Starring Jules: As Herself

Starring Jules #1

by Beth Ain, Anne Keenan Higgins (Illustrator)

Lights! Camera! Action! A hilarious chapter book debut from a fabulous new talent!
Things to Know About Me

by Jules Bloom
1. I am a scrambled-eggs-and-chocolate-milk type person.

2. I have an audition for a TV commercial (which would be great if I were a tall-icy-drink type person.)

3. I am in between best friends right now.

4. I am worried that the audition will be a disaster. (See #1 and #3!)

Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up....

Genres: Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor, Childrens, Middle Grade, Juvenile

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

I was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but I got to grow up in Allentown, PA, where I lived across the street from my best friend, rode bikes after school, and got wet to my ankles in the creek in my neighborhood, trying to save frogs from being swept away.
Then some things like junior high and high school happened and I was a cheerleader and a soccer player and a math-homework-avoider and a soap-opera watcher and an inventor of crazy-delicious after school snacks, and I was all kinds of other junior high and high school things. And then, I was lucky enough to go away to college, near the great city of Boston, Massachusetts where I learned a lot and met loads of interesting people and where I made very good friends with a lot of people from New York who dragged me back to New York City with them and well, that was the end of that.
I fell in love with NYC (it took a while but then wow! did I love it), and I met my husband there, and I found my career there, and I had my kids there. And now, because I am from Pennsylvania and because there is just something about a small town, I live in the lovely Port Washington, Long Island where New York City is just a hop, skip, and a train ride away (and where it is more appropriate to blast music while transporting children than it is on the Upper West Side—not that I didn’t try).

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little children's book--I don't read a lot of early reader stuff, but this one made me smile. Jules loves digging for worms, making up jingles, and learning new words--and she also has a hard time paying attention. She's much younger than the narrators I'm used to (she's about to turn 8), but the book still deals with some important issues: changing friendships, overcoming fear, and realizing when you're wrong.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grade 4 teacher bopped into my office and asked for books on peer pressure that were easy to read. Perhaps a picture book? she asked hopefully. I looked at her slack jawed and mumbled, "Er....ah....um...." She laughed as I pointed to my head and sputtered, "...Brain dead." Seems to happen quite a bit this time of year. Today I grabbed this book and HOORAH! it is exactly what she was asking for - okay it's not a picture book - but I read it in 1 hour. Yepperoo, I think it might work! Do you know what I love to do but find it can be like untangling a knot in a gold chain? Recommending books to small, medium, and tall-sized people. This time of year I feel like an auctioneer with all the book requests piling on my shoes. So step right up folks... this book is a winner! I guarantee it will make you want to sit down with Jules and have a fizzy ice-cream cone, her creative name for blasting air through a straw into a glass full of milk.

Jule's high energy is "lovely" and her tomboyish attitude make for an unpredictable character and plot. Charlotte, her ex-best friend, went to a fancy-shmancy hotel and came back with two new friends and wearing sparkling clothes and lip gloss. Jules wants to make swimming pools for worms so it's easy to see why the two are not getting along. When a new girl, Elinor, shows up from London, the two girls pressure Elinor to be her friend. Charlotte tends to put down Jules and make others laugh at her and when Elinor sticks up for Jules as others are being mean to her, it makes Jules feel good inside.

The friendship lost between Jules and Charlotte is complex and while the two have grown apart they have not quite given up on each other. When Jules has the opportunity to audition for a commercial and panics because of what she has to do,she seeks the help of a reluctant Charlotte, whom she knows can help her. While Charlotte has more or a mouth on her, Jules isn't always nice to others either, and when her fears of losing her new friend make her act paranoid and mean toward Elinor she has to learn to apologize and make things right or lose her new friend. This story captures the complexities of learning how to make, keep, and release friends.

The message of tolerance toward others who are different is also addressed in the secondary character of Teddy. He loves chemistry and calls Jules, "Julesium." Charlotte can't stand Teddy because he is so odd, but there are hints that she is also jealous of the friendship between Jules and Teddy. They spend time digging worms at recess and seem to have fun together. Teddy also sounds like he is ADHD when first introduced, "To me Teddy is kind of like a bouncing Super Ball. The kind that bounces so high and crazy you have to cover your head once you've let it go just so it doesn't hit you when you aren't looking."

