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Talent #1
Talent
It's all about talent in who has it, who doesn't, who wants it, and who can find it first!
When thirteen-year-old Mac Armstrong witnesses newcomer Emily Mungler's stellar lying-to-gain-entry performance during a movie premiere party at the Roosevelt in Hollywood, it dawns on her that her own talent is to discover it in others! So Mac and her BFFs set out to prove it by turning fresh-from- Cedartown-Iowa Emily into a box office bombshell. They'll make deals, throw parties, crush on boys, all on the way to discovering that no matter how famous or important you are, friendship always comes first. Well, almost always.
When thirteen-year-old Mac Armstrong witnesses newcomer Emily Mungler's stellar lying-to-gain-entry performance during a movie premiere party at the Roosevelt in Hollywood, it dawns on her that her own talent is to discover it in others! So Mac and her BFFs set out to prove it by turning fresh-from- Cedartown-Iowa Emily into a box office bombshell. They'll make deals, throw parties, crush on boys, all on the way to discovering that no matter how famous or important you are, friendship always comes first. Well, almost always.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2008
39 people are currently reading
1,599 people want to read
About the author
Zoey Dean
47books401followersThe author of The A-List series and How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which has been renamed and turned into a TV show known as Privileged on the CW in September 2008. Zoey Dean's books are produced by the media packager Alloy Entertainment, which created Gossip Girl, The Clique Series, and The A-List and sold them to Little, Brown and Company.
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.
See also:
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.
See also:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
January 28, 2009
Why
is
this
book
set
in
the
middle
school
scene?
Seriously, that's what all of this book's problems boil down to. The characters are unbelievable for twelve-year-olds. You have to be kidding me that so many adults would take preteens as seriously as they're taken here. People don't even take ME this seriously and I'm considerably older and less spoiled than these girls.
Problematic points:
Mac (center of this book) somehow manages to fool a handful of adults while she's playing Emily Mungler's agent. A twelve-year-old playing another twelve-year-old's agent.
Coco and Ruby have an audition with a major record company because "some duo has got to become the year's hottest performers". What was the last twelve-year-old duo we've seen make it big? JoJo was thirteen when she took off a zillion years ago and Miley Cirus is everywhere nowadays, but those are the only two examples I can think of in the last five or six years. Most new artists are what, seventeen pushing eighteen?
Becks loses the boy she has her eye on to some nondescript chick with a big chest. Again, totally happened when I was in middle school, but really? I mean, is this really what you're trying to feed the readers?
I could go on, but it all goes back to what I said in the beginning: Why is this set in middle school? It just kills the series completely. It's pushing not only the limits of the known world, but also the limits of impossibility set forth by other Alloy Entertainment series such as A-List, Gossip Girl and It Girl.
The world as we know it has been reduced to a zombie universe where twelve-year-olds are figures of responsibility and authority. I'll probably pick up future books cos I suck like that, but be warned that you'll need major suspension of belief to get over some of the plot twists. This coming from someone who enjoys aforementioned A-List, Gossip Girl and It Girl.
is
this
book
set
in
the
middle
school
scene?
Seriously, that's what all of this book's problems boil down to. The characters are unbelievable for twelve-year-olds. You have to be kidding me that so many adults would take preteens as seriously as they're taken here. People don't even take ME this seriously and I'm considerably older and less spoiled than these girls.
Problematic points:
Mac (center of this book) somehow manages to fool a handful of adults while she's playing Emily Mungler's agent. A twelve-year-old playing another twelve-year-old's agent.
Coco and Ruby have an audition with a major record company because "some duo has got to become the year's hottest performers". What was the last twelve-year-old duo we've seen make it big? JoJo was thirteen when she took off a zillion years ago and Miley Cirus is everywhere nowadays, but those are the only two examples I can think of in the last five or six years. Most new artists are what, seventeen pushing eighteen?
Becks loses the boy she has her eye on to some nondescript chick with a big chest. Again, totally happened when I was in middle school, but really? I mean, is this really what you're trying to feed the readers?
I could go on, but it all goes back to what I said in the beginning: Why is this set in middle school? It just kills the series completely. It's pushing not only the limits of the known world, but also the limits of impossibility set forth by other Alloy Entertainment series such as A-List, Gossip Girl and It Girl.
The world as we know it has been reduced to a zombie universe where twelve-year-olds are figures of responsibility and authority. I'll probably pick up future books cos I suck like that, but be warned that you'll need major suspension of belief to get over some of the plot twists. This coming from someone who enjoys aforementioned A-List, Gossip Girl and It Girl.
