Hello Stars (Faithgirlz / Lena in the Spotlight)

My daughter really loves this book. She's a 9 year old, avid reader. She says its a really good book and quite enjoyable. The characters are relatable and my daughter likes how the main character turns to God regularly to help her with her problems. I simply love the fact that this is a faith-based book written by a young girl and her mother. I've been looking for a series like this for the past few years and we have already pre-ordered the next book to be released in September. My daughter has also read 3 of the Glimmer Girls books... I am so pleased that she has exciting characters, written by women of faith, that she can look up to :)

My daughter loves this book. The pictures are large and very engaging. The story is centered around God.

Hello Stars gives insight to faith walking on a child's level. I read this book to preview it for my younger cousin and I gained such insight and wisdom. Every girl may not be a movie star but every Christian can relate to the hard choices that come with walking by faith. This is a must have for the tween inn your life.

My avid reader (10 year old girl) loved it and read through it quickly for a book report. I bought the other 2 in the series to give her in her Easter basket.

My granddaughter loved this!

Great book. Good characters.

She sent me a thank you card and told me how much she loved the book. Great gift for an 11 year old.

I enjoy the book

My daughter really enjoyed this book. We recently discovered the Faithgirl series and have been happy so far. Thankful for a faith-based book she can enjoy.

My daughter is loving this series!! It's so nice to find one that has a main character that looks just like her!

My daughter really loves this book. She's a 9 year old, avid reader. She says its a really good book and quite enjoyable. The characters are relatable and my daughter likes how the main character turns to God regularly to help her with her problems. I simply love the fact that this is a faith-based book written by a young girl and her mother. I've been looking for a series like this for the past few years and we have already pre-ordered the next book to be released in September. My daughter has also read 3 of the Glimmer Girls books... I am so pleased that she has exciting characters, written by women of faith, that she can look up to :)

My daughter loves this book. The pictures are large and very engaging. The story is centered around God.

Hello Stars gives insight to faith walking on a child's level. I read this book to preview it for my younger cousin and I gained such insight and wisdom. Every girl may not be a movie star but every Christian can relate to the hard choices that come with walking by faith. This is a must have for the tween inn your life.

My avid reader (10 year old girl) loved it and read through it quickly for a book report. I bought the other 2 in the series to give her in her Easter basket.

My granddaughter loved this!

Great book. Good characters.

She sent me a thank you card and told me how much she loved the book. Great gift for an 11 year old.

I enjoy the book

My daughter really enjoyed this book. We recently discovered the Faithgirl series and have been happy so far. Thankful for a faith-based book she can enjoy.

My daughter is loving this series!! It's so nice to find one that has a main character that looks just like her!

Good story for preteens

I'm grateful that these co authors wrote quality, fun, virtue focused material for my tween daughter to enjoy! Their lives and examples are also an inspiration! Keep your eyes on them. They are going far! We are counting down until the next book releases! Thanks.

Purchased the book for my 13 year old granddaughter! Looking forward to hearing what she thinks about it. I love the cover picture and the title of the book.

Great book!

IWSA Vzbxkz risks ended when disk disk disk end up being the only one that was my favorite thing to

It really too to long to deliver. Other then that fine.

Hello Stars is written by Alena Pitts (who starred in War Room) and her mom, Wynter Pitts (who is the founder of the magazine For Girls Like you). Although Alena has written before (in her mom's magazine), this is her debut novel. Alena's story is about Lena Daniels, a twelve year old who decides to audition for a movie in order to possibly meet her favorite Christian singer. From there, unexpected events happen and she must quickly learn to balance real life and her rising stardom. While that feat would be difficult for even an adult, it definitely comes with special challenges for a social twelve year old. This book is filled with scenarios Lena faces that seem disastrous, and to which, I imagine, a lot of young girls can relate in some way, shape, or form. Examples include being late for class, having a gummy stuck on her tooth, having gum stuck in her hair, or losing track of time when with friends. Through all of those situations, other scenarios, and even her own insecurities, Lena learns to focus on God's plan for her life. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the relationships within Lena's family, too. Her family is a strong Christian family who often prays together. It was such a blessing to see how the parents loved on the children and made sure they were covered in pray. I was moved to tears the time when Lena wasn't with her dad, but her dad made sure to FaceTime her in order to pray over her and her day. What a blessing to see such a wonderful family. Additionally, Lena gets along well with her sisters. I personally want to make sure that my own family is like that. Reading a book where these relationships are obviously cherished will also help young girls see a good example of a family, which hopefully is mirrored within their own lives. One of my favorite parts of the book is that Lena writes in a journal at the end of every chapter. Her journal entries are expressive and seem exactly like what a girl her age would write. She's real about her struggles, and I think this is something most Christian girls would be able to relate to. For example, one entry (page 64) says, "Hello, God, Ok. So I am not sure what you are doing or if you are even doing anything. Are you?...I am so confused. Mom and Dad keep saying you care about my life and to trust you and that you have a plan. But if I don't know your plan, then how do I know if I am doing the right thing? This is so hard! I don't want to mess up." Another entry (page 94) says, "Can you please keep showing me how to relax and trust you? It feels so much better when I do!" Through it all, Lena learns that God is in control and He has a plan. She learns to rely on Him and trust Him in new ways. Watching her walk through this journey would be an encouragement to other young ladies facing similar issues. Lena is definitely a role model that I would want my daughter to meet through this novel. Additionally, Alena herself is obviously a young lady standing for the Lord and a rising star herself. This is definitely a book worth having your young tween girls read.

