Famous for Thirty Seconds

Commercial Breaks #1

by P.G. Kain

Brittany Rush is the face of Gotta Have It candy bars, the hands of Write On pencils, the hair of Knot Me Not detangle spray and the voice of Mom, It’s Delicious! soups. Brittany has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. When Brittany showed up at a callback some girls would actually just get up and go home since they knew it was almost impossible to compete with her. However, a month after her twelfth birthday, Brittany’s mother tells her that the entire family is moving to Hong Kong for a year. Brittany is forced to take a brief but agonizing break from her commercial career. After a year of being just an anonymous kid in a foreign country, Brittany is more than ready to return stateside to her steady diet of go-see’s, auditions, callbacks and bookings in NYC. Within 48 hours of landing at JFK Brittany’s agent Judith Lister of the A Lister’s Agency has three go-see’s for Brittany. When she shows up to the first go-see, she expects the spotlight to start shining on her again but instead she finds that, in the year that she has been gone, she has changed from being the cute kid to watch out for to just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there's more to life than being a commercial success?

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2012

Reviews

[Melanie McCullough]

When Brittany Rush returns home from a year spent in stupid Hong Kong where her stupid mother was transferred for her stupid job (Brittany's words, not mine), she finds that she is no longer the commercial world's It girl. For someone like Brittany, whose life revolves around 30 second snippets of fame, this is a disaster beyond compare. Think the-sinking-of-the-Titanic disastrous.

She's losing all her coveted spots to Phoebe, a girl who previously couldn't even remember her lines, and she doesn't like it. Her solution? Cozy up to the girl's brother and good-luck charm, Liam, in an effort to distract and destroy the competition. What ensues is a hilarious and heart-warming journey as Brittany discovers there's more to life than fame.

I loved this book. Absolutely LOVED it. There are those books that take a while to get into and then there are those books where the voice appeals to you immediately and you just know you are going to adore it. Famous for Thirty Seconds falls into the latter category for me. I loved Brittany Rush from the instant I read the first sentence. She's spunky and determined, not to mention over-confident and overly dramatic to a degree only a 13-year-old girl could achieve. There was no waiting and hoping, or straining to forge a connection with the story line or the main character. This book appealed to the tween girl in me on every level. The proof is the fact that I received the book in the mail yesterday evening and I finished it this morning somewhere around 3am.

The cover is just oh-so-adorable and P.G. Kain has a pitch-perfect middle grade voice. It's smart and sassy and with it, he creates an ideal heroine for tween girls. She's not boy-crazy or willing to sacrifice who she is to please someone else. Brittany does only what is absolutely right for her. It may take a few missteps for her to realize what she really wants and what's really important, but once she figures it out, she goes for it. It's a series I can't wait to share with my niece.

In to Middle Grade fiction? Buy it. Want an example of how to write a great MG novel for tween girls? Buy it. Have a tween daughter/granddaughter/cousin/sister/niece who likes to read? Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

[Fiona715]

"Juicy and thoughtful . . . a fabulous, addictive read." Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of TTYL

The first in a fresh new M!X series about girls involved in the cutthroat world of modeling, acting and commercial castings!

Brittany Rush is the face of Gotta Have It candy bars, the hands of Write On pencils, the hair of Knot Me Not detangle spray and the voice of Mom, It's Delicious! soups. Brittany has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. The queen of callbacks, she is distraught when her family moves to Hong Kong for a year, forcing her to be an anonymous kid in a foreign country. When she (finally!) returns stateside, she's eager to resume her steady diet of go-sees, auditions, callbacks, and bookings in NYC. But to her shock, Brittany realizes that in the year that she was gone, she lost her title as the unconquerable cute kid: Now she's just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there's more to life than being a commercial success?

[Gabrielle]

SERIOUSLY one of the best series I have ever read it was AMAZING I loved the character development in Britney throughout the story and this is the only series about girls doing commercials it was so cool to see how the commercial world works and I just loved this ;)

[Allison]

What a fun, cute read! This is exactly the kind of book I loved to read when I was 12. I would recommend it to middle school girls without hesitation.

[sophie]

super cute read. i love liam <3

[Maria (a)]

Christine thought my plan was brilliant but deeply flawed. "Brit," she said, while bouncing her soccer ball on her knee, "I think you might just be some kind of evil genius."
I took offense. While clearly my plan is a bit genius, it’s not evil. "No one is going to get hurt," I told her. "You don’t have to worry about Liam or Phoebe."
"I’m not worried about them," she told me. "See, that’s the thing about an evil genius: They are always the ones who wind up getting hurt by their own spectacular, but insane, plan."

