A shy, rule-following teen winds up joining a local rock band in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt coming-of-age novel. Victoria Cruz inhabits two worlds: In one, she is a rock star, thrashing the stage with her husky voice and purple-streaked hair. In the other, currently serving as her reality, Victoria is a shy teenager with overprotective Cuban parents, who sleepwalks through her life at the prestigious Evanston Academy. Unable to overcome the whole paralyzing-stage-fright thing, Victoria settles for living inside her fantasies, where nothing can go wrong and everything is set to her expertly crafted music playlists. But after a chance encounter with an unattainably gorgeous boy named Strand, whose band seeks a lead singer, Victoria is tempted to turn her fevered daydreams into reality. To do that, she must confront her insecurities and break away from the treadmill that is her life. Suddenly, Victoria is faced with the choice of staying on the path she’s always known and straying off-course to find love, adventure, and danger. From debut author Janelle Milanes comes a hilarious and heartfelt tale of the spectacular things that can happen when you go after what you really want. Gr 9 Up—Victoria Cruz's parents expect her to go to Harvard. She attends prestigious Evanston Academy to study hard and score a scholarship. Her life is all laid out, a trail of future glory; at least, according to her hardworking Cuban immigrant parents. She appears to comply with overachieving expectations until she decides to join a band. She quickly overcomes stage fright and social reticence to become lead singer, and to date first one of two male band members and then the other. Herein lies a weakness of the book. Victoria's self-esteem centers around these boys and what they think of her. While dating the band's ultra-nerd, Levi, Victoria feels lost without his affirmation. It takes a while to realize that her heart actually belongs to gorgeous girl-magnet, Strand. Despite Strand's tendency to be a player, his character provides one of the book's strongest appeals. Teens will be charmed by his slick humor and by the depth of his character. Readers will laugh out loud at the witty repartee between Victoria and Strand, and the romance will draw in those looking for a sweet love story. Each chapter heading is a song title, creating an automatic playlist. Another positive plot element involves Victoria's increasing appreciation for her family's Cuban heritage, although its handling stays at surface level. VERDICT Fans of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park will appreciate this slightly off-kilter romance and its ready-made playlist.—Melissa Williams, Berwick Academy, ME “[A] brisk and confident debut.” — Publishers Weekly “An endearing, fast-paced read with a realistically sweet, if sheltered, first-generation-American protagonist.” — Kirkus Reviews “Victoria’s ability to conquer her own fears in this coming- of-age story might inspire adolescents to follow their own dreams .” — Booklist “ Fans of Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park will appreciate this slightly off-kilter romance and its ready-made playlist.” — School Library Journal Janelle Milanes is the author of The Victoria in My Head and Analee, in Real Life . She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two cats. Her favorite Disney princess is Belle, since she was also a big book nerd. The Victoria in My Head Chapter One “YOUR BEST AMERICAN GIRL” —MITSKI I can predict my life with scary accuracy. I know my morning will start with a piece of toast for breakfast, slathered in peanut butter and topped with sliced banana. After breakfast I’ll get on the downtown A train and put on a perfectly timed playlist for my twenty-three minute commute to school. I’ll meet my best friend, Annie Lin, at my locker, and we’ll go to first period with Mr. Davis and stare at his mustard-yellow pit stains for forty-five minutes. I’ll have cross-country practice after school, where Coach B will make us run six miles along the murky Hudson River. At home, Mom will make spaghetti for dinner, and my bratty little brother, Matty, will complain that the tomato sauce is too chunky. I’m not psychic. My life is just that boring. Every day moves like a treadmill, a straight line without fluctuation. I shouldn’t complain. I know it could be much worse. But when I really think about it, I realize that every day of my life is exactly the same, and it’ll continue to be the same as it was yesterday, and the day before that, until the end of high school. Until, suddenly, it isn’t. Across a sea of plaid uniforms on the opposite side of the sophomore hall, I see him, and the treadmill that is my life comes to a grinding halt. “Hello?” Annie snaps her fingers at me. Her black hair is swept off her forehead by a satin headband that perfectly matches her pleated skirt. “What’s with the face?” “What face?” I reply. I have no awareness of what my face is doing. You know how in mo