"Hello Stars" is a children’s book written by Alena Pitts. Alena is an author, actress, model and contributor to the magazine, For Girls Like You. "Hello Stars" features Lena Daniels who the reader can infer is based on Alena and her real-life experience as a movie star, except the characters in this story have been changed. In real-life, Alena played Danielle, the daughter of Priscilla Shirer’s character Elizabeth Jordan in the movie War Room. In the story Hello Stars, Lena gets to meet her favorite celebrity. She goes through an audition process and is chosen to star in a movie with Mallory Winston. Lena’s best friends Savannah and Emma play a role in helping her become a movie star because they were the ones who told Lena about the audition. The friendship between Lena and her best friends is sweet, solid and heartwarming. The bond that Lena shares with her parents, sisters and pet dog is also very encouraging. This fictional family is portrayed as happy, healthy and helpful. It’s very refreshing to read. This story is not without challenges. Lena works hard on making her dreams come true. But when Lena starts working on the movie, she realizes that being in the spotlight is more difficult than she dreamed. She doesn’t like seeing her face on advertisements and being in the public eye. This is where Lena’s faith plays a strong role. She writes letters to God in her journal. She prays, and she relies on her parents to help her navigate fame. Through it all, Lena learns how to persevere, make good decisions, and trust God. Alena’s real-life Mom Wynter Pitts contributed to the writing of this book. Just like Mrs. Daniels (fictional Lena’s Mom), Wynter plays a crucial role in keeping her daughter Alena grounded in reality and soaring high with her faith in God as her dreams come true. My favorite character in this story was Lena because of her sweet personality, strong work ethic, drive to succeed and her heart for helping people. The characters in this book, though fictional, felt real. The storyline was a bit predictable but did have its surprises with plot twists that keep the reader guessing at times. My favorite part of this book was watching Lena’s dreams to star in a movie with her favorite celebrity come true. It’s my favorite part because it reignited my hope that my own creative career dreams—though I am much older—can come true if it’s God’s will for me. There are no heartbreaking scenes in this book that will make the reader cry. But there are highs and lows that Lena experiences in the journey to her dreams, causing her faith walk with God to be tested. The author writes these scenes with believability, skill and perfect prose. The way she details Lena’s journey endears her character to the reader’s heart. Readers may find themselves rooting for Lena from the start of the story and caring about what happens—or does not happen—to her throughout this book. There is a very tense scene in this story that involves a moment where Lena disappoints the entire film crew and something Mallory says crushes her spirit. But to find out the details on this, you’ll have to read the book! This book didn’t make me laugh or cry but it did make me smile quite often. I loved reading this story! There honestly is not anything about Hello Stars that I did not like. I was pleasantly surprised that this story did not have any cliffhangers. As a reader, I enjoyed journeying through this story with Lena, her family and friends. The characters are relatable and the dialogue is lively. The author’s writing style is sweet and engaging. Overall, "Hello Stars" is a wonderful story filled with captivating characters, a creative premise, hope, faith, love, and a heroine’s journey that will encourage you as the reader to dream again. I’d recommend this book to younger readers ages 8 to 12. But I’d also tell teenagers and young adults to read this book because the heroine’s journey to her dreams is relatable with a lesson that’s universal. This book is unique and in a class of its own though the theme is slightly reminiscent of Natalie Grant’s book, "Miracle in Music City" (Faithgirlz/Glimmer Girls), which is also a Faithgirlz book series. "Hello Stars" is worth every bit of a five-star rating!

We have to face it. Today’s preteens are enamored with stars, music, and dreaming of being in the spotlight. The problem is most of their examples are not wholesome or Christian, This book gives young girls the chance to be a part of the fantasy of stardom but in a pure and godly way. Lena Daniels never dreamed she would star in a movie, and certainly not with her favorite Christian singer, Mallory Winston. That is exactly what happens when she wins a video audition which she assumed the prize was to meet her idol. She quickly finds out there is much more to being a star that she ever imagined. She discovers it is not all glamour and fun but hard work and responsibility. This book has so many wonderful features that young girls, parents and grandparents will really appreciate. The Daniel’s are a strong Christian family. They are supportive of one another and live in harmony, showing the importance of family relationships. Prayer is a regular part of their life in all areas. Scriptural concepts are applied to the situations they face as natural as breathing! Girls are able to see how important God is in whatever is happening with big or the small matters. I loved the way the author captured the situations girls find themselves. Minor incidents adults would think nothing of are devastating to sensitive young ladies. In reading the book I was taken back to that period in my life and how differently experiences were viewed and felt. It’s that magical window of time right before becoming a teen that is accompanied by uncertainty, confusion and innocence. At the end of each chapter the readers get a peek at what Lena writes in her journal to herself and God. She expresses her joys, doubts, fears, at the same time seeking God.In addition to all these positive features, the book is entertaining, fun and humorous. Even though I am 50+ years past the reading audience’s age, I enjoyed it! Definitely a book you would want your preteens to read! I received this book from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I expressed are my own.

