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7th out of 24 books
—
3 voters
Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)
by
Don Calame (Goodreads Author)
And . . . action! As the uproarious trio returns, sensitive Sean takes the spotlight — scripting a low-low-budget film while fielding unexpected female fans.
Coop is cooking up another sure-misfire scheme (big surprise), and this time the comedy plays out from Sean’s point of view. What’s the new master plan? Making a cheapo horror movie guaranteed to make Coop, Sean, and M...more
Coop is cooking up another sure-misfire scheme (big surprise), and this time the comedy plays out from Sean’s point of view. What’s the new master plan? Making a cheapo horror movie guaranteed to make Coop, Sean, and M...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
September 11th 2012
by Candlewick Press
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4.5 stars
In the third installment of the Swim the Fly series, author Don Calame proves that third time’s the charm, finishing off the series with yet another hilarious story, and this time, it’s Sean’s time to shine.
Coop has come up with another one of crazy schemes. This time, it’s making a low budget horror movie at Rockville’s Terror Fest, with a grand prize of fifty thousand dollars plenty of publicity, Coop is convinced it will lead to almost instant fame and fortune for the three friends....more
In the third installment of the Swim the Fly series, author Don Calame proves that third time’s the charm, finishing off the series with yet another hilarious story, and this time, it’s Sean’s time to shine.
Coop has come up with another one of crazy schemes. This time, it’s making a low budget horror movie at Rockville’s Terror Fest, with a grand prize of fifty thousand dollars plenty of publicity, Coop is convinced it will lead to almost instant fame and fortune for the three friends....more
Sep 01, 2012
Barbara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
animals,
bullies,
families,
friendship,
new-addition,
pregnancy,
romance,
school,
self-esteem,
teachers,
zombies,
vampires
The third time is the charm for this author--not that he really needs any luck since the two titles that precede Call the Shots (Swim the Fly and Beat the Band) are always equally appealing and hilarious. I'm not the kind of reader who usually gravitates to humorous books, but these titles all have passages that made me laugh out loud. In fact, I'll confess to having snorted a few times as I moved rapidly through the book. When Sean Hance's parents announce that a new baby is coming, and Sean wi...more
Aug 31, 2012
Brandy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2012,
bildungsroman,
boy-books,
family-drama,
for-reviews,
realistic,
teen,
parents_exist,
friendship
Finally, it's Sean's turn for a book of his own! His sister is a total bitch, his parents are insane, and there's a new baby on the way--a new baby who will need a room of its own, so their parents have the bright idea to make Sean and his twin sister Cathy share a room. Who thinks this is a good idea? Coop has a great idea--make a short horror movie and win the $50,000 prize at TerrorFest, and use the money to build an extension on Sean's house.
Yeah, Coop's idea works as well as you'd expect. I...more
Yeah, Coop's idea works as well as you'd expect. I...more
Really liked this trilogy even though I'm WAY beyond the YA demographic. While the characters are far more eloquent and witty than real teens, Calame captures the young male mindset in a way not often seen in fiction and despite the strong (but realistic) language, there are a lot of redeeming qualities. Writers can take note on Calame's ability to take a situation, get the protagonist in trouble, and then deepen the trouble twist by twist. (I think there are five levels of trouble in one partic...more
Call the Shots is the third book in the hilarious Swim the Fly trilogy, with each book focusing on one of the trio of fifteen-year-old friends. Mild-mannered Sean is in the hot seat this time, looking for love and trying hard to get out of sharing a room with his twin sister. Sean is a nice guy who doesn't stand up for himself, and as a result, is steam-rolled into dating a pushy, somewhat psycho girl that he is afraid to break up with (a situation he justifies because she has provided the camer...more
Thoroughly enjoyed the final in this hilarious trio of books all based on the friendship of Coop, Sean and Matt. This time it is Sean's turn to give us a peak into his perspective. Coop's latest and greatest idea is to make a low-budget horror film that will catapult them to fame and fortune. Sean and Matt are completely against the idea at first, until Sean realizes that he needs $30K pronto if he wants to avoid bunking with his most-annoying twin sister Cathy. Sean is also a bit jealous of Coo...more
