The One
By Stephanie Dunnewind,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gorgeous twins hit success in unlikely Hollywood tale.
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What's the Story?
Chloe Gamble and her twin brother, Travis, come across as small-town Texas hicks when they arrive in Hollywood, but Chloe's ambition and stunning looks seem like an unbeatable mix. That is, until she breaks the movie studio rules and crashes an audition. Will that one mistake ruin her chance at fame?
Is It Any Good?
Hollywood is not the place for reality, so plan to suspend those "Would that really happen?" questions to enjoy THE ONE. The novel includes Travis' emails to a friend and excerpts from Nika's manuscript about her experiences as Chloe's agent, but the real focus is Chloe's first-person narrative. Chloe can con or charm everyone into helping her -- usually for free -- because she has "It."
The author's background as a producer, director, and writer lends authenticity to Chloe's experiences, even if her rise seems unrealistically fast. Readers who would never want to be friends with the competitive, driven teen will likely still find her Hollywood introduction fascinating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Chloe's ambition: Do they think it is admirable, or selfish? Is it OK for her to lie to get what she wants? Would they want to be friends with Chloe? Chloe says maybe she is a gold digger and a whore, "but as I see it, I'm practical. What am I supposed to be after?" What do readers think her answer should be?
Book Details
- Authors: Ed Decter , Laura J. Burns
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon Pulse
- Publication date: March 10, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 316
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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