Secrets of my Hollywood Life: On Location

Title: On Location

Author: Jen Calonita

Pages: 240

Poppy, May 2007

Genre: Chick lit

Recommended to: Girls, 12 and up

Rating: B+

(from Amazon.com): It seems like the summer of dreams come true for Hollywood celebrity princess Kaitlin Burke: the media loves her (again), super-cute and funny Austin Meyers is finally her boyfriend, and she's starring in a blockbuster movie by her all-time favorite director Hutch Adams. What could be sweeter? But life on set is not nearly as perfect as the designer makeup and couture costumes. And with a slimy ex-boyfriend and a scheming new publicist on the scene, it's about to get a whole lot messier...

  There. I couldn't sum it up any better. It's been a super-long time since I've read On Location, but the one thing I remember most was how much I loved it: the commercial glamour, glittering descriptions, fun "Hollywood secrets" inserted throughout, colorful characters, simple dialogue, snippets of the movie script, and the overall atmosphere and tone of this light and breezy story. Just as good as Secrets of My Hollywood Life, On Location is the perfect beach read: clean, fast-paced, and with just the right amounts of drama (like catfights with a witchy costar and an evil publicist). Each character was well-developed: my personal favorite is Skye Mackenzie, Kaitlin's onset rival, who is absolutely a blast to hate. I love how Calonita makes her absolutely, well, hateable, from her perfect hair, clothes, and nails right down to her sucking up to the producers and then turning on Kaitlin. However, I find Kaitlin's personality bland, bland, bland. She seems totally plastic: always saying the right thing, doing the right thing....she just seemed a little too perfect and prim. Doesn't she ever do anything wrong? Ergh.

   Oh, and isn't the cover just adorable? I love how each one looks like a purse or a journal. Creative, sparkling, and fun, On Location is a great addition to the series!

Other books in the series:

Secrets of My Hollywood Life

Secrets of my Hollywood Life #3: Family Affairs

The Monday Muse: Interview with Laura Schaefer

Today's Muse: Laura Schaefer

Author of: The upcoming Teashop Girls (review here)

------------------------------

Bookworm: To start, what's your favorite kind of tea?

Laura: My standard tea, the one I drink over and over again, is English Breakfast tea, which is a black tea. I enjoy making it with cream and sugar--delicious! I also enjoy white tea, which has such a delicate and lovely flavor that I drink it all by itself, with no cream, sugar, or lemon. Finally, I really like citrus-flavored green tea made by Salada. It's nothing fancy, but I feel really healthy and good when I drink it, because they fortify it with extra antioxidants. That one I have with honey.

Bookworm: Who or what inspired you to write The Teashop Girls?

Laura: I was vacationing in Florida in the summer of 2005. The small town outside of Orlando where my dad and brother live has a tea shop called Sherlock's. It was when I was sitting there, on its outdoor patio, that the title The Teashop Girls came to me. I'd been a freelance writer for many years by then and always enjoyed taking my laptop to work in coffee and tea shops and cafés. It seemed natural to write about such a lively--yet comforting and peaceful--setting. I remembered how voraciously I read books when I was 10, 11, 12 years old and how the books I loved at that age were warm escape from everyday cares. I wanted to create that kind of world for my readers, and when I looked around Sherlock's that day, I knew I had found my inspiration.

Bookworm: Which Teashop Girl are you most like?

Laura: I have a bit of all the Teashop Girls in me, I think. I'm sensitive and sometimes self-conscious like Annie--yet fierce about what I believe in. I'm drawn to art like Genna and tend to enjoy lots of attention like her, too. Finally, I have a deep practical, matter-of-fact, type-A streak like Zoe. I guess when I created the girls, I really found an excuse to write all about myself! Huh.

Bookworm: Were any of the characters in the book based off of real-life people?

