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Brand-New Emily
One teen outcast. One powerful publicist. Together, they’ll create the hottest brand Wright Middle School has ever seen.
New-girl Emily Wood is in big she’s accidentally crossed the alpha-clique she calls “The Daisies,” and now she’s the target of such social mudslinging that no one at school is talking to her. But when Emily stumbles onto some top-secret celebrity gossip, she finds herself in a position to hire New York’s most powerful public relations firm—and have a shot at a whole new image!
Make way for Brand she’s got style, she’s got attitude, and she doesn’t take flak from The Daisies. But no product can stay hot forever. Will Emily discover the limits of brand loyalty, or is she in danger of becoming the brand and losing herself?
New-girl Emily Wood is in big she’s accidentally crossed the alpha-clique she calls “The Daisies,” and now she’s the target of such social mudslinging that no one at school is talking to her. But when Emily stumbles onto some top-secret celebrity gossip, she finds herself in a position to hire New York’s most powerful public relations firm—and have a shot at a whole new image!
Make way for Brand she’s got style, she’s got attitude, and she doesn’t take flak from The Daisies. But no product can stay hot forever. Will Emily discover the limits of brand loyalty, or is she in danger of becoming the brand and losing herself?
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2009
19 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 30, 2009
Emily is the new girl in town, but worse than that, she's the target of the uber-classy "Daisies," who take every opportunity to humiliate her. Fortunes begin to turn for Emily when she discovers that her uncle the cop is working security for hot young actor Colby Summers. Emily wangles an intro and an interview, and then embarks on the boldest adventure of her life - the re-branding of Emily, now known as "Em." With brilliant - and almost unbelievable assistance from Colby's publicist, Em sets out to beat the Daisies at their own game -- and is surprised at the outcome.
The author's knowledge of the way 8th graders talk is so current and so accurate that as soon as teen conversation styles change, this book is gonna be, like, so a loser. Get it now, before it's outdated! I wasn't surprised to learn that the author teaches middle school English and is immersed in teen conversations every day.
On the whole, highly believable social behavior and language, but a bit over the top with the availability of a superstar to a teen. Girls 11-14 will love it.
The author's knowledge of the way 8th graders talk is so current and so accurate that as soon as teen conversation styles change, this book is gonna be, like, so a loser. Get it now, before it's outdated! I wasn't surprised to learn that the author teaches middle school English and is immersed in teen conversations every day.
On the whole, highly believable social behavior and language, but a bit over the top with the availability of a superstar to a teen. Girls 11-14 will love it.
September 20, 2018
Brand New Emily By:Ginger Rue is about a girl in middle school that has no friends and is getting bullied by 8th graders. Emily is in Middle School like me so she is an outcast the new girl Emily is in big trouble cuz she accidentally pressed the outfit quick caught the daisies and now she's a target of such a social mudslinging that no one else was talking to her so after that she just sees herself and does whatever that she wants to end us let anybody stop her and bring her down this inspires me because one day I want to become like Emily because I want to stand up for myself and for bullying but I when she stumbles on to some top secret celebrity gossip position to hire New York's most powerful public relations firm and have a shot at a whole new image she's got style and attitude and she does not flake from the daisies now she is a part of the daisies and now she has friends and not everybody wants to use her as their style I recommend you reading this book because it is a very inspiring book titled stand up for bullying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2012
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Really cool people and nerds have one thing in common: they're different from everyone else. They're weird. The thing is, though, nerds are ashamed of being weird, while cool people celebrate it."
--From Brand-New Emily by Ginger Rue
A super-cool teen book about identity, self-confidence, old-fashioned values, and cutting-edge publicity.
Brand-New Emily teaches the basics of public relations, sales, and marketing and applies those skills to a popularity contest at a local middle school.
In a time of social media and network marketing and shopping local, this book sweeps into the teen marketplace and shows them how to use those exact same skills to reposition their status in society while remaining true to themselves.
--From Brand-New Emily by Ginger Rue
A super-cool teen book about identity, self-confidence, old-fashioned values, and cutting-edge publicity.
Brand-New Emily teaches the basics of public relations, sales, and marketing and applies those skills to a popularity contest at a local middle school.
In a time of social media and network marketing and shopping local, this book sweeps into the teen marketplace and shows them how to use those exact same skills to reposition their status in society while remaining true to themselves.
