The Real Deal: Focus on This!

Rating:
Summary: Teen Fiction That Goes Deeper
Review: Fiona O'Hara can't really complain about her life. She has it all. She goes to one of the poshest schools in Manhattan, owns tons of great clothes by all the big designers (i.e. Prada, Gucci), and can prance around New York City as if it were her very own playground. But when her parents finally get the long-awaited divorce, Fiona's world crumbles around her. Suddenly she's whisked off to New Jersey, a place where you actually need a car to get around, forced to go to Hamilton High School, where the kids are all in serious need of new clothes and hairstyles, and forced to be a cast member of the new reality TV show, being filmed at Hamilton High, called The Real Deal. Between living in her Grandmother's basement with her deranged Mother, and practically being ignored by her Father, and having been ditched by her big-city friends, Fiona is forced to find solace in three outcasts at Hamilton High, who will change her life forever.

Fiona is an amazingly witty, intelligent, spunky character, who will capture the hearts of teenage girls around the country. Her complaints are valid, yet hilarious at the same time. While it may seem as if the book focuses on fame, there are many issues that go deeper, such as Fiona's Mother's depression, how many things on reality TV is taken greatly out of context, and how a big move, and divorce really affects a teenage girl. This was a fantastic book, and I think that it has now become my very favorite novel in the Smooch YA series so far. A must read for all.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: Has A Great Deal To Say...
Review: Fiona's life may not have been perfect, as she was caught in the middle of her parents' stormy marriage, but divorce did not improve it. Suddenly, she finds herself living in her maternal grandmother's basement with her overly sensitive, depressed mother, and attending a new school in her junior year. Not only is the school far below her former high school academically, but she has to leave her former friends and try to make new ones. To make matters triply worse, this is all on television. Her new school is the subject of the latest reality show. Fiona finds every action replayed on national t.v, and often in a less than true or flattering light. All the trials of high school; romantic rivalries, pettiness, attention seeking, etc. are held up for all to see.

The issues are not all that petty, either. Acceptance, alternate lifestyles, broken hearts, and what makes friendship real are tested and proven. In the end, Fiona will learn the real meanings to trust and justice, and to love.

*** Though Focus on This is extremely amusing, with laugh out loud moments, don't think that it lacks in seriousness. True humor is displayed by the most severe moments. Sometimes, you have to laugh through tears. While I would not recommend a book this mature for those without an equal maturity, for those who can handle the serious nature behind the laughter, it has a great deal to say. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, Light read!
Review: Focus on This is the first book in Amy Kaye's series, "The Real Deal". Though not as good as "Unscripted", the second book, this is still a great read. It follows Fiona O'Hara, a misfitish girl from New York to Hamilton High, New Jersey. Hamilton High also happens to be the setting for the new reality TV show, The Real Deal.

Fiona moves with her Mom, who, in the beginning seems like a total brain dead women. On her first day she gets on the wrong side of the Queen Bee and things go from there .She meets Claire Marangello, a weird drama queen who Fiona hopes will become her fast friend.

Things go in the other direction when Fiona unknowingly hooks up with Joey, Claire's boyfriend. Which, by the way is caught on tape for national television to see. She does make friends with Pete, a short gay kid who is constantly getting picked on.

The story goes from there. Fiona meets the producer of the show, she becomes friends with Claire and the story has a nice, twist ending at the Talent Show. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light, interesting book!

(I found the prolog of this book VERY boring, but once you get past that part, it really is a great book!)

Rating:
Summary: I liked this book a lot...
Review: I didn't know that THE REAL DEAL: UNSCRIPTED was a sequel...they didn't have the first book at the bookstore I went to. I thought it sounded interesting, so I picked it up.

Claire believes that the only place she belongs is onstage. So when she gets the chance to perform on Broadway AND be on a reality TV show at the same time, she's pretty excited. She's going to be starring in the musical "Twentynothings" and they reality TV-crew is going to follow her and film her during workouts, rehearsals, etc. Claire gets to move into an apartment in New York with her sister Tina (who she just found out about a few months before). The whole book follows Claire through everything that a normal teenager that suddenly finds herself on Broadway and TV at the same time would go through. It's sooooo funny!

