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Secrets of a Fangirl
Sarah Anne loves lacrosse, and the MK Nightshade series that everyone was obsessed over in grade school. The problem is that she's still obsessed, which is way too nerdy for a popular kid like her. So she hides her geekiness with a set of rules meant to keep her geek and jock selves separate.
Except when she's offered a spot in a Nightshade fandom contest, where the winner gets to see the new movie premiere in LA. No one seems to think Sarah Anne can win, since she's up against a pair of guys in high school--but the more she's called a fake fan, the more determined she is to wipe the floor with her competition. As long as none of her friends or anyone at school knows what she's doing.
Can she keep her geek identity a secret, win the contest, and manage to keep her friends even though she's been living a lie? Sarah Anne is going to have to make some choices about what's truly important to her and which rules she's going to break to stay true to herself.
Except when she's offered a spot in a Nightshade fandom contest, where the winner gets to see the new movie premiere in LA. No one seems to think Sarah Anne can win, since she's up against a pair of guys in high school--but the more she's called a fake fan, the more determined she is to wipe the floor with her competition. As long as none of her friends or anyone at school knows what she's doing.
Can she keep her geek identity a secret, win the contest, and manage to keep her friends even though she's been living a lie? Sarah Anne is going to have to make some choices about what's truly important to her and which rules she's going to break to stay true to herself.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2019
3 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Erin Dionne
22 books339 followersI write books for tweens, teens, and anyone who survived junior high.
Please note: I have changed my review policy. I'll no longer be using the star rating system--I'm an author, not a reviewer or editor, and I'd rather support other authors by not ranking their books. I write honest (brief) reviews for each book I read, so please look to those to find out what I loved.
Please note: I have changed my review policy. I'll no longer be using the star rating system--I'm an author, not a reviewer or editor, and I'd rather support other authors by not ranking their books. I write honest (brief) reviews for each book I read, so please look to those to find out what I loved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book puts a spotlight on the struggle between fitting in and holding onto the things that make you unique. Sarah Anne' best friends all think that MK Nightshade is for babies, but she's still the ultimate (secret) fan. When she gets the chance to compete for a huge fan prize, she decides to go for it---as long as she can do it without anyone knowing. Of course, that proves easier said than done, and Sarah Anne spends a lot of the book trying desperately to hold onto friendships that are more controlling than they are healthy. I think a lot of kids will relate to Sarah Anne's struggles to live up to her friends' expectations for how she's supposed to act and dress. Keeping her fandom a secret from them is tough. She also struggles with the question of whether or not to go to the dance with a popular boy who isn't so nice. Add in boys who seem to think that a girl couldn't be a "real fan" of Nightshade (or be good at science) and you have a recipe for MG disaster!
Overall, a fun read that many MG readers will relate to.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book puts a spotlight on the struggle between fitting in and holding onto the things that make you unique. Sarah Anne' best friends all think that MK Nightshade is for babies, but she's still the ultimate (secret) fan. When she gets the chance to compete for a huge fan prize, she decides to go for it---as long as she can do it without anyone knowing. Of course, that proves easier said than done, and Sarah Anne spends a lot of the book trying desperately to hold onto friendships that are more controlling than they are healthy. I think a lot of kids will relate to Sarah Anne's struggles to live up to her friends' expectations for how she's supposed to act and dress. Keeping her fandom a secret from them is tough. She also struggles with the question of whether or not to go to the dance with a popular boy who isn't so nice. Add in boys who seem to think that a girl couldn't be a "real fan" of Nightshade (or be good at science) and you have a recipe for MG disaster!
Overall, a fun read that many MG readers will relate to.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
May 24, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
Secrets of a Fangirl is a book about a fangirl.
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, Secrets of a Fangirl is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
Sarah Anne's parents are with her and I am all for it.
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
Dionne's latest novel is full of moods.
I opened Secrets of a Fangirl and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
Secrets of a Fangirl is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
Secrets of a Fangirl is a book about a fangirl.
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, Secrets of a Fangirl is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
Sarah Anne's parents are with her and I am all for it.
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
Dionne's latest novel is full of moods.