Hello Stars is the first book in the Lena in the Spotlight series by Alena Pitts and Wynter Pitts. Eleven year old, Lena Daniels auditions for a movie part so that she can meet her favorite Christian singer, Mallory Winston. She never dreams that she would get the part, but that is exactly what happens. Now that she has gotten her wish, she realizes that being a part of the movie is much harder than she expected. In order to start filming the movie, she has to leave before the last week of school, miss out on a trip with her best friends and spend her whole summer filming the movie instead of what she had planned. She doesn't like being in the spotlight. She learns that being in a movie and meeting Mallory isn't just glamour and fun, but a lot of hard work and responsibility. I thought this book was good. The characters are well developed and the story kept a steady pace. I loved that Lena talked to God when she had a problem. There were lots of Christian values as well as scripture references throughout the book which I also liked. I also liked that there was a lesson to be learned in the book. I think that girls 8-12 would enjoy this book. *I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.*

I love finding wholesome yet adorable books for my daughters to read and that's exactly what I found here with "Hello Stars"written by mother and daughter duo, Alena and Wynter Pitts! Lena is just your average 10 year old who suddenly gets the opportunity of a lifetime! When her favorite Christian artist runs a contest for a chance to meet her, Lena jumps at the chance and sends in a video entry. Only after she won did she realize that by winning, she would also be starring in a major motion picture! Lena will have to move to Los Angeles for the summer and work everyday. Being a big movie star is hard work. Lena doesn't know if she can do it. There are so many positive elements in this story that I'm not sure where to begin! Lena's parents are strong, godly role models who pray with their four daughters every day. Her father reads scripture with the family everyday before the girls go to school. Nearly all of the chapters end with Lena writing a note in her journal addressed to the stars, or to God. I was a little confused by the star part until later in the book when it made more sense. Another reason I loved this book was because of the strong moral values throughout the story. Lena's parents were encouraging throughout Lena's journey to stardom, yet mindful of her responsibilities, making sure Lena took this job seriously. This book is aimed at girls between the ages of 8-12 years. My oldest is 10 and has already devoured it since I gave it to her! We are very much looking forward to the second book set to release in September 2017! I received this book for free in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

This is a great book for young girls to read. It has a lot of great examples such as about prayer. It shows how to walk in faith as a young girl/tween, and is relatable for any Christian girl. Almost every young girl in this day and age wants a celebrity lifestyle. They dream of being singers, actresses, models, etc. Unfortunately the majority of examples out there are not exactly the best. This book sets a whole new positive example for young girls. The issues that Lena faces in the book are perfectly viewed and understood from a young girls point of view as well. This book also sets a great example of not just faith, but family love. The Daniels family supports each other, loves each other, and uplifts each other spiritually. All around a great book that any tween girl will enjoy. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Handlebar in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

The author of this book is a young (very young) actress/model who got her start in the recent film War Room. She teams up with her mother to pen this book about a young girl who literally falls into an acting role. In some respects, Hello Stars is fairly easy to categorize—it’s a book by a twelve-year-old girl writing about an eleven-year-old girl and what can happen if life takes a turn. Choosing to abide by the writer’s motto, “write what you know,” Alena tells a story that could be very similar to her own. Is it any wonder that the book is targeted to preteen girls? It is a book that brings faith to the forefront in both family and workplace settings. Even with all of this right up front, the book itself categorizes itself in a laundry list of titles: it is part of the “faithGirlz” books developed by Zondervan’s Zonderkids division; it proclaims on the cover that it is the first in the “Lena in the Spotlight” series (which advertises book 2, Day Dreams and Movie Screens, is available in bookstores and online). So, choose a category and settle in for a nice story. The story, told from the voice of 11-year-old Lena Daniels, brings the reader into the heart and mind of a preteen girl. She has her special friends at school, she loves her family, and she would just die to meet her favorite singer, Mallory. When she prays that her video greeting to Mallory will win her an opportunity to spend time with the singer, she is convinced that it’s a flop. And then the call comes that Lena has been chosen to star opposite Mallory in an upcoming movie based on faith. The book is a good read and will appeal to its target audience for a variety of reasons. It speaks in a voice that is familiar to them, it addresses topics and dreams that most (if not every) preteen girl is concerned with, and it bears a positive message about faith and God. As with any book of this nature, and especially first outings for an author, the story does have some drawbacks. It will have limited appeal even among young female readers because it has a tendency to “preach” a lot. Not that the sermons are bad, but it may find its way only into the hands of girls of faith. The tone and message of the book will help this limited audience to grow in faith (just as the main character does), but if the desire is to reach an audience outside the Christian community, the authors and the publisher will find an uphill battle. All in all, I’d have to give the book 4 out of 5 reading glasses for a really fun summer adventure offered by a first-time author. I did find myself enjoying the family I met in the pages of Hello Stars (almost to the point of checking out book 2) even if I’m not a preteen girl (I am the father of one, though). —Benjamin Potter, June 22, 2017

Lights ... camera ... action! for a fabulous new book! Alena Pitts has written an exciting story, full of drama, spiritual lessons, and movie lights. It's those lights that create such inner turmoil for Lena, the main character of the story. I love the way that the author has her parents, friends, and even a singer-celebrity helping her to learn big lessons when she faces hard times. Those lessons incorporate scripture, giving readers a steadfast foundation upon which to lean. The troubles that Lena faces are realistic, even if much of the story is not. Most tweens won't have the opportunity to star in a movie, or even meet their favorite celebrity face-to-face, but the author puts the character, despite those amazing situations, in places of realistic, everyday-people kind of stress, and she learns how to cope with that stress in real ways. That was definitely my favorite aspect of this book. Hello Stars is a fairly short, fun read. It's the first in a trilogy, and I expect great things in the subsequent books. I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Hello Stars by Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts Lena Daniels always wanted to meet movie star Mallory. She has a chance to win a chance to meet her and star in a movie if she makes a video telling why this would be her greatest desire. Of course that's not exactly how it all happened. Lena's video is not anything that she was proud of and she figures her chance to meet her idol is out of reach. Lena gets her chance and leaves her home, family and friends for her great adventure toaster in a movie with her idol. Lena is identifiable for many young teens. The can relate to Lena's desire to meet their idol and wow what an adventure to star in a movie! The reader gets a glimpse on how it is to work on a movie set though Alena's eyes, having worked on a movie herself. The adventures Lena experiences in the book keep the reader engaged and laughing. This book is refreshing showing a tween who has a relationship with God that influences her choices in life. It illustrates how a person's relationship with God can be through journaling. Hand this book to any tween looking for a fun filled adventure. Girls who are walking with the Lord will find a new "friend" in Lena and will eagerly await her next adventure. Note: I was given a copy by publisher, Zondervan for an honest review.

