Kind of a Big Deal - by Shannon Hale (Paperback)

About the Book

From bestselling author Shannon Hale comes Kind of a Big Deal: a hilarious, deliciously readable YA novel that will suck you in--literally.

Book Synopsis

"So many strange and wonderful things happen at every twist and turn, you'll be happy to wander with Josie . . . Each book she descends into seems to teach her something, and even if it's not obvious where the story is going, we're in it for the long haul." --NPR

From Shannon Hale, bestselling author of Austenland, comes Kind of a Big Deal: a story that will suck you in--literally.

There's nothing worse than peaking in high school. Nobody knows that better than Josie Pie.

She was kind of a big deal--she dropped out of high school to be a star! But the bigger you are, the harder you fall. And Josie fell. Hard. Ouch. Broadway dream: dead.

Meanwhile, her life keeps imploding. Best friend: distant. Boyfriend: busy. Mom: not playing with a full deck? Desperate to escape, Josie gets into reading.

Literally. She reads a book and suddenly she's inside it. And with each book, she's a different character: a post-apocalyptic heroine, the lead in a YA rom-com, a 17th century wench in a corset.

It's alarming. But also . . . kind of amazing?

It's the perfect way to live out her fantasies. Book after book, Josie the failed star finds a new way to shine. But the longer she stays in a story, the harder it becomes to escape.

Will Josie find a story so good that she just stays forever?

Review Quotes

"So many strange and wonderful things happen at every twist and turn, you'll be happy to wander with Josie . . . Each book she descends into seems to teach her something, and even if it's not obvious where the story is going, we're in it for the long haul." --NPR

"Hale, ever versatile, skillfully illuminates the struggles of a girl faltering on the threshold of adulthood . . . If anyone's equipped to write a story about the power of stories, it's her." --Booklist

"In typical Hale style, Josie's story is full of heart, whimsy, and flawed yet lovable characters. Hale's play with genre, as well as Josie's absurd internal journey, will appeal to fans of Libba Bray and Andrew Smith who enjoy a light and playful surrealist adventure." --School Library Journal

"Hale's cross-genre adventure is playful and effective . . . Cogently revealing the fallibility of ourselves and those we trust, this coming-of-age story will especially appeal to readers exploring post-high school liminal spaces." --Publishers Weekly

"Hale lovingly lampoons tropes from a smorgasbord of genres . . . Never taking itself too seriously, this quirky, clever tale of confidence lost and found aims for the hearts of bookworms but has a sassy-sweet message with broad young adult appeal." --Shelf Awareness

"An unusual journey of self-discovery." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Shannon Hale is the New York Times-bestselling author of over thirty books, including fantasy novels The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days, science fiction novel Dangerous, Newbery Honor winner Princess Academy, graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends (with LeUyen Pham), and romantic comedy Austenland (now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell). She lives in Utah with her husband and frequent collaborator Dean Hale, their four remarkable children, and two ridiculous cats named Misty Knight and Mike Hat.