Call the Shots

July 23, 2012
“ll we ever get out of Coop’s schemes are headaches and heartbreaks,” opines high school sophomore Sean, who gets his turn narrating in this third volume about the misadventures of three boys that began with Swim the Fly. Coop’s latest idea is to make a low-budget horror film. Neither Sean nor Matt are interested until Sean’s parents announce there’s a baby on the way. With Coop’s emphasis on the commercial aspects of filmmaking (“The idea is to make something that will sell. Quality is secondary”), Sean signs on, hoping to earn enough to add an extension to his house so he won’t have to share a room with his twin sister, Cathy, a truly unpleasant character. Naturally, complications ensue, as Sean inadvertently becomes linked romantically with a possibly psychotic ninth-grader, while trying to nurture a relationship with Leyna, a hot classmate, and fend off advances from Cathy’s BFF, Nessa. (Sean’s “lightsaber” fully extends in his shorts many, many times.) Those who enjoyed the first two books will find a hefty helping of more raunchy fun. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

November 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-The hilarious and appropriately crude teens Coop, Matt, and Sean from Swim the Fly (2009) and Beat the Band (2010, both Candlewick) are back. For their final story, Sean takes the lead. He has just learned that his mother is pregnant, and, as a result, he will have to share a bedroom with his sister, Cathy. Coop convinces Sean and Matt to join him in a scheme that he guarantees will reward them with more than enough cash to put an extension on Sean's house. The plan is to make a horror movie and win the $50,000 prize at TerrorFest. Sean hopes that the film will get him out of bunking with his annoying twin and maybe even land him a girlfriend. Coop's plans are destined to misfire, and their work results in a trio of love interests for Sean (including a crazy stalker girlfriend), lots of quality time with a stoner uncle, threats from an ex-marine, bird poop, monkey masks, and a whole lot of laughs. Simply put, Call the Shots is funny. Calame nails the language and thought processes of younger teenaged males. The crudeness is authentic and far from gratuitous, and it's quickly overshadowed by the story's heart. Shots is the last taste of this magnetic trio, and Calame has given it massive appeal.Emily Chornomaz, Camden County Library System, NJ

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2012
It's nice guy Sean's turn to shine in this hilarious follow-up to Swim the Fly (2009) and Beat the Band (2010). Sean isn't initially swayed by his crazy friend Coop's idea to make himself, Sean and their third amigo Matt into millionaires by shooting a low-budget horror film. But after his parents announce that they are having another baby and there is no money for a bigger house, Sean decides to sign on as screenwriter to avoid moving into his mean twin sister's room. However, writing the movie is the least of his problems. Sean also finds himself embroiled in a terrifying romantic four-way with his new, Swiss-cheese-smelling, stalker girlfriend Evelyn, his drama crush Leyna and his sister's best friend, the enigmatic Nessa. Sean's well-intentioned attempts to juggle his relationships, school and the movie shoot result in the kind of outrageous mishaps that fans have come to expect from author Calame, who once again does not disappoint, with grade-A gross-outs that include a colossal bird-crap bombing and a chorizo-and-chili projectile-vomiting incident. Fearlessly foul, this consistently comical series should be required reading for all teenage boys and anyone else with a strong stomach and highly sensitive funny bone. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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