Sunday February 21, 2021 7:30pm

Glamorous as ever as she steps out onto the red carpet, Evangeline Castle is to celebrate her 13th birthday this week. The young starlet is already sparking an interest from some of the world's top fashion labels, as well as catching the eye of several Hollywood filmmakers. However, the brunette beauty is yet to make a debut of her own, making do with infrequent appearances at book-signings of her mystery writer father, Richard Castle. With very little known about the star in the making, it's difficult to guess what she will make of these offers. But, for a teen like Evangeline, is there anything she doesn't have?

For my 5th birthday, my Dad bought me my first notebook and a matching pen. He encouraged me to write about everything around me. I would detail every little thing I found fascinating; the different people at a subway station, the contrast between Manhattan and Easthampton or the stupid antics of my brothers.

For my 10th birthday, he gave me a full set of Jane Austen's works, all original editions. I've read them all at least 7 times. Each. It amazes me that she can write about a way of life that was so foreign to her with such accuracy. And here we are, a century later, and it's reality, not just fiction.

Normally, it's my Dad who gives me things like that. Novels, stationery, stuff like that. My Mom gives me jewelry, beautiful clothes, make-up and all kinds of girlie things.

But, for my 13th birthday, she gave me a journal. She told me that she didn't like to share her feelings; she felt embarrassed or insecure, like expressing them would make her vulnerable. She told that she saw that same quality in me. In the front of the journal, she left an inscription;

Evie,

You can be your own enemy or your own hero.

Let it out to let it go.

Love, Mom

I'm not sure what it means. I asked her, but she said that one day I'll understand. She said that one day, I'll be glad that I was able to let my emotions be known, if not to others, then at least to myself. That way, you can't hurt the ones you love.

I've never had a journal before. I didn't know what to write. She said to start off with something about myself, that the whole point of having a journal was to understand yourself better. I told her she nuts; I'm 13, not anywhere close to figuring myself out.

So I started with something about myself. Well, it's not really how I see me; it's how the rest of the world sees me. Growing up under the shadow of a successful parent is hard enough, let alone when he's famous. My Mom is like a super-cop, and gets all these great awards all the time, while Dad is constantly on the New York Times' Best-Sellers list. Me? I'm the youngest of five (six if you count Alexis) and there is plenty I don't have, despite popular opinion.

I don't have any privacy. One: because my Dad is famous, so people want to know what we're doing every second of every day. Two: because I have four brothers who inherited my Dad's annoying curiosity. Three: my house basically has no walls downstairs, so if you're trying to have a private phone conversation, everyone can hear you. Four: my Dad likes to brag about us kids. All the time!

I don't have time with my family. Mom has a crazy schedule, and my brothers do about six different sports between them. The only day we have dinner together is Sunday, and that's if Mom doesn't have to work.

I don't have many friends. All of the girls at school hate me; Mom says they're jealous because I'm gorgeous, but I'm not that pretty. I still look like a little boy, to be honest. I'm tall for my age, and skinny, with no boobs or butt. I laugh at Mom sometimes, when she says that never stopped her, but she really is beautiful. She should be a runway model, she's that gorgeous. I'm friends with a few of the guys, but it's not the same; you can't talk about how cute the guy on the JV basketball team is with another guy on the JV basketball team.

So, contrary to popular belief, I don't have it all. I'd like to say my life is peachy keen, but it's not. In fact, I'm pretty much like every other 13 year old girl. My parents fight sometimes, a fact I'm pretty sure the tabloids don't know about. My brother's pick on me like crazy, but Mom or Dad are never around to see it. I get bullied at school, but my parents are always at work when the principal calls, so he sends me away.

Sometimes, I wish I could trade in all the fame and fortune for a loving and caring family.

There's a girl at dancing; she's on scholarship at our studio because her Dad left, and her Mom can't find any work. She's an amazing dancer, and an amazing girl. I wish I could live a day in her family. She has an older brother and a little sister, and whenever I see them they're always smiling. They can barely afford to live, but somehow, they're still happy.

I guess what they say is true; money can't buy love or happiness.