Scrappy Little Nobody

Anna Kendrick provides just enough details in "Scrappy Little Nobody" to set a superfan's heart atwitter, but the bulk of her essays are wry reflections on what it means to know that the world sees you as small and vulnerable. Up until this point, her struggles in and out of showbiz have been hidden under the curtain of obscurity. Wisely, she offers her whole life story up until the book offer. The result is a slightly uneven autobiography that reveals both her modesty and her perseverance.

"Nobody" has been shined up a little for readability, but overall the tone is familiar and matter of fact. The pieces are almost cheekily upbeat in the face of her own trials and occasional triumphs. The first half is definitely more trial, less triumph.

The lifestyles of the not so rich and the not-so-famous section is a great place for a reader to connect with her, especially since her stories have reasonably happy endings. And any tidbit that isn't truly happy is well explained, dissected and joked about. Like a true New Englander, Kendrick tells off-color anecdotes aplenty and leaves lots of space to make fun of herself (and others).

Kendrick avoids gratuitous and obscene details while still spinning meaningful adult stories out of minimal settings. After all, what's important is what she learned, and what she's willing to share. I think older teenagers and their parents may actually appreciate reading this book together. Although the probable recommended age is 25 the writing is simple enough to understand and Kendrick's voice is resonant not only with those her age but also much younger.

None of these essays are meant to be general advice columns even if some of them seem to be great guidance a little too late to save Ms Kendrick's previous selves. Independent and feisty, she has still made decisions she can identify as poor.

She's not pointing out her flaws to highlight how awesome she is now, but rather that she still experiences lows that can't be instantly dealt banished by her new fame wand or lifted by her fairly recent money. It comes off less "stars -- they are just like us!" and more "stars -- basically the same as before they became stars!"

"Scrappy Little Nobody"
Anna Kendrick
Simon & Schuster
http://simonandschusterpublishing.com/scrappy-little-nobody/index.html
$2.99 (ebook) $11.99 (paperback)