I opened Secrets of a Fangirl and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
Secrets of a Fangirl is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
May 19, 2019
Secrets of a Fangirl is a middle grade book that I read in one sitting. This author knows how to suck you in from the start. I guess it helps being a fangirl myself, that I love when characters are also in a fandom and love everything about it. On top of that, this book addresses some really serious subjects, that this age group may deal with: bullying, accepting yourself, friendships, finding where you belong and accepting the things you love.
Sarah Anne is a big fan of the MK Nightshade series, but is afraid of showing this to her friends. Since they've gotten a bit older, things are cool or they aren't. Just like any person, Sarah Anne wants to fit in and have friends. Things get complicated when she enters a fan competition and wins. This brings along another competition and juggling everything so no one finds out is hard to do.
Secrets of a Fangirl really shows how tough it can be when transitioning to middle school/high school. Wanting to fit in is really normal, but everyone also starts changing. Things you may have once loved with friends can change. Sarah Anne started having a hard time with this. Her love for a fandom was so big, but wanting to fit in beat this many times. It may have taken awhile, but she starts realizing that all these rules to fit in are very tiring.
I really love Sarah Anne's journey and her standing up for herself and owning her fandom. Being happy with something you love is worth so much more than pretending to be someone you're not for "friends". In the end, she realized who her true friends really were.
I loved that the author did approach bullying, etc. in this story. This happens way too much in this day and age and I really wonder how many kids realize what the consequences are from their actions. In my opinion I think near the end it could've been addressed just a little bit more. I don't expect all the friendships to be instantly fixed, but I felt like for learning purposes, the subject could've been dealt with just a bit more.
Fandoms are an amazing things and the friendships you gain from them can be the ones you never expect on developing. As an adult I still love my fandoms and the communities surrounding them. I loved that the author had our main character be in love with a fandom and know all the little details. The competition made it even greater. All in all, this book left a smile on my face. I definitely recommend this middle grade story!
Sarah Anne is a big fan of the MK Nightshade series, but is afraid of showing this to her friends. Since they've gotten a bit older, things are cool or they aren't. Just like any person, Sarah Anne wants to fit in and have friends. Things get complicated when she enters a fan competition and wins. This brings along another competition and juggling everything so no one finds out is hard to do.
Secrets of a Fangirl really shows how tough it can be when transitioning to middle school/high school. Wanting to fit in is really normal, but everyone also starts changing. Things you may have once loved with friends can change. Sarah Anne started having a hard time with this. Her love for a fandom was so big, but wanting to fit in beat this many times. It may have taken awhile, but she starts realizing that all these rules to fit in are very tiring.
I really love Sarah Anne's journey and her standing up for herself and owning her fandom. Being happy with something you love is worth so much more than pretending to be someone you're not for "friends". In the end, she realized who her true friends really were.
I loved that the author did approach bullying, etc. in this story. This happens way too much in this day and age and I really wonder how many kids realize what the consequences are from their actions. In my opinion I think near the end it could've been addressed just a little bit more. I don't expect all the friendships to be instantly fixed, but I felt like for learning purposes, the subject could've been dealt with just a bit more.
Fandoms are an amazing things and the friendships you gain from them can be the ones you never expect on developing. As an adult I still love my fandoms and the communities surrounding them. I loved that the author had our main character be in love with a fandom and know all the little details. The competition made it even greater. All in all, this book left a smile on my face. I definitely recommend this middle grade story!
maybe-read
May 24, 2019Recommended by Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts.
July 13, 2019
Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne, 272 pages. Arthur A Levine (Scholastic), June 2019. $17.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Since they entered middle school, Sarah Anne, 7thgrade, has always followed the lead of her best friend, Roxy, when it comes to clothes, music, activities, because Roxy knows what will make them popular. But Sarah Anne has hidden the fact that she still loves the MK Nightshade fantasy series. Now Sam (as she’s known on the fan boards) has the chance to win tickets to the world premiere of the latest movie. Can she win the contest and keep her identity secret? Sarah Anne may not be up to the stress of juggling lacrosse, school, a boy, and a contest.