While Teddy acts and sounds like a seven-year-old, I didn't think Jules did. She sounds more like an 8 or 9 year old. Her relationships with the others is too mature developmentally, but it doesn't take away from enjoying the book. The humor reminds me of a female version of Stink or the melodramatic Anne of Green Gables when she was a tot. The writing is terrific and shows how Jules feels awkward about growing up. The brother is comic relief and the parents give sound advice keeping situations light and manageable with their drama queen. I love when the mom laughs at her fizzy ice-cream cone then says, "Now stop it." The right mix of Jules pushing things to the limit and a parent reigning her in give her experiences authenticity.

Jules writes lists and words are defined to help the reader. While this common trope found in children's realistic fiction can be tiring at times, I thought the author cleverly worked word definitions into the storyline. I particularly like how Jules learns what "primo" and "Roma" mean through meeting Elinor and hearing her father use the word often. I've been getting a bit tired of reading a book where the protagonist or some young kid looks up words in the dictionary and I appreciated Ain's creative efforts at helping young readers define words by weaving it into characters' actions.

Maybe I should book talk this novel by demonstrating to 4th graders a fizzy ice-cream cone. What a heckuva an attention grabber. I like it. Maybe I'll auction it. Howdy folks, step right up and get your fizzy cone. Ten dollar bid now, now eleven, will ya' give me eleven? now twelve? twelve? Going, going, gone! Sold for eleven dollars to the young lady in the sparkly shirt who wants a bit 'o fun with Jules and her gang.

Fountas & Pinnell P

[Kaede · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven-going-on-eight year old Jules Bloom has been offered a opportunity of a lifetime. She's been invited by Ms. Kingston, a beautiful lady that randomly came up to her when she was eating in a restaurant with her family, to attend an T.V. commercial audition.

Jules will be competing for the role in a orange mouthwash commercial.

There's just one problem.

Jules Bloom doesn't do oranges.

No, like seriously. Since the throw-up incident from a orange sherbet a long, long time ago, Jules has refused anything orange-related. Orange Tic Tac, orange t-shirts - and orange mouthwash is no exception. But there has to be a way to overcome the horror of oranges, right? (Can you even read that sentence with a straight face? I never thought that oranges could be a legitimate fear o_o...I eat them everyday.)

Just as much as Jules hates oranges though, she loves lists. It's a way she can organize all her feelings on a page, keep track of all the things that fly in and out of her brain, Twitterand she utilizes lists for almost everything. How to overcome her orange problem, reasons why Elinor of London is totally new best friend material, and things to do before she turns eight. So I thought it was only right for me to honor that with a list of my own. So here goes nothing.

Things I Liked:

- The quickness. Being only 160 pages, Starring Jules: As Herself is a fun, easy read for young children.

- The lists. They're a creative, efficient way to bring out more of Jules's feelings, making her a bit more real to the readers. They can also be entertaining.

- The artwork. When you see a book, be it middle grade, young adult, or even adult (are there even adult books with pictures?), with pictures inside, does it draw you? I personally fall prey to books with artwork more often than not, just because they bring an extra something for the story. What of the artwork I saw in the advance readers copy was simple, but a nice addition nonetheless.

- The ABCs. I promise you it's not what you think. The ABCs have nothing to with the alphabet, but rather people. I just thought it was amusing, and so like some people I know.

Things That Could Improve...

- Jules, or the main character. For some reason, Jules didn't exactly scream seven year old to me. She was fun to read about, but then she'd say something and I'd think, "Is this really a seven year old speaking?" I can't quite describe it, but maybe she seemed far too mature for her age? That's not necessarily a bad thing, since I'm often told I'm too mature for my age, but it just seemed...weird?

- The supporting cast. With most of the remainder of the characters that were introduced I had the same problem I had with Jules. I'd be reading, everything going smoothly, and then someone would say something with weird wording and I'd be like, "Wait, what?" And so after a repetition of the same thing happening, over and over again, I've come to the conclusion that:


Sorry, but I can't help you there.

So basically, my one problem with Starring Jules: As Herself is that the characters seemed out of age when speaking. But overall, Beth Levine Ain has created an entertaining middle-grade series starring yours truly; Jules.

