Famous Anonymous

Famous Anonymous #1

by Morgan Baden

The first book in a new series about neighborhood friends who find sudden fame with a series of viral videos… only no one knows who they really are. Hannah Montana for the TikTok generation.

Four kids from the same neighborhood, lifelong friends, throw on some costumes and make a funny video one night when their parents are out. One of them shares it with the group, another posts it on a TikTok-like social media, and suddenly the video blows up. Which makes the kids famous! Well, famous… and anonymous. Because no one can tell who they really are—and their parents must never find out. But their new fans want more content!

So the four friends go on to make a series of over-the-top videos that vault them into a new world of celebrity and influence. They feel the rush of attention and the power of their own creations, but also struggle to preserve their fame and their anonymity.

These books explore friendship, loyalty, and imagination, all while considering big questions that come up in a social media context, like: How do you protect your true self online? And is it ever really possible to be anonymous?

Genres: Middle Grade, Social Media

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Morgan Baden’s debut Young Adult novel, The Hive (co-written with bestselling author Barry Lyga), was named a Best Book of Fall 2019 by People Magazine and was called a “gripping, tense, action-packed thriller” by Booklist (Kids Can Press, September 2019). She’s the author of Daphne and Velma: The Dark Deception (Scholastic, July 2020) and Daphne and Velma: Buried Secrets (Scholastic, September 2022), and a contributor to Generation Wonder (Abrams, June 2022). In July 2023, she released Super Sweet Unicorn Club, a loving (and biting) homage to the iconic teen book series of the 80s & 90s. Famous Anonymous (September 2025) marked the start of a new middle grade series from Holiday House; Booklist called it "A cautionary tale full of individuality and humor...An appealing story that will be an easy sell." The sequel, Famous Anonymous 2: Undercover Summer, is now available wherever you buy books. She lives in New Jersey, where she works in nonprofit communications. Find her at www.morganbaden.com.

Reviews

[Kara Sabbagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famous Anonymous is a FANTASTIC modern children’s story. Author, Morgan Baden, has woven together a beautiful cast of characters, telling their story through multiple points of view. Famous Anonymous is not only relatable to kids, exploring something revered to so many- fame and social media, but it acts as a spectacular window into the life of a child with autism. I really found the character of Luke relatable and a generous portrayal of what a classmate living with autism might experience, without making it the sole focus of his identity. Something else highly relatable to my own public library kids is the struggle of character, Gus, who feels backed into a corner when his parents and community hyper focus on his high achieving soccer career, and what that might bring for him one day. We also have Harper the diva and Sophie learning lessons about what it means to stick to something, community, being humble, and so much more. A standout feature of this book is how wide an array of characters it has. Like many have experienced our cast went from childhood besties, to drifting apart, but luckily find their way back together in this tale. This combo makes for a WONDERFUL class read aloud (the audiobook also rocks) as students will easily be able to relate to one or more characters, while also being exposed to something new. I also found it hilarious + agonizing the author’s use of hyper modern slang such as sigma, bussin, rizz, and more. Kid’s will get a kick out of this.

A must read and must add for any classroom library! It doesn’t handle internet safety super lightly and explores it from a few angles while also letting the kids have ANONYMOUS fun.

[Leila Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

it would be better if it was my age😭 the 'they're so sigma' is frying me

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A realistic middle grade novel centered on two brother-sister pairs and their accidental successful foray into online content creation with renewed friendship and some life choices as secondary plots.

Brother-sister Sophie and Gus and neighbors siblings Luke and Harper were inseparable when they were younger but life activities and time have taken a toll on what seemed like a forever friendship. A night out for both sets of parents puts the four of them together at one house for the first time in a few years and after a bit of a rough start, the camaraderie returns and the quartet ends up breaking a few parental “stay at home without a sitter” rules and posting a video on a platform none of them are supposed to be on. Surprise, surprise, the goofy alien/outer space/astronaut scene, thrown together using old costumes, the dancing antics of drama queen Harper, and fashioned after a new game, goes viral by morning setting them all on a new, extra-curricular path. This adventure serves Harper’s dream of being an on-screen or stage star well, but for soccer star Gus, feeds his secret love of writing, is outside the usual, more solitary activities of Luke, and may be the one thing that Sophie actually doesn’t want to start and then quickly quit.

