What do you think?
Rate this book
Lena in the Spotlight #1
Hello Stars
Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2017
45 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Alena Pitts
5 books13 followersAlena Pitts is a young actress and model from Dallas, Texas. As the oldest of four girls, Alena first cut her teeth in acting through making home videos and dramas with her sisters, using their entire home as their recording studio. She has a natural love for all things creative which falls right in line with her gifts and talents. The Kendrick Brothers’ War Room marks Alena’s professional acting debut. With only school theater on her young resume, Alena jumped at a chance to audition for the role of Danielle Jordan. In addition to school and acting, Alena models and is a frequent contributor for the magazine For Girls Like You.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 12, 2017
About this book:
“Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Lena in the Spotlight” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & talked about; Bible reading & family devotions; Many Prayers, Thanking God, & talking to Him through a journal; Many Talks about God, Jesus, His plans, trusting Him, those in the Bible, prayers, & being thankful; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God, trusting Him, His love, & being His girl; Mentions of talks about God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bible reading, devotions, books and people in the Bible; Mentions of Christians, a Christian movie, a Christian singer, & faiths; Mentions of church going, doing church at home, & worship.
Negative Content- A bit of eye rolling & snarky-ness; Mentions of dissecting animals, dead animals, slime, blood, & guts (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of animals smelling/looking at other animal’s tail end; A couple mentions of slaves in the Bible;
*Note: A couple mentions of Converse shoes.
Sexual Content- N/A
-Lena Daniels, age 11
1st person P.O.V. of Lena
169 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
What a cute book! Between the illustrations inside, Lena & her sweet family, and the great talks about God, it was such a pleasant read! Lena seems very age appropriate for an eleven year old in her thoughts, writing, & actions. I’m also going to go with the thought that Mallory Winston (Lena’s favorite singer) is supposed to be like Jamie Grace based on certain details mentioned. ;)
I look forward to reading the second book! :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
“Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Lena in the Spotlight” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & talked about; Bible reading & family devotions; Many Prayers, Thanking God, & talking to Him through a journal; Many Talks about God, Jesus, His plans, trusting Him, those in the Bible, prayers, & being thankful; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God, trusting Him, His love, & being His girl; Mentions of talks about God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bible reading, devotions, books and people in the Bible; Mentions of Christians, a Christian movie, a Christian singer, & faiths; Mentions of church going, doing church at home, & worship.
Negative Content- A bit of eye rolling & snarky-ness; Mentions of dissecting animals, dead animals, slime, blood, & guts (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of animals smelling/looking at other animal’s tail end; A couple mentions of slaves in the Bible;
*Note: A couple mentions of Converse shoes.
Sexual Content- N/A
-Lena Daniels, age 11
1st person P.O.V. of Lena
169 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Four Stars (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
What a cute book! Between the illustrations inside, Lena & her sweet family, and the great talks about God, it was such a pleasant read! Lena seems very age appropriate for an eleven year old in her thoughts, writing, & actions. I’m also going to go with the thought that Mallory Winston (Lena’s favorite singer) is supposed to be like Jamie Grace based on certain details mentioned. ;)
I look forward to reading the second book! :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
May 13, 2019
Honestly, this was just needed right now. A laid back, adorable book with a really good message. Yeah, this book may be aimed towards ten-twelve year olds, but I loved it. The message was perfect, and something everyone needs to hear; not just kids. I loved the emphasis on listening to God and your parents. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
(Also, the illustrations were adorable)
(Also, the illustrations were adorable)
May 17, 2017
Hello Stars (Lena in the Spotlight) is a cute book written for young girls ages 8-12. It's coauthored by mom/daughter duo, Alena and Wynter Pitts.
Since this is a kid's book; I wanted to get my daughter's thoughts to share with this review.
Me: So, Priya, what did you think about Lena in the Spotlight?
Priya: It was pretty good. I felt like Lena was a little whiny and that made me not like her very much.
Me: Do you think maybe the book is written so we can learn from her? Maybe she was whiny and having problems with faith so that young girls who struggle with those same things can learn from them and draw closer to God.
Priya: I can see that. But, she was still whiny.
Me: You had your own experience in the spotlight recently. I remember you were scared before your recital. Do you think the reminder to trust God would have helped before your big day?