I talked to the counselors at my middle class, white, suburban middle school and they said that friendship drama is the biggest driver of girls into their offices. I hope that Sarah Anne’s story can be a little window into a way for a few of these girls to see that friendships can change or end, but in they end you can’t hide yourself or change yourself just to stay in a group.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Since they entered middle school, Sarah Anne, 7thgrade, has always followed the lead of her best friend, Roxy, when it comes to clothes, music, activities, because Roxy knows what will make them popular. But Sarah Anne has hidden the fact that she still loves the MK Nightshade fantasy series. Now Sam (as she’s known on the fan boards) has the chance to win tickets to the world premiere of the latest movie. Can she win the contest and keep her identity secret? Sarah Anne may not be up to the stress of juggling lacrosse, school, a boy, and a contest.
I talked to the counselors at my middle class, white, suburban middle school and they said that friendship drama is the biggest driver of girls into their offices. I hope that Sarah Anne’s story can be a little window into a way for a few of these girls to see that friendships can change or end, but in they end you can’t hide yourself or change yourself just to stay in a group.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
May 11, 2019
SECRETS OF A FANGIRL is a fun contemporary middle grade about embracing yourself for who you are and what you love. Sarah Anne is one of the popular girls in middle school and a star lacrosse player. Her best friend told her a few years before that she couldn’t like MK Nightshade anymore, so Sarah Anne has created some rules to separate herself from the fandom which she still adores. In fact, she is such a big fan that she has won a contest to be on a panel.
At the panel, Sarah Anne is talked over and around, even though she clearly knows more than the older boys who are also participating. This type of sexism follows her around, even at school, where she has been assigned to work with a guy who does not hide his geeky side and who assumes from the start that she would not be so into science. However, Sarah Anne does a great job of setting him straight.
Sarah Anne is also given an opportunity to compete in a bigger contest to win a trip to see the new MK Nightshade movie. As she competes, it becomes harder to hide her fangirl. At the same time, she is questioning her friends, who are bullying others and filling the true mean, popular group stereotype. The suspense of whether she will win plus whether she will be able to keep it a secret makes the book move quickly.
What I loved: There is a great depiction of the struggle for popularity, embracing yourself, and sexism. Sarah Anne is a strong main character, and her journey is difficult but interesting to follow. There are also some fun tidbits about fandoms and competing that really add something extra to the story.
What left me wanting more: A subtheme of the book is bullying, and this was not really addressed. Sarah Anne doesn’t really get involved, but she witnesses it quite a bit and is uncomfortable about it. I would have loved to see her take action (whether getting adults involved or standing up for the victims) on this, as this is a common problem. However, the presentation does bring attention to the issue.
Final verdict: This is a delightful story about accepting yourself and being who you are, even when it’s not popular. With a clever main character and suspenseful challenges, this fast-paced read is great for fans of contemporary middle grade.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
At the panel, Sarah Anne is talked over and around, even though she clearly knows more than the older boys who are also participating. This type of sexism follows her around, even at school, where she has been assigned to work with a guy who does not hide his geeky side and who assumes from the start that she would not be so into science. However, Sarah Anne does a great job of setting him straight.
Sarah Anne is also given an opportunity to compete in a bigger contest to win a trip to see the new MK Nightshade movie. As she competes, it becomes harder to hide her fangirl. At the same time, she is questioning her friends, who are bullying others and filling the true mean, popular group stereotype. The suspense of whether she will win plus whether she will be able to keep it a secret makes the book move quickly.
What I loved: There is a great depiction of the struggle for popularity, embracing yourself, and sexism. Sarah Anne is a strong main character, and her journey is difficult but interesting to follow. There are also some fun tidbits about fandoms and competing that really add something extra to the story.
What left me wanting more: A subtheme of the book is bullying, and this was not really addressed. Sarah Anne doesn’t really get involved, but she witnesses it quite a bit and is uncomfortable about it. I would have loved to see her take action (whether getting adults involved or standing up for the victims) on this, as this is a common problem. However, the presentation does bring attention to the issue.
Final verdict: This is a delightful story about accepting yourself and being who you are, even when it’s not popular. With a clever main character and suspenseful challenges, this fast-paced read is great for fans of contemporary middle grade.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
June 23, 2019
I haven’t read a book by Erin Dionne in nearly ten years, so this felt like an easygoing throwback to my childhood. Secrets of a Fangirl is a very boilerplate story, but it has so much genuine enthusiasm and love for nerd culture that it pulls it off anyway. Though the series that the main character adores is fictional, her obsession with it can easily be translated to any fandom you’ve ever fallen in love with, and the story examines—though not in an overly heavy-handed way—sexism within fan communities and the stigma that comes with being an uber-nerd.
