Fake Famous

Eighteen-year-old Red Morgan, who is Black and lives in Orange City, Iowa, starts each day hoping that the universe will “show me something good.” Despite her pleas, however, the recent high school graduate knows that her future consists of doing chores on her family farm and—as the oldest of five—babysitting. But Red, so named for her naturally red hair, loves to sing. One day, after a video her younger sister posts of her imitating Black pop star Zay-Zay Waters and falling in pig manure goes viral, Zay-Zay arrives with an implausible request: claiming she needs some private time, she hires Red to impersonate her for a week. Knowing her family needs the funds, Red agrees, and suddenly she’s whisked onto her first airplane and is cultivating relationships with a personal chauffeur, a publicity manager, and super-hot Native Hawaiian musician Koi Kalawai‘a, Zay-Zay’s fake boyfriend. As Red navigates this brand-new world, she must reckon with her desire to prioritize her dreams over her family’s needs. Davis (Somebody That I Used to Know), who is also an actor, believably depicts the sometimes outlandish realities of the lifestyles of the rich and famous in this Prince and the Pauper take. Ages 14–up. (Nov.)