3.5 stars
Coop, Matt, and Sean are at it again in the third and final book in the Swim the Fly series. This time their goal is to make a horror film to enter in the NYC TerrorFest competition. As usual, they have a few roadblocks: a really low budget, casting issues, and lack of experience to name a few. Sean is desperate to win, though, as his parents have dropped the bombshell that they are having a baby – and Sean has to share a bedroom with his twin sister Cathy. Nothing could be quite so fun...more
Coop, Matt, and Sean are at it again in the third and final book in the Swim the Fly series. This time their goal is to make a horror film to enter in the NYC TerrorFest competition. As usual, they have a few roadblocks: a really low budget, casting issues, and lack of experience to name a few. Sean is desperate to win, though, as his parents have dropped the bombshell that they are having a baby – and Sean has to share a bedroom with his twin sister Cathy. Nothing could be quite so fun...more
Despite language that made me blush this book was snortingly funny in many places. Three friends need to make some money fast and they decide to shoot a low-budget horror film with the intention of selling it for a lot of money. I enjoyed the three main characters (who give each other lots of grief but have each others backs as well)but other important characters like Evelyn and her brother seemed cartoonish. The ending was a little too pat, but overall this was a funny, fast romp. I hadn't rea...more
Wow! This book captures teen boy brain better than any book I've read before. I have a sneaking suspicion that the author sits behind teen boys and just writes down everything they say verbatim. The story is not so amazing, Sean and his two best guy friends decide to create and enter a movie into Terrorfest in order to make some quick cash. The scenes, characters and dialogue are absolutely hilarious, however. I mean laugh out loud, snorting milk out your nose funny. I am now going back and read...more
Don Calame is flat-out hilarious in his books Swim the Fly, Beat the Band, and now Call the Shots.
Boys will love his raunchy humor and relate to his hormonally imbalanced teen boy characters. These books do have some language lots of insinuated sexual innuendo.
In this book Coop has anther hair-brained idea: this time it is to make a low-budget horror movie. Matt and Sean don't want to be a part of it until Sean finds out his mother is going to have a baby and he will have to move into a room wi...more
Boys will love his raunchy humor and relate to his hormonally imbalanced teen boy characters. These books do have some language lots of insinuated sexual innuendo.
In this book Coop has anther hair-brained idea: this time it is to make a low-budget horror movie. Matt and Sean don't want to be a part of it until Sean finds out his mother is going to have a baby and he will have to move into a room wi...more
May 12, 2013
Joey
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
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can-relate-to-the-protagonist,
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five-star-rating,
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life-lessons-were-learned,
love-this-book,
made-me-realize-something,
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read-in-three-days-or-less,
right-in-the-feels,
summer-reads-2013,
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I will definitely miss the Swim the Fly series.
This, I believe, is the last book in the trilogy - and I really wish it wasn't. This might sound sappy, but the thing is, I don't want this series to end. I don't want to miss this trio, because it's so clear that I will. I wanna keep reading about them. I love these boys. Matt, Coop, and Sean - I love each and every single one of these characters, and I feel that I myself am part of this amazing trio.
Okay, okay, I'm sounding extremely sappy right n...more
Mar 16, 2013
Sally Kruger
added it
Buddies Sean, Matt, and Coop make a final appearance in Calame's latest, CALL THE SHOTS. This time Sean is front and center as he struggles to deal with a changing family, a new girlfriend, and a sister who is trying to convince everyone he is gay.
When Sean's mother and father announce their BIG news, that his mother is pregnant and that Sean and his sister Cathy will have to begin sharing a room, Sean looks to his friends for help. He is at least hoping for some much needed sympathy, but he get...more
When Sean's mother and father announce their BIG news, that his mother is pregnant and that Sean and his sister Cathy will have to begin sharing a room, Sean looks to his friends for help. He is at least hoping for some much needed sympathy, but he get...more
[Review originally published on Rather Be Reading!]