There are moments when it feels a bit overblown—maybe it’s because middle school was a long time ago for me or maybe it’s because I didn’t hang out with the popular crowd, but the extent of the disparagement towards anyone expressing love of a fictional series didn’t ring true to me. However, on a personal level, thinking that people will judge you for being part of a fandom (whether or not this belief is founded in any truth is beside the point) felt pretty applicable to my middle school experience. In elementary school, fandom was normal and in high school and college it suddenly became cool again to like fantasy and sci-fi sagas; but I do think some middle schoolers (some! not all) try so much to fit the stereotypical “cool” image that they shunt those things to the side, only to realize a few years later how silly that was. In seventh grade, I remember feeling like I was a weirdo for still loving Disney and Harry Potter, but by freshman year of high school it wasn’t a big deal at all; middle school is a bizarre couple of years.
Long story short, this is a fun and super-short read about embracing your passions, being yourself, and knowing that the only people who really matter are the ones who like you for who you really are. And, hey, given how middle-school just might be the one point in youth nowadays where fandom is something kids feel like they must hide, this book could be really good for tween readers. Even if it’s not life-changing, it’s a pleasant, entertaining ride.
3 stars.
There are moments when it feels a bit overblown—maybe it’s because middle school was a long time ago for me or maybe it’s because I didn’t hang out with the popular crowd, but the extent of the disparagement towards anyone expressing love of a fictional series didn’t ring true to me. However, on a personal level, thinking that people will judge you for being part of a fandom (whether or not this belief is founded in any truth is beside the point) felt pretty applicable to my middle school experience. In elementary school, fandom was normal and in high school and college it suddenly became cool again to like fantasy and sci-fi sagas; but I do think some middle schoolers (some! not all) try so much to fit the stereotypical “cool” image that they shunt those things to the side, only to realize a few years later how silly that was. In seventh grade, I remember feeling like I was a weirdo for still loving Disney and Harry Potter, but by freshman year of high school it wasn’t a big deal at all; middle school is a bizarre couple of years.
Long story short, this is a fun and super-short read about embracing your passions, being yourself, and knowing that the only people who really matter are the ones who like you for who you really are. And, hey, given how middle-school just might be the one point in youth nowadays where fandom is something kids feel like they must hide, this book could be really good for tween readers. Even if it’s not life-changing, it’s a pleasant, entertaining ride.
3 stars.
August 19, 2019
This one is a 3.5 for me. Books like this one are so good for the soul and so very necessary for middle graders who feel that they must lose or hide a part of themselves in order to fit in. For sixth grader Sarah Anne Marchetta, that means leaving behind her fondness for the MK Nightshade series. Instead, she spends her time playing lacrosse and following the lead of her best friend, Roxy, who is determined to rise to the top of the social order in their grade and has advised her to get over this obsession. Sarah Anne does just that in public, not in private, she still loves the series. As Sarah Anne catches the eye of seventh grade dreamboat Tucker, who wants to ask Sarah Anne to the school dance, Roxy becomes even more invested in Sarah Anne's choices at school since she wants to go out with Tucker's best friend, Jerry. And then there's the ubiquitous Jess D, who has her eye on Tucker and on Roxy. It would be simple enough for Sarah Anne to hide her true identity and interest except she's one of the finalists in an online competition for passes to the premiere of the Nightshade movie. She totally dominates the competition even while coming closer and closer to revealing her geeky side. But as she realizes that she's losing certain friends because of her choices, she also realizes that she's finding new ones who accept her as she is. I loved Hannah and Hugh and the nascent romance between Sarah Anne and Hugh. It wasn't easy to read about her friend walking away from her, but sometimes that happens when we outgrow our friends or both of us move in different directions. This one would be perfect to hand to just about any middle grader, especially those that seem to be struggling with being true to themselves. While something is lost, so much more is gained by being true to oneself. I appreciated how the protagonist gained confidence and inspiration from her fictional alter ego in the series and how her parents were also geeks.