If Brittany had been anyone else but an entitled, selfish bitch, I would have felt for her. Because her situation sucks. Falling down from being the IT girl to being mostly overlooked must hurt, so bad. But the way she keeps ignoring that things have changed, that she has changed; the way she looks down on everyone else; the cruelty she displays to get what she wants, just made her completely unlikable and made me absolutely root for her 'nemesis'. In fact, that whole story reminded me a bit of Ruthless!, except that that musical was a comedy, and I'm pretty sure in this story we're actually supposed to sympathize with Brittany. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed. I'm sure there are people who will love this - the world it's set in is exciting, and it's written quite well. It just was not for me.

Recommend if: you like redemption arcs for absolutely unlikeable characters
Avoid if: you prefer large casts; this one really focuses on Brittany, which a B or even C role for three other characters
Possible triggers: bullying

[Angie Kregg]

Receiving this book through the FirstReads program, I was looking forward to reading this from the get-go. Kain tackles the world of commercials, from a tween's perspective, and I found it quite enjoyable because I personally have never read something that had both of those elements. Perhaps what I found most surprising was how accurately I felt the author captured the mindset of a 13 year old girl. He absolutely nails the wit of the awkward tween phase and the everyday problems that girls everywhere face, while still keeping the commercial aspect prevalent. There were moments where the reader can laugh out loud and say that they know EXACTLY what Brittany is talking about and relate to her, and that is the most important part of any young adult novel. If the main character is too unrealistic, too perfect, the novel has failed to do what it should, but P.G. Kain does well. It was a quick and easy, yet still engaging, read. The only reason I chose to give 4 out of 5 stars is that I am not in the typical age range for this, and therefore not the intended audience that would find this relatable, but I am certain that had I come across this book 5 years ago, I would have given it 5 out of 5.

[Jordana Wer]

I LOVED this book. I bought the first one after reading the first two pages, and I was back at the book store to buy the next two in the series the next day. I've probably read each book three times.

In this book, Brittany is the Commercial Queen. When she walks into auditions, girls run out crying. Commercials are her life, she spends more time acting than living. So that's why she feels like her life is over when she has to go to Hong Kong for a year.
One year later, Brittany is back, and ready to pick up where she left off. But it seems she isn't a cute kid with just the right look for TV anymore, she's just another pretty face.

This book taught me a lot about how commercial casting works, because I want to be an actress. But it's not all about acting. It's about boys, friendship, and art. And figuring out that being Famous For Thirty Seconds isn't all that important.

You should definitely read this book, and the others in the series: Picture Perfect (#2) and Dramatic Pause (#3)

[Robin Armstrong]

Famous for Thirty Seconds is a great book for younger teenage girls, especially for those who, like most teens, are struggling with discovering themselves.

I really found myself surprised by this book. While it pretty much delivered the message I was expecting, it did so in such a natural and well-written way that I really enjoyed it. The ending is well worth the whole book.

Please see my full review at www.booksforyas.com. Thank you!

[Ashley]

At the start you want to tell Brittany that it's ok life will get better you are just a child and yes the problem is life changing for you but your parents have to do what is best for the family. But as you get drawn into her life you see just how much this has impacted her thinking and her outlook on life. Anyone who can remember their childhood and how much your parents decisions changed your life will relate to this. Kain's characters are very relatable even if you don't fit into the intended age group. Would have loved to have this series when I was in high school.

[Louise Rozett]

This book is so fun! Brittany Rush is a fantastic character--a sassy girl with a successful commercial career that started before she could even talk. Brittany has a few things to learn, and you're rooting for her every step of the way--even when she's being not-so-nice. If you know--or are--a tween with the acting bug, this book is for you!

[Ren Claire]

I really enjoyed this book. Having had some experience working as a model and in film, I found the references to the actual workings of auditions and filming accurate and informative!

Brittany's journey felt very real; shedding the world she "owned" and discovering what's important to her now. She's lucky! Not everyone has a chance to take a look at their life from a fresh point of view.

[Taylor]

I read an early version of this book since the author is a friend and it's such a cute start to the series. I think girls will love this series--who wouldn't want to learn about the world of acting set in New York City? Also, the cover currently shown is an old version--the new cover is much cuter.

[Taylor]

I read an early version of this book since the author is a friend and it's such a cute start to the series. I think girls will love this series--who wouldn't want to learn about the world of acting set in New York City?

[Susie]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads First Read giveaway.

This book had an amazing story to it. I really liked reading it. It is definitely a book every young girl should read.

[3m!ly]

This book is great!!!! From the second i piced it up I couldnt put it down!

