Skylar and the K-Pop Principal - by Luan Goldie (Hardcover)

About the Book

"K-pop fandom and Freaky Friday collide in a hilarious body-swap story that celebrates the fans who drive one of the biggest musical sensations in the world."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"A spirited children's debut and an empathetic take on finding one's passion and growing up." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

K-pop fandom and Freaky Friday collide in a hilarious body-swap story that celebrates the fans who drive one of the biggest musical sensations in the world.

Skylar is convinced that life for her as an eleven-year-old is way harder than for any adult, including her cranky principal, Ms. Callus. The only good part about being eleven is being a massive K-pop fan, even if her parents do ban her from all things AZ8, the best K-pop boy band in the world. When a freak accident causes Skylar and Ms. Callus to switch bodies, Skylar finds herself trying to convince the world of AZ8's supremacy, going viral in a K-pop dance video, and somehow running her school, all while stuck in a seventy-one-year-old's body. And then she gets the chance to meet AZ8 in real life. With the help of her bestie, Dana, and her own wits and passion, Skylar must decide whether her K-pop dream come true is worth risking being stuck as an old lady forever. A feel-good tale singing with laugh-out-loud moments, Skylar and the K-Pop Principal is a joyful and uplifting story of friendship, fandom, and chasing your dreams.

Review Quotes

In this body-switching romp à la Freaky Friday, Goldie deploys all the high-octane energy and devotion inherent to fandom communities and stan culture to present an earnest homage to K-pop. It's a spirited children's debut and an empathetic take on finding one's passion and growing up.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This comical, lighthearted story is an ode to K-pop fandom, but the hilarious jokes and situations will entertain readers unfamiliar with that world. . . A funny, feel-good tale.
--Kirkus Reviews

This novel illustrates that every decision has both positive and negative consequences--and that the impacts can be far-reaching. In the course of the story, Skylar and Ms. Callus' roles reverse, challenging Skylar to really dig deep and appreciate her life and the opportunity to chase her dreams.
--Booklist

About the Author

Luan Goldie is the author of Nightingale Point, which was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction (UK) and was chosen as one of the titles for World Book Night 2023. She is also the author of Homecoming and These Streets. In 2018 she won the UK's prestigious Costa Short Story Award, and her short stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines. Skylar and the K-Pop Principal is her debut book for young readers. A former teacher with more than a decade of experience, Luan Goldie lives in London.