Priya: Sure. But, I wasn't whiny like that...was I?
Priya's Thoughts:
The book was good. I liked that she had a lot of sisters, like me. I thought the puppy was fun too. If Arie (baby sister) wasn't allergic, it might be fun to have a puppy. I didn't like the part about the chicken's sniffing butts. That seemed a little rude. Animals do some gross stuff sometimes. It just seemed rude to put into a book.
Mom's Thoughts:
I loved the emphasis on faith and prayer! I loved how every aspect of this book pointed back to God and putting one's faith in Him. Like Priya, I found the comments about a chick smelling butt to be a little awkward. It didn't seem to lend anything to the story. A friend of mine uses the term, "potty humor" and I think that sums up my feelings on that section. It felt an unnecessary addition to the story.
Overall, the story is cute. I asked my daughter's opinion on what she would rate it using my rating scale and she told me that she "liked it" which is a solid 3 out of 5. When I asked if she would read more in the series, she said, "maybe." When I asked if she would recommend this to her friends she said, "Maybe. If it didn't have the chicken butt stuff."
This review was originally posted on A Simply Enchanted Life
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
Since this is a kid's book; I wanted to get my daughter's thoughts to share with this review.
Me: So, Priya, what did you think about Lena in the Spotlight?
Priya: It was pretty good. I felt like Lena was a little whiny and that made me not like her very much.
Me: Do you think maybe the book is written so we can learn from her? Maybe she was whiny and having problems with faith so that young girls who struggle with those same things can learn from them and draw closer to God.
Priya: I can see that. But, she was still whiny.
Me: You had your own experience in the spotlight recently. I remember you were scared before your recital. Do you think the reminder to trust God would have helped before your big day?
Priya: Sure. But, I wasn't whiny like that...was I?
Priya's Thoughts:
The book was good. I liked that she had a lot of sisters, like me. I thought the puppy was fun too. If Arie (baby sister) wasn't allergic, it might be fun to have a puppy. I didn't like the part about the chicken's sniffing butts. That seemed a little rude. Animals do some gross stuff sometimes. It just seemed rude to put into a book.
Mom's Thoughts:
I loved the emphasis on faith and prayer! I loved how every aspect of this book pointed back to God and putting one's faith in Him. Like Priya, I found the comments about a chick smelling butt to be a little awkward. It didn't seem to lend anything to the story. A friend of mine uses the term, "potty humor" and I think that sums up my feelings on that section. It felt an unnecessary addition to the story.
"I flicked on the light and there they were—two of our new class pets. One was pecking around aimlessly and the other was doing something that involved smelling or looking at his chick friend's tail end. Whatever he was doing seemed gross and I preferred not to stare."
Overall, the story is cute. I asked my daughter's opinion on what she would rate it using my rating scale and she told me that she "liked it" which is a solid 3 out of 5. When I asked if she would read more in the series, she said, "maybe." When I asked if she would recommend this to her friends she said, "Maybe. If it didn't have the chicken butt stuff."
This review was originally posted on A Simply Enchanted Life
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
April 24, 2017
About the Book:
Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.
My Review:
Lena Daniels is such a spunky, sweet girl that loves the limelight. Its so fitting to. With her beautiful smile and outgoing spirit she gleams when all the attention is on her. Lena never goes anywhere alone. Her family is always by her side. She goes on an audition that turns out to go not so good. Poor Lena is starting to see that being in the spotlight and all the attention it warrants may not be her cup of tea. So things start turning into disaster instead of fabulous days on set.
Lena has one thing in her favor. She has God as her foundation and rock and with Him all things are possible. God takes care of His children. In Lena's case He is there and helping her in more ways then she can count. A great story of sticking things out when they seem utterly impossible to keep up with.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster.
With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars.
My Review:
Lena Daniels is such a spunky, sweet girl that loves the limelight. Its so fitting to. With her beautiful smile and outgoing spirit she gleams when all the attention is on her. Lena never goes anywhere alone. Her family is always by her side. She goes on an audition that turns out to go not so good. Poor Lena is starting to see that being in the spotlight and all the attention it warrants may not be her cup of tea. So things start turning into disaster instead of fabulous days on set.