May 14, 2019
Sarah Anne is the biggest fan of the MK Nightshade series, but it's taboo in the popular world of her high school. As one of the popular girls, she has to hide the geek in her to avoid being made fun of. She also doesn't want to risk losing her best friend Roxy, especially since Jess D starts hanging around. Jess is shoving a wedge between Roxy and Sarah Anne, so it makes Sarah even more fearful of her secret.
When Sarah wins a contest for the MK Nightshade series, she's entered to win tickets to the premiere of the movie, but she must win a second contest. This contest is full of trials to test to see who really is the biggest fan. As she completes the tasks, they become harder and more public. Sarah finds it more and more difficult to keep the popular girl Sarah Anne and the nerd girl SAM separate. Not to mention that one of her competitors has it our for her and will do anything to win.
As a fellow nerdy girl, I absolutely loved this book. It can be scary when you're so worried about what others will think, but you don't feel like yourself with it hidden. That's the case for Sarah. The MK Nightshade series is a huge part of her life and having to keep it a secret is like denying a part of her. When she gets partnered with nerdy Hugh for a science project, she discovers that he's also a fan of the MK Nightshade series. I love Hugh and it was interesting seeing how hard Sarah worked to keep her secret from everyone. This book is an easy middle grade read that I finished fairly quickly. It held my interest the whole way through.
Final Verdict: SECRETS OF A FANGIRL is a story for all those nerdy girls out there. This book reminds us of the importance of being you, no matter what you like.
This review can also be found on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
When Sarah wins a contest for the MK Nightshade series, she's entered to win tickets to the premiere of the movie, but she must win a second contest. This contest is full of trials to test to see who really is the biggest fan. As she completes the tasks, they become harder and more public. Sarah finds it more and more difficult to keep the popular girl Sarah Anne and the nerd girl SAM separate. Not to mention that one of her competitors has it our for her and will do anything to win.
As a fellow nerdy girl, I absolutely loved this book. It can be scary when you're so worried about what others will think, but you don't feel like yourself with it hidden. That's the case for Sarah. The MK Nightshade series is a huge part of her life and having to keep it a secret is like denying a part of her. When she gets partnered with nerdy Hugh for a science project, she discovers that he's also a fan of the MK Nightshade series. I love Hugh and it was interesting seeing how hard Sarah worked to keep her secret from everyone. This book is an easy middle grade read that I finished fairly quickly. It held my interest the whole way through.
Final Verdict: SECRETS OF A FANGIRL is a story for all those nerdy girls out there. This book reminds us of the importance of being you, no matter what you like.
This review can also be found on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
June 24, 2019
Plot
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC
November 17, 2019
In Secrets of a Fangirl, Sarah Anne loves MK Nightshade, the creator of The Realm, a fictional fantasy world similar to that of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Unfortunately, MK Nightshade is not considered “cool” by other middle schoolers, especially Sarah Anne’s friends. Even though this was the case, Sarah Anne secretly entered an MK Nightshade contest and won. While she was excited to be competing for the number one fan slot, she had to do so by lying sneaking around her friends in order for them not to find out about her passion. Through many twists and turns, Sarah Anne wins the contest while simultaneously having her friends find out about the secret she has been keeping from them. Sarah Anne realizes who her true friends are when some accept her for who she is while others consider middle school popularity more important.
This teenage novel grabs the reader’s attention from the cover. Underneath the book jacket, embossed illustrations of a dragon, sword, and lacrosse stick give the reader a hint to the events to come. The main character, Sarah Anne, is a strong, female character who deals with sexism, bullying, and staying true to oneself throughout the story. As Sarah Anne is competing in the MK Nightshade game, there are many parallels between the challenges she faces in the competition and the ones she is encountering in her personal life. The ending shows young readers that true friends want others to be their authentic selves and that their friendship should mean more than popularity.
This teenage novel grabs the reader’s attention from the cover. Underneath the book jacket, embossed illustrations of a dragon, sword, and lacrosse stick give the reader a hint to the events to come. The main character, Sarah Anne, is a strong, female character who deals with sexism, bullying, and staying true to oneself throughout the story. As Sarah Anne is competing in the MK Nightshade game, there are many parallels between the challenges she faces in the competition and the ones she is encountering in her personal life. The ending shows young readers that true friends want others to be their authentic selves and that their friendship should mean more than popularity.