March 5, 2012
Brand-New Emily
by: Ginger Rue
240 pages
Fourteen year old Emily Wood is getting bullied by the "popular" girl at school. Her self-esteem is low and she wants other people to like her and take down the bully. She then hires a publacist and together they create "Brand Em". Emily changes her hair, clothes, and even part of her personality. However, did she really change for the best? When Emily has a crush on a guy that likes her too, he gets a bitter taste of "Em" and he starts to back off. Heatherly, the school bully, sees this as a weakness and tries to take her down. Will Emily lose her friends, the guy she likes and herself to become "Brand Em"?
This book is recommended to girls ages 12 to 17. It is a about a fourteen year old girl who is being bullied at school. Her self esteem is low and she wants to become popular. This realistic-fiction is based in a modern time and is easy to relate to for most girls. However, I only gave it three stars because the main character started to become a bratt and it was becoming boring and made you want to put the book down and walk away from the storyline. For instance, the theme for this book would be "Change isn't always for the better." Because Emily changes herself to make other people like her, but she dosn't make herself any better. She gets worse and does not become a very good example.
I do not like this book very much because I think Emily becomes to self centered and stuck up. For example, on page 198, Emily was mean to Heatherly and then Heatherly told her she was mad at her and all Emily had to say was "Ooh, thats too bad. Thats probably going to rule out any chance of my putting in a good word for you next year." and she walks away with her nose in the air. And on page 212, her friends from a high society club make her ask an overwieght girl how she gained all the weight, so, to stay in the club she walks up to the girl and says "You know, how did you become to weigh so much?" She then just walks back to her group. She dosn't care about anybody else. I am so disappointed.
by: Ginger Rue
240 pages
Fourteen year old Emily Wood is getting bullied by the "popular" girl at school. Her self-esteem is low and she wants other people to like her and take down the bully. She then hires a publacist and together they create "Brand Em". Emily changes her hair, clothes, and even part of her personality. However, did she really change for the best? When Emily has a crush on a guy that likes her too, he gets a bitter taste of "Em" and he starts to back off. Heatherly, the school bully, sees this as a weakness and tries to take her down. Will Emily lose her friends, the guy she likes and herself to become "Brand Em"?
This book is recommended to girls ages 12 to 17. It is a about a fourteen year old girl who is being bullied at school. Her self esteem is low and she wants to become popular. This realistic-fiction is based in a modern time and is easy to relate to for most girls. However, I only gave it three stars because the main character started to become a bratt and it was becoming boring and made you want to put the book down and walk away from the storyline. For instance, the theme for this book would be "Change isn't always for the better." Because Emily changes herself to make other people like her, but she dosn't make herself any better. She gets worse and does not become a very good example.
I do not like this book very much because I think Emily becomes to self centered and stuck up. For example, on page 198, Emily was mean to Heatherly and then Heatherly told her she was mad at her and all Emily had to say was "Ooh, thats too bad. Thats probably going to rule out any chance of my putting in a good word for you next year." and she walks away with her nose in the air. And on page 212, her friends from a high society club make her ask an overwieght girl how she gained all the weight, so, to stay in the club she walks up to the girl and says "You know, how did you become to weigh so much?" She then just walks back to her group. She dosn't care about anybody else. I am so disappointed.
May 24, 2012
This was interesting. At first it was pretty outlandish, but if you step back and look at it as an analogy of sorts, it makes a lot more sense and suddenly feels more believable.
One can look at it as a statement about the obvious; popularity, bullyinh & staying true to yourself™, and in many ways it was. But it was about much mire, the image that we project to the world (in a sense Em & Colby Summers were dealing with the same issue. The idea of Emily "becoming" Em (essentially becoming Heatherly) was interesting. The age old "power corrupts" moral. But I felt it was also about the contrived manipulation behind brands. Brynn was doing for Emily what Heatherly's dad was doing for her, it felt like a comparison between an actual PR campaign & your average "staying on top of the middle school food chain" campaign. (Are they really that different?)