Readers in grades 4-7 will absolutely be able to relate to the kids’ parents’ reluctance to allow the 6th and 8th graders to be left at home alone or use social media sites and their determination to prove they should be allowed to do both. With the four having diverse interests (or in Sophie’s case, difficulty finding one that “sticks”), certainly at least one will connect with them, as well. Sporty kids will appreciate the game play, theater lovers are likely to have felt Harper’s joy in performing and her disappointment when not given the accolades they expect, gamers as sure to love Luke’s single-minded focus on all things digital, and many will understand Sophie’s struggle to find something that truly resonates. The struggle to continue to create content without their parents’ knowledge and garner comparable likes seems realistic and provides plenty of fodder for drama among the group as they rediscover why they were friends in the first place and make plenty of mistakes as they reestablish that closeness. And for those who like to laugh? Author Morgan Baden uses all sorts of accidents, costume malfunctions, a lost cat named Poodle and some wet paint and chicken feathers to satisfy those readers, too.

The conclusion of the book is fully satisfying but there are enough ends left somewhat untied and allow for the sequel, “Undercover Summer.” Yet to be resolved: The parents still don’t know what their kids are doing online so potential consequences still lurk in their minds , a sneaky neighbor who may know everything hasn’t ratted them out, and there is plenty of content left to be created.

*Profanity: none
*Violence: only the accidental kind of injury and accident with nearly all of it humorous
*Sexual content: none (But there may be a romance budding between one of the friend pairs.)
*Representation: Sophie and Gus are illustrated as darker-skinned on the cover and their mother is described in one scene as having multiple braids wrapped like a crown on her head which may indicate that they are Black; Luke is identified as neurodivergent and with his difficulty regulating emotions, aversion to large crowds and loud noise may lead readers to believe he is autistic; Gus is not identified as neurodivergent but his state of perpetual motion may lead some to believe he has ADHD.
*LBGTQ+: Luke and Harper live with their two moms.

Thanks for sponsoring a giveaway of your book, Morgan Baden!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The story is told from the points of view of two pairs of siblings. Sophie and her younger brother Gus live next door to Luke and his younger sister Harper. Each character presents a unique personality with different points of view that are shared in alternating chapters. Luke is neurodivergent and doesn’t like being the focus of attention. In contrast, Harper is obsessed with acting, and her impulsiveness creates the plot’s conflict. Gus spends all of his time with soccer practice, but he wants to explore other interests; he wins a sixth-grade creative writing award that comes with a summer workshop. Finally, Sophie is a cautious character, most concerned about getting in trouble and losing her parents’ trust.
One of Luke and Harper’s mothers is very protective, and the book opens with a list of her rules for the kids staying home alone. Harper already has a secret social media account, and it’s her idea to make a video. All of the kids are worried about viewers identifying them (they have over a million hits), but for different reasons. Luke and Sophie’s reasons are obvious, and Gus and Harper don’t want the complications that fame will bring. They wear costumes and cover their faces in the videos, so they hope that’s enough to remain anonymous. However, readers know a problem will eventually arise when an online viewer says, “Is it just me or is there something SO familiar about this video?”
What didn’t work as well:
The conflict is not especially gripping, as the characters deal with friendship issues. They work well together in the beginning, but the pressure of topping their previous posts affects their priorities.
The final verdict:
The focus on social media will appeal to today’s young readers. Telling the story from distinctly different points of view will also allow them to connect with the characters. I recommend you give this book a shot.

[Brielle Berenyi]

these 4 neighbor's used to be betst friends, but now they are in middle school and it's akward, Harper is a bubbly popular girl and does drama acting, Gus is a soccer star, Nick loves tech, and Sophie is nothing. When they have a sleepover everything feels awkward but the boys announce a game at first Harper is going to puke but she then likes the game, she takes a vidio and shows it to her friends but not yet posted it, Harper always felt like she was going to be famous and the vidio was sick so she posted the vidio, then the friends see there vidio is famous they start hanging out more together, and this activity is now something they share, but things get intense everyone at school k now it's famous, drama.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter picked this as our most recent shared audiobook. It was a cute story, definitely made for her generation. I really liked the diverse representation. One character is neurodivergent, one set of parents is same sex, but none of these things were really "the point" - they just provided characterization, which was nice to see. There were a few nitpicky things that bugged me - for example, the parents are wildly overprotective until they are absent - but it was a fun, lighthearted story for us to share.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun middle grade book. It’s the first book in a new series, Famous Anonymous. The group of four kids refer to themselves as the Rowan Roadies. Four neighbor kids that rediscovered their friendship through the process of making videos on Cre8. I think young readers will be able to relate to this one. It seems these days, a lot of young people want to be famous on social media. Everyone is looking to make the next viral video.

The pacing felt a bit slow and at times I lost interest in the story. I do think the character development was good and young readers will enjoy the story.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four young friends go viral after making a video. Yet, they cannot reveal themselves, because they have been forbidden from using internet apps. So, throughout the book, they are trying to come up with ways to share more content that holds up to their first video. Somewhere along the way, they lose focus, and accidentally come back together.

This was a cute story about friendship, obeying your parents, and content creating. I definitely recommend it.

