Catch a Falling Star

Gr 9 Up—When a Hollywood movie production invades the sleepy town of Little, California, Carter Moon is one of the rare local girls who is not entranced by the movie's troubled teenage star, Adam Jakes. Distracted by her concern for her brother, who suffers from a gambling habit, Carter is content to avoid the mayhem and limit her interaction with the world of glitz and glamour to making sandwiches and drinks for the production company from the comfort of her parents' small café. The protagonist also enjoys teaching a dance class at the local retirement home and stargazing with her two best friends. Her plans to maintain this simple lifestyle are disrupted by a pressing financial need to guarantee her brother's safety and recovery. Presented with a secret, lucrative deal to pose as Adam Jakes's wholesome, small-town girlfriend, Carter suddenly has a solution to her family's money issues. Unbeknownst to anyone other than her parents and Adam's manager, the teen follows the scripted three-week relationship but winds up learning that she may have more in common with Adam than she thought. While the development of a genuine relationship may be expected, readers will enjoy every minute of Carter and Adam's revelatory moments and conflicts. The narrator's struggles with decisions about leaving home and the next steps after high school will resonate with many teens. The resolution is realistically open-ended but also satisfies those thirsting for a fairy tale ending.—Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD