Teen Idol (novel)

Infobox Book |
name = Teen Idol
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author = Meg Cabot
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country = United States
language = English
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genre = Young adult novel
publisher = HarperCollins
release_date = 2004
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media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 304 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0060096160 (first edition, hardback)
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followed_by =

Teen Idol was written by Meg Cabot and published in July 2004.

Plot summary

The main character is Jenny Greenley, a high school junior from Indiana. She is secretly the school newspaper's advice columnist Ask Annie (similar to Dear Abby), a job she got due to her ability to keep other people's secrets and help people with their problems. Teen heartthrob Luke Striker is making a movie about high school, but having grown up on television, he knows nothing about real teens and their lifestyles. Because of this Clayton High's principal assigns Luke as Jenny's responsibility; she is expected to show him around the school, help him research his role and most importantly keep secret his true identity from her fellow students. During his time at Clayton High School, he is appalled at the vicious hierarchy of high school and starts to tell Jen that she should start taking a stand for the people who can't speak for themselves rather than just consoling them and letting it happen again and again. Jenny soon realizes that she has voice; using this, she starts making serious changes in the lives of others and herself as well, morphing from "nice little Jenny Greenley, everyone's best friend" to Jen, effector of social change. However, despite all the rumors that go around, Jen's feelings for Luke are still platonic. Meanwhile, the school's annual Spring Fling is coming up and Jen has promised to go with Luke, his thank-you for showing him around. At the Spring Fling, Luke reveals that he and Geri Lynn are going out. He also encourages Jen to reveal her true feelings for Geri Lynn's ex, Scott, having found out her affections for him. Also, he has somehow come to know that Jen is Annie from Ask Annie, much to her surprise. So Jen, Trina, and some other people head over to Kwang's anti-Spring Fling party where Scott is. Nervously Jen agrees to take a walk with Scott during which after some heated discussion over their favorite topic; books; Scott kisses Jen quite passionately and they discover their true feelings for each other.I thought this novel was boring and predictable but you should go see for yourselves,only if you wish to experience the erge of stabbing your own eyes out with a stainless steel knitting needle!!ENJOY (or at least try to)

Characters

Jenny Greenley is a high school student who is well liked by everyone, and tries to smooth things over all the time. She may be good at solving others problems, but she still needs help with solving her own.

Scott is long time friend of Jenny's. He was also the boyfriend of Geri Lynn but later went on to become Jenny's boyfriend.

Luke Striker is a movie star who comes to this small-town high school in Indiana to research his role in his next movie. He is hiding his true identity from everyone at school except for Jenny. He soon learns how vicious high school life can be, and he helps Jenny make a change at her school.

Catrina Larssen is Jen's best friend. A drama queen in all respects of the word, Catrina does not answer to her birth name and prefers to be called 'Trina' by her peers. She hints throughout the book that Jen and Scott are made for each other; turning out to be right all along.

Similarities to "How to Be Popular" (another novel by Meg Cabot)

citation needed

This book has many similarities to another Meg Cabot book, "How to Be Popular".
* Both take place in the state of Indiana (although the state of Indiana appears in assorted other Cabot books).
* The main characters in both get together with longtime guy friends at the end.
* Both contain pages from a fictional publication between the chapters- Ask Annie advice columns in "Teen Idol" and pages from "How to Be Popular" in "How to Be Popular".
* Both mention Culver Military Academy.

The Movie

A movie based on the book has been announced, slated for release in 2008. It is not yet known when filming will begin, and so far the cast has yet to be chosen. Additional details can be found on the film's IMDb page.