The Truth About My Success

Reviewed by: Ann Marie Townsend - South Berwick Public Library, South Berwick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 9, 2016

Review

A sixteen year-old TV star has been acting out and is at risk of having her show canceled. Her mother is her controlling manager, her father is mostly absent, her slick agent fixes everything, then spots a waitress who could be her double and plots to have the actress, Paloma Rose, sent to a ranch for brats. The waitress, Oona Ginness, reluctantly agrees to the switch in exchange for money to help her family and to pay for her dreams of being a vet. The story is told by a narrator in third person, is light and fun. Oona learns that being a star is lonely and stressful, being constantly told what to do, on and off the set. Meanwhile Paloma learns at the ranch is not a 5 star resort, tantrums don't work, learns to cook, clean, take care of animals, camp, ride a horse, sleep under the stars, attend therapy sessions and make friends. Meanwhile Oona becomes well-liked and restores popularity to the actress she is impersonating. Paloma escapes from the ranch, meets Oona, and together they out smart the over controlling adults who are using them to make a lot of money, and plot to switch back to there own lives. This is like a fairy tale for teens, fun, and a happy ending, for most. Enjoyable.

Overall Book Score: good