What made "Em" so likable, was it her style or the sound advice Brynn gave her throughout the book about how to make/keep friends. Em's new look caught people's eye but notice the difference between the way people treat her vs Heatherly & the Delt girls. People seem to genuinely like her, the new look just caught their eyes. I was impressed with that, I was afraid it would be all about being hip, trendy and cool, "fake nice" etc. But aside from all the "have the right look" advice, I found Brynn's advice to be quite sound, and even many adults. ould use some reminders here & there.
One can look at it as a statement about the obvious; popularity, bullyinh & staying true to yourself™, and in many ways it was. But it was about much mire, the image that we project to the world (in a sense Em & Colby Summers were dealing with the same issue. The idea of Emily "becoming" Em (essentially becoming Heatherly) was interesting. The age old "power corrupts" moral. But I felt it was also about the contrived manipulation behind brands. Brynn was doing for Emily what Heatherly's dad was doing for her, it felt like a comparison between an actual PR campaign & your average "staying on top of the middle school food chain" campaign. (Are they really that different?)
What made "Em" so likable, was it her style or the sound advice Brynn gave her throughout the book about how to make/keep friends. Em's new look caught people's eye but notice the difference between the way people treat her vs Heatherly & the Delt girls. People seem to genuinely like her, the new look just caught their eyes. I was impressed with that, I was afraid it would be all about being hip, trendy and cool, "fake nice" etc. But aside from all the "have the right look" advice, I found Brynn's advice to be quite sound, and even many adults. ould use some reminders here & there.
February 14, 2014
Ginger Rue perfectly conveys all feelings of Emily, the main character of the novel "Brand - new Emily".
Emily is a new girl in the school and girls named "Daises" are bulling her. But later she finds out that popular rock-star Colby Summers is not 17 years old teenager. Because it will totally ruin his life, he ask Emily don't tell anyone. If she will keep his secret, he will help with her popularity in the school.
When I am reading this book I can understand each character of this book, what they think, that they feel, what they doing. A really interesting thing about this book is it gives a lot of information and details about the field of public relations and how celebrities and products are advertised and hyped. But if you pick up this book hoping to read some inside scoop on your real-life fave celeb, forget about it.
When I'm reading this book, I can feel everything that Emily feels. This book is easy to read, but the problem of this book is that you can understand what will be next, even if you are reading this book for the first time. That's why I put 4 stars of 5.
Emily is a new girl in the school and girls named "Daises" are bulling her. But later she finds out that popular rock-star Colby Summers is not 17 years old teenager. Because it will totally ruin his life, he ask Emily don't tell anyone. If she will keep his secret, he will help with her popularity in the school.
When I am reading this book I can understand each character of this book, what they think, that they feel, what they doing. A really interesting thing about this book is it gives a lot of information and details about the field of public relations and how celebrities and products are advertised and hyped. But if you pick up this book hoping to read some inside scoop on your real-life fave celeb, forget about it.
When I'm reading this book, I can feel everything that Emily feels. This book is easy to read, but the problem of this book is that you can understand what will be next, even if you are reading this book for the first time. That's why I put 4 stars of 5.
September 16, 2013
This book was pretty cute. It definitely kept my interest, but I still found it to be too predictable and too much like the movie "Mean Girls". I also found it unrealistic for kids to be this manipulative and mean. Middle school kids are mean, but not this mean (at least in my experience, and I was bullied pretty badly in middle school.) I wouldn't let my middle school kids read this book because it encouraged behavior that is inappropriate for such young kids (dating and kissing).
September 28, 2015
Brand-new Emily by Ginger Rue is a good book. It is about Emily who has become the target of the popular kids. Emily struggles to stand up for herself with no friends at her side. Then Emily comes upon secret information and uses it to fix her social status. Through the process Emily tries to find out who she really is and gains some true friends and some fake ones. I found this story to be very inspirational and I recommend it to others.
April 13, 2012
I think this book was very interesting. I finished the book very fasted not because it was short but because it was a good book. This book was very well thought out plot. And the character where so realist that I could picture the characters. There was time that I didn’t want to put the book down. The books kept me reading tell the last page.
June 21, 2012
LOL i loved this book. it shows that once you put your mind to it, you can be the person you want to be. and that if you stay strong and no what you are doing no one can put you down. you know with a little help. ;)
September 17, 2012
i think it is a good book im im still reading it but so far so goodi lvu this book BRAND NEW EMILY and my little sister name is emilyi hope yall all read brand new emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
May 3, 2009
Yes, I started this book because it has my name in the title...great tween read. Smart girl, new school...it reads like Mean Girls for tweens.