December 25, 2008
Who knew Hollywood’s twelve year olds even cared about stuff like this? Or that they were manipulative enough to take down a person’s reputation? It actually makes me wonder if I’d been that bad at that age, and reminds me that this is why I don’t read books about anyone younger than age fourteen anymore. That immaturity level has taken a great toll on my brain, so let’s just say that if I were to babysit anyone, it’d be the kids that range from 2-8 years old. Books wise—yeah, I’ll be sticking to young adult. This doesn't even begin to stretch out to that genre. Please, this should be reshelved back to the children's section.
April 9, 2008
I picked this up at PLA and read it in two hours while home sick on the couch. It's perfect for that.
Just like the blurb on the back says, its The Clique meets Entourage. Lots of designer name drops and lots of mean girls and rivalries. As usual Zoey Dean peppers her Tiger Beat writing with references to weird grown up Non Sequiturs (these girls know who David Lynch is?) and the right LA brands (at least as far as I can tell from the myriad of gossip blogs I end up reading). This will move at my library.
Just like the blurb on the back says, its The Clique meets Entourage. Lots of designer name drops and lots of mean girls and rivalries. As usual Zoey Dean peppers her Tiger Beat writing with references to weird grown up Non Sequiturs (these girls know who David Lynch is?) and the right LA brands (at least as far as I can tell from the myriad of gossip blogs I end up reading). This will move at my library.
October 19, 2015
Sigh...Costco+ 12 year old. These books were a lot of fun to a preteen me. Now I am kind of embarrassed that I read them.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
You have to have TALENT to make it in this world.
Meet Bel-Air Middle School's social queens: Mackenzie, Evangelina, and Cordelia.
Mackenzie Little-Armstrong has everything, except for one major important thing... talent. It's pretty obvious to Mackenzie that she has no talent, especially when she is compared to her mother, an agent; her father, a screenwriter; her older brother, Jenner, a surfer; and her younger sister, Maude, a genius. It's even obvious to People magazine. So now Mackenzie has to find her talent fast before anyone has the chance to knock her off her high horse.
Evangelina Becks is proud to be one of the best female surfers out there. Being out on the waves isn't the least bit scary, but having a crush on her best guy friend, Austin Holloway, is. Can she ignore the feeling she gets whenever he's around, or will she speak up before it's too late?
Cordelia Kingsley is a wonderful singer, which makes sense since her mother, Cardammon, is one of the biggest names in the music industry. And since duo groups are in, Cardammon made sure that her daughter was paired up with the perfect person. The only thing is, the other half of this up-and-coming group just so happens to be Mackenzie's enemy.
Then there is Emily Mungler who, with her mom and best friend, Paige Harrington, is visiting Hollywood. All the glitz and glamour was just how she expected it to be. Like everyone else, Emily has a talent, a secret talent. So secret that she doesn't even know about it either: she can act.
Mackenzie notices Emily's talent and wants to make sure that it doesn't go unnoticed. While trying to help Emily, Mackenzie just might be able to finder her own talent along the way.
TALENT is the newest guilty pleasure that will have you hooked. Fans of THE A-LIST and THE CLIQUE now have another series they need to get their hands on.
You have to have TALENT to make it in this world.
Meet Bel-Air Middle School's social queens: Mackenzie, Evangelina, and Cordelia.
Mackenzie Little-Armstrong has everything, except for one major important thing... talent. It's pretty obvious to Mackenzie that she has no talent, especially when she is compared to her mother, an agent; her father, a screenwriter; her older brother, Jenner, a surfer; and her younger sister, Maude, a genius. It's even obvious to People magazine. So now Mackenzie has to find her talent fast before anyone has the chance to knock her off her high horse.
Evangelina Becks is proud to be one of the best female surfers out there. Being out on the waves isn't the least bit scary, but having a crush on her best guy friend, Austin Holloway, is. Can she ignore the feeling she gets whenever he's around, or will she speak up before it's too late?
Cordelia Kingsley is a wonderful singer, which makes sense since her mother, Cardammon, is one of the biggest names in the music industry. And since duo groups are in, Cardammon made sure that her daughter was paired up with the perfect person. The only thing is, the other half of this up-and-coming group just so happens to be Mackenzie's enemy.
Then there is Emily Mungler who, with her mom and best friend, Paige Harrington, is visiting Hollywood. All the glitz and glamour was just how she expected it to be. Like everyone else, Emily has a talent, a secret talent. So secret that she doesn't even know about it either: she can act.
Mackenzie notices Emily's talent and wants to make sure that it doesn't go unnoticed. While trying to help Emily, Mackenzie just might be able to finder her own talent along the way.
TALENT is the newest guilty pleasure that will have you hooked. Fans of THE A-LIST and THE CLIQUE now have another series they need to get their hands on.
