Adios to My Old Life »

Caridad Ferrer is a first-generation, bilingual Cuban American, born in Manhattan and raised in Miami. This is her first novel. Visit her website at www.caridadferrer.com.

Does a seventeen-year-old from Miami have what it takes to be the next big Latin superstar? And does she really want it?

As a talented singer-guitarist with a dream of going pro, Alegría Montero is getting fed up with the endless, boring parade of quinceañeras and other family party gigs. She's longing for something bigger. And Oye Mi Canto -- a new reality TV show that's searching for the next Latin superstar -- is definitely that. Ali figures she'll never make the cut, but auditioning seems like a good way to get her overprotective father to take her ambitions seriously.

To Ali's complete shock, she passes her audition. Next thing she knows, she's dealing with wardrobe fittings, cameras, reporters, vocal coaches, and websites designed by lovestruck fanboys. She's also dealing with jealousy, malice, and sabotage among the contestants, all of which has her wondering: Is it really time to shoot for the stars and try to win the whole competition, or is it time to say "Cut!" and become a normal teenager again?

Olivia Durant - KLIATT

Performing is in Ali Montero's blood. She is only 17, but she is sure she can make it onto Oye Mi Canto, the new music reality show aimed at the Latino community. Best friend Sosi is along for the ride, helping her keep it a secret from her dad, a music professor at the local university. Once Ali passes her audition, her life is completely transformed. Her father's best friend, Elaine, is designated as her chaperone since she is underage. Elaine keeps Ali grounded and focused on her goals, in spite of the adulation she is exposed to on a daily basis. While learning new music, Ali is swept into a world of cutthroat competition. As each week passes and more contestants are eliminated, Ali finds out who her true friends are. She even starts her first romance with Jaime, who works for the show. The main characters are appealing and down to earth, but the supporting characters are a little one-dimensional. Readers will know almost from the first few chapters who the villain is. A pleasant surprise here is that the ending is unpredictable, making it exciting to reach the final scenes. Unlike American Idol, readers won't have to wait months to find out the winner. Recommend this to music fans and readers of realistic fiction. KLIATT Codes: S--Recommended for senior high school students. 2006, Simon & Schuster, MTV Pocket Books, 246p., $9.95.. Ages 15 to 18.