Lena has one thing in her favor. She has God as her foundation and rock and with Him all things are possible. God takes care of His children. In Lena's case He is there and helping her in more ways then she can count. A great story of sticking things out when they seem utterly impossible to keep up with.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
May 31, 2017
If you've had the opportunity to watch the movie War Room then you are already aquainted with the talented author Alena Pitts. Alena played the part of Danielle Jordan, the darling daughter in the movie. She has taken that amazing experience and turned it into a delightful read for tween girls.
There is so much that I liked about this book, but the one thing that stands out is the over-riding theme of God being a central part of every decision in this family. Lena's character has an authentic feel to it, most likely because it is written by a young girl that experienced very similar situations.
I also liked how the story related to the every day girl that would be reading it. Not every girl is going to have an opportunity to be in a movie but they will have an opportunity to live out their faith in whatever area God has for them. Lena presents an opportunity to look at what it's like to have faith in God even in unknown circumstances. It's a great story of learning the wisdom from Proverbs 16:9 that we make our plans but God directs our steps.
This would be a wonderful read for tween girls. I can't think of a single drawback that would keep me from recommending it to you. The characters are well rounded and the dialogue is snappy. The situations are real and vulnerable and uplifting. If you've got a tween girl in your life get this book and this series for her!
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
There is so much that I liked about this book, but the one thing that stands out is the over-riding theme of God being a central part of every decision in this family. Lena's character has an authentic feel to it, most likely because it is written by a young girl that experienced very similar situations.
I also liked how the story related to the every day girl that would be reading it. Not every girl is going to have an opportunity to be in a movie but they will have an opportunity to live out their faith in whatever area God has for them. Lena presents an opportunity to look at what it's like to have faith in God even in unknown circumstances. It's a great story of learning the wisdom from Proverbs 16:9 that we make our plans but God directs our steps.
This would be a wonderful read for tween girls. I can't think of a single drawback that would keep me from recommending it to you. The characters are well rounded and the dialogue is snappy. The situations are real and vulnerable and uplifting. If you've got a tween girl in your life get this book and this series for her!
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
June 7, 2017
It seems that there is a continuing fascination for all things star-studded and by that, I mean entertainment stars - not solar system stars. The "FaithGirlz" publications are about empowering young girls to be what God has planned for them. You might want to check out the FaithGirls website (click here) for more about this program and their publications. I previously reviewed a couple of the FaithGirlz books for the 8-12 crowd and today I'm looking at "Hello Stars" another of the fiction books that tells the story of a young girl of faith and how she goes about life trying to live for God.
Written by mother and daughter who are both entertainers and about them as entertainers (fictional), we get into the star-studded life. How does being a young entertainer impact the life of a young girl? How "normal" a life can she live? In Hello Stars we learn that Lena struggles with obedience just as a "normal" girl does. Her mother guides her toward prayer about circumstances and decisions.
I found it refreshing that Hello Stars features a young African-American girl and her mother. This will be a good read for girls 8 to 12 of any race. It is about a Christian young girl and her mother so be sure to expect references to God, faith, Jesus, and prayer.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Handlebar Publicity on behalf of the publisher and author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
Written by mother and daughter who are both entertainers and about them as entertainers (fictional), we get into the star-studded life. How does being a young entertainer impact the life of a young girl? How "normal" a life can she live? In Hello Stars we learn that Lena struggles with obedience just as a "normal" girl does. Her mother guides her toward prayer about circumstances and decisions.
I found it refreshing that Hello Stars features a young African-American girl and her mother. This will be a good read for girls 8 to 12 of any race. It is about a Christian young girl and her mother so be sure to expect references to God, faith, Jesus, and prayer.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Handlebar Publicity on behalf of the publisher and author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.
June 1, 2021
CAWPILE rating: 2.29
June 20, 2017
I know that by working with Booklook Bloggers I am getting Christian Publishing. Up to this point, I have chosen books that either I feel will hold their own without religion being presented outright and in a prominent way - with values and morals versus scripture. On some occasions I have even reviewed books with bible verses shared before a story so that you know the moral going into the tale in books for younger kids. All that being said, I don't mind when there is religion in books, however I am not religious and with this particular book I had a few issues.