If you have a child you're trying to find an appropriate chapter book for, or if you're simply looking for a quick and easy read, you can't go wrong with Starring Jules. I'd recommend it for children who've enjoyed series such as Junie B. Jones, because it gives off the same happy feeling I remember getting when I was younger and read some of the Junie B. Jones books. Junie and Jules are both very fun characters, with vibrant unique personalities that can make them real to young readers.

**An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jules gets spotted by a talent agent whilst out with her family and soon is trying out for a commercial.



The only trouble is between old friends and new ones, dealing with a horrible product to her due to the flavour as she hates it and her crazy family antics, the unexpected happens and Jules realises life can get crazy in seconds as she goes from zero to stardom!



Jules is a funny girl and a fun protagonist to follow the story of a lot of the book set in school is relatable as she tried to make a new best friend as well as juggle school work and auditions like all of us have to juggle hobbies round school too. A quirky personality which shone through the pages as we read makes the book pass quickly but a great start in a new book series!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute story, my 7 year old daughter really enjoyed it even though she didn't think she would like it by looking at the cover. Also, my daughter has the same name as the friend who Jules thinks is being mean and no longer her best friend. So, we had to change the name for the whole book to Zoe per my daughter's request due, my daughter did not like hearing her name applied to that character.

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and thought that the main character, Jules, was fun and creative. I liked how she makes lists and organizes her friends into the "ABC group." My one drawback was the inclusion of astrology in the book though it was a good opportunity to discuss what this means. It's just not a topic I expected to hear...Overall, it was a good book though.

[Toni · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read around to my 4 and 7 year olds, and we thought this sounded like a fun book, but it quickly became apparent that the main characters are not 7 years old. We all quickly lost interest in the friend drama, and with all the list and unrelated self-talk from Jules- my kids definitely had a hard time following what was going on. We didn’t finish.

[Claire Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the way she is good at making jingles and her audition was very good even though she spit out the mouthwash. I also like the way her friend she made up with study’s the zodiac sign and she is a smarty pants.She also is from London. The weird part is she tried putting on someone else’s orange lip gloss and she hates orange stuff even the color orange.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging read for younger people has plenty of spirit and humour to go around. How the series will go from here will be interesting to see.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! See http://www.eatreadandbemommy.com/2018... for details.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows how an old friend can help Jules overcome a huge fear. I loved Jules' fun and outgoing personality.

[Zion Ibeawuchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was so fun to read and I love the character Jules shes a fun character to read about!

[Sylvie Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book enough to want to read the others in the series.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't really like it.

[Junessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jules is 7 (but seems older) and gets the opportunity to be in a commercial

[Melinda]

Ain, B., & Higgins, A. (2013). Starring Jules (as herself). New York: Scholastic Press.

Early Chapter Book

This book is the tale of a 7 year old girl named Jules who is full of creativity and pizzaz. She makes up songs about random things, like milkshakes and blowing bubbles. It is during one of her impromptu performances at a local diner where she is spotted by a talent agent, and invited to audition for a toothpaste commercial. Initially this seems like a dream come true for extrovert Jules, but as the audition date draws closer she starts to doubt her abilities and wonders why she ever agreed to this. In the end, Jules does not get the commercial - but she survives her failure and gets support from her family and friends.

The writing here is clever and uses language in a fun way. When Jules blushes in embarrassment at something, it is described as an "on-fire face situation," and when Jules pictures a horrible outcome to her audition, she calls it a "day-mare." Jules' family are a bit wacky - her mother is an artist and her dad a chef...and when brainstorming names for his new restaurant, they paint the potential names on the kitchen wall in bright red paint.

The book (which is now the first in a series) addresses issues that all kids face - making and keeping friends, feeling different from your peers, and facing your fears and perceived weaknesses. It creates a fun world that kids would like to visit - and presents issues that matter to them.

Questions/activities

- Ask kids if there was ever something they were afraid to try because they worried they might not be good at it. If they ended up trying, how did the situation turn out? (teacher should be prepared to provide an example of their own to entice kids to share)

- In the book, Jules gets a cake in honor of something not-so-great in her life that says, "Best try ever." Ask students to design a cake they would present to someone that was having a bad day and what the cake might say.

- The audition that Jules has is for an orange-flavored toothpaste. Ask kids to invent/think of a product they would like to do a commercial for and explain why - this could be spun out into a multi-day project where kids actually create commercials for their products.

