Backstage Pass - Hardcover

Triana, Gaby

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060560177 ISBN 13: 9780060560171

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004

Synopsis

After moving to Miami, Florida, sixteen-year-old Desert McGraw, whose life as the daughter of a rock star has been anything but normal, determines to make a permanent home for herself and her family--even if it means breaking up the band.

About this title

About the Author

GABY TRIANA is the author of the Haunted Florida series (Island of Bones, River of Ghosts, City of Spells), YA novels Wake the Hollow, Cakespell, and Summer of Yesterday, as well as a contributing author in the upcoming New Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Anthology (2020). Published with HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Entangled, Gaby has also ghostwritten 40+ novels for bestselling authors, won an IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback, and Hispanic Magazine's Good Reads Awards. She writes about ghosts, haunted places, and abandoned locations, and runs the witchy/horror blog, THE WITCH HAUNT. Gaby lives in Miami, FL with her family, dog Chloe, and four cats--Daisy, Mickey Meows, Paris, and the reformed thug/shooting survivor, Bowie.

Reviews

Grade 9-11–Desert McGraw, daughter of aging rocker Flesh, has moved from L.A. to begin 11th grade in a new school in Miami. She desperately tries to avoid her father's fans, who have always used her, and to find real friends, but is uncertain about whom to trust. When she meets Becca, who claims she has "no life," she tries to hide the truth. Eventually, though, Desert tells her despite the risks. Becca worships Flesh, but the girls get past it and begin a fragile friendship. Desert also becomes involved with Liam, a genuinely nice guy. Becca and Liam help her through the difficult affair between her father and her mother's personal assistant. As the school year progresses, Desert's character grows and develops; she begins to write her own songs and discovers her own gifts and comes to rely on herself to solve her problems. When Becca is in trouble and possibly on the brink of suicide, Desert finally comes to terms with her self-centeredness and starts to act like a true friend. Complete with entertaining inner dialogue and honest emotion, Desert's voice is believable and consistent. Snippets of her poetry shed added light on her feelings and perceptions. With its unique look at culture shock, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable read.–Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
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Gr. 6-12. "Let's see how long it takes before the madness begins. Because it will, you know. . . . The fake smiles, the wannabe friends, the can-you-get-me-backstage-passes? I just got here and already I want this to be over with." Sixteen-year-old Desert McGraw is finally getting a chance at a "normal" life. It will be a nice change from traveling the world with her rock star father and manager mother. They settle in Miami so the band can develop a new sound, but Desert finds it hard to let go of her wary ways and trust a new friend and a new love. It takes a few shocks for her to move outside her own head and think about others. A bit predictable, but engaging characters and a glimpse of life in the music biz make this an entertaining read--without the sarcastic edge of the Gossip Girls books. Teens who enjoy Louise Rennison's and Ann Brashare's books will like this one, too. It's sure to be a summer favorite. Cindy Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060560177
• ISBN 13: 9780060560171
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224