Lets start with the good stuff - I thought this tale overall was a pleasant one. The characters were interesting and the theme overall was pretty good. I also really liked that it is a youth writer with her mom. It is also a pretty short read and I liked that the main character journals - I think that is very important in a young persons life.
The issues that I had were not with the prominent prayer or things like that - it was that the parents are teaching the children that God is responsible for all lifes paths - they should try for things but everything is in God's hands. I can't really get behind that - why would your kid try to succeed at anything if nothing they do matters and God has already chosen anyway?... I know this is a huge debate, I am not trying to start anything, I am just saying how I feel.
I think that prayer and motivation can be used to push people, I don't think that conveying 'God's got it' is the most important thing. There was even a moment when the parents told the girls that they "can't" make important decisions by themselves and would always have God and them around to help. Teaching kids that they can't do things ... that is not learning to me.
All that being said, I think that is you are religious and need a book for your middle grade reader this is a good one, they are just not beliefs that I share (sorry).
See more reviews at Cover2CoverBlog
Lets start with the good stuff - I thought this tale overall was a pleasant one. The characters were interesting and the theme overall was pretty good. I also really liked that it is a youth writer with her mom. It is also a pretty short read and I liked that the main character journals - I think that is very important in a young persons life.
The issues that I had were not with the prominent prayer or things like that - it was that the parents are teaching the children that God is responsible for all lifes paths - they should try for things but everything is in God's hands. I can't really get behind that - why would your kid try to succeed at anything if nothing they do matters and God has already chosen anyway?... I know this is a huge debate, I am not trying to start anything, I am just saying how I feel.
I think that prayer and motivation can be used to push people, I don't think that conveying 'God's got it' is the most important thing. There was even a moment when the parents told the girls that they "can't" make important decisions by themselves and would always have God and them around to help. Teaching kids that they can't do things ... that is not learning to me.
All that being said, I think that is you are religious and need a book for your middle grade reader this is a good one, they are just not beliefs that I share (sorry).
See more reviews at Cover2CoverBlog
May 12, 2017
Getting Your Heart’s Desire Can Create Problems
Fifth grader, Lena Daniels, and her friends are super fans of singer, Mallory Winston. When Mallory sponsors a contest to find a girl to make a movie with her, Lena jumps at the chance and surprisingly wins. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, but what Lena wants is to meet Mallory. Now she’s committed to the movie, and her whole summer will be spent in California.
Lena has exceptionally committed parents, so the whole family, Lena’s three sisters and the dog, Austin, take off for California. Lena gets her wish to meet and work with Mallory, but making movie isn’t all fun. There are plenty of things that make her life difficult.
Middle grade girls will love this book. The characters are realistic, the plot is a dream for many tweens, and the book is filled with delightful black and white pictures to illustrate the text. The story is aimed at a Christian audience. Lena talks to God in her journal and asks for his help in the hard things in her life.
For me, one of the best parts of the book was seeing how committed Lena’s parents are. Busy parents often don’t have or take the time to help their children realize their dreams. However, in this book, the whole family gets behind Lena and helps her make a success of her experience.
I highly recommend this book for tween girls, but parents can enjoy it also.
I received this book from Handlebar Marketing for this review.
Fifth grader, Lena Daniels, and her friends are super fans of singer, Mallory Winston. When Mallory sponsors a contest to find a girl to make a movie with her, Lena jumps at the chance and surprisingly wins. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, but what Lena wants is to meet Mallory. Now she’s committed to the movie, and her whole summer will be spent in California.
Lena has exceptionally committed parents, so the whole family, Lena’s three sisters and the dog, Austin, take off for California. Lena gets her wish to meet and work with Mallory, but making movie isn’t all fun. There are plenty of things that make her life difficult.
Middle grade girls will love this book. The characters are realistic, the plot is a dream for many tweens, and the book is filled with delightful black and white pictures to illustrate the text. The story is aimed at a Christian audience. Lena talks to God in her journal and asks for his help in the hard things in her life.
For me, one of the best parts of the book was seeing how committed Lena’s parents are. Busy parents often don’t have or take the time to help their children realize their dreams. However, in this book, the whole family gets behind Lena and helps her make a success of her experience.
I highly recommend this book for tween girls, but parents can enjoy it also.