July 20, 2019
I loved this book!
I could really relate to Sarah Anne, the main character. She was a huge fan of a series called Nightshade, but she had to hide it from her friends. Her friends no longer thought it was “cool” to belong to a fandom, so Sarah Anne had to pretend that she didn’t like it anymore either. When she enters a contest online and wins, entering her into a fandom challenge, her secret “geeky” identity is put on display. I could relate to this because I remember in middle school and high school when liking geeky things, like fantasy book series or video games, was uncool. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I chose to ignore the fandoms that I loved, so that I could fit in with the rest of my classmates and friends. Now that I’m older, I wear tons of fandom gear, and I’m not afraid for anyone to know what geeky things I love.
I kept cringing at Sarah Anne’s popular friends. They were mean to so many kids, just because they liked certain movies and fandoms. One boy even expected Sarah Anne to keep up her position on the lacrosse team, because he couldn’t be seen with her if she wasn’t the best. This was so sad to read about, but it is definitely a real part of school. There are always the mean kids who think they can control what everyone else does in the school. The important thing is to continue to stand up for what you believe in.
This was a great book!
Thank you to Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I could really relate to Sarah Anne, the main character. She was a huge fan of a series called Nightshade, but she had to hide it from her friends. Her friends no longer thought it was “cool” to belong to a fandom, so Sarah Anne had to pretend that she didn’t like it anymore either. When she enters a contest online and wins, entering her into a fandom challenge, her secret “geeky” identity is put on display. I could relate to this because I remember in middle school and high school when liking geeky things, like fantasy book series or video games, was uncool. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I chose to ignore the fandoms that I loved, so that I could fit in with the rest of my classmates and friends. Now that I’m older, I wear tons of fandom gear, and I’m not afraid for anyone to know what geeky things I love.
I kept cringing at Sarah Anne’s popular friends. They were mean to so many kids, just because they liked certain movies and fandoms. One boy even expected Sarah Anne to keep up her position on the lacrosse team, because he couldn’t be seen with her if she wasn’t the best. This was so sad to read about, but it is definitely a real part of school. There are always the mean kids who think they can control what everyone else does in the school. The important thing is to continue to stand up for what you believe in.
This was a great book!
Thank you to Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2020
*Before I jump into my review, I want thank the publisher and The FFBC for providing me with a spot on this blog tour and an ARC in exchange for this honest review.*
Sarah Anne wants to be cool, I mean she is cool! But she wants to stay cool, she doesn’t want anything jeopardizing that and her best friend can’t know about her passion. But when she enters a contest which needs her to do more things that put her “geek” on full display.
I really enjoyed this book. The author captured the feelings of being in middle-school so well, making me remember my time in middle school. I could feel the angst and the pressure jumping off the page.
Sarah Anne is cool. She is cooler than I could have EVER been when I was her age. She is devoted and she is her own person.
Sarah Anne doesn’t let anything or anyone stop her, she knows that there are people who want to see her fail but that doesnt matter. And sometimes we think that people will be weirded out by the things we find to be our favorites, but thats not usually the case. I know I still feel weird about people finding out about my blog sometimes, but at the end of the day we ALL have something we think is embarrassing when we know it’s really not.
The story touches upon SO many important things that happen as a middle-schooler and I enjoyed it so much. It is well-written, fun and a great read! I really recommend it!
Sarah Anne wants to be cool, I mean she is cool! But she wants to stay cool, she doesn’t want anything jeopardizing that and her best friend can’t know about her passion. But when she enters a contest which needs her to do more things that put her “geek” on full display.
I really enjoyed this book. The author captured the feelings of being in middle-school so well, making me remember my time in middle school. I could feel the angst and the pressure jumping off the page.
Sarah Anne is cool. She is cooler than I could have EVER been when I was her age. She is devoted and she is her own person.
Sarah Anne doesn’t let anything or anyone stop her, she knows that there are people who want to see her fail but that doesnt matter. And sometimes we think that people will be weirded out by the things we find to be our favorites, but thats not usually the case. I know I still feel weird about people finding out about my blog sometimes, but at the end of the day we ALL have something we think is embarrassing when we know it’s really not.
