About the Book
Title: Reality Natalie | Author: Katie Sparks | Publication Date: October 15, 2014 | Publisher: Firedrake Books LLC | Pages: 150 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 13
Book Summary: When the most popular kids’ TV show, Kidz Konnection, decides to hold auditions for a guest host spot, the show’s BIGGEST fan decides to audition.
[Cue Natalie Greyson]
Eleven-year-old Natalie is determined to overcome her habit of turning into a tongue-tied, air ball burping, runny-nose disaster whenever something embarrassing happens in front of an audience so she can audition for the coveted role. As the show’s biggest fan, no one could possibly deserve it more than her!
Except a GIANT obstacle stands in her way: her parents deny her permission to audition.
To make matters even worse, Natalie’s naturally talented best friend, Kailyn, decides to audition too, and will stop at nothing to win. With their friendship suddenly in question, Natalie turns to her blog, In A “Nat” Shell, to vent her frustrations, but Natalie’s emotional outpouring and lies only creates more anxiety for herself. With the stakes high, Natalie goes against her parent’s wishes and decides to audition, but Kailyn has her own secret plan to be Number One, even if it means doing so at the expense of her best friend. Can Natalie find a way out of the drama and into the spotlight? Or will the competitive pressure cause her to lose her ultimate dream along with her best friend?
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The Buzz About the Book
“…Author Katie Sparks pleasantly surprised me with her well-written prose and spunky characters. Reality Natalie is about a young girl, Natalie Greyson, who has high ambitions and dreams…[and] wants to audition to be a guest host for a popular kid’s show. What really impressed me is the way Sparks handled the competition between friends. Sparks kept it real, she didn’t glamorize her characters…I highly recommend Reality Natalie. It teaches life lessons through fun and thoughtful prose. This is Sparks’ debut novel, but hopefully it won’t be her last.” ~ Carol Thompson, Readers’ Favorite
“I like Natalie. She’s a real kid–the kind who’ll try to sneak a second cookie into her lunch, or get angry at a friend, or offer her second-best pencil to a classmate in need. She has issues with her parents, thinking she’s the odd-kid-out as they deal with the stress of twins and careers, but she has a good relationship with them, nonetheless. They talk. They work stuff out. Natalie knows she can voice her fears and be heard–when she tries find a good time for conversation, anyway.” ~ 5 Star Review, V. Rundell, Amazon
“I loved how Sparks created characters with heart and soul. I cheered with Natalie when something went her way, and could feel her pain when things didn’t. Reality Natalie truly is a wonderful slice of everyday life, complete with annoying classmates, pesky siblings, and friends that don’t always do what you want. Great book filled with lots of surprises that will make readers everywhere clamor for more. ” ~ 5 Star Review, Kym B., Amazon
My Review: Natalie wants to be the guest host on her favorite TV show. She has that chance when she enters the contest. What will it cost her to win? Natalie learns many lessons on her road to becoming a guest TV host. Natalie is a great, fun character.
About the Author: Katie Sparks
At a very young age, Katie Sparks discovered the magic of books. She counted on weekly library visits and treasured receiving her first library card at the age of five. At six, she wrote her first story called Baby Carrie (still in her collection today!) Katie knew then that writing would be in her future.
By day, she is an editor for the parent consumer line at a non-profit medical association and enjoys working closely with authors and industry professionals. Immersed in the publishing industry in both her professional and personal life is a dream come true. On weekends you will often find her writing and sipping coffee at one of the many unique coffee shops in Chicago, spending time with family and friends, or curled up with a new book.
Katie has been an active member of SCBWI for the past seven years. She lives in Chicago with her devoted and extremely vocal cat Moe.
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