I received this book from Handlebar Marketing for this review.
May 29, 2017
This is a delightful youth fiction for girls 8-12 years old. It's a debut novel by a mother daughter team and introduces Lena Daniels. When Lena unexpectedly lands a movie role, the spirited eleven year old must find a way to balance stardom with “real” life. Suddenly Lena wishes she had time for her three younger sisters and her friends.
I like Lena as a character. She keeps on getting into crazy situations so there is a good bit of humor in the book. She is a loyal friend and a good sister. She struggles with making the right decisions yet endeavors to be obedient to God. I like Lena's family too. I was really impressed with how prayer is such a natural part of their lives.
This little book has many good lessons for tween girls. Lena learns the meaning of responsibility and what it means to be a person of your word. She also learns that one does not have to be an adult to be used by God. And I love this lessons on prayer from Lena's mom: “Praying is a way that you put God in charge of giving you what He wants for you. It's also a way to let Him know that you trust Him.” (82)
I recommend this book to young readers, especially ones interested in what it is like to be in a movie. You'll be entertained but also learn many good lessons to help you in your Christian life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I like Lena as a character. She keeps on getting into crazy situations so there is a good bit of humor in the book. She is a loyal friend and a good sister. She struggles with making the right decisions yet endeavors to be obedient to God. I like Lena's family too. I was really impressed with how prayer is such a natural part of their lives.
This little book has many good lessons for tween girls. Lena learns the meaning of responsibility and what it means to be a person of your word. She also learns that one does not have to be an adult to be used by God. And I love this lessons on prayer from Lena's mom: “Praying is a way that you put God in charge of giving you what He wants for you. It's also a way to let Him know that you trust Him.” (82)
I recommend this book to young readers, especially ones interested in what it is like to be in a movie. You'll be entertained but also learn many good lessons to help you in your Christian life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My comments are an independent and honest review.
June 18, 2017
This Christian tween book follows twelve-year-old Lena Daniels through the adventure of making her first movie in Hollywood. She’s a hopeful and Christ-filled girl who writes letters/prayers to God each night. She must learn to juggle her home life and her life as a rising Hollywood star; she didn’t think movie-making was quite what it turned out to be. Filled with the spirit of a twelve-year-old, she quickly captures her reader’s heart.
The book jacket was concise about the message delivered. The writing was clear and uplifting. The black and white illustrations were consistent with the story and message. I loved seeing characters that look like my little girl and my family.
The message was strong and not distracted or worn: Trust God in all things and have faith that His best is for our best. I enjoyed that both father and mother were spiritual leaders in Lena’s life. When she doubted, she leaned into what her parents told her about trusting God. I especially liked that Lena drew from the Bible to identify with what she was going through. For example, she referenced Peter and his walk on water. She asked God to not let her sink.
I would recommend this book for any girl ages 5 – 13. I would encourage parents to read it to their younger children. I read it to my 7 month old. For wholesome Christian reading, this book is perfect.
The book jacket was concise about the message delivered. The writing was clear and uplifting. The black and white illustrations were consistent with the story and message. I loved seeing characters that look like my little girl and my family.
The message was strong and not distracted or worn: Trust God in all things and have faith that His best is for our best. I enjoyed that both father and mother were spiritual leaders in Lena’s life. When she doubted, she leaned into what her parents told her about trusting God. I especially liked that Lena drew from the Bible to identify with what she was going through. For example, she referenced Peter and his walk on water. She asked God to not let her sink.
I would recommend this book for any girl ages 5 – 13. I would encourage parents to read it to their younger children. I read it to my 7 month old. For wholesome Christian reading, this book is perfect.
June 19, 2017
Lights … camera … action! for a fabulous new book! Alena Pitts has written an exciting story, full of drama, spiritual lessons, and movie lights.
It’s those lights that create such inner turmoil for Lena, the main character of the story. I love the way that the author has her parents, friends, and even a singer-celebrity helping her to learn big lessons when she faces hard times. Those lessons incorporate scripture, giving readers a steadfast foundation upon which to lean.