This book is really funny, and I highly recommend it to anyone. The only thing I would say is read the first book before you get this, because a few spots are a little confusing otherwise. THE REAL DEAL: UNSCRIPTED is hilarious and easy to read.

Overall grade - B+

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time.
Review: I've never read the first book in this series, but that really didn't matter. This book is so well written that I caught on in the first chapter. THE REAL DEAL: UNSCRIPTED is about a girl named Claire Marangello who is on a reality TV show, meaning she is being filmed 24/7. Not only that, she's also the star in a Broadway musical called Twentynothings. Her way hot co-star Jeb, who just so happens to be a very famous celebrity, takes an interest in her. The book is basicly about how she mantained (sp?) her relationship with Jeb and her half-sister Tina, who she didn't know existed until a few weeks earlier.

This book totally deserved the 5 star rating I gave it, which says a lot. Read this book and enjoy it, you'll be ever thankful you bought it or borrowed it. Happy reading!

Rating:
Summary: Exciting Sequel to 'Focus on This'
Review: The last time we caught up with 17-year-old, high school junior, Claire Marangello, she was fighting of the reality-TV show that she thought was ruining her life at the time, but ended up making it pretty fun. Well, that reality-TV show has now gotten 18-year-old Claire her big break: her own version of the reality-TV show, and a starring role in a Broadway musical, with Jeb, a way cute co-star who really likes Claire. Plus, she's just found out that she has a half sister who she didn't know about. Everything is going perfectly, until it all flips. Suddenly Claire doesn't know whether this is perfect, or an absolute nightmare. Claire is unsure whether she can trust Jeb, and his celebrity centered world, her half sister seems to be parting ways with her before they even start to make a connection, the director of the Broadway show seems to hate her, and the dance steps are way harder to learn than they ever looked. Claire's slowly realizing that being a Broadway star isn't all singing and smiles, and that real life has enough crazy happenings to last you a lifetime.

I was ecstatic to see that Amy Kaye had written THE REAL DEAL: UNSCRIPTED, as THE REAL DEAL: FOCUS ON THIS was my favorite book in the Smooch series, due, in large part, to crazy Claire. I am happy to report that THE REAL DEAL: UNSCRIPTED is just as fabulous as it's predecessor, if not more. Claire is just as determined to write wrongs, and sort out her life for the better. While many new characters were introduced in this installment of THE REAL DEAL series, I was happy to see that the characters from the last book, Pete, Baxter, and Fiona made appearances in this book as well, as I would hate to see them disappear from the series, since they were so funny. Fans of Amy Kaye's previous work, will adore this book, as will all fans of the teen fiction genre, and reality TV.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: Really fun...
Review: When last we left Claire Marangello, she had endured excruciating months of being the unwilling star of the latest reality show; the day to day travails of an ordinary high school. She more than survived it; she became a star. On the impetus of that, she was offered her own show. The producers would send her to Broadway to star in a hot show opposite one of the hottest guys in a boy band, Jeb. She would be living with her recently discovered long lost half sister, Tina. Their sisterly bonding would also be covered in the docudrama.

Claire is nervous and excited, but it looks to all come crashing down when the director, Seth, proves to be a loud, opinionated, impossible jerk. Being followed by Fritz the cameraman, finding out her straightlaced dad had a wild side, and coping with a yappy mutt named Clyde, Tina's pet, are enough to drive Claire to more than one hissy fit. Fortunately, Jeb is there to save the day. Their on stage romance starts to turn real, but Claire has issues and a jealous supporting actress.

(...)If all the good reality television ever does is to have inspired this series, then it will be worth the airtime. Serious at times and fun most others, this book should contain a warning, you will fall down laughing. The more serious romantic moments are fizzy and sweet. While the rule generally runs that a sequel falls short of the first one, this sequel surpasses book one. Readers will have the added pleasure of getting sneak peak at Katie Macalister's next book at the end. (...)