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Idol Gossip

Idol Gossip

by Alexandra Leigh Young

Narrated by Shannon Tyo

Unabridged — 9 hours, 15 minutes

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Idol Gossip
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Idol Gossip

Idol Gossip

by Alexandra Leigh Young

Narrated by Shannon Tyo

Unabridged — 9 hours, 15 minutes

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Overview

Delicious gossip squares off with genuine heart in this inside look at a K-pop academy.

Every Friday after school, seventeen-year-old Alice Choy and her little sister, Olivia, head to Myeongdong to sing karaoke. Back in San Francisco, when she still had friends and earthly possessions, Alice took regular singing lessons. But since their diplomat mom moved them to Seoul, her only musical outlet is vamping it up in a private karaoke booth to an audience of one: her loyal sister. Then a scout for Top10 Entertainment, one of the biggest K-pop companies, hears her and offers her a spot at their Star Academy. Can Alice navigate the culture clashes, egos, and extreme training practices of K-pop to lead her group onstage before a stadium of 50,000 chanting fans-and just maybe strike K-pop gold? Not if a certain influential blogger and the anti-fans get their way . . .

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

07/26/2021

In Young’s proficient debut, a reserved Chinese American 17-year-old navigates the tension between her reserve and her aspirations of becoming a singer. After being scouted at a karaoke bar, introverted but vocally talented Alice Choy is invited to an open audition for mega-label Top10. Despite initial hesitations, the encouragement of her K-pop-loving younger sister helps to persuade her, as does the possibility of restarting vocal lessons if she’s chosen—something she has forfeited since her family’s relocation to Seoul. When her talent lands her an all-expenses-paid spot at Star Academy, where trainees live and work, she’s placed into girl group A-List—which is set to debut in only five months—and thrown into dance rehearsals, exercise regimes, vocal lessons, and Korean classes. Young aptly conveys Alice’s difficulties as the group’s youngest member, navigating life away from her family and deciphering the implicit rules of the K-pop world. Interspersed with Alice’s narration, posts from The Fix, a blog devoted to “exposing the real side of idols in hopes that no one else is ever consumed by the K-pop machine,” purports to interrogate the role of fans and gossip sites. Though Alice’s initial success despite being unable to dance, act, or speak Korean requires a large suspension of disbelief, readers interested in the inner workings of idol groups will enjoy this entertaining inside look. Ages 12–up. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Sept.)

From the Publisher

This is a fast-paced, captivating inside look at what lies behind the glitz of the K-pop industry. Alice’s road to fame highlights cultural differences, self-discovery, sisterhood, and empathy. The narrative is laced with blog posts that help move the story forward and give background information. . . . An entertaining read unveiling the people behind K-pop glam.
—Kirkus Reviews

Young aptly conveys Alice’s difficulties as the group’s youngest member, navigating life away from her family and deciphering the implicit rules of the K-pop world. . . . readers interested in the inner workings of idol groups will enjoy this entertaining inside look.
—Publishers Weekly

An entertaining romp through the world of K-pop. . . . K-pop and YA fans alike will find much to enjoy in this deep dive into fan ­culture and the music industry. . . . A fun glimpse into what happens when your dreams of fame come true, great for fans of Maurene Goo, Anna Carey, and Jessica Jung.
—School Library Journal

This compelling and unique story is perfect for K-pop fans or for those who are interested in the music industry and the price of fame. Interspersed between chapters readers get a chance to read the blog of a media influencer named “V” and get a first-hand look at how they use the blog to spread gossip. This title would work well as a literature circle fiction choice to support informational text readings on the price of fame or K-pop culture.
—School Library Connection

I absolutely loved this story about a Chinese American girl taking the K-pop world by storm! Watching Alice break boundaries and chase after her dreams with fun and flair makes for an energetic, thoroughly entertaining read.
—Axie Oh, author of XOXO and the New Visions Award winner Rebel Seoul

A fun, insidery look at the fascinating world of K-pop stardom.
—Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life

A smart and sassy K-pop rabbit hole. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Each page thrums with stage fright, scandal, and a healthy dose of sweetness and joy.
—Jad Abumrad, host and producer of WNYC’s Radiolab

In Idol Gossip, Alexandra Leigh Young delivers a thrilling behind-the-scenes journey into the heart of K-pop and a poignant story of self-discovery. It’s a tale of nail-biting auditions, unforgiving instructors, improbable friendships, and, above all, the transcendent power of music.
—Michael Barbaro, host of the New York Times podcast The Daily