Sean’s friend Coop is a “big idea” kind of guy. Usually his ideas cause more trouble than they do good. When Sean finds out his mom is expecting another baby and he’s going to be forced to share a room with his twin sister, Cathy, (that he doesn’t get along with), he thinks Coop’s idea could be his only solution. What is Coop’s idea? To make a movie, though he’s never made one before, and enter it into a Horror Film Contest. Coop, Matt, and Sean...more
Sean’s friend Coop is a “big idea” kind of guy. Usually his ideas cause more trouble than they do good. When Sean finds out his mom is expecting another baby and he’s going to be forced to share a room with his twin sister, Cathy, (that he doesn’t get along with), he thinks Coop’s idea could be his only solution. What is Coop’s idea? To make a movie, though he’s never made one before, and enter it into a Horror Film Contest. Coop, Matt, and Sean...more
Aug 27, 2012
Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
netgalley,
read-young-adult
I have enjoyed and laughed my way through the outrageous madcaps of Calame's Swim the Fly series. I picked up Swim the Fly on a whim, loved it; carried on to Beat the Band, which was great; and now Call the Shots, which I think has pulled out all the stops.
Call the Shots is a raunchy, hysterical, over-the-top adventure in teenage boy-land, and I think it is a great read. This novel is told from Sean's perspective: the quieter, less confident of the three boys. Sean has often taken a backseat in...more
Call the Shots contains more of the same antics with Sean, Cooper, and Matt. Still, the final book of the trilogy remains fresh and certainly holds nothing back.
This one is told from Sean's point of view. He's the quiet, withdrawn one of the group, and this makes his narration that much more intriguing. Sean is coping with the fact that both Cooper and Matt somehow have girlfriends, while he lacks female company. Until, of course, he meets Evelyn at the skating rink and, much to his dismay, they...more
This one is told from Sean's point of view. He's the quiet, withdrawn one of the group, and this makes his narration that much more intriguing. Sean is coping with the fact that both Cooper and Matt somehow have girlfriends, while he lacks female company. Until, of course, he meets Evelyn at the skating rink and, much to his dismay, they...more
It has been a while since I first read Swim the Fly, and then Beat the Band is always checked out. So for me, "Call the Shots" is a stand-alone, even though it is the third book in this cycle. Either way, it is funny and plays like a good guy-centered comedy. While the other titles came first, they aren't necessary to enjoying this entry.
I don't love Sean as a character; he's cautious and nerdy and sniffs his hand whenever he's anxious. Which is much of the time. But he is a fine example of Star...more
I don't love Sean as a character; he's cautious and nerdy and sniffs his hand whenever he's anxious. Which is much of the time. But he is a fine example of Star...more
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The boys are back at it. This one is told from Sean's point of view. Sean happens to be my favorite character as he's sort of the loveable loser of the bunch. This one's just as funny as the others. Loaned my advance copy to a friend who hadn't read the others (he's a big movie buff) and he thought it was hilarious and didn't miss a beat. I feel like this series just keeps getting better and better. Can't wait to see what Don Calame has in store for his next book. Maybe a fourth book in the seri...more
In this third humorous boy book, the hilarious trio of Cooper, Matt and Sean have come up with another wacky idea to gain notoriety with girls (they think) of producing a scary movie to win the prize money and help Sean who has to give up his bedroom since his mother is pregnant. Worse than living with his twin sister is listening to her call him gay, which he is not; he is just sensitive and a little bit weird. Calame is at his best with characters like Uncle Doug, Nessa, crazy Nick and Evelyn....more
I loved this book. I was so happy too see it was finally Sean. His side of the story was probably the funniest. He wasnt to worried to get another girlfriend but once he got one he couldn't wait to get out! The only problem is he couldnt because Coop put him in another situtation about making a movie. I enjoyed the story line of this book. It kept pulling me in where I didnt want to put it down. I can also relate to this book because me and my siblings always joke around and call each other gay.
This is the third, and last, in the Swim the Fly series about three friends, Sean, Matt and Coop. Told from Sean's point of view, the friends decide to make a low-budget horror film to enter into the TerrorFest contest in hopes of winning the grand prize. This title is both crude and funny. Having the background of the other two titles probably would have helped as far as knowing the characters; however the book can be enjoyed without reading the other ones.
oops I didn't realise this was part of a series! Having said that I don't think I missed anything really. And can I say I really don't like the name (or nickname) "Coop"? It makes me shudder every time I glance over it in text.
