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Parents' Guide to

American Girls

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Riveting tale of runaway discovering Hollywood underbelly.

Book Alison Umminger Coming of Age 2016
American Girls Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

tobier
tobier Adult
July 21, 2016
age 13+

Thought-provoking

This is a very gritty and real sort of book. If you're looking for good role models, go elsewhere. If you're looking for a happy read, go elsewhere. If you're looking for a book with complex characters and complex situations, this is the book for you. Side note, the main character is kind of bratty and annoying. I saw that as a realistic portrayal of a 15 year old, but be warned if that sort of thing gets on your nerves.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Anna's home life in Atlanta isn't going so great. Her parents recently divorced, her mom has a new wife, her dad took off for Mexico, she's being forced to change schools for her senior year, and her mom's way more into her new baby son than she is into Anna. Fed up, Anna decides to steal her stepmom's credit card number and run off to Los Angeles, where she'll be far away from her problems. The trouble is, she doesn't realize that she brings her emotional baggage with her everywhere she goes. While in L.A., Anna stays with her sister Delia, a struggling actress. With no money, no job, and no car, Anna ends up spending her days on the sets of movies and TV shows, eventually getting a gig researching the female followers of Charles Manson. This research and her exposure to the seamy side of Hollywood fame open her eyes to her own relationships and issues. Will she be another one of the lost AMERICAN GIRLS, like the washed-up starlets and Manson women? Her challenge is to try to figure out how to fix her life and move forward into adulthood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

With this smart, funny, and intriguing look at the teen-to-adult transition, author Alison Umminger takes on important themes. American Girls addresses family issues, bullying, the desire to be loved, and the value of women in a looks-obsessed world. The only drawback is that Umminger tries to work in too many ideas, and some of the connections she weaves are a little tenuous and tangled, even though the themes are solid. Anna's research into the Manson Family and their crimes is intriguing but not well realized. Through this research and first-hand exposure to the Hollywood machinery, Anna's eyes are opened to the way women are treated in America. The book raises many interesting questions: How do women end up following someone like Manson? How do women who are beautiful trade on it, and how do they cope when that particular currency doesn't hold as much value as they age? What are the side effects of thinking that feelings of self-worth come from being beautiful? Why does the media make stars out of someone like Charles Manson but leave his victims as footnotes?

Anna can be an infuriating main character. She's sarcastic and funny but in denial about how many unfavorable traits she shares with her mom and sister. It's satisfying to see her wake up to her own behaviors and what goes on in the celebrity culture she finds herself in. Umminger has a good ear for teen dialogue and does a great job of balancing the heavier themes with some teen fun, such as meeting and befriending teen TV stars.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about teen stars and celebrity culture. How do you feel about the way the media and the public obsess about stars? How do you think these stars feel when they're "last week's news"? Do you buy into media coverage of celebrities?

  • Many news stories, movies, and books focus on the lives of psychopaths and killers, such as Charles Manson, but not nearly as much attention is given to their victims. Why do you think this is?

  • Have there been times when you had to take responsibility for your actions? Or times when you had to admit your part in a problem, even though the other person was partially at fault, too? Was this a learning experience for you going forward?

Book Details

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