How My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller [Hardcover]

Julia DeVillers (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Jamie longs to be popular, but she never dreams of the fame that is suddenly hers after a private journal entry accidentally finds its way to her teacher, then a publisher, and her career as a bestselling author is kicked into motion. In no time at all she is caught in a swirl of book signings, power lunches, and photo ops. And the hottest guy in school finally knows her name! Could it get any better than this?

Girls who love wish-fulfillment fantasies like The Princess Diarieswill relish Jamie's foray into a world of glamour and glitz, which she ultimately decides is not nearly as satisfying as just being herself with her BFFs (best friends forever).

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-9. Fourteen-year-old Jamie is tired of feeling insecure: at home she's barraged with media images of physically flawless young women; at school, she's hassled by a gang of catty, manicured classmates. Venting her frustrations in her diary, she chronicles the adventures of invented superhero Isabella (IS) who, with her signature wrist flick, sends "positivity rays" that destroy her nemesis, Myrna, and her "evil clique of Populars." Through a wild chain of events, Jamie's IS stories become a published best-seller, and Jamie becomes a teen celebrity. DeVillers' frothy, humorous first novel is a giddy fairy tale, written in a combination of diary excerpts, instant messages, and Jamie's spot-on narration. Readers may wish that the novel contained more of the actual IS story that inspires such uproar, but they'll enjoy joining Jamie as she experiences both highs and lows, copes with fame and fortune, and tries to maintain her IS-like sense of self-empowerment. Recommend this to Meg Cabot fans, as well as aspiring authors, who might also enjoy Andrew Clements' The School Story (2001). Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Wonderful fun! Aspiring novelists will love it." (Meg Cabot, author of the Princess Diaries series) "It's chick lit at its most fun: delightful, wild, and funny, with just enough jolts of reality to touch your heart." (Francine Pascal, author of the Fearless and Sweet Valley High series)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (May 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525472835
• ISBN-13: 978-0525472834
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write books for tweens and teens and I love it. My books have been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, People.com and most magazines for girls.You can get all the scoop on my website: www.girlwise.com.

I co-author the "Twins" series with my identical twin sister, Jennifer Roy. The series is about identical twins who switch places and includes TRADING FACES, TAKE TWO, TIMES SQUARED and DOUBLE FEATURE.

My novel, HOW MY PRIVATE PERSONAL JOURNAL BECAME A BESTSELLER, was turned into a Disney Channel Original Movie called READ IT AND WEEP. It starred the so-talented Panabaker sisters, Danielle and Kay. I have a quick cameo in the movie.

My LIBERTY PORTER, FIRST DAUGHTER series is an illustrated book series about a 9-year-old girl whose father is elected president. I also co-authored PRINCESS OF GOSSIP with Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan and wrote the girlpower book GIRLWISE: How to Be Confident, Capable, Cool and In Control.

I grew up in Albany, New York. My dad was a Holocaust survivor as a child and emigrated to America when he was nine. And my mom's family came over to America about two boats after the Mayflower. I grew up loving to read, write, and hang with friends and family.And I still love to read, write, and hang with family and friends. I now live in New Albany, Ohio and Saratoga Springs, NY. (And spent last year in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia!) I got my master's in journalism from Ohio State and a B.A. from SUNY Oswego.

Thanks for visiting my Amazon page!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imagination, Revelation, and Inspiration, December 19, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: How My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller (Hardcover)

This was the best book I have ever read! I absolutely loved it! It was about a girl named Jamie who wrote a personal journal entry on her friend's computer, making up a story about a good girl winning against the popular girls. The story is based on Jamie's life, reflecting the personalities of her archenemy, Sawyer. She was also assigned an English essay. Her friend was going to print the essay for Jamie, but she accidentally prints the journal entry and hands it it to Jamie's English teacher. Jamie's teacher is so impressed by the journal entry, and she reads it out loud to the class. Jamie's English teacher knows a literary agent and she sends it to her friend. Jamie's novel becomes a number one bestseller, her face known byu girls everywhere. Jamie goes overnight from being a no body to being the most known teen novelist. She is still bombarded with normal teenage problems, not letting the celebrity status go to her head. She is faced with normal problems that all girls are faced with, so any teenager can relate to her. I really loved this book, and it is great inspiration to young writers. I loved this book. If you don't like to write, than this book probably isn't for you, but I love to write, and this book is number one on my list. I would recommend this book to anybody that likes to read about others' problems. The writing part is an added plus. Five Stars!
-Carrie T. Age:12

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A plus for all you Meg Cabot fans out there!, December 31, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: How My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller (Hardcover)

I recieved this book for my birthday, and was really impressed. Just by the jacket description I could tell it sounded like something good- I am a HUGE Meg Cabot fan, and this almost seemed like it was written by Meg Cabot herself! Most of it is written well- it is a good read for you writers out there, those of you who aren't the most poplular in school, and anyone in between. I am a writer myself, and found this book quite inspirational. Some of it was a little unrealistic, however. It seemed a bit strange that she got it published so soon- most books are so long and such a grueling process to write (I know- my mom is an author). Also, her whole love life was kind of obvious. But I think the ending was strong, and overall, this was a great book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chic Lit Escapist Reading for Teen Girls, December 11, 2004

By 

RobynPuff79 (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller (Hardcover)

Far fetched, definitely, and somewhat predictable at time, yet undeniable addicting and fun! Recommended for fans of Meg Cabot and all teen girls looking for a fun, somewhat silly, book. Guaranteed you won't be able to put it down. I definitely couldn't! Jamie is a great role model - even though she thinks she is nothing like IS.