Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Influence

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Wild, fast-moving tale of internet fame, fandom, and murder.

Book Sara Shepard , Lilia Buckingham Mystery 2021
Influence Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Back in Minnesota, 16-year-old Delilah and her BFF were always posting to social media, but when they happened on a burning shed and Delilah rushed in to save a puppy trapped inside, the whole thing went viral, giving her an intro to the world of online INFLUENCE. Now that her family's moved to L.A., she's hoping to build on this foundational fame, so she's thrilled to be invited to an exclusive product-fest by Jasmine, a onetime child star, now 18 and an internet mega-celebrity. There she meets Jasmine's equally famous friend Fiona (perfect on the outside, a nervous wreck on the inside) and also the terrifyingly gorgeous Scarlet, who's mean to all of them, pretty much. When one of them gets murdered, the other three are very aware that they all have plenty of motive, so they set out to find the real killer before suspicion falls on them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

This is a wild, fast-moving tale of relationships that aren't what they seem, scheming adults, teens with perfect personas and lots to hide, and a naive 16-year-old who gets caught in the craziness. Internet stardom is all fun, games, glitzy parties, and lucrative endorsements -- until somebody gets killed, leaving several teens with a lot of online Influence scrambling to prove they didn't do it. Here's the moment at the mall where Delilah's mom realizes her daughter has a whole life she knows nothing about:

"They peppered her with questions about how they, too, could become influencers, or Instagram stars, or at least a person who was recognizable at the Grove. Delilah deliberated carefully before answering, aware that her impressionable sister and skeptical mother were listening in. 'I think you should just be exactly who you are,' she said. 'Don't try to fit in a box.'

"'And saving a puppy from a burning shed wouldn't hurt, either,' one of the fans cheered.

"The group blew kisses as they left. Delilah turned to her mom and sister, a triumphant grin on her face. Her mother had her arms crossed, but she didn't seem angry. In fact, Bethany finally looked like she understood the power Delilah held.

"She even looked proud."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about internet celebrities, and their relationship with their fans, as seen in Influence and your own online life. Do you follow anyone famous online? What do you like about following them? Have you met them, or any of their other fans, in the regular world?

  • How would you feel if your whole future, and maybe your family's too, depended on your being able to keep up an act that grew more false by the minute? Could you cope? How?

  • Do you think it would be fun to be an influencer? Or, are you one already, and speaking from experience?

  • How do you know whether or not to believe what you see on social media? Or do you care whether it's true or not?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate