Maiya Williams

In case you had not realized this, I spent most of the weekend reading (no, I wasn't doing any of the read-a-thons, that's what I do most weekends) and now I'm catching up on reviews.

When I first heard this title, I wanted it. Then I read a description, and I'm all "meh, I don't like Hollywood books." Then I grabbed a copy at ALA and read the back and I was "meh, I really don't like books about kids Making It Big and then Realizing What's Really Important." Which just goes to prove that show more librarians, not publicity agents, should write cover copy because when I finally, and rather grumpily, read the book...it was excellent, engrossing, and engaging.

First, a brief note on the cover. My ARC shows pretty much the same picture, except the kid has calmer hair. In fact, I think it might be a different kid, or maybe I just can't see that well. I've seen some other cover pics that have a big face on the can, instead of the little inset guy. I'm not sure, but I think this is the final cover here. Either way, they're all ok.

Mitch is used to starting new schools. As long as he follows the rules on one of his many lists, he knows things will probably be ok. Eventually. But this new school is a whole different situation, one that doesn't fit any of his lists. Because this school is in Hollywood and all the kids are, well, special. When his dad makes an especially disastrous appearance at the school, Mitch decides his only chance for ever fitting in - or at least not being noticed - is to get involved in the local obsession. Movies. But things get out of hand, fast, and Mitch is soon bewildered and confused as he tries to figure out what happened and exactly how he got where he is - and how he can get back to where he was.

Okay, okay, maybe other librarians should write cover copy. I didn't say me in particular. Anyways, although there were many parts of the book where I found myself staring at it and saying "wait a minute, that just wouldn't happen" I'd then realize "duh, this is Hollywood. It's crazy and everything happens really, really fast." It's reality, just a different reality than most of us are used to. Hand this one to kids who like a fun story about friendship, family, school and figuring out who you are and/or to kids who are obsessed with and fascinated by movies and the film industry.

Verdict: Fast-paced, informative without dumping information on the reader, and full of personable, believable, and interesting characters.

ISBN: 0810983478; Published March 2010 by Amulet; ARC provided by publisher at ALA; Purchased for the library show less

Children's fiction/time travel adventure. It starts out as a suspense-mystery (are all those people really ghosts at the abandoned hotel?) but quickly turns into another book about time travel; characters find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution and must escape from several sticky situations. Reasonably entertaining, but apart from the Xavier's and Xanthe's African-American ethnicity, nothing very remarkable.

No one likes to be the "new" kid. When Mitch Mathis and his parents move to Hollywood, California he really feels like an outsider. All of the kids have parents who are involved in one way or another with the movies. That is all except Mitch. His father is a professor and studies cockroaches. To fit in Mitch auditions for a commercial and quickly learns that there are two sides to everything. One of the things I really liked about this book was the lists that Mitch was constantly making. show more When I told my family about this book and Mitch making lists, they reminded me that I still make lists. No matter what the age, everyone who has ever been the "new kid" will relate to this book. There are subtle lessons for kids on the price one pays for fame no matter where it comes from. What price you ask? Read the book. show less

I liked the fantasy elements brought out in the first chapters: a hotel that slides through time, and a "golden hour" when time stands still. Once we got to 18th century France, I lost interest. But I guess I'm not much of a time travel book buff.