- Jules is a big list maker in this book. Ask kids to create lists on certain topics that might help them learn more about each other. Make the lists have at least five items on them to delve a bit deeper - possible lists would include "Five books we have at my house," "Five people I might see at Thanksgiving" or "Five hobbies I would like to try."

- Jules has a little brother she likes to teach things to, like how to blow bubbles in your drink with a straw. Ask kids what kind of things they would like to teach or have taught to a younger sibling (or younger friend or imaginary sibling if they are an only child.)

[Kristina Cardoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY:
Starring Jules #1: Starring Jules (As Herself) by Beth Ain is a cute and fun read for kids! Jules Bloom is a fun, spunky girl that has just broken her friendship with the fancy-pants Charlotte Pinkerton, and she's trying to let another bloom with the new girl, Elinor...BUT, along the way, Jules is selected to be in a mouthwash commercial because she has "pizzazz," as superstar Colby Kingston says. She's really excited, until it turns out that the mouthwash is orange flavored--which is puke flavor in Jules' mind! Will Elinor and Jules be BFFs like she imagined? And will she flunk the commercial just because of the flavor?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
"I was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Yes, that Hershey—the one with all the chocolate!) But then my family moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania where I got to grow up across the street from my best friend, ride bikes after school, and get wet to my ankles in the creek in my neighborhood, trying to save frogs from being swept away. Then some things like junior high and high school happened and I was a cheerleader and a soccer player and a math-homework-avoider and a soap-opera watcher and an inventor of crazy-delicious after school snacks, and I was all kinds of other junior high and high school things. And then, I was lucky enough to go away to college, near the great city of Boston, Massachusetts where I learned a lot and met loads of interesting people and where I made very good friends with a lot of people from New York who dragged me back to New York City with them and well, that was the end of that.” (from http://www.bethain.com/BIO.html)

MY OPINION:
This book is really fun! It kind of reminds me of Junie B. Jones--but I'm not saying the author is copying, I'm pointing out that this should become a hit too. :) This really sounds like Jules is real!--well, actually, she IS based on Ms. Ain's daughter Grace, which makes it even better. I love the fact that Jules is going to be famous--I mean, who doesn't want to read about a child star?! I just know all the younger girls are going to LOVE this! :D (Plus the fact that there...just isn't a bad Scholastic book. That's just not possible.)

★★★★ 4/5 stars!

**I received a copy of this eBook for free from Scholastic through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I received no other compensation.**

Blog Post: http://reviewsbykristina.blogspot.com...

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[Amy Varchetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, spunky chapter book. This 140 page book is a quick read due to the large, easy to-read-print and lightly illustrated text, making it accessible for voracious young elementary students who are itching to read longer books. The plot and the irresistible main character are complex enough to make the book appealing to reluctant 3rd-4th grade readers as well.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Gnome and I had opposing opinions on this one. She loved it, and I was bored.

- Gnome liked all the silly girly stuff, and she liked the drama with the girls.

- I was not so amused with the silly drama stuff.

- Sadly, this is a series, and Gnome wants to read more. Hopefully the next book is better.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost-Eight-Years-Old Jules Bloom doesn’t expect anything special to happen on the day she sings her very own, made-up-for-fun Fizzy Ice Cream Cone song at the dinner table at the local diner. Well, maybe she expects her artist mother, chef father, and not-so-good-at-standing-still little brother Henry to clap and cheer. But she certainly doesn’t expect a casting director, the effortlessly cool Colby Kingston, to invite her to audition for a mouthwash commercial! The audition is on Friday, but in the meantime Jules is busy making lists and learning about friendship. At first Jules is worried about whether or not she’ll get the commercial, but then she gets the script and develops an even bigger worry: The commercial is for orange mouthwash! Orange! Jules can’t believe her bad luck! After a horrible incident in a taxi cab involving throwing up large amounts of orange sherbet, she can’t even handle the smell of oranges. Will Jules get the part if she throws up during her audition? Will the new girl, Elinor from London, become Jules’ new best friend? And will Jules and her ex-best friend, Charlotte “Stinkytown” Pinkerton, continue to fight? One thing’s for sure, this week won’t be boring!