Laura: Yes, loosely. I'm lucky enough to have such a wonderful family, group of friends, and co-workers. I think I've stolen bits and pieces of lots of them to create the world of The Teashop Girls. But no character IS someone I know. It's my little fantasy world.

Bookworm: Did you have any influence in the choice of cover for your book?

Laura: I did not, other than to voice my complete love and enthusiasm for it. Isn't it the cutest? Annie is just how I pictured her.

Bookworm: Are you planning on writing any more books for teens?

Laura: Absolutely. There's nothing else I do--besides maybe dancing--that makes me happier than getting into the writing "zone", and just flying with it. My next project is (tentatively) called Here's Looking at You, Frankie Sullivan. It's about a teenager living in Hollywood during World War II. She's immersed in the world of movie-making, and I'm having so much fun working on it. Last summer, the Michael Mann picture Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp did some location filming in Madison, Wisconsin (where I live). I watched everything that went into shooting a scene, and I thought "I want to write about this. It's fascinating!"

  Also, I plan to have The Teashop Girls become a series. I have a second book outlined now, and hope to begin working on it soon.

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Congratulations, Laura on the almost-release of The Teashop Girls (coming out December 31)! (:

The Teashop Girls

Title: The Teashop Girls

Author: Laura Schaefer

Pages: 250

Coming out on December 31, 2008 from Simon and Schuster

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Recommended to: Girls, 11 and up

Rating: A

Meet Annie, Genna, and Zoe--also known as "The Teashop Girls". They've been BFFs forever, and their favorite hangout is Annie's grandmother's quaint tea shop, The Steeping Leaf, where tea is held weekly, and where the girls basically grew up. But this year is different-the trio are about to graduate eighth grade, and each is busy with their own schedules and activities, leaving Annie feeling a bit left behind. But when Annie scores a job as a barista for the Leaf, she learns shocking news: her beloved shop may be closing, due to eviction notices! Now, Annie needs her fellow Teashop Girls more than ever to save the Leaf...with a cute barista boy crush and an annoying classmate getting in the way, can they do it in time?

   To put it simply, I loved The Teashop Girls. The plot was smooth, quick, easy, and sweet as honey, and while I was reading, I felt warm and fuzzy, like I was drinking a steaming cup of chamomile. I appreciated how special and affectionate Ms. Schaefer made her story--unlike some books nowadays, the plot was about the importance of friends, family and community; age-appropriate, and not constantly dropping brand names. All the characters were delightfully unique--from the lovable Louisa to Annie's two messy, annoying little brothers to the other two Teashop Girls, all with their own little quirks (I also liked how Ms. Schaefer incorporated the character's personalities into their favorite kind of tea--very clever). I felt loving towards the Leaf myself, and Sujean Rim's beautiful illustrations really brought the shop to life. I also loved all the tea facts, quotes, drawings, lists, and recipes Ms. Schaefer included in her novel--they added life, color, and creativity. My one problem was that I just didn't get what Annie saw in her barista boy crush, aka Jonathan. I found him dull and self-centered from the very beginning. Ergh. 

   With a very satisfying ending, The Teashop Girls is a genuine story that I found myself loving from the beginning to the end. I certainly hope there'll be many more sequels in the future--Ms. Schaefer has a lot of potential and an original, great first novel to start from.

In My Mailbox Take 3

Yay to The Story Siren for starting this cool feature!

Here's this week's book haul--summaries courtesy of Amazon.com!

Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

  Perfect hair, cute clothes, healthy tans-life's a breeze when you're a witch! Even special witchcraft classes Rachel agrees to attend with Miri turn out to be fun. The sisters meet other teen witches just like them-who knew? Everyone's preparing for a magical party called a Samsorta-a debutante ball for witches. And it wouldn't be a ball without warlocks. Cute ones. Like Adam, who wants to slow dance with Rachel, and ski with her in the Rockies-on a school night! Of course, Rachel is madly in love with her boyfriend, Raf. So why can't she bring herself to tell Adam-funny, charming Adam-that Raf exists?