Fifth grader Lena Daniels never expected that she would be given the chance to star in a movie - and with her favourite Christian singer, Mallory Winston, none the less! But after she auditions, that is exactly what happens as she is given a leading role in a movie about a family learning to trust God. However, Lena soon discovers that being a star in the spotlight isn't all fun and games. In fact, it can be a whole lot of hard work! "Hello Stars" is a solidly written novel firmly aimed at the pre-teens in your life. My daughters (aged 10 and 12) greatly enjoyed this book, finding it easy to relate to the characters and liking the different experiences that Lena gets to have. As a parent, I appreciate that this book showcases strong family values, something that can often be missing from fiction nowadays. I also like how prayer is a theme throughout this book, because as a parent I absolutely long for my own children to make prayer with their Father a part of every area of their lives. The novel teaches important lessons, but it does so in a fun and often humorous manner. And in a world that so often idolizes movie and music stars, can I just say how great it is that this novel offers such a reality check for tweens about what stardom is really like? My tween daughters absolutely rave about "Hello Stars" and insisted that this book be given a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I have a feeling that they will be absolutely clamouring for a copy of the next book in the series, Day Dreams and Movie Screens! Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher through the Booklook Bloggers program.

Hello Stars by Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts Hello Stars by Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts is the first in the new series, Lena in the Spotlight. This series stars Lena as the oldest child in her family. Lena on the advice of her friend Savannah has entered a contest to meet her favorite star Mallory Winston and even though in the video entry she made she had a piece of candy between her teeth she won. The prize not only included meeting Mallory but also living for the summer in Hollywood starring in a role in a movie. Lena soon finds that making a movie is more work than she anticipated and spending the whole summer in California away from her friends is more lonely than she thought. Lena learns to make new friends in California and trust God to guide her along the way. Lena becomes friends with Mallory as well as Kay B who helps her get ready for her scenes. Lena learns to work hard and enjoy the fun as it comes. Most of all Lena learns to relax and trust God to lead her toward the plan He has set for her life. I enjoyed this book and think that any tween girl would enjoy reading this book. This book has a Christian message as this Christian family learns to live in California and follow the path that God has set for them. The book is about a 12 year old and is written so that 12 year olds could easily read it. There is no violence nor sexual content. I received this book from Handlebar Publishing for this review.

The book Hello Stars is written by a mother and daughter: Alena and Wynter Pitts. It is a paperback, fictional story based off of a 12 year old girls journey into the acting profession. I was a little hesitant to read this book because I don't quite care for the path of show and fame and the story is about just that. However, I found the book to be one that I would encourage a young girl to read for the fact this journey is described with prayer and seeking of the Lord. The girl in the story spends a lot of time praying by writing letters to God. I find this to be a great prayer strategy that hopefully tween girls who read the book will be encouraged to do. Overall I found the book, Hello Stars, to be cute, encouraging, and a book that a girl with a similar identifying faith would enjoy. This would be a perfect read for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grader- but probably a fairly quick read for anyone older even though the book is about a 12 year old girl. I would say it is a book that any tween girl who is interested in reading could read in couple of days.

If you've had the opportunity to watch the movie War Room then you are already aquainted with the talented author Alena Pitts. Alena played the part of Danielle Jordan, the darling daughter in the movie. She has taken that amazing experience and turned it into a delightful read for tween girls. There is so much that I liked about this book, but the one thing that stands out is the over-riding theme of God being a central part of every decision in this family. Lena's character has an authentic feel to it, most likely because it is written by a young girl that experienced very similar situations. I also liked how the story related to the every day girl that would be reading it. Not every girl is going to have an opportunity to be in a movie but they will have an opportunity to live out their faith in whatever area God has for them. Lena presents an opportunity to look at what it's like to have faith in God even in unknown circumstances. It's a great story of learning the wisdom from Proverbs 16:9 that we make our plans but God directs our steps. This would be a wonderful read for tween girls. I can't think of a single drawback that would keep me from recommending it to you. The characters are well rounded and the dialogue is snappy. The situations are real and vulnerable and uplifting. If you've got a tween girl in your life get this book and this series for her! I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Fifth grader, Lena Daniels, and her friends are super fans of singer, Mallory Winston. When Mallory sponsors a contest to find a girl to make a movie with her, Lena jumps at the chance and surprisingly wins. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, but what Lena wants is to meet Mallory. Now she’s committed to the movie, and her whole summer will be spent in California. Lena has exceptionally committed parents, so the whole family, Lena’s three sisters and the dog, Austin, take off for California. Lena gets her wish to meet and work with Mallory, but making movie isn’t all fun. There are plenty of things that make her life difficult. Middle grade girls will love this book. The characters are realistic, the plot is a dream for many tweens, and the book is filled with delightful black and white pictures to illustrate the text. The story is aimed at a Christian audience. Lena talks to God in her journal and asks for his help in the hard things in her life. For me, one of the best parts of the book was seeing how committed Lena’s parents are. Busy parents often don’t have or take the time to help their children realize their dreams. However, in this book, the whole family gets behind Lena and helps her make a success of her experience. I highly recommend this book for tween girls, but parents can enjoy it also. I received this book from Handlebar Marketing for this review.

