Reality Check

February 15, 2013
The uneven follow-up to Charly's Epic Fiascos (2012) shows determined and headstrong Charly trying to balance her newfound star status with her roots and responsibilities. Having escaped her Chicago-area hometown, Charly is living with her father in New York and auditioning for acting roles. Despite tactics readers will recognize as unprofessional (crashing a sitcom audition, Shih Tzu in hand, and improvising lines), Charly is invited to be part of The Extreme Dream Team, a reality show in which she and three other stars give "life makeovers" to deserving teens. The show takes Charly on a set of trips around the country, and there is plenty of boy drama as well as tension with a female co-star who may or may not have Charly's best interests in mind. Charly is still connected to her friends and sister from home, and some of the book's most poignant moments come as she tries to help her younger sister in the wake of their mother's neglect. Some of Charly's adventures, however, are a bit too predictable, and a conclusion in which one character's underhandedness is revealed feels abrupt and unconvincing. A fizzy and warmhearted take on teen stardom, but readers will have to work hard to suspend their disbelief. (Fiction. 12-16)

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May 1, 2013

Gr 7 Up-Charly is independent, confident, full of sass, and a genuinely nice person. She has not always had the easiest life, but she goes after what she wants. She moved from Chicago to New York City in Charly's Epic Fiascos (Kensington, 2012) to pursue her dream of acting. After sneaking onto a movie set, the 16-year-old gets hired for a reality TV show. As she begins traveling for it, she discovers the difficulties of being on the road and dealing with the media while maintaining relationships with those she loves. Charly has three costars and knowing whom to trust is quite tricky. This is a quick read that won't win high marks for realism, but it should appeal to fans of the first book.-Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA

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