Review | Sparkle by Lakita Wilson

The Good

The summary of this book barely conveys how much is packed into its pages. First off, the subject matter is so unique and timely! Sparkle has two parents with showbiz experience and her mom is passionate about helping her follow her dreams of stardom. With more and more kids on social media and wanting to be influencers, this book provides a realistic look into what that choice entails and the behind-the-scenes work required.

Friendship is another huge theme in this book. When Sparkle begins to lose her hair, her friends Taryn and Rae have mixed reactions. The author explores what it means to be a good friend and whether being a good friend means always responding perfectly when your friend is experiencing a crisis. As a high-performing drama student, Sparkle also contends with jealousy from other classmates and figuring out the balance between believing in yourself and being modest.

Readers will see how Sparkle’s dwindling social media career affects her relationship with her mother and sister and how families can cope when one child has health issues. The author also delves into alopecia — the reason for Sparkle’s hair loss — and how kids can find the support they need when faced with a condition that affects their appearance and body image.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None.
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None.
• Sexual content: None.
• Violence: None.
• Religious content: None.
• Language: None.

Diversity

• Ethnic: Main characters are Black.
• Sexual orientation: None.

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Books about family dynamics
• Friendship stories
• Body image books
• Books about social media
• Drawing Deena by Hena Khan

Publisher Details

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