Alexa Martin

Suddenly, I heard this rhythmic clomping sound. Shuffling down the hall in wooden clogs was a girl with a mane of hot pink hair. On anyone else it would have looked absurd or cheap. But for her it worked. Tremendously. It was like her hair was a reflection of some inner radiance.

"That's Amanda Munger," Mimi whispered. "Otherwise known as Girl Wonder."

It's not easy being the new girl.

As if transferring during senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower-level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future starts to seem like a black hole.

Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, and rich. As her new sidekick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team - and closer to Neal, Amanda's friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen.

Senior year is finally looking up . . . or is it? The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more he wants to keep their relationship a secret. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive toward Charlotte. Could her new BFF be hiding something?

As it gets harder for Charlotte to determine what's fake and what's real in her new relationships, she'll need to discover that the real stars - the kind that you can navigate by - are closer than she realizes.

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Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Hardcover Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
ISBN-10: 142312135X
ISBN-13: 978142312135

"Any girl who has done her time as an outsider, been dazzled by the wrong crowd, or felt the weight of an uncertain future will cheer for Charlotte as she takes a leap and lands on her own solid ground." - Holly Cupala, author of TELL ME A SECRET

"Once I started reading GIRL WONDER, I couldn't put it down. I was drawn into Charlotte's world - full of vivid characters, risky acts, and increasingly treacherous social waters. Alexa Martin writes fearlessly about the high expectations and hard choices faced by today's teens." - L.K. Madigan, author of FLASH BURNOUT and THE MERMAID'S MIRROR

"A solid debut captures the social maelstrom that is high school... Martin keeps readers involved with her distinctive, colorful and believable characters and by placing Charlotte in a fractured but realistic family life. The prose moves along nicely, mixing Charlotte's introspection with active scenes. Amanda may be wonderful, but Charlotte is the one who shines. Insightful - and entertaining too." - Kirkus

"Martin's tale is a sophisticated read intended for older adolescents. She is forthright in describing unpleasant conditions of high school life in which new students can find themselves rejected and harassed. She also lets readers see into the confused mind of a young girl who wants to belong and feel important." - ALAN (Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) pick for March 2011

"Charlotte's voice is honest and relatable... Her ultimate self-acceptance is gratifying." - Publishers Weekly