Annie B., Made for TV

April 15, 2018
Can "almost-always" best friends get through a rough patch to become "always-always" best friends?Annie Brown is a writer/inventor ("wrinventor," according to her wordsmith dad) who writes commercials for products she invents. Her "wrinventions" include Apology Armor ("the kneepads you wear on the days you have to say sorry") and the Fishlight (a tankless, waterless, and, critically, live-fish-less aquarium that hangs on the wall, inspired by her little brother's unfortunate curiosity about his pet fish's squish factor.) However, as sidekick to Savannah Summerlyn, the girl who is "the best at everything," Annie spends a lot of time in the background. Annie's opportunity to use her "made-for-TV commercial voice" to showcase her commercial-writing talent comes when she auditions to host The Cat's Meow, a local web show. But Savannah steals Annie's audition and wins the spot. Can their friendship survive, or will they become never-again best friends? Annie's first-person narration is hilariously astute. About the school mascot, the quail, she muses, "When you play another school in basketball, you don't want to be the bird that gets eaten." Annie's friend Jake Ramirez's surname implies he's Latino, but all other characters are assumed white.Readers graduating from Junie B. to lengthier stories will find a new book-friend in Annie B. (Fiction. 8-12)

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April 16, 2018
On the last day of fifth grade, when her best friend Savannah wins every award, Annie muses, “the only thing I’m best at is being the friend of someone who is always the best at everything.” The engagingly impulsive narrator sells herself short: when it comes to imagination and creative wordplay, Annie has no match. Her passion is writing faux TV commercials, touting devices of her own invention, leading her chipper writer father to dub her a “wrinventor”). Featuring amusing alliteration, the ads that constantly pop into Annie’s head—and out of her mouth—include the “Zippity Zoom,” a time machine that erases mortifying moments (of which she has many). The girl’s fanciful free association unleashes a stream of thoughts and observations—and a mercurial flux of emotions, especially when Savannah becomes besties with another classmate and beats Annie out for the coveted role of announcer in a school production. But Dixon (Maurice the Unbeastly) brings her debut middle grade novel to a reassuring close, as Annie is assigned a role that lets her find her voice, lose her bitterness, and announce perhaps her most useful invention ever: the “Friendship Fixer.” Ages 8–12. Agent: Laura Biagi, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency.

May 1, 2018

Gr 3-5-Annie and her "sometimes best friend" Savannah are auditioning for a chance to be on a new children's TV show, The Cat's Meow. Annie's dad calls her a "wrinventor," a writer and inventor, because ideas for quirky products pop into her head in moments of crisis, along with the advertisements to accompany them. Her inventions include an air freshener necklace for masking revolting school cafeteria smells and sticky buttons that wearers can twist off and on in times of stress. Unfortunately, Annie doesn't always recognize her own gifts and often compares herself to Savannah, who has just won the Heart of the Quail Award for best student. Dealing with themes of self-acceptance and jealousy, Dixon's story keeps the drama firmly in the middle grade range. Sophisticated readers may find the plot light and the humor corny; Annie's dad makes up words like "confusometrics" and "fantabulous," and her teacher wears funny hats in class. Illustrations and cover art suggest a younger audience than the age of the protagonist. VERDICT A light and humorous story that will be best received by younger middle grade readers seeking gentler fare than "The Dork Diaries."-Sarah Webb, City and Country School Library, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
Grades 3-6 As 11-year-old Annie Brown sees it, the only thing I'm best at is being the friend of someone who is always the best at everything. But while her BFF Savannah may be the star athlete and straight-A student, it's Annie who has the creative mind. A fan of the As Seen on TV ads, she crafts amusing fake products?like Dental D�cor (aka braces) and FishLight, a tankless aquarium for those who like the ambiance but can't seem to keep fish alive. When Annie hears about a local web show auditioning talented kids, she's sure she's finally found her niche. But when Savannah tags along, Annie's best-laid plans are foiled. Thematically speaking, debut author Dixon mines the familiar middle-grade territory of friendship woes. But Annie's narration is so irrepressible, genuine, and laugh-out-loud funny that she's sure to carve out an audience with young readers who will see their own struggles with mediocrity reflected in the story. Short chapters and punchy illustrations make this title accessible for a wide range of readers. Hand to fans of the Dork Diaries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
When TV-obsessed Annie's best friend Savannah--who's not only popular, pretty, and smart, but talented, too--wins a starring role in a local web show, their friendship is suddenly at risk. Annie is jealous, and not even her habit of making up commercials for imaginary made-for-TV products brings her joy. An amiable if typical growing-up narrative is interspersed with Annie's humorous television ads.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)