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Junior High grade novel about a close group of four friends who are neighbors. Even though they are not supposed to they post a video (with covered faces) on social media. People love it and they want more. They must decide whether to make more of them and what impact this will have on their prior hobbies and lives. They keep this new passion on the sly (anonymous) as they don't want their parents and friends to know it is them. A good story for the age group it is intended.

[Vella Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famous Anonymous is a smart, engaging read that taps into something very real for kids growing up online. Four lifelong friends accidentally go viral and find themselves famous, yet completely unknown, and the tension between chasing more attention and guarding their real identities gives the story genuine depth. It's a fun premise handled with real thoughtfulness, exploring friendship, loyalty, and the harder questions of what it means to be truly known versus simply seen online.

[skai_booksandbracelets · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cute! It re-imagines the secret celebrity story, with a group of normal middle schoolers who put om costumes on go viral on social media. Quickly they discover the challenges of fames and learn the importance of teamwork. Two of the kids' parents are in a LGBTQ+ relationship, but this book is not about romantic relationships.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review to be posted closer to publication date.

[Kelly Baden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful look at middle school and social media!

[Meridee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine, just very dramatic MG characters:) who seemed way more mature than 6th/7th graders I know.

[Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Not bad - interesting.

These are the parts that stood out to me:

P7
Yeah, they were all practicing something. Not me, though, because I hadn’t quite decided what my “thing” was. I tried lots of activities, from tennis to swimming to pottery to coding to karate and gymnastics.
My problem wasn’t in the trying; it was in the sticking.

P8
One of Harper and Luke’s moms

P33
He was pretty used to masking at school, but at home, with just us, he could let loose and be himself.

P44
Neurodivergent

P52
The cool thing about not talking a lot, I’ve learned, is that when you finally do talk, people usually listen.

P60
We do all contain multitudes.

P68
Scrimmage

P69
It’s so sigma! (Cool)

P78
“Cool,” I nodded. I had always sort of envied Luke’s loner tendencies. Imagine being able to live your life without the weight of other people’s expectations.

P80
One time my mom told me about “friendship breaks.” It’s this idea that sometimes you drift close and then far and then close again to someone, but that you keep your bond with them, no matter what. She stressed that years of friendship history were worth holding onto, even during a break. These friendship still hold up over time, as long as there’s true respect and understanding on both sides.

P91
Maybe even more important, I’d really thought about what we needed to accomplish. Our first video had taken off, and I wanted our second one to do even better. Because what’s the point of doing anything again if you’re not trying to improve?

P112
“You’re not a creative director!” I reminded her, sniffling again. “You’re a sixth grader who wants to be famous!”
She shrugged. “Same thing.”

P112-113
“Harper?” I asked suddenly. My tears had dried and my throat had sunk back to its normal size. “Why do you like acting so much?”
“Ooh!” Her eyes lit up. “I am SO happy you asked! It’s positively an out-of-body experience to stand on a stage and pretend to be someone else. To INHABIT a different world. To EMPATHIZE with someone else’s experience, just for a minute.”

P113
“Oh sure,” she sighed. “Acting is a chance to be someone else.”
—
Could I try to see what happened when I jumped into something headfirst? No more quitting, and no looking back?

P120
Luke cleared his throat eagerly. “I can explain. At its simplest, an algorithm is a set of instructions. The more you interact with Cre8, for example, the better it gets at figuring out what you like, based on what you comment on, what you block, what you swipe past, and more.”

P126
Austen sidled up to me

P134
GRWM videos (get ready with me)

P137
Precipice of fame
—
Upper echelon of influencers

P143
Barely eked out

P145
Dysregulated

P149
My eyes volleyed back-and-forth between my moms.

P154
This idea was a nonstarter.

P158
“There’s some other stuff going on, too, I guess,” I admitted.
“Want me to distract you?” Jazzy offered. “Or do you want me to just be here to listen while you vent?”

P162
That the Rowan Roadies were icing me out?

P171-172
“Arghh!” I yelled. I flung my hands over my eyes to block my identity. “Go away! We don’t have any cereal!”
…
“You have the culinary tastes of a toddler,” said the killer. “Also, get up, Gus.”

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade book is about two pairs of siblings who live next door to one another. When their parents leave them at home without a babysitter, they make a video that ends up going viral. They aren’t allowed to be on social media, so they might be famous, but they’re also anonymous! Soon everyone is watching their videos and wanting more. I thought this was a cute book and I liked that each character was easily differentiated. Sophie is not sure what her “thing” is, Gus is a soccer player but he also likes writing, Luke has autism, and Harper is an actor. They combine their unique voices and talents into making videos together and in doing so, they learn about the ups and downs of social media.