December 2, 2010
I learned so much about the job of a publicist from this book. Emily learns some valuable lessons too! If you read this you might also like of "So Yesterday" by Scott Westerfield.
June 11, 2013
Great book! I love the book and the author. I would definitely recommend this book to my middle school friends.
August 13, 2013
Read this book last summer and loved it!!! I want to read more books like it.
May 30, 2017
Really good, for lack of a better word. I didn't expect to like this book at all but a really did. So worth the read. It really makes you think about how much attitude and looks can determine, not only popularity but what people think of you.
April 6, 2022
The book that made me want to go into PR.
June 18, 2022
I loooove the book it is so nice although i haven't finished it yet. I read the hard copy.
September 10, 2023
Read this book 2-3 times in middle school because I loved it so much. Must do a re-read to see if it still holds up!
October 20, 2009
Anyone who thinks that "Hannah Montana" is quality teen TV might go for this one. But for the rest of us, this requires far more "suspension of disbelief" than can be mustered.
Heroine Emily starts off as the girl everyone picks on. But once the first less than believable thing happens, everything falls into place.
Her uncle's a cop and she just happens to get the number to contact the publicity agent on a teen idol's closed movie shoot AND convinces her to let her interview the idol. On the set she somehow is in the right place at the right time to hear a key secret that could kill the career of a teen idol. And then, when she needs to get to NY to talk to the idol's publicity agent, she just HAPPENS to have a valuable bracelet belonging to her late mom lying around the house and has no problem selling it on line!
All the cliches are here--the high school boy who shouldn't really fall in love with her but does, the "mean girls"--I mean, for pete's sake, their leader is named "Heatherly"?, the "fat girl" who has moral integrity that Emily realizes means more than popularity, and, of course, there's the heart warming ending where Emily admits everything, Heatherly gets hers and Emily shares a mind blowing kiss with her true love. Oh, and did I mention that Emily writes poetry SO good that the teen idol decides he'll turn it into pop tunes and give her credit?
Impressionable teens will love this. But that doesn't mean it's a good book. And it isn't.
Heroine Emily starts off as the girl everyone picks on. But once the first less than believable thing happens, everything falls into place.
Her uncle's a cop and she just happens to get the number to contact the publicity agent on a teen idol's closed movie shoot AND convinces her to let her interview the idol. On the set she somehow is in the right place at the right time to hear a key secret that could kill the career of a teen idol. And then, when she needs to get to NY to talk to the idol's publicity agent, she just HAPPENS to have a valuable bracelet belonging to her late mom lying around the house and has no problem selling it on line!
All the cliches are here--the high school boy who shouldn't really fall in love with her but does, the "mean girls"--I mean, for pete's sake, their leader is named "Heatherly"?, the "fat girl" who has moral integrity that Emily realizes means more than popularity, and, of course, there's the heart warming ending where Emily admits everything, Heatherly gets hers and Emily shares a mind blowing kiss with her true love. Oh, and did I mention that Emily writes poetry SO good that the teen idol decides he'll turn it into pop tunes and give her credit?
Impressionable teens will love this. But that doesn't mean it's a good book. And it isn't.
September 1, 2025
at first, it seemed pretty outlandish, but when you step back and view it as an analogy of sorts, it makes a lot more sense and suddenly feels more believable. one can look at it as a statement about the obvious, but it was much more. the image we project to the world is noteworthy—in a sense emily and colby summers were dealing with similar issues. the idea of emily becoming 'em' (essentially becoming heatherly) was interesting. the age-old 'power corrupts' moral. however, i felt it was also about the contrived manipulation behind brands. what made 'em' so likable—was it her style or the sound advice brynn gave her throughout the book about making / keeping friends? em's new look caught people's eye, but notice the difference in how people treat her versus heatherly and the delt girls. people seem to genuinely like her; the new look just caught their eyes. i was afraid it would focus solely on being hip, trendy, and cool, or 'fake nice'. aside from the 'have the right look' advice, i found brynn's advice to be quite sound, and even many adults could use some reminders here and there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2011
Oh my gosh, this was such a good book!! I thought it would be a pretty stereotypical book about a teenage girl in middle school, but it had a completely different twist!!! I loved every minute of this book, and I could not put it down. It had great descriptions, but I adored everything, from the very organized structure, to the funny dialogue. This is a very interesting idea, and I am very curious as to how the author created it, but whatever it is I love it!!!
