Sameeras dad is in the race for the White House and one of the campaign perks she enjoys is a total makeover. But some of the campaign staffers think the candidates dark-skinned, adopted daughter could hurt his chances if she doesnt try to be more American. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

For 16-year-old Sameera Sparrow Righton, star of the first title in Perkins's (Rickshaw Girl) First Daughter series, life on her father's presidential campaign trail is anything but easy. In addition to worrying about the paparazzi snapping photos of her at inopportune moments and appearing supportive of her parents at all times, Sameera has to do everything in her power to look good and (because she's both adopted and Pakistani) as American as possible. So when the campaign PR guru suggests a makeover in order to spruce up her image (a new wardrobe, a more confident walk, a more stylish 'do) Sameera reluctantly agrees. But the supposedly benign plan morphs into an attempt to change her personality and tone down her outspoken views (You need to use 'uh-huh a lot more.... And giggle as much as you can.), and Sameera decides to reclaim her true identity, even if it costs her father the Presidency. Although it touches upon racial profiling, trafficking and prejudice, the book mostly concerns itself with Sameera's transformation. Even before her makeover efforts, Sameera is an intelligent, witty and prepossessed heroine (and an inveterate blogger, with an actual site maintained at www.sparrowblog.com). Though the story tends toward the lighthearted, teens should enjoy this peek at the behind-the-scenes finessing that goes on in modern politics. Ages 12-up. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 7 9 Sixteen-year-old Sameera Righton, nicknamed "Sparrow," is the adopted Pakistani daughter of the Republican candidate for president and his activist wife. When her father wins the nomination and his campaign begins in earnest, his staff decides to make her over. At first, she is delighted with her fabulous new hair, makeup, and clothes, but then the staffers try to get dark-skinned Sameera to appear more "American" and more appealing to voters. They change her name to "Sammy," coach her on how to behave in public and answer questions from the press, and, worst of all, manufacture a custom blog for her. Although she sincerely wants to help her father, Sameera does not accept everything unquestioningly. She becomes involved with a group of South Asian Republican students and begins her own blog, which takes on tough political issues and eventually displaces the vapid official blog produced by her father's staff. The book concludes with Sameera becoming the first South Asian American to live in the White House. Perkins does touch on some of the unpleasant racial issues associated with political campaigns, but the portrayal of the presidential campaign is highly idealized, with no negative ads or smear tactics. However, Sameera is a savvy and appealing character, and while teen girls will love reading about her makeover, they will also come away with a sense of the demands made on those who are constantly in the public eye. Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

"The inside scoop on the celeb life" is at the center of this fast, funny novel about Sameera, 16, whose dad is the popular Republican candidate for American president. Adopted at age 3 from a Pakistani orphanage, she has spent most of her life as a diplomat's daughter. Now she is in the U.S. on a crazy ride in the public eye, hounded by the press, who ask about her "foreignness." The ethnic-identity issues are part of the story. She connects with other Southeast Asians in Washington, D.C., who are as American as she is, and she is also right at home on her loving grandmother's Midwest dairy farm. Her father's handlers buy her the right clothes, and she loves the stiletto heels they ask her to wear, but she hates the blog they write for her, which is intended to sell her cute image. She maintains her own sharp, smart, and honest blog with her friends, and both the public and private worlds depicted here will grab readers. A sequel is planned. Rochman, Hazel. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.