  Rachel knows Raf likes her. Maybe even, gulp, loves her. But Raf doesn't know her secret. Unlike Adam, Raf doesn't know who she really is. And she can never tell him. Or can she?

  I love this series, and I can't wait to find out what's happening to Rachel in the fourth book! It sounds cute and creative-but I hope things work out between Rachel & Raf! Thanks to Random House for sending me a copy!

The Interns: Fashionistas by Chloe Walsh

  Fashion-it's an obsession for millions. But for four lucky, talented girls, fashion is a full-time, style-transforming...internship in New York City! Some might call it work, but as interns at high-end Couture magazine, Callie, Nadine, Ava, and Aynsley are workin' it in style.

   Callie Ryan: Innocent aspiring designer or claws-out fashion phony?

   Nadine Van Buren: Brings the party. Loves to party (even if it's a pity party).

   Ava Barton: Happy to be here--and about to take over!

   Aynsley Rothwell: Sexy sociality with a killer wardrobe--and the attitude to match.

   Hanging with the Couture interns is what's in this season. But who's the glamorous sage behind the Fashionistas blog serving up style wisdom and sartorial send-ups?

   It's enough to spark a hot-and-heavy fashion frenzy. Hold on to your Manolos...read on and find out.

  Got this one at Borders-looks a bit shallow but good none the less!

  Not a lot this week, but this may be a good thing--my shelves are jammed, and I've got tons to read! (:

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year to everyone! Hope Santa brings you some good books for the holidays! (; Have a safe and joyful holiday. 

XOXO,

Bookworm

(aka Claire) 

Waiting on Wednesday (3): Faketastic

Faketastic 

by Alexa Young

Coming out January 6, 2008

From besties to worsties and back again...

Team Avalon: For Avalon, staying on top of trends has never been a problem-until her fellow cheerleaders decide that her BFF Halley is definitely out this season. Now Avalon must choose between the frenemy who embarrassed her in front of everyone or the new friends who stood by her.

vs. 

Team Halley: Halley thinks she's got it all: her forever-friend Avalon, her new bestie Sofee, and the hottest fall wardrobe at Seaview Middle School. Her life is a total YES. But when Sofee spies Avalon flirting with Halley's crush, will it be World War Halvalon all over again?

I love Frenemies, so I was more than excited when Alexa said she'd send me a copy of no. 2! It looks great, and I can't wait to see who comes out on top this time!

Mary Margaret Mary Christmas

Title: Mary Margaret Mary Christmas

Author: Christine Kole Maclean

Pages: 152

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Children's novel

Recommended to: Boys & girls, 8-10 years old

Rating: B-

It's almost Christmas, which means only one thing to nine-year-old Mary Margaret: presents. And this year, she's expecting a lot (five pages full, to be exact). But then her fourth-grade teacher Mr. Mooney's beautiful snow globe disappears, and later turns up on Mary Margaret's own boot, framing her! Now all Mary Margaret wants for Christmas is to have her name crossed off of the suspect list, but it will take some detective work and a little bit of Christmas magic to find the real culprit.

   Sweet, innocent, and perfect for the holiday-loving young bookworm, the fourth book in the lively Mary Margaret series is told with just as much character and enthusiasm as the previous three. The writing was simple, the dialogue was easy, and the conflicts were extremely minor, but overall the whole story reminded me of my own fourth-grade experience: the way the kids talked, acted, fought...It was all incredibly wholesome and realistic. 

  Meanwhile, towards the end, I began to get a little sick of Mary Margaret's ego, and she began to be extremely obnoxious and a little too cute. However, I found Maclean's writing perfect for the younger age group who are fans of Junie B. Jones and the Lucy Rose series who want a step up and a fun, spunky story revolving around a present-adoring character!

Other books in the series:

Mary Margaret and the Perfect Pet Plan

Mary Margaret, Center Stage

Mary Margaret Meets Her Match