Set in New York City this story centers around a vibrant, realistic, and unique protagonist. I especially love her colorful style and her goal-oriented lists. Surrounding Jules is a loving, quirky family. Supportive and encouraging, Jules’ parents always have time to answer her questions and work through issues. The plot complications have to do with overcoming personal obstacles, be it the taste of oranges or the changing of friendships. Friendship is a major theme in this book, as Jules learns to make new friends, appreciate old friends, and accept that sometimes people change and that’s okay. Short chapters, written in first person from Jules’ perspective, keep the pace quick as the story effortlessly unfolds. The text is a balance of narration and realistic, yet humorous, dialogue that will keep readers engaged. Higgins cartoon-ish black and white spot illustrations provide visual interest and just enough context to keep transitional readers moving forward.

Full Review at Chapter Book Explorer: http://chapterbookexplorer.blogspot.c...

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the tradition of Cinderella Smith, Dessert Schneider, Allie Finkle, and Stella Batts comes Jules Bloom, a spirited new chapter book heroine with a big personality. Most of the time, she is the big sister of four-year-old Big Henry, the sometimes best friend of Charlotte, a writer of lists (during freewriting) and a digger of worms (during recess.) One day, while she is out at a restaurant with her family Jules is discovered by a talent scout who wants her to audition for a commercial. She is very excited, until she learns the commercial is for an orange mouthwash. Jules can't eat or drink anything orange without gagging! It's a good thing Jules can always call on Grandma Gilda, who teaches her that sometimes the only thing you can do in a difficult situation is improvise.

This is an extremely well-written chapter book with a fresh style that sets it apart from others of its genre. Author Beth Ain has a wonderful ear for dialogue, and her characters come alive from the moment they begin to speak. From the first chapter where Jules sings her own made-up jingle for fizzy ice cream, she sounds just like a real seven-year-old girl, with all the energy and imagination kids have at that age. Her interactions with her classmates are perfectly child-like, as are her difficulties with Charlotte, who has recently started acting bossy and mean toward Jules and anyone Jules spends time with. I think it is easy to write a chapter book about what you think a second grader is like, but it is much more difficult to write one that so completely represents the second grade experience. Beth Ain has nailed it in her very first book.

Jules Bloom is the perfect combination of the sweetness of Stella Batts and Cinderella Smith, the stubbornness of Dessert and Clementine, and the high literary quality of The Stories Julian Tells and the Ramona series. The lively writing absolutely sparkles and Jules all but dances off the page. I read a review on another site that called the story "generically unmemorable" and I truly think nothing could be further from the truth. This book kept me entertained from beginning to end, and I think it would be even more likely to do so for a child in the target age group.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things to Do Before I Turn Eight, I write on a napkin.

1. Finish fizzy ice-cream cone jingle

2. Be perfect at performing fizzy ice-cream cone jingle

3. Find a new best friend since Charlotte Stinkytown Pinkerton has turned out to be the worst best friend ever

When we first meet Jules, she is blowing bubbles into a glass of milk, singing a self written jingle about fizzy ice-cream cones. Little did Jules know that THIS would be the day she would be discovered!

Colby Kingston is impressed with this spunky little girl and invites her to audition to be the Swish girl for a brand new commercial! Sounds fabulous, right?

Well, almost. You see, the mouthwash is orange flavored. And orange flavored anything makes Jules barf!

So, not only must Jules try to overcome this little -- problem -- before she misses out on her chance to be a star, she also must find a new BFF. After all, her old BFF Charlotte likes glitter more than worms now, and she'd rather hang out with those other girls than Jules these days...

But that's okay, because there's a new girl at school named Elinor. Elinor likes worms too and she has a really great accent.

Can Jules pull everything together just in time or will she miss out on her one claim to fame?

STARRING JULES: AS HERSELF was an adorably cute little chapter book for young readers. The story was fun and the illustrations (those that were in my e-galley copy, at least) were fresh, spunky, and totally cute!

I like that Jules is a strong, quirky little girl who doesn't let her problems get her down and take over the situation. She is creative and weird -- in a good way, of course -- which will help young readers to really identify with her character.