Hello Stars by Alena and Wynter Pitts is a Faithgirlz/Lena in the Spotlight book. It is the first book of the Lena in the Spotlight series, and book two, Day Dreams and Movie Screens, is coming out in September 2017. Alena and Wynter are a mother/daughter writing team which makes this series unique. The back cover says: "Lena Daniels never thought she’d get the chance star in a movie. Headstrong and determined, she has her life planned out to the minute. But when her best friends, Savannah and Emma, tell her about an audition, she knows there’s nothing else in the world she’d rather do. And now that she’s gotten her wish, Lena finds that being in the spotlight is harder than it sounds. She got everything she never wanted! Her face turns up everywhere she goes, and everything in her life is flipped upside down. Lena wonders if this is a dream come true or a horrible nightmare. Even a visit from her best friends during filming turns into a disaster. With her little sisters—Ansley, Ashton, and Amber—and her mischievous pup, Austin, constantly at her side, Lena must face the challenges of everyday life while chasing her dreams of being a model and actress on the big screen. Lena tackles tough choices, learns the value of perseverance, and keeps her hopes high. She knows her faith and family will keep her feet on the ground and her eyes on the stars. This Faithgirlz series entitled Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and co-written with her mother, editor and author, Wynter Pitts, is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps her faith in balance." Hello Stars is recommended for girls ages 8-12 (grades 3-7) and I happen to have two daughters, age 9 (going into 4th grade) and age 11 (going into 7th grade), so this book was perfect for both of them! I loved that this was a fun book that had Christian values and themes for my daughters. The typical trash put out for tween girls is completely inappropriate and incompatible with a Christian worldview, and I love books that not only are written from and based on a Christian worldview, but are also fun, engaging, modern, and books that my girls actually want to read! My girls both loved and enjoyed this Hello Stars. In my 11 year old daughter's words, "It's really, really good!". I highly recommend this book to any parent looking for a good, wholesome, fun book for their tween daughter to read. We can't wait for book two to come out! I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to provide an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Hello Stars by Alena Pitts is a faithgirlz book geared to preteen girls. It focuses on God’s plan in Lena’s life basing it on the scripture in Jeremiah. God knows the plans He has for us. The book revolves around Lena who auditions for a movie with the intentions of meeting the star. She begins doubting herself and her ability as well as doubting God’s will in her life. She has choices to make and obstacles to face and she just isn’t sure she’s doing the right thing. With the support of her family and friends she faces the challenges ahead and follows God’s will in her life. This is an absolutely adorable book for a preteen girl. I’m an adult and loved it. It’s a quick, light hearted read with a very good message. If you are looking for a book that is full of values and just good reading that is wholesome for girls to read make sure this one is on your to read list. I received this book from Handlebar Publishing at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful youth fiction for girls 8-12 years old. It's a debut novel by a mother daughter team and introduces Lena Daniels. When Lena unexpectedly lands a movie role, the spirited eleven year old must find a way to balance stardom with “real” life. Suddenly Lena wishes she had time for her three younger sisters and her friends. I like Lena as a character. She keeps on getting into crazy situations so there is a good bit of humor in the book. She is a loyal friend and a good sister. She struggles with making the right decisions yet endeavors to be obedient to God. I like Lena's family too. I was really impressed with how prayer is such a natural part of their lives. This little book has many good lessons for tween girls. Lena learns the meaning of responsibility and what it means to be a person of your word. She also learns that one does not have to be an adult to be used by God. And I love this lessons on prayer from Lena's mom: “Praying is a way that you put God in charge of giving you what He wants for you. It's also a way to let Him know that you trust Him.” (82) I recommend this book to young readers, especially ones interested in what it is like to be in a movie. You'll be entertained but also learn many good lessons to help you in your Christian life. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I received a copy of HELLO STARS by Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts from ZonderKids in exchange for an honest review. This is book 1 in the series “Lena in the Spotlights.” This is an adorable book, and the best part – it is “clean.” It is wholesome. HELLO STARS is geared toward twelve-year-old girls. I remember when I was that age, a lot of the books I read weren’t all that wholesome. There was one in particular about a pioneer family that was so bad, my mom took it away to read “in a few years.” This book helps to teach girls good morals while entertaining them. There are many ways they will be able to relate to Lena, while still enjoying the adventure and escapism. My favorite part of the book is how close-knit Lena’s family is. It is refreshing to read such a book after having endured many young adult novels that show clueless, distant, childish parents. This book will be enjoyed by parents and middle grade readers. I highly recommend it!

Starring in a movie, or even getting a small part, would be awesome, right? That's what Lena thought when her friends told her about the upcoming audition. It was her dream! Did it stay that way or did it become a nightmare? Lena Daniels wanted to be a star both as a model and in film. When her chance came, she jumped, only to find that her dream was becoming a reality. What a wonderful and scary thing it was to be chosen to star with Mallory Winston. But, she never bargained on it affecting her summer, nor did she think she would be afraid. Come, meet Lena and follow along as she experiences some difficult emotions and choices. Watch how her faith helps her along the way. See how her family helps keep her grounded all the while helping her reach for the stars. What a great book for preteens! The focus is on determination, faith, family, discipline, and balance. I recommend it to anyone with preteens/young teens. I received my free copy from Handlebar Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Lena and her girlfriends are fans of singer Mallory Winston. So when Mallory sends out a call for tween girls to send an audition video to be in a movie with her, Lena can't wait to send it off. Hello Stars shares the angst, struggles, and insecurities that middle school girls will especialy relate to. And who hasn't dreamed of meeting a favorite singer or being "discovered" and cast in a movie role? Lena's parents encourage her to leave all her worries and dreams in God's hands and let him work out all the details. Lena has a few scrapes but through the good times and hard times, she learns that God will never leave her and she has a family and friends making sure she knows how much she is loved and cared for. Hello Stars is a great book for middle school girls as it's not only a wholesome read but it will encourage girls to put their faith and trust in their Heavenly Father who uses us in spite of our imperfections.

