• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Twelve-year-old Luke "Spin" Spinelli is sick of fake running, fake laughing and fake pointing. Sure, he once made the cover of Baby Show magazine, but now his secret modeling career is making him miserable. He dreams of using nonwhitening toothpaste. He can't wait to stop styling his hair. And he really wants to stop worrying that the school bully will discover he was once the face of Dribbleez Diapers. After all, Spin's just a normal boy looking for a hockey game and some pizza with extra cheese.

Alison Hughes is an award-winning author of many books for children and young adults, including The Silence Slips In, winner of the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature and Hit the Ground Running, a nominee for the Governor General's Literary Award. Alison is a university Writing Advisor, volunteers with children and literacy groups and gives frequent workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences across Canada. She lives in Edmonton with her family.

Alison Hughes' profile page

• Nominated, Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards
• Short-listed, Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award

"Hughes adopts a fantastic literary device called metareference by having the main character aware that he is writing the book...Hughes inserts life lessons in her humourous prose."

Resource Links

"Readers will identify with Spin's angst while recognizing how minor his problems really are, and this dichotomy is the basis of the book's humor. You can't help liking Spin. He's a really funny kid, and it's entertaining to spend time with him. Supporting characters are all interesting, well-rounded and hilariously described by Spin...Humor that works is one of the surest ways to appeal to young (especially male) readers. Poser is funny and easy to read and will be extremely popular. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

"The tone is breezy and the characters just larger than life, which makes for a fun jaunt through school, friendship, hockey, and the unglamorous life of the child model."

Booklist Online

"A light, quick read that reminds young teens that dishonesty has consequences and encourages them to just be themselves...Recommended."

Library Media Connection

"Behind the comedy, Hughes presents a convincing picture of a boy just beginning to assert his own individuality, making choices he knows are risky. Luke's first-person patter will hook readers, as will details of Luke's modeling assignments...The entertainment value stays high. Plenty of fun, and substance too."

Kirkus Reviews

"A witty narrative that embraces important themes...Along with a look at the modeling life and what it’s like to make money by being photogenic, this laugh-out-loud funny novel considers bullying, lying, and appreciating one’s special gifts."

School Library Journal