School Library Journal

08/01/2021

Gr 7–10—Young's YA debut is an entertaining romp through the world of K-pop. Seventeen-year-old Chinese American Alice Choy is adapting to life in Seoul after her mom's diplomat job moved the family to South Korea from San Francisco. An afternoon karaoke session with her sister Olivia turns into a life-changing event when a K-pop talent agent hears Alice sing and offers her a coveted audition. Soon Alice is ensconced in Top10 Entertainment's Star Academy, living in a dorm with the rest of her assigned girl group, trying to learn Korean, dance moves, and all of the intricacies of the K-pop lifestyle at once. Alice struggles to adjust to her grueling schedule and bond with her group members as the date of their debut looms. K-pop and YA fans alike will find much to enjoy in this deep dive into fan culture and the music industry. Young takes a nuanced, thoughtful look at Alice's relationships with her fellow musicians, from supportive to jealous. Alice and Olivia's sibling bond is also well done. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, there is much to enjoy in this inside look at the world of K-pop. VERDICT A fun glimpse into what happens when your dreams of fame come true, great for fans of Maurene Goo, Anna Carey, and Jessica Jung.—Elissa Bongiorno, Washington, DC

Kirkus Reviews

2021-07-27
A teenage girl gets pulled into the intense world of K-pop as she fights for her dream of becoming a singer.

Seventeen-year-old Alice Choy, who took voice lessons at home in San Francisco, has always dreamed of fame. But since her diplomat mother moved the family to Seoul, South Korea, six months ago, the only singing she’s done has been in a small karaoke booth with her little sister, Olivia. That is, until she gets discovered in one of these noraebangs by Top10 Entertainment, one of K-pop’s biggest labels. With a little sisterly encouragement, Alice auditions and gets the opportunity to attend their Star Academy, where she is trained to become an idol. Slated to debut in just five months, Alice works to prove she’s good enough—but training to be an idol is rigorous. Even though she is a talented singer, dancing and learning Korean don’t come easy. Biracial (Chinese/White) Alice struggles with the intense pressure to keep up and fit in with her group. Even worse, gossip bloggers and anti-fans might destroy her career before it even begins. This is a fast-paced, captivating inside look at what lies behind the glitz of the K-pop industry. Alice’s road to fame highlights cultural differences, self-discovery, sisterhood, and empathy. The narrative is laced with blog posts that help move the story forward and give background information. Korean dialogue is romanized.

An entertaining read unveiling the people behind K-pop glam. (Fiction. 13-18)

Product Details

BN ID: 2940177053493
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 11/09/2021
Edition description: Unabridged
Age Range: 10 - 13 Years