Hello Stars By Alena Pitts with Wynter Pitts is a great book for girls 8-12 years old. When the main character Lena Daniels finds out she can audition to get into a movie and to meet her favorite singer, Mallory Winston, she jumps at the chance. But, then she isn't sure if she is right for the part. After my eleven year old daughter read this book she excitedly told me there was another one in the series which she couldn't wait to read! ( it comes out in September 2017) She loved the black and white illustrations and the fun clothes the girls were wearing. I liked that the girls were dressed modestly. Hello Stars is written from Lena's perspective and it also includes sweet journal entries she addresses to God. The author, Alena Pitts, is a twelve year old girl. It was wonderful for my daughter to have a positive role model her age. Overall, I think this is a great book for tweens. It is hard to find books that my daughter wants to read and I approve of. This is one of those books. I highly recommend it. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Lena Daniels is the oldest of four children who, with her trusty dog beside her, desires to become an actress. In order to become the big star she feels she was meant to be, she at first has to jump through the hoops, so to speak. This wears on her as she has to make choices between faith, family, and career. Ring a bell, adults? Life is not easy, and in this darling story, Lena learns that valuable lesson. However, the road to that revelation is quite the rocky way. I found the story sweet yet realistic. It is written in a story form with some of those appetizing diary pieces scattered throughout the chapters. I guess the reason Alena can pull it off is because she is a bit of a star herself. You might recognize her as one of the actresses in the movie, War Room. It is clear that she has a great talent and can go somewhere in this world of influencing others for Christ through media. I'm recommending this title to all of the tweens out there.

A fun new series is out for young girls (ages 8-12/ Grades 3-7) called Lena in the Spotlight. The first book in the series is Hello Stars and is about a young 12 year old girl named Lena Daniels and her best friends, Savannah and Emma. When Lena learns about a contest to meet her favorite singer, she jumps at the chance to enter. She hopes that her dream can come true, but will winning this chance of a lifetime opportunity be all that she hoped it would be? I thought that the book was enjoyable to read. The character of the story showed how even young kids can take all their cares to their heavenly Father no matter how big or small. I'm always on the hunt to find good, wholesome books for my tween to read. And this will be a great series for her! ***I received this complimentary book from Handlebar. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I've always like Faithgirlz. Young teens/tweens, girls between the ages of 8-12 need something good to read too. And Faithgirz delivers a great message to this game group. In Hello Stars Lena Daniels finally gets a chance to star in a movie. Every young girl's dream. I like the way the author of this story brings out the trials of being a star. It's not all that it seems to be popular and have all that one wants. As the story progresses Lena learns that having her sisters with her is an added plus. But she also comes to realize that she is an example to them. This is a great story for tween girls. Learning that being a star and being in the spot light is not all glitz and glamour. Just an added note this Faithgirlz series entitled Lena in the Spotlight, written by Alena Pitts, star of War Room and tween blogger of For Girls Like You, and co-written with her mother, editor and author, Wynter Pitts, is a reflection of Alena’s own life experiences as she reaches for the stars and keeps her faith in balance. *This book was provided for review by Handlebar Marketing*

Meet Alena; Lena for short. A fun girl with a heart for the Lord. She finds herself on a incredible adventure, where she gets to meet her favorite recording artist, and gets featured in a movie. I found Lena to be a very sweet girl, with her home and school life realistic. Girls ages 10-12 would enjoy this book, because Lena is able to accomplish many things: win a contest, meet her favorite artist, and star in a movie. What I truly enjoyed about the book is that the character stayed rooted in her faith and family, even after this bit of fame. An enjoyable read!

This is a sweet story of a fifth-grade girl who gets her wish: to star in a movie with one of her favorite singers! While the story is a sweet telling of Lena's experiences in auditioning and then working on the set of the new movie, the writing style was a wee bit clunky for me. It wasn't bad, and most people probably wouldn't notice, but as a home educator of a fourth-grader, I am used to reading stories with a "Red Correcting Pen" and this one needed a little tweaking. I also use chapter books to expose my children to the best of the written word, and this one was a bit off the mark for that particular lesson. The story has a lot of positives that outweigh the issues I had with the writing style, and the Christian values and Scriptural references throughout the book were refreshing. The parents teach and model prayer and bringing all problems to the Lord. Lena writes in a prayer journal, which is something I have done to "talk to God." My daughter liked the book, too, but neither of us really looked forward to the next chapter as we went along. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Alena is a sweet 12 year old girl, who gets to do some pretty cool stuff. But on most days she is just the oldest of 4 girls, late for school and forgets to climb back in bed after using the bathroom at night. In this book, Alena wins a contest sponsored by her favorite Christian recording artist and gets to be in a movie with her. This sudden opportunity changes her whole summer plans for herself, her family and her friends. But Alena's family is behind her in the adventure, so they head to California. This is an easy to read book with lots of dialogue between all the characters- friends, parents, sisters, etc. The story line moves along at a fast pace to keep the reader's attention. The plot is really pretty believable. And I appreciate the positive roll her parents play in her life. This book is written by a young girl and her mother- so is pretty realistic. It is a good read for a young girl. Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher, Zonderkids. All opinions expressed are my own.

