School for Stars: First Term L'Etoile by Holly and Kelly Willoughby (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10)

June 2013, Orion Children's Books, 208 pages, Paperback

Themes: wealthy performing arts boarding school, life for twins, mean girls, scholarship girls, rivalry, awful school food, inventive ways to hide the food, post lights out giggles, lots of plans being created, imagination, melodrama,

Content: major meanness, minor peril, lots of laughs

Summary from Orion
 On the first day of term at L'Etoile, School for Stars, twins Maria and Molly Fitzfoster meet Pippa Burrows who's won a song-writing scholarship to the school. The talented trio share the same dreams of super-stardom and become best friends. But will their friendship stand up against Lucifette Marciano's plans to wreck their chances and claim fame for herself?

Nayuleska's thoughts

As a fan of boarding school series this was a book I couldn't miss out on. Having Molly and Maria as

twins was funny - they are outgoing, bubbly, and kind hearted. The secret venture they undertake to keep Maria's future career on track was exceedingly clever, and acted as the modern version of a school newsletter that features in my childhood school series St Clares and Mallory Towers, both by Enid Blyton. I loved and hated how mean Lucinda is, as well as her nickname. There is all the usual school drama of being new, chatting in classes, working on an important project, all with a focus on performing arts.

The reason this is a 9/10 read is that I found the occasional notes to the reader (called story seeker) annoying. They broke up the rhythm of my reading and pointed outthe obvious which clearly hinted at with the stoey. Also the end a bit flat - the consequences and aftermath of the huge showdown were barely explained to staff, which would have wrapped it up for the reader too. Apart from that, I do recommend this for your bookshelf!

For more info check out l'Etoile's very own website. 

Suggested read

Another fun read about a girl attending a dedicated ice skating school is the Skate School series by Kaye Woodward, the first book  is Ice Princess. (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10E)