Hollywood and Maine

by Allison Whittenberg

With a new boyfriend, her own room (finally!), and a modeling agency trying to convince her to sign with them, Charmaine Upshaw’s life is just about perfect. But a surprising face appears at the dinner table: ex-con Uncle E. Uncle E skipped town a few months ago after Charmaine’s parents put up $1000 bail, leaving them in a bind that forced her mom to go back to work. Mom and Dad seem happy to see Uncle E, and her little live-in cousin Tracy John thinks he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. But Charmaine is not fooled. Meanwhile, Charmaine struggles in her first romance and ponders the idea of taking Hollywood by storm. Does she have what it takes to see her name in lights? Only if she can survive the 10th grade. . . .

176 pages, Hardcover

First published December 29, 2008

About the author

Allison Whittenberg is the author of three young adult novels Sweet Thang, Life Is Fine and Hollywood and Maine. She lives in Philadelphia."

Reviews

[Imani ♥ ☮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very disappointing and definitely did not compare to its predecessor :(

When I finished the companion of this book, Sweet Thang, I realized that there was a sequel. Do you know how long it took me to get a hold of this thing?

...

Yeah...about two years. And I was all excited about reading this. I mean, seriously. I loved Whittenberg's writing in Sweet Thang and I had high expectations for its companion.

Um...no.

To me, Charmaine just didn't seem the same. I can barely remember what she was like in the first book but I remember her liking her way more. I didn't understand the whole point of the uncle thing and her little cousin was even more annoying than previously (and not in an at all cute way). I remember being really excited about some oncoming romance in Sweet Thang but any kind of romance in this novel was pretty dry. Half the time, I didn't even like the guy she was dating (what's his name? I can't even remember).

Overall, I was very disappointed. I'm only giving this three stars because I don't want to bring the average rating down too much. But I hope that Whittenberg writes better books in the future because she was truly used to be an author of great potential.

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what the cover designer was thinking, but for me, the cover depicted a whole different book than what lay inside. I was thinking: young black couple in the '70s moves from Hollywood to Maine, little boy in tow. Cultures clash! It was actually a sort of family portrait of a black family in the Philadelphia '70s, told through their 15 year old daughter Charmaine (Maine), who isn't sure if she wants to model. A lot of the tension in the plot felt forced, but that could just be me expecting drama where none was promised.

[diamond jones]

thiss book is qettinq soo qud likee im at thee part where tracy john was at hiss baseeball qame....but beforee that i likeed thee part where charmaine was at thee modelinq thinq nd thee other ppl that wass there ,,thier parents were curiouss so theyy was askinq thee model aqencyy questins about thee cost of thinqs and everythinqq u hadd tew payy for likee the porfolio,,covers and thinqqs likee dat.! but itss qettinq qudd so far.

[Michael Galan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well let me just start off by saying that i am really greatful to meet another author, allison whittenburg. What I learned from the book so far is that charmaine has alot of dreams but theres so many distraction coming to her like her uncle coming to her house.But anyways i'm likeing the book so far, and im gonna keep going into it

[Monica]

im not done with this book just yet im about 30 pages away from being done so far its not so exciting and wild like the books i read before but its not to bad and its doesnt bored you to sleep. its mainly about her life the most intresting is thatt she's a young black girl thats going to become a model not a model but take pictures like a model and she's a really well put together character.

[Qwamere · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is not what i thought this would be. Like in the book Charimanine she was having a good life she had her own room and her own stereo but when her uncle E came to visit her then it turn out he was going live with so now she mad because her is a jailbird and she dont trust him. then she st

[Maria ♥]

So Far This Book Is Goodd , Her Family Calls Her BoyFriend Spider Man ' ! ?

[Deija Pearson-brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

i luv this book

[Paul Sheckarski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it takes on a few weighty issues (war, socialism, crime), Hollywood and Maine is a lighthearted novel with vivid personalities and a charming romance plot. An easy rec.

[Arisbethe]

This book was a good book and i read it becuase i had to meet the author wich is aliison.