The troubles that Lena faces are realistic, even if much of the story is not. Most tweens won’t have the opportunity to star in a movie, or even meet their favorite celebrity face-to-face, but the author puts the character, despite those amazing situations, in places of realistic, everyday-people kind of stress, and she learns how to cope with that stress in real ways. That was definitely my favorite aspect of this book.
Hello Stars is a fairly short, fun read. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I expect great things in the subsequent books.
I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
It’s those lights that create such inner turmoil for Lena, the main character of the story. I love the way that the author has her parents, friends, and even a singer-celebrity helping her to learn big lessons when she faces hard times. Those lessons incorporate scripture, giving readers a steadfast foundation upon which to lean.
The troubles that Lena faces are realistic, even if much of the story is not. Most tweens won’t have the opportunity to star in a movie, or even meet their favorite celebrity face-to-face, but the author puts the character, despite those amazing situations, in places of realistic, everyday-people kind of stress, and she learns how to cope with that stress in real ways. That was definitely my favorite aspect of this book.
Hello Stars is a fairly short, fun read. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I expect great things in the subsequent books.
I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 2, 2017
Follow along with Lena as she reaches for the stars while keeping her faith in balance in this new Faithgirlz series!
This new Lena in the Spotlight fiction series is written by Alena Pitts (with a bit of help from her mom, Wynter). Alena is the star of the War Room film and this novel is a reflection of her own life experiences as she reaches for the stars while keeping her faith in balance.
This is a wonderful book to help keep your tweens and teens grounded given our flashy world.
I feel this is a book for confident, independent readers who are interested in learning more about what it's like to become a star, or just remain steadfast in their faith throughout all that today's world throws at them.
The 167 pages of text are joined by only a smattering of illustrations, so I feel girls in grades 2/3 through middle school would get the most out of it.
I'm happy that wholesome books like this are an option for our girls these days. I hope that my daughter will enjoy it, once she gets a bit older.
I received a free copy of this product as a member of Zondervan's Z Blog Squad in exchange for writing a review. All opinions are my own.
This new Lena in the Spotlight fiction series is written by Alena Pitts (with a bit of help from her mom, Wynter). Alena is the star of the War Room film and this novel is a reflection of her own life experiences as she reaches for the stars while keeping her faith in balance.
This is a wonderful book to help keep your tweens and teens grounded given our flashy world.
I feel this is a book for confident, independent readers who are interested in learning more about what it's like to become a star, or just remain steadfast in their faith throughout all that today's world throws at them.
The 167 pages of text are joined by only a smattering of illustrations, so I feel girls in grades 2/3 through middle school would get the most out of it.
I'm happy that wholesome books like this are an option for our girls these days. I hope that my daughter will enjoy it, once she gets a bit older.
I received a free copy of this product as a member of Zondervan's Z Blog Squad in exchange for writing a review. All opinions are my own.
November 12, 2020
From teen blogger "A:" This book is a great quick read for 8-12 year old girls. The story is fun to read, the thoughts and actions of characters are true-to-life, and the spiritual elements are perfectly balanced so as to be inspiring but not "preachy." It's a sweet, silly and well-written story that girls will return to again and again. I would highly recommend it! Fans of tween books by Nancy Rue, Sandra Byrd and Dandi Daley Mackall will especially enjoy Hello Stars.
Read our full review here: https://faithfunandfridays.weebly.com...
Read our full review here: https://faithfunandfridays.weebly.com...
November 8, 2025
Very good! Loved it!
Made me laugh: Page 30: “One was pecking around aimlessly and the other was doing something that involved smelling or looking at his chick friend's tail end. Whatever he was doing seemed gross and I preferred not to stare. We had learned as a class that this is perfectly normal chick behavior.”
Chicks aren’t dogs — they don’t sniff each other’s backsides — so it made me laugh!
Be aware:
Page 45:
“Remember Dad told us about the Israelites and how God sent them to Babylon, the bad city, even though they didn't want to be there?"
"Ohhhh yeah, that's right." Ansley remembered.
"They were slaves there but that is where God needed them to be. But why?"
"I dunno," she replied quickly.
I could tell she was now the one losing interest but I kept talking. "Do you really think God would send us somewhere we didn't want to go or that was bad for us? I don't understand why He would do that."