The story touches upon SO many important things that happen as a middle-schooler and I enjoyed it so much. It is well-written, fun and a great read! I really recommend it!
May 11, 2019
@KidLitExchange #partner
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this middle grades novel. It focuses on topics and themes that many middle schoolers have to deal with: peer pressure, fitting in, and being true to yourself. Sarah Anne likes lacrosse, hanging out with her best friend Roxy, and the MK Nightshade series and realm. Roxy also used to enjoy the MK Nightshade fandom but has since deemed it childish and uncool. Sarah Anne enters and wins an MK Nightshade fan contest launching her into an even bigger competition. Now, she struggles with keeping her geeky identity a secret from her friends. Along the way, she begins to question why she's hiding her fandom and if she really wants to fit in with her "friends" or not.
This story and Sarah Anne's struggles are so easy to relate to. Often times enjoying and being a part of a fandom is viewed as dorky. I love that this book focuses on embracing your identity and passions. I also like that it touches on the world of social media and dealing with negative comments and trolls (both on and offline). This was a fun novel and a quick read. I hope to add it to my classroom library once it's released.
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this middle grades novel. It focuses on topics and themes that many middle schoolers have to deal with: peer pressure, fitting in, and being true to yourself. Sarah Anne likes lacrosse, hanging out with her best friend Roxy, and the MK Nightshade series and realm. Roxy also used to enjoy the MK Nightshade fandom but has since deemed it childish and uncool. Sarah Anne enters and wins an MK Nightshade fan contest launching her into an even bigger competition. Now, she struggles with keeping her geeky identity a secret from her friends. Along the way, she begins to question why she's hiding her fandom and if she really wants to fit in with her "friends" or not.
This story and Sarah Anne's struggles are so easy to relate to. Often times enjoying and being a part of a fandom is viewed as dorky. I love that this book focuses on embracing your identity and passions. I also like that it touches on the world of social media and dealing with negative comments and trolls (both on and offline). This was a fun novel and a quick read. I hope to add it to my classroom library once it's released.
June 15, 2019
This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.
Middle grade is one of my favorite genres, and I’m so glad this gem of a book found me! Erin Dionne is the author of numerous middle-grade novels, but this is the first one I’ve read. After Secrets of a Fangirl though I’m hoping to read some of her backlist titles.
A couple of weeks prior to reading Secrets of a Fangirl I had the privilege of interviewing Erin. I could tell right away that she was meant to be writing books for kids. The personality she showed in the interview came out in full force through her writing and made for a fun story. This is such a critical component for middle-grade books that often gets left out.
I loved how relatable of a character Sarah Anne was. We all go through times in life, especially as young kids, when the only thing we want is to fit in. It’s so easy for us to sacrifice the things we love and enjoy in order to seem cool and popular. Sarah Anne’s journey is one that is so important for younger readers. Secrets of a Fangirl helps show that you can be yourself and still have cool friends in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy.
As a parent, this is the kind of story I’m going to want to make available to my son when he’s older. It’s a book I would love to see in school libraries and accessible. Erin Dionne really created something special within these pages. Secrets of a Fangirl is full of personality and really makes you think about whether or not you’re being the best person you can be.
TL;DR: Full of personality and an important message, Secrets of a Fangirl is one you’ll want to read and pass on to the middle grader in your life.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Middle grade is one of my favorite genres, and I’m so glad this gem of a book found me! Erin Dionne is the author of numerous middle-grade novels, but this is the first one I’ve read. After Secrets of a Fangirl though I’m hoping to read some of her backlist titles.
A couple of weeks prior to reading Secrets of a Fangirl I had the privilege of interviewing Erin. I could tell right away that she was meant to be writing books for kids. The personality she showed in the interview came out in full force through her writing and made for a fun story. This is such a critical component for middle-grade books that often gets left out.
I loved how relatable of a character Sarah Anne was. We all go through times in life, especially as young kids, when the only thing we want is to fit in. It’s so easy for us to sacrifice the things we love and enjoy in order to seem cool and popular. Sarah Anne’s journey is one that is so important for younger readers. Secrets of a Fangirl helps show that you can be yourself and still have cool friends in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy.
