IDOL GOSSIP

A teenage girl gets pulled into the intense world of K-pop as she fights for her dream of becoming a singer.

Seventeen-year-old Alice Choy, who took voice lessons at home in San Francisco, has always dreamed of fame. But since her diplomat mother moved the family to Seoul, South Korea, six months ago, the only singing she’s done has been in a small karaoke booth with her little sister, Olivia. That is, until she gets discovered in one of these noraebangs by Top10 Entertainment, one of K-pop’s biggest labels. With a little sisterly encouragement, Alice auditions and gets the opportunity to attend their Star Academy, where she is trained to become an idol. Slated to debut in just five months, Alice works to prove she’s good enough—but training to be an idol is rigorous. Even though she is a talented singer, dancing and learning Korean don’t come easy. Biracial (Chinese/White) Alice struggles with the intense pressure to keep up and fit in with her group. Even worse, gossip bloggers and anti-fans might destroy her career before it even begins. This is a fast-paced, captivating inside look at what lies behind the glitz of the K-pop industry. Alice’s road to fame highlights cultural differences, self-discovery, sisterhood, and empathy. The narrative is laced with blog posts that help move the story forward and give background information. Korean dialogue is romanized.

An entertaining read unveiling the people behind K-pop glam.