Page 128:
“I could tell by the look on Savannah's face that she was worried about something. I reached out and grabbed her shoulders. Then I leaned in forward until the brims of our baseball caps were touching and said, "It's ok. Cops in LA don't arrest kids! It's against the law!"
Made me laugh: Page 30: “One was pecking around aimlessly and the other was doing something that involved smelling or looking at his chick friend's tail end. Whatever he was doing seemed gross and I preferred not to stare. We had learned as a class that this is perfectly normal chick behavior.”
Chicks aren’t dogs — they don’t sniff each other’s backsides — so it made me laugh!
Be aware:
Page 45:
“Remember Dad told us about the Israelites and how God sent them to Babylon, the bad city, even though they didn't want to be there?"
"Ohhhh yeah, that's right." Ansley remembered.
"They were slaves there but that is where God needed them to be. But why?"
"I dunno," she replied quickly.
I could tell she was now the one losing interest but I kept talking. "Do you really think God would send us somewhere we didn't want to go or that was bad for us? I don't understand why He would do that."
Page 128:
“I could tell by the look on Savannah's face that she was worried about something. I reached out and grabbed her shoulders. Then I leaned in forward until the brims of our baseball caps were touching and said, "It's ok. Cops in LA don't arrest kids! It's against the law!"
January 26, 2023
Hello Stars, book one in the Lena in the Spotlight series, is a cute Christian middle grade book about a girl named Lena whose desire to meet singer Mallory Winston leads her to audition for a film. Lena soon realizes that her decision and even her prayers come with unexpected problems-- from having fruit snacks in her teeth in the audition video to having to leave her friends for almost the entire summer.
Lena's family is very strong in their faith; even when Lena has questions, she is guided in the right direction by her loving parents-- and even by her little sisters. However, I found it hard to believe that Lena was only ten-- she seemed at least twelve to me, especially when we figure out that she has sleeping problems that oftentimes leave her in random places in her room.
I really liked the film crew that Lena works with; they were all really nice to her and help her grow. Mallory especially. Lena's friends were nice, too, and treated Lena kindly even when she made mistakes.
Conclusively, I enjoyed this book; I'll be reading the rest of the series and sharing it with my little sister.
Lena's family is very strong in their faith; even when Lena has questions, she is guided in the right direction by her loving parents-- and even by her little sisters. However, I found it hard to believe that Lena was only ten-- she seemed at least twelve to me, especially when we figure out that she has sleeping problems that oftentimes leave her in random places in her room.
I really liked the film crew that Lena works with; they were all really nice to her and help her grow. Mallory especially. Lena's friends were nice, too, and treated Lena kindly even when she made mistakes.
Conclusively, I enjoyed this book; I'll be reading the rest of the series and sharing it with my little sister.
May 20, 2017
Starring in a movie, or even getting a small part, would be awesome, right? That's what Lena thought when her friends told her about the upcoming audition. It was her dream! Did it stay that way or did it become a nightmare?
Lena Daniels wanted to be a star both as a model and in film. When her chance came, she jumped, only to find that her dream was becoming a reality. What a wonderful and scary thing it was to be chosen to star with Mallory Winston. But, she never bargained on it affecting her summer, nor did she think she would be afraid. Come, meet Lena and follow along as she experiences some difficult emotions and choices. Watch how her faith helps her along the way. See how her family helps keep her grounded all the while helping her reach for the stars.
What a great book for preteens! The focus is on determination, faith, family, discipline, and balance. I recommend it to anyone with preteens/young teens. I received my free copy from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Lena Daniels wanted to be a star both as a model and in film. When her chance came, she jumped, only to find that her dream was becoming a reality. What a wonderful and scary thing it was to be chosen to star with Mallory Winston. But, she never bargained on it affecting her summer, nor did she think she would be afraid. Come, meet Lena and follow along as she experiences some difficult emotions and choices. Watch how her faith helps her along the way. See how her family helps keep her grounded all the while helping her reach for the stars.
What a great book for preteens! The focus is on determination, faith, family, discipline, and balance. I recommend it to anyone with preteens/young teens. I received my free copy from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2017
HELLO, STARS is the first book in Faithgirlz new series. It is full of drama, squealy preteens, and twists. Imagine finding out you could meet a movie star and then flubbing the video you make of yourself, but getting chosen anyway. Add rodents loose in the science classroom (and getting blamed for it) and having to move across the country to act in a movie you didn't even realize you were going to be acting in. Talk about being out of your element!