[Saanvi Shankar]

Everyone knows Brittany Rush. Maybe not specifically, but if you watch the commercials on TV, then you would know that she's a major star in almost all of those. But when she finds out that she has to move to Hong Kong for an year because of her mother's newspaper job, her life comes apart. The year goes along agonizingly slow, but it is finally over, and Brittany can't wait to pick up exactly where she left off, though for some reason her agent says that might not be possible. After a few auditions, though, and not getting called back, it slowly starts to sink in: she has been forgotten. Phoebe Marks (a girl who seems to thinks that Brittany and her are the best of friends) is the new It- Girl, the one who is starring in all the commercials lately. She even ends up in the same auditions as Brittany, and gets cast as the lead, while Brittany's just the supporting talent. This cannot be happening. Yes, Phoebe is pretty, but she is also one of the most forgetful and nervous people Brittany has ever met. Or at least, she was. Now, she has a secret weapon to fight her nervousness: her brother, Liam. Brittany figures that if she gets Liam to spend less time with Phoebe in her auditions, she would fail, and Brittany would finally make her comeback. But when things don't work out the way she wants it to, and she finds out the passion she has for drawing, it has her wondering: maybe someone else being the star isn't so bad after all...

[Yakety Yaks]

I’ve been reading a lot of serious stuff lately. From my John Green addiction to the beautiful, but heavy, Miseducation of Cameron Post, I’ve been up to my ears in Serious and Deep and Thought-Provoking. It was time for a change.

So on Friday, I came home from work and picked up the first pink book I saw–which was pretty easy, since this is actually the only pink book anywhere in my house. I just needed a little pink in my life.

This book is definitely pink. From subject matter to character development, there isn’t much that’s surprising here. It certainly isn’t heady or terribly thought-provoking. It’s light; it’s readable in 3 hours or less; and it doesn’t weigh you down when you’re done.

Before I continue, a synopsis…

Brittany Rush is the face of Gotta Have It candy bars, the hands of Write On pencils, the hair of Knot Me Not detangle spray and the voice of Mom, It’s Delicious! soups. Brittany has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. The queen of callbacks, she is distraught when her family moves to Hong Kong for a year, forcing her to be an anonymous kid in a foreign country. When she (finally!) returns stateside, she’s eager to resume her steady diet of go-sees, auditions, callbacks, and bookings in NYC. But to her shock, Brittany realizes that in the year that she was gone, she lost her title as the unconquerable cute kid: Now she’s just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there’s more to life than being a commercial success?

See? Pink.

This book is advertised as a “tween read,” by author and Amazon alike. I think it’s a good fit in that category…if your tween doesn’t like to work very hard with a book. (When I was a tween, I read The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time. I was all about the ambitious “reading up,” which I realize isn’t normal…like, at all.) This is a pleasant read, and is perfectly suitable for younger readers in content. (Unless you’re a parent who doesn’t want your 9-13 year old reading about going on dates and kissing. This is, as the boy in The Princess Bride would say, “a kissing book.”)

Now, while this is a clean, easy read for younger readers, I can’t get too excited about it because, frankly, it fell a little flat for me.

Silly Rabbit, Character Development is for Kids

Nothing bothers me more than books that are written down to younger readers. Just because your audience is young doesn’t mean they should be handed one-dimensional characters and trite plots. Famous for Thirty Seconds isn’t infuriating, like many “tween” books I’ve read; but it isn’t something I will enthusiastically hand to a young girl, either.

The real issue for me was Brittany. She is so self-absorbed and obsessive and ridiculously conceited for about 85% of the book that she is just not likable. And her tendency toward naiveté as she is re-entering the world of go-sees is annoying. She’s one of those characters who is so willfully blind to the reality around her, that you just want to shake her. And not in a good way.

Her shallowness, diva-esque attitude, and rudeness is so off-putting that I wasn’t invested in her at all by the end of the book. Even as good things started happening in her life and development, I found myself wishing something bad would happen to her just so she’d get what was coming to her.

I know. That’s mean. Sorry.

Also, Brittany acts and talks like a 15 or 16 year old. She also goes on dates, which–I don’t know about you–was not even near being a possibility for me at 13. I think the author wanted to write a book for tweens, and so the main character became a tween by default. But Brittany’s story may have actually been better had she been allowed to be the 16 year old she clearly wanted to be, instead of unsuccessfully being forced into the persona of a 13 year old.

Brittany wasn’t the only one who fell flat for me. Her competition, Phoebe, is predictably perfect. Sure, she needs her brother, Liam, at auditions as some sort of security blanket, but she’s pretty clean-cut-perfect otherwise. She, too, is willfully blind to Brittany’s hostility. She’s Miss Perky Perk all the time, and never so much as winces when Brittany treats her like trash. There was a lot of potential for depth in Phoebe…but it just wasn’t there.