Brand-New Emily is not like every other 13 year old girl recommended book, as the cover suggests. There are ideas that take some thinking, as well as the middle school life. I truly loved this book, even though it wasn't one of the truly meaningful ones it had me laughing and sad when I finished it. I would recommend it to teenage girls who are looking for a laugh!
Brand-New Emily is not like every other 13 year old girl recommended book, as the cover suggests. There are ideas that take some thinking, as well as the middle school life. I truly loved this book, even though it wasn't one of the truly meaningful ones it had me laughing and sad when I finished it. I would recommend it to teenage girls who are looking for a laugh!
January 5, 2009
Definitely be careful what you wish for - that's the message that starts to form as Emily seizes the opportunity to recreate herself as Em, trendsetter, girlfriend of a teen heartthrob, and aspiring queen of the 8th grade heap. With a powerful p.r. firm working the angles for her, Em seems destined for greatness. Her transformation surprises everyone, and when those changes start to affect Em's soul, she questions not only her motivation but the loyalties of her new friends. Rue captures all the insecurities and nastiness of middle school cliques but doesn't let us forget that though ultimately, nice girls might now win all the prizes, the ones that they do count for the most - the sweet guy, the proud dad, the real best friend.
July 24, 2011
I have this book in my library at school but hadn't read it. I am on vacation with my cousins and she had it so I borrowed it. A very quick read. Emily is picked on and bullied at school and wants desperately to belong. She finds out a secret about a celebrity and is able to have a PR firm help her obtain friends and popularity. Of course the plot is a little on the ridiculous side but young girls, especially 5th, 6th and 7th grade will like it. I actually learned some new things about advertising which was nice. The topic of belonging is one that every kid goes through so it appeals to a wide audience. It has some nice morals at the end as well.
December 16, 2010
I loved this book, not necessarily for the writing style and the characters, which I liked a lot. The real reason I love this book is because it shows how ridiculous our society's view of "cool" and "popular" is. And I've seen some reviews saying this story is very unrealistic... well, yes, in a way it is, but really the things Emily does are about all you would need to do to make yourself popular in this messed up society. It's insane. And I loved this book for bringing that out without putting it in a super negative light, or making it all deep and symbolic. It is what it is.
January 23, 2011
Loved this book! Anyone who has ever been unpopular and suffered the wrath of the Popular Girls will relate to Emily's desire to do anything to not be miserable. But most girls don't go out and hire a professional PR firm to create a new image for her.
This novel is interesting and fun to read. Emily goes on a journey of self discovery as she gains confidence through her new persona, and eventually learns that being true to herself is what really matters.
This novel is interesting and fun to read. Emily goes on a journey of self discovery as she gains confidence through her new persona, and eventually learns that being true to herself is what really matters.
October 20, 2011
I read the book Brand New Emily. It is a good book. I think if you like to read books with drama this is the book. It is about a girl named Emily. She was a girl that was new at the school and her locker was half the size that ours are today. The popular girls in school are sharing a locker with out a teachers permition. Also all of her projects were ruined. That is why you should read Brand New Emily.
June 18, 2014
I thought this book wouldn't be that good. It looked cheesy and dumb. But this book turned me upside down and inside out and reminded me people aren't always what you think they are. They have secrets and they have problems and you don't know all of that. Also, you can remake your outside but no matter what you can't really change your core. There's something inside us that can't be changed, but we always can get more confident.
November 4, 2015
I thought this book was great because it tells a story of a normal teenage life. You can get into fights and get bullied whenever and however in school. you can find true love or have breakups in school. It just tells the story of a girl with a bad teenage life with a twist of her and a celebrity. She wounds up in bad situations and good situations with the celebrity, the popular kids, her crush and high schoolers.
April 17, 2014
i really like this book and is easy to feel related with the main character because who doest want to be popular? everyone wants to be accepted by others by that means a change in character and that really worth it? is really what we want?. if you like mean girls you are gonna love this book because is similar but have to say that this book is better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews