YA Books About Teens in Film

The book that started it all. Set designer Emi, in search of furniture and props for the movie she’s been hired to work on, finds a letter at an estate sale, written by an old Western star. She decides to try to find the woman it’s written to — and instead finds Ava, a young actress Emi falls for.

Rising star Evie has her acting career derailed by a friend’s betrayal, and to save her reputation she visits Gigi, her famous actress grandmother, to ask her to make an appearance together. But Gigi disappears, leaving behind Milo, a young man Evie will have to work with if she wants to find Gigi in time for the event.

Lydia and Penny spend the summer with their aunt in Los Angeles, and they make a pact: after the way boys derailed their school year, this will be a no boy summer. When Lydia meets aspiring filmmaker Fran, she justifies secretly dating her as not technically violating the pact.

Maya desperately wants to convince her traditional Indian parents to let her go to film school in New York. She is making a documentary about her life, crushing on a boy, and trying to figure out how to tell them about her dreams. Then there is a terrorist attack nearby, and her family becomes the victims of anti-Muslim attacks.

Emma and Sophia are young filmmakers competing for a chance to go to Los Angeles and attend a film festival, and their rivalry is bitter…until it isn’t.

Sana once asked Rachel out, but Rachel thought it was a prank. Sana has stayed closeted since, and Rachel is still angry. But when Rachel needs a lead actress for her student film, she knows Sana is perfect for the role. And Sana, still crushing on Rachel despite the way it went last time, can’t say no.

Bethany and filmmaker Jacob decide to fake date as practice for when they work up the nerve to actually date. But their practice is starting to feel real.

Aspiring screenwriter Mina can’t believe her luck when indie film star Emmitt enrolls at her high school to research a role. When she recognizes him, he agrees to star in her student film if she will show him around New York.

August wants to be an actor, so when he is accepted at New York’s School of Performing Arts, he’ll agree to his parents’ terms if it means he can attend. Unfortunately, their terms are that he has to promise not to transition.