This was enjoyable, and I can see YA kids lapping it up. Very relatable and a little nerdy, and I'm sure there's plenty of 15 year olds out there who would love to have a go at making low low budget horror films with their friends.
This was enjoyable, and I can see YA kids lapping it up. Very relatable and a little nerdy, and I'm sure there's plenty of 15 year olds out there who would love to have a go at making low low budget horror films with their friends.
Brandy says...
Finally, it's Sean's turn for a book of his own! His sister is a total shrew, his parents are insane, and there's a new baby on the way--a new baby who will need a room of its own, so their parents have the bright idea to make Sean and his twin sister Cathy share a room. Who thinks this is a good idea? Coop has a great idea--make a short horror movie and win the $50,000 prize at TerrorFest, and use the money to build an extension on Sean's house.
Yeah, Coop's idea works as well as y...more
Finally, it's Sean's turn for a book of his own! His sister is a total shrew, his parents are insane, and there's a new baby on the way--a new baby who will need a room of its own, so their parents have the bright idea to make Sean and his twin sister Cathy share a room. Who thinks this is a good idea? Coop has a great idea--make a short horror movie and win the $50,000 prize at TerrorFest, and use the money to build an extension on Sean's house.
Yeah, Coop's idea works as well as y...more
Call the Shots is the third book in Swim the Fly series. I really enjoyed reading this book. I personally think it was the best book of the series.In the book Sean was hilarious. He gets put into a situation and makes a movie for a film festival. Sean finally got a girlfriend and he wants to get rid of her, but he can’t. I would totally recommend this book as a must read.
OK, I admit it. ANYTHING Don Calame writes will always receive 5 stars from me. The reason? He speaks to my 14 yr. old male students in a way that they can understand and in a way that pulls them into his books. He speaks their language. He draws them in with his dialogue and details. Sometimes it's cringe-worthy-toilet-bowl humor, but hey, that's what my students love and if they love it, I love it as well. I am sad to say goodbye to three characters that I have grown to love. I look forward to...more
Calame saves the best for last in this final installment of the "Swim the Fly" trilogy, (Swim the Fly, Beat the Band) with crazier schemes, angstier angst, and more ogling teenage boy mayhem than ever. See how quiet, subdued Sean ends up nearly naked in a dumpster covered with coffee and bird droppings while two girls wait for dates with him and one psychotic Navy SEAL tracks him down.
Matt Coop and Sean are at it again, this time trying to make a low budget horror movie. Should be enough to create the kind of awkward situations these guys thrive in. But add in Sean's pregnant mom, losing his room, a crazy girlfriend, and everyone questioning his sexual orientation it gets crazier fast.
Such a fun series - crude, funny and real. I liked how it was shown that most of Sean's problems stemmed from his inability to stand up for himself, and how each of his girl relationships worked out. And the sexting confusion. Actually that was REALLY hilarious!
I thought Call the Shots by Don Calame was a great book. Call the Shots was the third book in the Swim the Fly series and was told in Sean's point of view. There were many funny experiences that Matt, Coop, and Sean went through just so Sean could get his own room to avoid sharing with Cathy. They try to make a movie to win the New York City TerrorFest and eventually don't, but come up with a better idea for Sean's room. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a laugh and wants to relate...more
Once again, Mr. Calame has hit the ball out of the ballpark. I will miss the trio of heroes that made up this series but oh, what a fun ride it was. As with the two previous books, Mr. Calame has written about three teens who have goals in life and how they reached their goals is hilarious. I also enjoyed the clever chapter titles! Thanks for a great series!
I loved this series! This book was just a tinch predictable if you read the previous two, however there were still a few surprises for the reader. As always, coop, Sean, and Matt kept me laughing out loud the entire time!
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Don Calame the author of SWIM THE FLY and BEAT THE BAND. He is also a professional screenwriter whose film projects include EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH and HOUNDED. Of his many prior occupations, he says his most satisfying was teaching elementary school for four years in Los Angeles, where he received the LAUSD District Intern Golden Apple Award and a Los Angeles Education Partnership Grant. He lives i...more
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Ms. Jackson
Oct 30, 2012 09:00pm