The best character–and the character that, I suspect, will be the favorite of any 9-13 year old girl reading this book–is undoubtedly Liam. Handsome, Bieber-esque Liam. He, too, read MUCH older than the 12 or 13 year old he’s billed to be. But he is everything you want in a chick-lit, pre-teen novel. He’s artistic, confident, dresses in cool vintage fashions, and tenaciously crushes on Brittany through tantrums that even the most desperate 13-year-old boy would flee from in favor of a good video game. He’s a charmer. He also has the amazing ability to act like exactly the type of doting, romantic boyfriend every girl dreams of. (Wow, I wish teenage boys had been this self-actualized when I was 13.)

I do have to say that, despite the cookie-cutter characters, the plot was cute and engaging. The author admits that this book was based on personal experience as a childhood commercial star. Because of this, the setting was well developed and rich. From the industry jargon (“go-sees,” “hands,” “bite and smile”) to the claustrophobic feel of the small studios, the industry side felt real and full. The plot also wasn’t quite as cookie-cutter predictable as it could have been. So, setting and plot save the day on this one.

Again, this is a fine read for any young girl who likes lip-gloss, eye rolling, and has dreams of 30-second fame. Just make sure you offer her a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, too.

Let it be known that this book was provided to me by the publisher at no cost. My review is 100% my own, honest opinion.

[LOVE YA BOOKS? VISIT YAKETYYAKS.COM FOR MORE REVIEWS AND AWESOME STUFF! :)]

[eesha]

this was cute! middle school me would have EATEN THIS UP and high school me had fun reading it so <3

[Faith Nason]

Was the first actual novel I read as a child by myself and I could picture myself in the book. Well written and easy to read.

[Tammy Dahle]

My Thoughts:
This is a book you can judge by it's cover! A perfect pick for tweens.This is a book I could put into the hands of my middle school readers with no doubt or fear of inappropriate material.
Main character Brittany is likable and easy to relate to even when her motives and thoughts aren't as perfect as her looks. She's a thirteen year old girl trying to figure out who she is and what she wants in the ever changing world of TV. I loved that she was confident and sure of herself. Another thing I really enjoyed was how supportive and loving Brittany's family is-especially her sister that trys to gently discourage Brittany from doing anything she might regret later.
PG Kain captures the language and world of teen girls perfectly-in fact I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't realize PG was a man(a stupid thing to assume, I know) until I visited his awesome website which you should definitely check out HERE
Another fun fact about the author is that he chose to write about something he knows very well-commercials and auditions(in fact he has some great tips and suggestions for kids that do commercial work on his website). He knows the ins and outs of this world and gives Brittany this knowledge and insight. This makes it very easy to get sucked into Brittany's world.
I have the second book to this series sitting on my shelf-Picture Perfect. I have no doubt that I will enjoy the next one as much as I did this one. I look forward to sharing both books with my tween daughter. Do judge this book by its cover-cute cover with a cute story!
*I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. I will be donating this book to my local middle school library.

[Grace]

This is one of the best books ever this book sends a bad message in the beginning but that message does turn good in the end p.g made sure all the characters had a fair share of book time a lesson in this book is to always try to look up another's lesson is don't be afraid to live up to you dream or to become friends which someone. This book has all the genres a good book must have its funny exiting scary at some times meaningful thoughtful and very tricky but this book still has room for those cliff hangers you can't wait to read! I be leave this book appeals to children Tweens and some teens they put on a little bit of every age into his book so every age can have something that appeals to theme in this book. The main thing in this to be who you are. :)

[Blythe Penland]

I thought this book was amazing! This truly proves the theory that men cant write books from a woman's point of view wrong. I have never heard of P.G. Kain, but he wrote this book with a great topic! I am looking forward to reading the second book! This book was about a 13-year old girl who has grown up being a commercial star. She has to move to Hong Kong for a year when she is 12. She had recently come back to her home in Long Island, Manhattan when she figured out that there is a new star in town. Will Brittany be able to handle the competition? Find out in this eye-catching novel!

[Terry]

Readers fascinated by the idea of being famous (and who might secretly harbor those dreams) are in for a page-turner as they follow Brittany all over New York in her quest to take her career to the next level.

Read our review at the Reading Tub. We'd love to get more input on this book.

[Katie K]

This book is really good and a nice light read! Im a theatre girl so it was really cool to learn about the commercial world. I want to read the rest of the series! I love Liam and Phoebe so much!!!!! Who are Liam and phoebe?? Read the book to find out! Great book!

[Bushra Raza]

This book was really good and interesting. I didn't know what would happen next but I think the story went a little too fast. I didn't get enough of the book. Felt like it wasn't completed. Other than that it was a pretty good book.

[Jianna]

I think this book was a really good book. At the beginning its was kind of boring, but it got better

[Colette]

A fun read for Middle-Graders. I am enjoying this series, and can't wait to read the next book. I think a lot of tween girls can relate to the characters.

[Mary]

I loved this book! The plot was exciting, and I loved the character development:)

[Anna]

Its sooooo good!