andreazak's review against another edition
4.0
A novel featuring a Bieber-esque rising star and the marketing and PR machinations that work to build a fictional authentic brand.
ashpaj's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I feel slightly better than neutral towards this book. It's well done and interesting enough to keep you focused until the end, but it felt as though each time the author could really get into the nitty gritty he pulled back and moved on to the next scene. This gives the book an overall feeling of reading at a continuous, slow and steady pace, with nothing really to shake it up. I read it for book club which is the only reason I read it, otherwise I probably would not have chosen this one. I would say the "window" into the celeb life would have been interesting if it wasn't already plastered all over magazines and the internet already. As it stands, it was more or less just like reading a gossip mag with a slightly changed view to accommodate for the youth of the narrator as he tried to navigate the business.
If your reading list has stagnated, pick this up, if you have something else to do or read, you might want to do that instead.
If your reading list has stagnated, pick this up, if you have something else to do or read, you might want to do that instead.
mary412's review against another edition
3.0
I know almost nothing about the world of tween bubble-gun pop music, but I read a favorable review of this book and immediately put a hold on it at the library. It took several months for it to show up.
Writing from the point of view of an 11 year old can't be easy, but Wayne seems to have nailed it.
July 9, 2013 Passed the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago yesterday and noticed a gaggle of giggling girls. My first thought was, "Oh they're waiting for Jonny Valentine." But no. They were stalking his alter-ego, Justin B. in town for a concert at the United Center.
Writing from the point of view of an 11 year old can't be easy, but Wayne seems to have nailed it.
July 9, 2013 Passed the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago yesterday and noticed a gaggle of giggling girls. My first thought was, "Oh they're waiting for Jonny Valentine." But no. They were stalking his alter-ego, Justin B. in town for a concert at the United Center.
chaotic_abi's review against another edition
5.0
This was so much more depressing than I expected. I thought it was going to be a silly book about a young pop star but it really focused on how fucked up the music industry is and what it'll do to a kid. I don't think it could have ended any other way but damn I'm still sad it ended how it did.
allyens's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Wayne really inhabits the character of Jonny Valentine, a preteen superstar (Justin Beiber pretty purposefully evoked) who is struggling with tepid album sales and an mini-empire that depends on him, an eleven year old boy, to keep hundreds of people employed. Jonny's insular world keeps him from doing such mundane preteen things as surfing the internet, having friends, going out for ice cream without being watched (either by chance or by a publicist's strategic planning). His best friend is his middle-aged bodyguard. He can't sleep without medication. He spends most of his non-touring time playing video games and attending meetings, at which he has little to no input. His adolescent development is both retarded and accelerated by the conditions placed upon him by his fame and wealth. The novel gives you a feeling of what it must be like to have that kind of celebrity. His analysis of the media (including blogs) is spot on. If you've ever made a disparaging remark about Bieber or taken malicious pleasure in a Lindsay Lohan mug shot (and be honest, who hasn't), Wayne might actually have you thinking twice before doing so again.
erinbro1's review against another edition
5.0
I heard that this book was inspired by the life of Justin Bieber, so my pop-culture obsessed self was dying for a peek into the life of such a celebrity. After finishing this incredible book, I just felt really sad for any young person in the public eye. Teddy Wayne treats every character, even lothesome momager Jane, with such compassion that its tough to look at any young pop star the same way after reading this.
christiek's review against another edition
4.0
For most of this book I felt that a train wreck was right around the corner. It was tense and difficult to read.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure why this is an adult book (except perhaps because of the drugs, alcohol and Jonny's impending puberty) or why anyone would think that this is some sort of comment on popular culture - it's really just a supposal about Justin Beiber's life. Given some of the kids I've seen with serious stage mothers, Jane wasn't that bad.
Jonny is very passive, allowing his mother to do pretty much anything to promote him; all he wants is to sing, play Zenon and take sleeping pills. Maybe learn to masturbate. When he meets people he actually admires, he has the all-too-natural reaction of wanting to hang out with them and manages to garner some bad publicity - suddenly, they're gone from the tour and dumped by the label. His reaction? He calls, then lets it drop. The only real moments of conflict sort of fizzle away.
I'm really unclear who the audience for this is: it'd be great for tweens if toned down, great for older teens and adults if made more edgy and raw.
ARC provided by publisher.
Jonny is very passive, allowing his mother to do pretty much anything to promote him; all he wants is to sing, play Zenon and take sleeping pills. Maybe learn to masturbate. When he meets people he actually admires, he has the all-too-natural reaction of wanting to hang out with them and manages to garner some bad publicity - suddenly, they're gone from the tour and dumped by the label. His reaction? He calls, then lets it drop. The only real moments of conflict sort of fizzle away.
I'm really unclear who the audience for this is: it'd be great for tweens if toned down, great for older teens and adults if made more edgy and raw.
ARC provided by publisher.