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Publication Date: July 14, 2009 Publisher: Disney Press Author: · Helen Perelman Related Sites: · Official Site - Hannah Montana Grade: C

Ciao from Rome is the first in an all-new, original fiction series titled Hannah Montana on Tour, showcasing a different city on Hannah's international concert tour.  Based on the hit Disney Channel series starring Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana is the pop star alter ego of teenager Miley Stewart, and she's taking her show world-wide for the summer!

It's the first day of summer vacation, and Hannah Montana is booked to perform in Rome! Miley has an empty suitcase (to be filled with any accessories she might "come across"), Mr. Stewart has a guidebook, Jackson has a copy of Learn Italian Fast, and bodyguard Roxy has a case of the jitters as she anticipates the crowds that will be present to greet the pop superstar.  Miley travels disguises as Hannah, and Mr. Stewart dons a mustache as her manager. Jackson's presence is explained was a contest winner that gets to travel with Hannah Montana to all of the stops on her world tour.

Roxy only has to dodge a few reporters upon arrival, and the limo takes them to the beautiful old hotel where they will be staying.  Mr. Stewart is dressed like an obvious tourist, prompting his kids decide to hang with Roxy for the day. So, it's off on their motor scooters straight to the largest Gelateria they can find, to gorge on the sumptuous Italian variant of ice cream.  Jackson trained eye discovers a kiosk filled with comic books.  There's only one problem... they're all in Italian. "Hey Roxy," he said. "Can you translate it?" "Sorry," Roxy replied. "I only studied gelato-related words."

Miley decides to people-watch on the Spanish Steps overlooking the Piazza di Spagna. She makes a comment about a girl's awesome hat, and subsequently make friends with a local. Daniella shows her the shop she bought it at, and Miley buys a similar one for her friend, Lilly, and a killer pair of Italian boots!  The new friends agree to meet the next day, which gives Miley an excuse to dodge a Sistine Chapel tour with her dad.  Jackson's nose is in a comic book, so that rules him out.  In fact, he is so focused on his reading, that he literally runs into Miley and her new pal walking down the street.  With reservation, Miley introduces her brother to the Italian teen at her side, but doesn't get the expected reaction:

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     "Daniella, this is my brother Jackson," Miley said. She hoped that he wouldn't embarrass her, but she knew it was really only a matter of time, especially because of his obsession with the Italian comic book.
     "Is that the new Mighty Brinito?" Daniella asked. She looked over at the comic in Jackson's hands.
     Oh, no, thought Miley. Here it comes! Jackson is going to spit out everything he knows about his favorite superhero!
     "Yes," Jackson said  proudly. He turned the comic around so Daniella could see the cover. "I just got the newest one yesterday."
     Daniella smiled. "Oh, can I see?" She reached out for the comic book. "I love the Mighty Brinito!"
     Miley couldn't believe her ears! Daniella liked comic books? More unbelievable than that, Daniella seemed more than happy to talk to Jackson about the little man in the purple and orange outfit flying through the pages of the book!

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In "Hannah Montana: The Movie" the pop star packed her bags for a trip to Tennessee, a much shorter jaunt than what she'll undertake in Ciao from Rome.

Not only that, but Daniella invites him along on their trek to meet fashion designer Nicola Umberto! Miley is psyched to see a real Italian showroom. A guard asks them to wait, and after awhile it seems like they will not be afforded a visit from the noteworthy Nicola.  Maybe Miley doesn't have the credentials to score a reception with a busy fashion designer, but she knows just the pop star who can!

Of course, in the end everything works out. Jackson gets to look cool when he is able to "procure" tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert and invites Daniella, Nicola Umberto gets much-appreciated exposure when the pop star wears one of her designs, and Mr. Stewart turns a sightseeing visit to the Colosseum with his daughter into a photo opportunity for Hannah.

Not much happens in Ciao from Rome except for shopping.  There's not even real tension with the efforts to meet the popular fashion designer. In its stead, there is a lot of exposition about the rigors of travel. Even the concert itself is skipped over.  Without Miley's friends Lilly and Oliver around (except for in text messages) there's just something missing.  It's a thoroughly average adventure in an eventful city. Writer Helen Perelman seems just a tad off on the characterizations, as I sometimes had trouble picturing exchanges as a filmed episode. Perelman is a veteran author of other franchises, including Wizards of Waverly Place (Oh, Brother!), Camp Rock: Second Session (Hidden Tracks) and Disney High School Musical: Stories from East High (Shining Moments).  Included in the center of the book is a four-page color section featuring full body poses of the characters from this story. The reading level is geared for ages 9-12, and it ends with a one-age preview of the next stop on the tour, G'day, Sydney!

77 pages