HELLO, STARS is the first book in Faithgirlz new series. It is full of drama, squealy preteens, and twists. Imagine finding out you could meet a movie star and then flubbing the video you make of yourself, but getting chosen anyway. Add rodents loose in the science classroom (and getting blamed for it) and having to move across the country to act in a movie you didn't even realize you were going to be acting in. Talk about being out of your element! The book is full of faith, prayers, and positive vibes and lots of humor to keep tween girls interested and engaged. Pick up this book for an excellent summer reading book for your favorite tween. "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."

What a fun book for young pre-teen girl to enjoy. It reminds us that you should be careful what you wish for. Not everything turns out the way you think it will. But at the same time you should go for your dreams. It was fun to read Lena's journal entries as part of the story. That way you really got to know what Lena was feeling. The writing style of this author makes the book go by quickly and leaves you wanting more. You start to think of Lena as one of your friends and you want to be on the journey with her. I thought that it was great that this book was written by a twelve year old with the help of her mom. I think that added to the tween perspective of the book. Looking forward to getting book two for my niece.

Hello Stars (Lena in the Spotlight) is a cute book written for young girls ages 8-12. It's coauthored by mom/daughter duo, Alena and Wynter Pitts. Since this is a kid's book; I wanted to get my daughter's thoughts to share with this review. Me: So, Priya, what did you think about Lena in the Spotlight? Priya: It was pretty good. I felt like Lena was a little whiny and that made me not like her very much. Me: Do you think maybe the book is written so we can learn from her? Maybe she was whiny and having problems with faith so that young girls who struggle with those same things can learn from them and draw closer to God. Priya: I can see that. But, she was still whiny. Me: You had your own experience in the spotlight recently. I remember you were scared before your recital. Do you think the reminder to trust God would have helped before your big day? Priya: Sure. But, I wasn't whiny like that...was I? Priya's Thoughts: The book was good. I liked that she had a lot of sisters, like me. I thought the puppy was fun too. If Arie (baby sister) wasn't allergic, it might be fun to have a puppy. I didn't like the part about the chicken's sniffing butts. That seemed a little rude. Animals do some gross stuff sometimes. It just seemed rude to put into a book. Mom's Thoughts: I loved the emphasis on faith and prayer! I loved how every aspect of this book pointed back to God and putting one's faith in Him. Like Priya, I found the comments about a chick smelling butt to be a little awkward. It didn't seem to lend anything to the story. A friend of mine uses the term, "potty humor" and I think that sums up my feelings on that section. It felt an unnecessary addition to the story. "I flicked on the light and there they were—two of our new class pets. One was pecking around aimlessly and the other was doing something that involved smelling or looking at his chick friend's tail end. Whatever he was doing seemed gross and I preferred not to stare." Overall, the story is cute. I asked my daughter's opinion on what she would rate it using my rating scale and she told me that she "liked it" which is a solid 3 out of 5. When I asked if she would read more in the series, she said, "maybe." When I asked if she would recommend this to her friends she said, "Maybe. If it didn't have the chicken butt stuff." A complimentary copy of this book was provided by BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

HELLO STARS Lena, excited to see her favorite star, enters a lottery to film a movie with her. Winning was the farthest thing from her mind surprised she would be indeed starring in a movie with Mallory Winston. Upon the phone call that changed her life for the summer Lena panicked. How was this affecting her summer was the constant concern. As the day rolled around to actually travel to California, fear of epic size arose. Mom reminded her that she wanted to do this and it was important to follow through. The summer gives exciting opportunities, discipline and faith building in the young preteen. Good and fun read.

Considering that I am an adult reader reviewing a tween-age book , I was impressed with the application of life’s lessons from a young author to her own age group. That’s a lot of insight! It certainly could be helpful for the tween reader to identify with while loving the story line and grasping the lessons. The story is cute with a predictable ending, but maybe not so realistic for many families where money is limited. That's ok, though; it's fiction, and it isn't a bad thing to be encouraged to "reach for the stars" and trust God for difficult dreams--that's faith! My granddaughter (pictured) says, "I love it and it is well-written!" Good job, Author, Alena Pitts!

Welcome to the story of a young girl who took in a task to make her dream come true. But when it became to hard to handle and the spotlight to heavy for her delicate soul, her family and faith were the anchors to pull her through… But disasters always waited on the corner of every turn, making a mess with friends and family… A story of choices that will change a life forever… What to do when there is too much on the plate, and things go the wrong way? Expected moments of joy and ease, where did they go, when Lena’ve got everything she wanted? Girls who have big dreams should read it… I give this one to my little sister.

Hello Stars is a really nice book for 8-12 year old. The focus of the story is a Christian girl aspiring to be an actress. The main character's name is Lena. Throughout the book, Lena learns how to balance stardom with real life, family and faith. My 8 year old daughter has enjoyed reading the book. She found it engaging and entertaining. I'm sure most young girls can relate with wanting to be an actress. I found it nice to know that this was a Christian book and that I didn't have to worry about the content being to "mature" for my daughter. On the contrary, the message of the book is inspiring and just right for most 8-12 year old girls. I recommend the book.

I kind of think the possibilities for this book to be a series is something that may be a reality in the near future. Hello Stars by Alena Pitts is pure heaven for tweens and any young girl that is gifted with a copy. I thought the entire message of this book was perfectly handled in a way for its readers to understand as well as implementing. It may seem like this story would be geared to a certain demographic, but I think the message is for everyone. I received a copy for this review from Handlebar Publishing and all opinions are my own.

