning Must-Dos, paying for makeovers, and choreographing the perfect selfie pose. As the quirky Goofball Goddess, Ella knows how important she is to their brand's success and how lucky she is that the wealthy and influential Morgan has chosen her as a partner. She's committed to their duo, especially if it means following in the footsteps of her idol Riley Quick. This loyalty causes Ella to turn a blind eye to Morgan's bullying and to overlook the fact that she can never be more popular than Morgan without facing backlash. Ella may keep quiet when Morgan picks on her former best friend Sophie, but it's Sophie's voice in her head that continues to remind her of the person she can be without Morgan's influence. Ella has to decide if social media popularity and potential national fame is worth the sacrifice. VERDICT This current and relatable novel will resonate with middle school readers, especially those who have felt the pressure to create a perfect social media presence. A fine purchase for middle school collections needing more contemporary fiction around complicated friendships.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2019-10-13
Mean Girls goes to a New Jersey middle school in the social media age.

Life is perfect as Ella Jane Plaza enters seventh grade. She and her best friend, Morgan Middleton, are the local internet sensation #Morgan&Ella. With more than 10,000 followers on all the best "socials," the duo are on their way to "global multiplatform domination." Maintaining her image as the ukulele-playing "Goofball Goddess" sidekick to Morgan's "Girlboss Goddess Next Door" isn't easy, but as long as Ella does exactly as privileged, spoiled Morgan says, everything is harmonious. When Ella, who's never been particularly good at anything except being epically unorganized, discovers she has a natural aptitude for fencing, she has to hide it from Morgan. Such a "terminally uncute" sport is bad for their brand and will make #Morgan&Ella (but mostly Morgan) look bad. Eventually, Ella, who narrates with sincerity and uncertainty, must decide whether or not to continue being untrue to herself in order to maintain her popularity. Ella knows Morgan is manipulative and cruel (particularly to Ella's nerdy former best friend) but rationalizes Morgan's unkind words and actions as acts of charity and wisdom. Notably, Morgan's meanness isn't explained away as a result of neglectful high-power parents. Olive-skinned Ella is of Mediterranean descent, and Morgan is white; their community is also largely white.

A quick, entertaining read for fans of frenemy fiction. (Fiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews