Girl, Aloud - Rated 
On the surface, Girl, Aloud looks like a fun, fluffy book about one girl's journey to The X Factor. In reality, it's a well-written, moving story about family, friends, and what it means to stand up for yourself.
It took me a good fifty pages to get into this book, as it's written in such an unusual style. It includes dream conversations, imaginary scenarios and quite a lot of instant messaging. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, but by the end, I absolutely loved Emily Gale's style of writing. It's fresh and new, and makes her stand out from the YA crowd.
Kass's family situation took a while to unfold, and rather than being frustrating, it just made me like the characters that much more. I got to know them as they are, with no drama or medical issues, and that really allowed me to sympathise with the family as all their shortcomings are slowly revealed. Kass is a strong girl who is almost carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, and I admired her strength and determination. She chooses her own path, along with her own friends and relationships, and proves that it's okay to make your own decisions. Kass's brother Raff was by far my favourite character. He's like a thirteen-year-old money-making businessman, and has some of the best lines in the book. His relationship with Kass develops as her story progresses, and I really enjoyed their subtle sibling rivalry.
Although Girl, Aloud looks like it's all about a reality TV show, it really isn't. The X Factor is a secondary plot thread, and t hough important to a certain degree, it doesn't define what this book is about. Don't let your preconceptions put you off -- Girl, Aloud is a witty, poignant debut novel that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for families and everything that they do.
Girl, Aloud - Rated 
Kass Kennedy has family problems. Her dad is convinced that she's a genius and/or set to be a superstar. His latest plan is for Kass to wow the judges on The X Factor. Never mind that, at 15, she's too young to enter. Or that she really doesn't want to enter. Or that she absolutely can't sing. Her dad is determined and Kass feels she has to go along with it for his sake - and for the sake of the whole family. Meanwhile, her friendships become strained after a boy with brown boots appears in her life. And Simon Cowell himself starts appearing in her dreams.
Kass's situation in Girl, Aloud isn't easy, and there are moments where it's absolutely heart-breaking. Her family troubles come across so realistically that I really felt for Kass at every turn. All the supporting characters are sharply drawn too, with their own lifelike quirks. Each also has problems which, mixed together, cause all sorts of additional misunderstandings and complications for poor Kass. The book has many sad moments, but it is far from bleak. Kass makes lots of darkly funny and biting observations about her life and the people in it, and her dream conversations with Simon Cowell are also full of sarcasm and black humour.
Girl, Aloud is a wonderfully-observed, realistic and moving mix of relationship drama and gentle comedy, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Very highly recommended.
Brilliant book! - Rated
This is the best book I've read in ages :-) I loved Kass and the whole X-Factor nightmare she was having with her Dad was brilliant and really funny and sad.
I read loads and all sorts of books but sometimes I find it hard to find good books about characters that are my age. I really liked that this didn't talk down (I think sometimes writers assume that 14 is really 9 years old) and I was at first at bit worried that it would be insanely girlie because of the pink cover, although I do like to read chick-lit sometimes too! But it wasn't any of those things. It was just a really good story about friends and boys and her family nightmares and of course Simon Cowell LOL! I've just given it to my friend for her birthday (hi Kelly :-)) and I've been telling everyone to read it.Girl, Aloud
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