As a parent, this is the kind of story I’m going to want to make available to my son when he’s older. It’s a book I would love to see in school libraries and accessible. Erin Dionne really created something special within these pages. Secrets of a Fangirl is full of personality and really makes you think about whether or not you’re being the best person you can be.
TL;DR: Full of personality and an important message, Secrets of a Fangirl is one you’ll want to read and pass on to the middle grader in your life.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2019
Sarah Anne cements her place as a popular girl by playing lacrosse and following the lead of her BFF Roxy and that means pretending this isn’t STILL obsessed with Nightshade fantasy series. Secretly, Sarah Anne still loves the books and even wins a chance to be on a fan panel and a convention. When the rest of the panel implies that Sarah Anne is only there because of her father she becomes determined to win a contest to prove otherwise. It’s pretty hard to juggle a secret contest, school work, lacrosse practice and friend drama in middle school – Sarah Anne has to choose between being true to herself and doing what it expected to fit in. Recommended.
September 4, 2019
Ah, middle-school drama...I look back on thee fondly.
A cute and quick contemporary middle-grade with a good message about staying true to yourself. I enjoy books about fandoms but the main focus on this was Sarah Anne/SAM's relationship with her friends and trying to be popular vs. following her geeky passions. Wish we had gotten more details on why she loves the MK Nightshade fandom so much because a lot of the other people in it acted like jerks to her just because she was a girl.
A cute and quick contemporary middle-grade with a good message about staying true to yourself. I enjoy books about fandoms but the main focus on this was Sarah Anne/SAM's relationship with her friends and trying to be popular vs. following her geeky passions. Wish we had gotten more details on why she loves the MK Nightshade fandom so much because a lot of the other people in it acted like jerks to her just because she was a girl.
November 24, 2019
This was a pretty good book. I'm kind of confused about why Sarah Anne tried to cover up the fact that she was into a fandom. In my opinion she was trying way to hard, though I am glad that she decided to be true to herself at the end. Also, I kind of wish that Sarah Anne and Roxy remained friends. But I am glad that at least Hannah was a good good friend until the end, although I don't really get the snake thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
A great middle grade read that teaches us the importance of being ourselves. Sarah Anne loves all things MK Nightshade, a fantasy series, but keeps it a secret from her friends as they don’t deem it “cool.”
Fun read, but no real literary merit!
Fun read, but no real literary merit!
April 23, 2020
The author was spot-on with her representation of how many boys treat girls who are into a fandom. I also enjoyed the struggle the main character had trying to keep up with her maturing friend group who wanted to be popular versus trying to be true to herself and stick to her morals.
February 7, 2022
OMG OMG- As a lacrosse player myself and someone who loves things normally considered "nerdy", I loved this book. It had a great lesson on being yourself and not letting anyone else try to define you.
May 29, 2025
Super cute!!!
The book is awesome for what it is! I loved reading it! Not my favorite because I prefer more emotion, and the writing style wasn’t the best, but it was a very cute book overall! Exactly what I needed during finals week! ⭐️
The book is awesome for what it is! I loved reading it! Not my favorite because I prefer more emotion, and the writing style wasn’t the best, but it was a very cute book overall! Exactly what I needed during finals week! ⭐️
July 22, 2019
3.5 stars. I didn't like this book as much, because half of the book, she was just faking her life. I think this book was a short, cute read, with a good message.
July 26, 2019
Good read the preview then fell in love with Samantha anne
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2019
This was adorable.
September 14, 2019
I have never been too worried about wearing my fandom on my sleeve.
Of course I came to it in college. Early college but still college. So that might have helped.
Fun one!!!!!
Of course I came to it in college. Early college but still college. So that might have helped.
Fun one!!!!!
November 20, 2019
It was fine, but I thought the anti-fandom sentiment was a little intense. I've been working in middle school for years, and pretty much everyone likes Harry Potter and superhero movies.
December 13, 2019
This is one of the best books I ever read!!!!
May 19, 2021
I picked this up at the book fair for my kids because I thought it sounded fun, but the characters were so bland and the story was so boring. Did not enjoy at all.
August 14, 2021
I really enjoy this YA author. The message is something we could all use. We’re happiest when we are true to ourselves.
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