My daughter absolutely LOVED it! Which makes me so happy, because she loves to read but I'd rather she gets into an interesting book that is Christian with godly values and even has scriptures. Plus the main character is an African American girl. So Black girls will read a book that is not only godly, but also features a main character that looks like them :} This also helps other cultures appreciate diversity in main leads. A win all around. that is why I ABSOLUTELY recommend it!

We just purchased this book for our daughter from Barnes and Noble. We are excited about including this book with her birthday gift for her collection. We're already enjoying this book as we pre-read it.....so we're sure she will love it. We can't wait for her to read this book to us daily and all the wonderful conversations, journaling, etc. that will come from reading this book. We look forward to the next book in the series. We marked our calendar for the release of the new book on September 26, 2017.

I really loved this book. My 10-year-old daughter and I read it together and loved it. I loved how down to earth it felt, how easily she was able to relate to the characters, and how it helped open conversations for us about God and faith. It was just like the stories that she reads at school, but it integrated God into the same type of small chapter books. I really loved this book and was so thankful to have gotten the chance to review it from Handlebar press.

This Christian tween book follows twelve-year-old Lena Daniels through the adventure of making her first movie in Hollywood. She’s a hopeful and Christ-filled girl who writes letters/prayers to God each night. She must learn to juggle her home life and her life as a rising Hollywood star; she didn’t think movie-making was quite what it turned out to be. would recommend this book for any girl ages 5 – 13. I would encourage parents to read it to their younger children. I read it to my 7 month old. For wholesome Christian reading, this book is perfect.

FTC Disclaimer: From Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. I know that by working with Booklook Bloggers I am getting Christian Publishing. Up to this point, I have chosen books that either I feel will hold their own without religion being presented outright and in a prominent way - with values and morals versus scripture. On some occasions I have even reviewed books with bible verses shared before a story so that you know the moral going into the tale in books for younger kids. All that being said, I don't mind when there is religion in books, however I am not religious and with this particular book I had a few issues. Lets start with the good stuff - I thought this tale overall was a pleasant one. The characters were interesting and the theme overall was pretty good. I also really liked that it is a youth writer with her mom. It is also a pretty short read and I liked that the main character journals - I think that is very important in a young persons life. The issues that I had were not with the prominent prayer or things like that - it was that the parents are teaching the children that God is responsible for all lifes paths - they should try for things but everything is in God's hands. I can't really get behind that - why would your kid try to succeed at anything if nothing they do matters and God has already chosen anyway?... I know this is a huge debate, I am not trying to start anything, I am just saying how I feel. I think that prayer and motivation can be used to push people, I don't think that conveying 'God's got it' is the most important thing. There was even a moment when the parents told the girls that they "can't" make important decisions by themselves and would always have God and them around to help. Teaching kids that they can't do things ... that is not learning to me. All that being said, I think that is you are religious and need a book for your middle grade reader this is a good one, they are just not beliefs that I share (sorry).

Lena is your typical 12 year old girl, filled with big dreams and conflicting emotions. She might have instantaneous reactions but always falls back on her faith. The story is mixed with narration and letters to the “Stars,” which are journal entries from Lena containing her thoughts and prayers to God. I was skeptical at first, concerned that all of her prayers would be directed toward God helping her simply “get what she wants.” I was pleasantly surprised to see that her prayers were a mixture of helping her achieve her desires while also helping her develop characteristics many parents hope their children achieve: persistence, patience, and courage. The dialogue is realistic and avoids many of the inflammatory words often found in young adult literature today. (While this book is intended for a younger audience, more and more poor language is seeping in to juvenile literature as well.) Lena’s journey isn’t easy or straightforward–readers will appreciate being on this ride with her as she finds herself amidst the chaos of becoming a Star. Her focus remains on faith and prayer without being overly "preachy," which I appreciated. Many readers will be able to find themselves in this book, regardless of where they are in their faith journey. **I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Cute story about a girl trying to understand her faith in new ways as she experiences challenges when she wins the chance to make a movie with her idol. The faith pieces are well-integrated into the story. Solid Christian fiction for readers in the 3rd to 6th grade range (depending on the reader). (I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Our daughter always enjoys the Faithgirlz books! They are a quick, easy, fun read. As a parent I love that these books do not include any content of concern, and they encourage behavior that displays kindness to others. While this complimentary book was provided for review by Handlebar Marketing, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.

I have been reading this book to my 6 old daughter over the last couple of the weeks and we absolutely love this book! She is disappointed when we miss a night. Although my daughter is in Kindergarten and the book is written with tweens in mind, she really enjoys the book and asks questions as we read. The story is fun and there are awesome lessons learned through Lena's journey. The book gives my daughter and I the opportunity to discuss things that happen in girls daily lives and how to react to different situations. I love how faith is interwoven throughout the book. This would be a great summer read for any young girl in your life.

I read this book to my child and she loved it. Not only did she love it, but I did too! We read the complete series and by the end we were in tears at the growth of Lena and her ability to share God's love with others.

I bought this for my 11 year old daughter. She really enjoyed it! She said it's very relatable to real life. As a Christian, she really enjoyed reading a book about faith & God, and nothing creepy or scary, as is the case with a lot of chapter books she's read. She is excited to read the next one in the series!

LOVED it! it was an amazing and Interesting faith book! I loved that I learned so much from a book! Amazing

LOVE to see a young adult book with a positive, faith-filled spin to help encourage our girls in today's messy world. Tickled to receive an ARC and happily cheering on this new release!

My daughter loves this book.She thinks it is very fun to read.

Fun little book for any tween girl looking to grow in her personal relationship with God through everyday scenarios.

This book is so great.It is a great book to read.It shows you what real life acting is like.This is a great read.😀🙂

Love Lena& storyline,