June 15, 2015
A teenage thespian battles ubiquitous paparazzi and parasitic producers. Seth Crane immerses himself in his acting career in order to escape his troubled home life. His deceased mom and stroke-disabled dad hang heavy on his shoulders, and this angst helps him perform admirably in the role of Romeo in his local theater's production. A Hollywood director sees his performance and signs Seth up to play the lead in an independent feature the likes of which the world has never seen. Joining him are fellow newcomer Annaleigh and the beautiful teen starlet Sabrina Layton. As love triangles develop and the line between reality and fiction blurs, Seth is nearly consumed by the trappings of celebrity. There's a half-decent thriller here, but it never emerges. Every character has something to hide and speaks with half-truths and double meanings, leaving readers with very little to work with. Seth is a dolt, but he's not the fun or endearing kind. Readers' sympathies for Seth will disappear as they watch him play his female co-leads against each other. The film at the center of it all is such a clear red herring that readers will roll their eyes as Seth continues to ignore the obvious warning signs. The eventual reveal of who's evil and who's good and what the point of all this secrecy was falls flat on both narrative and emotional levels. Aims for thrilling; reaches trite. (Thriller. 12-16)
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August 1, 2015
Gr 9 Up-This fish-out-of-water tale chronicles the highs and lows of sudden fame in Hollywood. Seth Crane is 18, struggling to keep his family afloat following his mother's death and his father's stroke, and has just been offered the role of a lifetime. Along with the promise of riches and the chance to revolutionize modern day filmmaking, comes car chases, perplexing love triangles, drug-fueled decisions, and betrayal from all sides. Rocketing from high school auditorium performances to Hollywood super stardom would be difficult enough, but can he keep his cool under the hot lights and constant scrutiny of invasive tabloids, volatile costars, and dangerously omnipotent directors? Readers who enjoy reality TV and keep their finger on the pulse of pop culture will likely enjoy this character-driven, mystery-riddled expose on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, told from the perspective of an outsider. The usual trappings of teen angst and the search for meaning and identity are explored here against the glittering Los Angeles backdrop, and while novels with this general setting and plot may typically skew toward a more female audience, John's male protagonist and subsequent viewpoint will likely help to balance the appeal with all audiences. The drama is high and the action is fast and frequent, but the stakes are fairly low, at least in terms of violence and mortality, making it appropriate for teens. VERDICT An intriguing and glamorous conspiracy full of makeouts and fake outs.-Emily Grace Le May, Mt. Pleasant Library - Providence Community Library, RI
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