I'm assuming this is a series, right? If so, I look forward to reading others in the future. :)

[Rebecca Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ain, B. L., & Higgins, A. K. (2013). Starring jules (as herself). New York: Scholastic Press.
Summary: Starring Jules (As Herself) is the first book in the series Starring Jules. Jules is a seven year old girl who gets offered the opportunity to become a big start in a commercial. As she prepares for her big break, she realizes the commercial is of orange mouth wash.. ORANGE, a nauseating flavor to Jules. Refusing to give up on her big break, she enlists help from her family, ex-best friend, best friend, new best friend, and even her grandma who lives far away in Florida. When she finally gets to the audition all of the advice given to her comes together and she realizes she just needs to be herself and go with the flow. Although she doesn't get the role in the commercial, Jules is offered and even bigger break by the end!
Questions:
1. Why do you think Jules is so upset that her three best friends went on a vacation without her?
2. At the beginning of the book, Jules mentions her face getting hot, then feeling like fire. How do you think she was feeling? Think of a time you maybe felt your face get hot. Do you think you had the same feelings Jules did in the book?
3. Think of the phrase "Don't burn your bridges." (It can be interpreted in many ways, but for this purpose think of it as don't completely destroy a relationship with someone because you may need them to be there for you later on) How does this phrase connect to Jules and Charlotte's relationship?
4. How is Jules' friendship Charlotte and her friendship with Elinor alike and different?
5. Why was it better for Jules to just be herself, rather than pretending to be someone else?

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jules Bloom is a fun character. She has the perfect friends. Goes to a great school. And, creates a list for anything (and everything!) that pops into her mind.
But, then her best friend, Charlotte, goes off on vacation to a ritzy (Jules would love that word!) hotel, where they bring you towels beside a snazzy (Jules loves that word!) pool. When Char returns, she only hangs out with those girls, and they call themselves the ABC's. Now, Jules no longer has a best friend, which leaves her searching for a new one. But, the new student from London quickly fills that empty position.
But, that's not her real problem. Jules has just found out that the commercial she has been offered an audition for is for orange-flavored mouthwash. Stop the presses, everyone! They said ORANGE!! It's the END OF THE WORLD (as we know it!).
Jules ends up tanking the audition, just as she knew she would. Luckily, she didn't puke as she thought she would, however spitting the mouthwash all over everyone didn't really win her any extra brownie points, either. But, it's not the end for Jules, since she ends up getting a call that tells her she has landed a small part in a spy movie.
I am very excited to see what happens to Jules next. I think this will end up being a fun series like Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody.
---------------------
This was provided to me as an eBook, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
The only real letdown about the NG version was all the "ART TK" notes. I would have liked to have seen the art.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jules is singing her new jingle for a fizzy ice-cream cone to her little brother and making lots of bubbles in their milk glasses, she is discovered and invited to audition for a mouthwash commercial. But even for a girl with lots of “pizzazz” there are difficulties to overcome. First, Jules finds out that the mouthwash is orange flavored, a flavor that makes her want to puke. Second, the only one she can see who can help her is her old best-friend Charlotte Stinkerton Pinkerton. Third, there’s a new girl in Jules’ class who may just be the perfect best friend ever, but Jules has to get to her first, before she joins the new clique that Charlotte has formed. It’s a complicated situation for Jules and the question is whether it will be just too much for this girl who is fizzy and filled with pizzazz.

Ain has created a character that reads like an older Clementine. Jules is wonderfully and innately quirky, obviously happy in her own skin. All of the small details and Jules’ unique view of the world serve to make her a beautifully human character. Happily, the same is true for the secondary characters as well. They are all richly drawn and complex. Friendship is shown in all of its miscommunication and mistakes.

Written with a light hand and a jaunty pace, this book will appeal to readers who have grown up with Clementine and are looking for a new heroine with plenty of individuality. Appropriate for ages 7-9.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look up and the waitress has walked away from us. I think she thought I couldn't take care of my little brother all by myself while my mom was in the restroom, but she was wrong. I can take care of him just fine.

Jules is mature and capable, a free-spirit, a spacey daydreamer, a bit of a tomboy, and an aspiring actress with pizzazz--the last according to a talent scout who overhears Jules' family at a cafe and asks her to audition for a commercial. Jules has many dimensions, which makes her an appealing character, perhaps the best being that she can draw attention to herself by being appealing rather than spoiled or bratty (unlike some of her literary peers). She has self-created problems, of course, worries and friendship issues, but nothing over-the-top and she has enough humility to see and admit when she is wrong.

In fact, for a book this short, all of the characters--her parents, brother, teacher, and peers among them--are pleasantly complex, realistic, and appealing. It makes for an enjoyable quick read that many different young readers will relate to.

