FIERCELY FICTIONAL: Instafamous

FIERCELY FICTIONAL celebrates fierce, inspiring fictional girls we know you’ll love. To us, “fierce” isn’t just about slaying dragons or solving mysteries. It’s about breaking free from your comfort zone, discovering your confidence, fighting for what you believe in, & discovering your emotional strength. Any girl can shine bright & be fierce, & in this series, we’ll connect you with a new fiercely fictional character every month!

FIERCELY FICTIONAL is back, and we’re highlighting the ambitious and talented Lyric Whitney Houston Darby from Instafamous by Erika J. Kendrick.

Lyric has always known she’s destined to be a star. A middle school diva with vocals that slay, she isn’t just dreaming of making it big – she’s confident she will own the spotlight, just like her superstar mom.

When American Rockstar, a super popular music talent show, announces auditions in her hometown, Lyric knows this is her chance to score a record deal – except she needs experience and a big social media following to qualify for an audition. (Not to mention, her mom is wary of Lyric getting taken advantage of by the show and locked into an unfair contract.)

Lyric decides to go for it anyway, in secret, to prove to her mom and the world that she’s the star she’s always known she is. To get experience, she auditions for the lead in her school’s rendition of The Wiz, and along with Saanvi and Georgia, her ride-or-die besties, they make videos that start skyrocketing her to Instafame. However, she ends up wrapped up in the thrill of stardom, prioritizing fame and the things she wants over the things that are truly important, like her friendships and her mental health.

Instafamous:

Instafamous is the perfect read for music lovers, dreamers, and go-getters alike. A super funny read filled with friendship, mental health rep, and lots of girl power, you’ll love being a part of Lyric’s journey to stardom. On the surface, Lyric is fierce for her confidence, her vocal talents, and her ambition – but it’s the stuff she learns along the way that truly makes her a fabulous choice for our FIERCELY FICTIONAL series. You’ll have to read the book to find out if Lyric can really have it all, but in the meantime, we’ve got something exciting for you.

We’re excited to share that Instafamous author Ericka J. Kendrick is here sharing a peek between the pages of this new read and all the reasons Lyric is totally fierce! (Plus – check out her posts on her previous books, Cookie Monsters and Squad Goals, which are also set at Valentine Middle!)

Five Reasons Lyric Whitney Houston Darby is Totally Fierce:

Determined & Unstoppable:

Lyric has her eyes on the prize the second she hears about the American Rockstar auditions coming to town. She knows this is her big shot, and no one—not even her famous mom—can stop her. Even when her mom tells her she should focus on the school musical, The Wiz, instead, Lyric’s secretly like, “I’m a star, they just don’t know it yet and I can totally do both!” She’s so determined to make her dream happen that she sneaks behind her mom’s back, auditions for the play, and forges her mom’s signature for the American Rockstar audition. She even waits in line for hours at the open call, refusing to leave until she gets her chance to wow the judges.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, can stop Lyric when she’s chasing her dream of becoming a star, making her one determined rockstar-in-the-making.

Confident About Her Talents:

Lyric doesn’t just dream about being a star—she knows she’s got what it takes. When she auditions for Dorothy in The Wiz, she walks in like she already owns the stage. Sure, there are other kids auditioning, but in Lyric’s mind, nobody can do it like her. When she nails the part, it’s no surprise—she’s full of confidence and isn’t afraid to show it. Later, when she auditions for American Rockstar, the producers tell her she needs more Instagram followers, but does that shake her? Nope. Lyric’s like, “Okay, I’ll work on that, but I know my voice will get me noticed.”

She believes in herself 100%, and that confidence helps her stand out from the crowd, even when it means unknowingly auditioning for the big, televised competition in front of the hot dog stand.

Loyal Friend:

Lyric’s not just about her own dreams—she’s a ride-or-die friend. When Buster, the school bully, starts picking on Twinkie at rehearsal, Lyric doesn’t hesitate to step in and have her bestie’s back. Twinkie’s already super nervous about performing, and Buster’s mean comments almost make her want to quit. But Lyric and Georgia aren’t having it. They jump in, stand up for Twinkie, and promise to help her practice so she can crush it on stage. They even spend hours in Lyric’s backyard, running lines and singing together to help boost Twinkie’s confidence. And even when Lyric becomes consumed with her American Rockstar dreams, she learns that being there for her friends – and her responsibilities – is what matters most.

Ambitious & Dedicated:

Lyric isn’t just thinking about tomorrow – she’s thinking BIG. Yes, she beats out the competition to snag the role of Dorothy in The Wiz, but she’s got her sights set on something even bigger: becoming Instafamous and scoring a record deal on American Rockstar. When she finds out she needs more Instagram followers to stay in the game, she doesn’t freak out – she gets to work. Lyric and her friends start making hilarious videos, posting covers of her favorite songs, and using hashtags like crazy to get noticed. She’s willing to put in the time and effort, knowing that every follower gets her one step closer to living the dream. She even goes live on Instagram to talk about the play and the invaluable lessons she’s learned on her journey to stardom. And even though the big Insta numbers don’t come overnight, Lyric keeps pushing, believing that every post, like, and share is one step closer to making her dreams a reality.

Lyric’s ambition keeps her going, no matter how tough things get – and boy do they get tough! She’s not just chasing stardom – she’s sprinting toward it!

Shows Up for Her Friends:

By the end of Lyric’s journey, she learns a tough but important lesson about responsibility –especially when it comes to showing up for the people who care about her. After getting wrapped up in her dreams of Instafame, she starts to let things slide, like arriving late to rehearsals and blowing off her friends. She even bails on therapy with Georgia and doesn’t show up to help Twinkie shine, times when her besties needed her most and her selfishness puts a strain on her friendships. Lyric is faced with the realization that she has a responsibility to her friends and those who depend on her. She feels awful for not being there like she promised, and must fix the big, messy mistakes she’s made. 

That moment of regret helps Lyric understand that being a friend—and a true star—means being there when it counts. So, when she’s given the chance to make things right, Lyric steps up. She apologizes to her friends and starts working behind the scenes for the play, helping out in any way she can. It’s not glamorous, but Lyric learns that real responsibility means putting others first sometimes. In the end, she’s not just showing up for the stage—she’s showing up for the people who depend on her, proving that she’s not just a dreamer, but someone her friends can count on.

📚Need another fierce read to add to your shelf after Instafamous? Catch up on our FIERCELY FICTIONAL series!