CONFESSION OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN BY DYAN SHELDON

The book that I would like to review this month is 'Confession of Teenage Drama Queen' Mary "Lola" Cep is a 15-year-old girl who grew up in New York City and wants desperately to be a famous Broadway actress. Lola narrates the story. Much to her annoyance, she moves with her family to the suburbs of Dellwood, New Jersey, but she confidently tells the readers, "A legend is about to be born. That legend would be me."

At school, Lola makes friends with an unpopular girl named Ella Gerard, who shares her love for the rock band Sidarthur. Lola idolizes the band's lead singer Stu Wolff . She also meets Sam, a cute boy who takes a liking to her, and makes enemies with Carla Santini, the most popular girl in school.

THE NOVEL

The most interesting event of this story is at the part where Lola and Ella decided to attend Stu Wolff's concert to outwit her nemesis Carla. As Lola's mother had already cut her pocket money she had to gain it by doing chores for her neighbours. Finally, She managed to safe enough money. But unfortunately, the ticket was sold off. Lola found a way to go to the concert by buying tickets from a scalper. On way to New York, Ella lost the money in the train and their plan to sneak in the concert ended with failure. Lola and Ella finally give up and walk through the city to Stu's after-show party. When they get there, Stu stumbles drunkenly out of the building and passes out in an alley. The two girls take him to a diner to sober him up, but he gets in trouble and they end up at a police station, where Lola gives her father's New York City address.

At this point, Lola's dishonesty becomes a problem. When she met Ella, she tried to impress her by telling her a dramatic story about her father dying years earlier. Ella highly values honesty, so she becomes infuriated when she discovers that Lola's story was a lie. After Lola's father arrives and they explain what happened, Stu gratefully takes them all back to the party, where Ella forgives Lola for lying and the two girls see Carla, who sees them as well and looks upset. Lola talks with Stu about his work, but is disappointed to discover that he is a drunk.

DYAN SHELDON

Back at school, Carla humiliates Lola by denying that she saw Lola or Ella at the party and calling Lola a liar. None of the other students believe Lola's story about being arrested with Stu and leaving her necklace at his house.

Afterward, Lola goes home, depressed, and refuses to perform in a  play where she was chosen as the main character, but she is spurred on by Ella's encouragement and arrives backstage just in time to prevent Carla from taking over her part. As she is about to go on stage, her mother wishes her good luck and finally calls her by her nickname "Lola". The modernist interpretation of Pygmalion (Eliza Rocks) ensues. After a great performance that brings a standing ovation, the cast goes to an after-party at Carla's house, where Stu arrives to see Lola. Carla tries to save herself from humiliation by saying he is there to see her, but is proved wrong when Stu gives Lola her necklace in front of everyone. As Carla's lies become apparent, she backs away from the crowd on the verge of tears and falls into a fountain, greeted by everyone's laughter. In a conciliatory gesture, Lola helps her up, and Carla accepts defeat.

By,

Priiya Paramasivam

4 Cergas

1st April 2014