My only quibble is that Jules seems a bit too mature, capable, and sophisticated for a seven-year-old; she seems more like she's nine or ten. And according to two different sources it is written at a fourth-grade reading level, a bit high for the target audience of a seven-year-old protagonist. It's not a huge issue, but something to be aware of.

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jules has a strong streak of individuality that shows in what she wears, what she does, and how she acts. She is herself and is happy that way. One day, while at a diner with her family, a woman in the next booth starts talking to her--turns out she is shooting a commercial and wants Jules to audition because she has "pizzazz."

Jules is excited to audition, but also nervous. It doesn't help that her best friend is no longer her friend, she spends all of her time with Teddy, and she's hoping that the new girl from England will become her best friend. Then she learns that the commercial is for an orange mouthwash. Which is HORRIBLE news because Jules hates all things orange, thanks to a bad experience with orange sherbet when she was younger. How will she get through it?

I like Jules ALOT. I like how true to herself she was, not letting what others thought (like the ABCs) make her question herself. Her family was highly entertaining as well. I know some reviewers thought she didn't talk like she was a seven-going-on-eight, but I didn't find that distracting from the book. I'm interested to see where Jules is going in future books, but at the same time I'm also a bit worried about where it's going with TV auditions and all that. That's the part, to me at least, that makes Jules less realistic than she could be.

Overall I would recommend it, 2nd grade and up.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for fun early chapter books that I can recommend to readers. Starring Jules is just such a book. Delightful characters? Check. Interesting plot? Check. Appealing setting? Check. Jules reminds me a great deal of some other great early chapter book characters: Clementine, Judy Moody, Junie B., etc. Yet she is also unique in her love of making up and singing jingles. I like the fact that despite her entrance into the acting world, she is still very much a kid with a kid's worries and interests. Her conflict with her former best friend Charlotte rang true for me, maybe because I experienced something similar with my best friend, simply growing into different interests. I liked that a good chunk of the problem revolves around miscommunication (does that sound like real life or what?!). I also had to laugh at Jules family life, her creative mother and supportive father. I appreciate books that show positive examples of family life and the ups and downs of friendship. Jules interest in becoming friends with the new girl, Elinor is balanced by her fear of being hurt again and it leads her to do things she ends up regretting. Overall, I'd say this is a great new series and I very much look forward to reading more about Jules and her family and friends.

[Julie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very cute book. Jules was a great quirky character with some typical friendship issues. It was nice to see during the course of the book that some of the friendship issues were resolved. I loved the tryout Jules did for the commercial and her reaction to the orange mouthwash - very funny. The story left the reader hanging as Jules got an offer to do a movie. As part of the committee I am on I am looking for books for grades 4 - 8. When I finished reading this I was left thinking it was cute but there wasn't a lot of substance. I was thinking it would be good for fans of Junie B Jones, Judy Moody, and similar characters. In my grade 4 - 6 school I may get some of my lower readers to pick it up. I order my books through Titlewave for my library and I was very surprised that this book was rated at a 5.4 reading level. I don't really see many of my 5th graders reading a book about a girl who is about to turn 8. I will give it a Ribbet and it will be in my library mostly because my school will be changing to grades 1 - 5 next year and the 2nd and 3rd graders will like it.

[Lizz Uhl]

Starring Jules(Third Grade Debut)
Jules Bloom is entering the third grade, and, unlike most kids, she is not excited. Jules thinks her teacher, Mr. Santorini is a little strange. He even makes them do jumping jacks. Who thinks that is a good idea? Not Jules. On top of stressing over her third grade teacher, and his behavior chart, Jules also has to worry about the sitcom she is acting in, “Look at Us Now.��� With all the pressure on her and the stress of not wanting to be moved to yellow on her behavior chart, Jules is hitting her breaking point. Will Jules be able to get through third grade and find her new teacher somewhat appealing? Will she be able to successfully star in the sitcom? You'll have to read to find out.

Ain, B. (2014). Starring Jules (Third Grade Debut) (p. 165). NY: Scholastic

1. What are some examples can you find that support Jules' feelings towards her teacher?
2. What is the relationship between Jules and Charlotte?
3. What do you think would result if Jules faked being able to see at her appointment?
4. What is your opinion of Mr. Santorini? Why?
5. How is Jules similar to Lucille Ball? The person she decides to be for her wax museum presentation.