Famous Anonymous - by Morgan Baden (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The first book in a new series about neighborhood friends who find sudden fame with a series of viral videos... only no one knows who they really are. Hannah Montana for the TikTok generation.

Four kids from the same neighborhood, lifelong friends, throw on some costumes and make a funny video one night when their parents are out. One of them shares it with the group, another posts it on a TikTok-like social media, and suddenly the video blows up. Which makes the kids famous! Well, famous... and anonymous. Because no one can tell who they really are--and their parents must never find out. But their new fans want more content!

So the four friends go on to make a series of over-the-top videos that vault them into a new world of celebrity and influence. They feel the rush of attention and the power of their own creations, but also struggle to preserve their fame and their anonymity.

These books explore friendship, loyalty, and imagination, all while considering big questions that come up in a social media context, like: How do you protect your true self online? And is it ever really possible to be anonymous?

Review Quotes

Alternating between the four protagonists' recognizable perspectives, which are peppered with contemporary slang ("We left no crumbs"), Baden (Buried Secrets) delivers an of-the-moment cautionary tale about the highs and lows of internet fame for kids of the Digital Age.
--Publishers Weekly

The book raises vital questions about social media and technology. The four leads share the humorous narration, which includes group chats and fan comments and will hold readers' attention. . . . Absorbing and thought-provoking.
--Kirkus Reviews

A cautionary tale full of individuality and humor, Baden's novel rings true in this moment and is filled with contemporary lingo and believable middle-grade situational complications. . . . Their story comes to a satisfying conclusion with the promise of more adventures to come. An appealing story that will be an easy sell.
--Booklist

About the Author

Morgan Baden is the coauthor (with acclaimed novelist Barry Lyga) of The Hive, a YA novel called "Brilliant!" by Walter Mosley. A bestselling ghostwriter, Morgan has taught courses at New York University's SPS Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media and led many writing-focused workshops for teens and adults. Outside her life as an author, she's an award-winning communications strategist. Morgan lives in New Jersey with her family and a house full of books.