The book is full of faith, prayers, and positive vibes and lots of humor to keep tween girls interested and engaged. Pick up this book for an excellent summer reading book for your favorite tween. "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."
The book is full of faith, prayers, and positive vibes and lots of humor to keep tween girls interested and engaged. Pick up this book for an excellent summer reading book for your favorite tween. "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."
June 20, 2017
Great book for girls! I am so excited for this new series and I love Lena! I think this book is adorable. Perfect for young girls look for something fun and exciting to read, but something that is inspirational. I love that this book has the premise and foundation of God, especially that Lena does in the book. I love how Lena shows perservance throughout struggling when stuff doesn't go her way. God has her back and this book shows His goodness. I think young readers will love this book and adults too. Don't be afraid to grab a copy of this book. I give this book a 5/5 stars. Thank you to Zondervan for providing me a complimentary copy. A favorable review was not required.
June 24, 2017
Welcome to the story of a young girl who took in a task to make her dream come true. But when it became to hard to handle and the spotlight to heavy for her delicate soul, her family and faith were the anchors to pull her through… But disasters always waited on the corner of every turn, making a mess with friends and family…
A story of choices that will change a life forever… What to do when there is too much on the plate, and things go the wrong way? Expected moments of joy and ease, where did they go, when Lena’ve got everything she wanted?
Girls who have big dreams should read it… I give this one to my little sister.
A story of choices that will change a life forever… What to do when there is too much on the plate, and things go the wrong way? Expected moments of joy and ease, where did they go, when Lena’ve got everything she wanted?
Girls who have big dreams should read it… I give this one to my little sister.
July 8, 2017
My 8-year-old and I read this story together. We loved it. Although the lead character, Lena, is dealing with issues that occur in her special time to star in a movie, so many of her feelings and issues can relate to every day life. I love how the adults in her life are always turning to prayer and the Bible for help for Lena and their own issues and decisions. This story helps show children the power of God and the importance of prayer. It is an amazing story and I love that it is a multicultural book! Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2017
I am always looking for books for my daughter to have to read and it seems some times there is few and far between in the things that she likes. Books just like TV shows are coming up and seem to get a lot older for the age range. I like the people in the book because it's innocent and it's hard to find. This book was written by a mom daughter duo and it takes a whole new aspect on writing books. I think one of the best things about this book is that it is about a 12 year old and it is meant to make it easy on a 12 year old to read it. Wonderful book for tweens.
June 22, 2017
I am really happy to say that this is a great book explaining what a tween movie star role model should be. To be able to step away from the craziness of today's actresses and have a nice family to look up to is a blessing! The story itself was fun and interesting and I found myself rooting for Lena! I can not wait to read book 2! I hope to see Lena growing more and facing more lifelike issues. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy, all opinions are my own.
August 19, 2017
Hello Stars By Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts was a very cute book that is prefect for young tweens and teens as it shows what it really means to be in the spotlight. Yet, it does so in an appropriate way that will not offends or upset children. I found Lena to be a well rounded character that would be interesting to most girls who want to be an actress.
July 8, 2017
My daughter read and reviewed this book.
She gave it 4 3/4 stars mainly because of the God part of it though she loved the book.
Read her full review here: http://viabella-thebeautifullife.blog...
She gave it 4 3/4 stars mainly because of the God part of it though she loved the book.
Read her full review here: http://viabella-thebeautifullife.blog...
June 25, 2021
Sweet story clearly written by a child. My daughter (9) really enjoyed it and we are continuing with the series. Thankfully there wasn't too much drama to the story. Lots of praying with family members and certain cast members, so it has a wholesome feel to it.
January 1, 2019
super good; amazing; gr8 for kids all ages; etc
read it mutiple times
read it mutiple times
May 17, 2020
Feel good story about a young girl who has it all and then some. Good faith aspect but her "problems" are laughable to those less fortunate who might read this.
August 9, 2020
This is a great Christian themed reader for your upper elementary girls. Hard to find books like this.
April 12, 2022
Faith based book. Some of the scriptures used out of context.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews