Parents' Guide to Semi-Famous: A True Story of Near Celebrity

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Common Sense Media Review

Andrea Beach By Andrea Beach , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Engaging, funny, serious look at fame and happiness.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

SEMI-FAMOUS: A TRUE STORY OF NEAR CELEBRITY explores the facts, myths, connections, and disconnects between fame and happiness. Author Josh Sundquist, an internet comedian, has known he's wanted to be famous ever since he was a kid, and he assumed that he'd be happy once he was famous. Because it looks really great from the outside, doesn't it? But as he's building a social media following and having some brushes with fame, he's starting to wonder: If he really made it big some day, would that make him happy?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This lively, funny look at fame and happiness is also well researched and very informative. Semi-Famous: A True Story of Near Celebrity takes the subject seriously without the author taking himself too seriously.

The many clever and also funny charts and diagrams help keep things lively, too. Readers will learn a lot about fame and celebrity while also getting a lot of food for thought about what those things mean, why we want them, what we'll do to get them, and how they affect those who have it as well as those who want it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about celebrity in Semi-Famous: A True Story of Near Celebrity. Did you learn anything about fame from reading this book? Did it change how you think about it?

  • Do you want to be famous? What for, and why? Will being famous make you happy?

  • Why are we so obsessed with fame and celebrity?

Book Details

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