Young girl escapes summer boredom by working in her aunt's beauty shop when her favorite singing star comes in for a beauty treatment. Merriment follows.
Ages: 5-8
Source: Pierce County Library, University Place Branch

Young girl escapes summer boredom by working in her aunt's beauty shop. When her favorite singing star comes in for a beauty treatment merriment follows!
Ages: 5-8
Source: University Place Branch of Pierce County Library

I got this book sight unseen because I love these books.

This one falls a little flat for me. Jamela is bored, her mother sends her to visit with her aunt at her aunt's hairdressing salon, a star comes in for the South African version of "American Idol" (Afro-Idols... maybe it's not limited to South Africa? I don't know), she falls asleep while they braid her hair, Jamela accidentally smacks the hairdresser's behind with a flyswatter and the poor star ends up with a reverse mohawk from the razor.

These books always have simple resolutions and happy endings, and I'm not faulting that, they're picture books. But this time the solution was found too quickly, and it seems a little too pat. The star never notices a third of her hair has been shaved off (although she might figure it out in the morning) and nobody fesses up.

It just seemed a little too unrealistic. Most of the Jamela books, I really like. This one... not so much. Unless you're a big fan, pass it by. Get Jamela's Birthday or Jamela's Dress instead. ( )