Read an Excerpt

One
“LIGHT-UP-LIGHT-UP! YOU SEE ME NOW? NAEGA WONHANEUN GEON NE BICH-IEOSSEO!”
   Olivia was jumping up and down on top of a black vinyl love seat in our tiny noraebang booth, screaming her lungs out. The nine members of MSB danced across the TV while the lyrics to “Light Up” scrolled across the screen. I hummed along as I flipped through a phone book–size binder full of song titles.
   “OH-OH-OH, HUH-OH!” shrieked Olivia.
   I pressed #6403 into the remote, then sat back and watched my little sister finish her song. Olivia always did this move where she flapped her elbows and wagged her ponytail back and forth so it made a fuzzy halo over her head. God, she was such a goofball—even when she was a baby, she could crack me up. I remember this one time when she was, like, two or three years old and she tasted a lemon for the first time. It was hilarious how she sucked her lips all the way inside her mouth because it was so sour, but she kept licking it over and over again and puckering her face just to keep me laughing.
   It was Friday, and we had just gotten out of class at our new international school so we were both still wearing our school uniforms. It was the whole prep-school getup—blazer, pleated skirt, and knee-high socks. The only difference was, I wore the high school’s color, navy blue, and Olivia had to wear the middle-school color, which was this bright banana-yellow.  She looked like Big Bird’s niece.
   “BUREUL KYEORA, GIRL!” She bent down to put the mic in front of my face, and I echoed the harmony to her melody.
   It took Olivia forever to convince me to walk into this place. Not because the front of the building has so many flashing laser lights and blinking LED screens that it looks like a giant slot machine that just hit the jackpot. But because the only karaoke spots I’d ever seen back in America required you to sing in front of a bunch of drunk strangers who would boo you offstage if they thought you weren’t doing justice to Journey, or Alanis Morissette, or some other artist that people my parents’ age listen to. But Olivia explained we could get our own private booth where we could sing just the two of us, and I finally caved. I had gone six excruciating months without singing—that’s how long it’s been since I left my voice lessons behind in San Francisco (not to mention most of my earthly possessions and all my friends). A private room in a noraebang wasn’t remotely close to the same thing as a voice lesson, but it was the best I could get, and I was desperate.
   “LII-IIIGHT ME UUUUUP!”
   BA-DA-DA-DAAAAH.
   Olivia hopped up on the love seat as the last note faded out, posing with one hand on her hip and the other pointing the microphone toward the ceiling in her best idol impression. I laughed at her, and that made her ham it up even more. One of the best things about moving to Seoul was that I got to hang out with Olivia way more. We barely ever saw each other back home; she was always doing stuff with her friends, and I was always doing stuff with mine. I’d forgotten how much fun we had together—and how hilarious she could be. Honestly, it made living in a city where I knew exactly zero people so much easier.
   “Miss Fierce, what a stunning set! How do I dare to take the stage after a performance like that?”
   “Har-dee-har,” said Olivia.
   “What was that, your third MSB song in a row?” I teased.
   “Fourth, actually.” Olivia stanned for a lot of different K-pop groups, but MSB was her bias. She was a die-hard BoM—MSB’s fandom—maybe even the die-hardest.
   “You are so obsessed.”
   “I’m not obsessed!” she said. “I just have incredible taste.”
   The TV flickered to the next song, and the quiet opening chords of “Million Reasons” started to play over the speakers.
   “Oh, come onnn, Alice,” complained Olivia, “you always play this song!”
   It was true. I probably played “Million Reasons” at least ten or twelve times a day, and when I wasn’t playing it on my laptop or my phone, I was singing it. Lady Gaga’s was the kind of music that made you wash your hair twice just so you could sing in the shower for two extra minutes. But it isn’t just an amazing song—there’s something else. This weird thing happens every time I sing something I’m really into: it’s like these two polar-opposite feelings fill me up at the same time, this deep melancholy and a total euphoria. The combination completely slays me. It’s a pretty rare song that gives me that feeling, but with “Million Reasons,” it’s guaranteed.
   “If you get four MSB songs, I get at least one Lady Gaga,” I said, “and get down from there before you fall and break an ankle.”
   Olivia threw me the microphone and sank down into the love seat to watch me. I stepped up to the front of the room and dramatically turned my back to the screen. I didn’t need to read the lyrics; I knew every second of the song by heart. I bowed my head over the microphone, my hair falling around my face as the light from the twirling disco ball in the ceiling danced across my legs. Then I began to sing.
   When the chorus hit, I snapped my hair up and over my head, then pounded my fist into my chest, and Olivia busted up laughing. She always brought out my cheesy side; she was, like, the only person who could never make me feel stupid because I know that she knows I’m not.
   It’s right around the three-minute mark in the song when I start to get that sad-happy feeling. I close my eyes and improvise, singing whatever feels good, whatever feels right. My body starts to take over, like the orchestra made up by my lungs and throat and belly know what to do without my brain conducting. It’s pretty much the only time I ever feel truly confident about myself. I think it’s because I’m not thinking about how I look or how I sound; I’m just lost in the music.
   Half a minute later, the song ended and I opened my eyes to Olivia standing on the love seat again, clapping wildly. “Whoo! Encore! ENCORE!”
   I folded my arm across my stomach and took a deep bow. “Thank you, thank you, to all my adoring fans.”
   “You’re getting so good. Like really good.”
   “Nah,” I said sheepishly.
   “I’m serious. You sound just like Lady Gaga.”
   “That might be the highest compliment anyone has ever given me.”
   Olivia looked at me, cocking her head to the side. “You know what I never get?”
   “What?” I asked.
   “How do you know which notes to sing in that middle part when you’re just making stuff up?”
   “I don’t know, really.” I shrugged. It was kind of like asking me how I know that a blueberry is blue. “I just kind of . . . know.”
   “I wish I knew how to do that.”
   “Come on, our two hours are almost up. We should hit it.”

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Teen Fiction
Girls & Young Women - Teen Fiction
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