No offense to Ms. Banks— I’m sure she’s a very nice person—but this fantasy series she’s just sold to Delacorte, Modelland, just doesn’t do anything for me. I mean, when I read the little blurb below, I had to double check to make sure this wasn’t a joke.
In a concept that marries “Top Model” and “Harry Potter,” “Modelland” centers on a teen who manages to get into an exclusive academy for “Intoxibel las” — who are the most exceptional models known to humankind and harbor unknown powers. Once there, she finds herself competing to be accepted as part of that world.
Is it just me or does this sound like something The Onion would come up with?
I’ll admit I’ve never been a real girly-girl, so it’s not surprising that a modeling academy doesn’t get my blood pumping. But I’m willing to withhold judgement. I never liked princesses all that much, but Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy is one of my favorite books. More recently I read a faery book, RJ Anderson’s Faery Rebel: Spell Hunter, and was amazed to find I loved it.
So who knows, I may end up loving Modelland. We’ll see.
