• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

• Is it any good?

  3.0

• Common Sense says

  Engaging cliffhanger continues series' rollercoaster ride.

Why We Rated This for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

• Educational value:

  If kids learn anything it will be that all the glitz and glamour of the modeling world doesn't compare to the security and comfort of loving friends and family. It may also spark their curiosity into big box stores and how the companies where their consumer goods come from treat the environment, workers, and patrons.
• Messages:

  The main messages in the book deal with Em's ability to choose what's right in the midst of temptation. Money and fame threaten to erase the old "Em" and she learns how to make tough decisions amid distractions and pressure from all sides. The book also exposes the realities and darker side of the celebrity world.

• Role models:

  There are some positive roles models, including parents and friends, but providing positive examples isn't the novel's main goal.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  A company tries to murder a young girl, a woman disappears, and a man grabs a girl violently and threatens her. There are some incidents of mild fighting -- slaps, headlocks, and pinches.

• Sex:

  Some kissing scenes and one heavy petting scene with a teen boy and girl. A girl thinks about having sex with several boys. There is some innuendo and descriptions of scantily clad women.
• Language:

  Some name-calling throughout the novel.
• Consumerism:

  The designer labels are important to the story as the main character is a supermodel. The clothing labels, (Chanel, Ugg, Juicy Couture, etc.), help set the scene for the novel.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  There is regular drinking by teens. One teen is tricked into drinking alcohol; another teen drinks heavily.

What Parents Need to Know

About Being Nikki: An Airhead Novel

Families Can Talk About