April 21, 2008
An Advance Reader's Copy that I picked up at PLA.
A trio of status-obsessed preteen Hollywood girls encounter a visiting midwestern girl with dreams of fame; hijinks, lies, drama, and hurt feelings ensue.
There is so much wrong with this, it's hard to know where to start.
It's unrealistic. What 12 year old, daughter of the rich&famous or not, looks like the girls on this cover? What 12 year old has an iphone, credit card with (seemingly) no limit and no parental restrictions, frequents nightly "par-tays" full of other rich&famous GROWN UPS, and has a car and driver at their beck and call?
And even if there are a few such preteens, which there may be, why choose to fill the heads of average children with thoughts of an unrealistic and unhealthy lifestyle?
Second, the whole thing is like one giant product placement add. From page 219:
Mac and Emily hopped out of the Prius and into the driveway of the Regent Beverly Wilshire for Kimmie Tachman's party, just as Coco pulled up in her CK-emblazoned Bentley. Mac and Emily had changed in the car, en route from the studio. As planned, Emily wore her gold-and-silver Cavalli disco dress, and Mac wore the micropleated aquamarine Tracy Reese from Fred Segal. Coco had on a plum-colored D&G one-strap minidress, and Mac knew Becks would be wearing the low-backed Versace as instructed.
Anyone who knows me knows I abhor censorship, so if you want to read this, by all means go ahead. I'm only disturbed that the author, editors, publicists, and anyone else active in promoting this book would consider it worthy literature to give to the most impressionable section of our society: preteen and teenage girls.
A trio of status-obsessed preteen Hollywood girls encounter a visiting midwestern girl with dreams of fame; hijinks, lies, drama, and hurt feelings ensue.
There is so much wrong with this, it's hard to know where to start.
It's unrealistic. What 12 year old, daughter of the rich&famous or not, looks like the girls on this cover? What 12 year old has an iphone, credit card with (seemingly) no limit and no parental restrictions, frequents nightly "par-tays" full of other rich&famous GROWN UPS, and has a car and driver at their beck and call?
And even if there are a few such preteens, which there may be, why choose to fill the heads of average children with thoughts of an unrealistic and unhealthy lifestyle?
Second, the whole thing is like one giant product placement add. From page 219:
Mac and Emily hopped out of the Prius and into the driveway of the Regent Beverly Wilshire for Kimmie Tachman's party, just as Coco pulled up in her CK-emblazoned Bentley. Mac and Emily had changed in the car, en route from the studio. As planned, Emily wore her gold-and-silver Cavalli disco dress, and Mac wore the micropleated aquamarine Tracy Reese from Fred Segal. Coco had on a plum-colored D&G one-strap minidress, and Mac knew Becks would be wearing the low-backed Versace as instructed.
Anyone who knows me knows I abhor censorship, so if you want to read this, by all means go ahead. I'm only disturbed that the author, editors, publicists, and anyone else active in promoting this book would consider it worthy literature to give to the most impressionable section of our society: preteen and teenage girls.
September 27, 2009
Talent by Zoey Dean had two main characters': Emily and Mackenzie or Mac. Mac's a girl growing up in Hollywood, California. Mac is accustomed to a extravagant life-style. Her mother is a famous Hollywood agent who "discovers" stars, as in creates the next famous "It person" everyone's dying to be. Mac is used to being Queen of everything and is coming up to eigth-grade in this book. At her school, an eight-grader is elected for Social Chair, which means she's in charge of say uniform policy & dance themes at her school. Mac "needs a talent" to get accepted as Social Chair at her school. Mac really wants Social Chair and she'll do anything for it. Mac discovers "emily skylar", the other main character who is visiting from Iowa and gets into a premiere party uninvited by pretending to be some other girl. Mac then realizesemily can be "it". Mac's moddo for votes becomes, "Elect me for social chair! I made Emily Skylar a star, and I can make BAMS (bel-air middle school) shine too!
It's basically a funny story about 1 girl trying to get another famous& doing crazy things, too. I want to find out if Emily does become famous (by landing a role in a new movie) in the next book.
October 23, 2013
Meh. The characters were petty. They're all stuck up except for Emily. And Emily is so perfect, you can't even relate to her. Becks... ahhhh! I mean, she is supposedly a good surfer, but really, they never talk about competitions. It seems like she cares more about her "boyfriend" Austin then the actual sport of surfing.
Mac is overbearing and bossy, especially in the later books. Coco was ok, but still, I didn't love her. They were just all so fake. The plot was ok, but at the end of the book every one had a problem. Bleh. It was just unrealistic and not my favorite book. This author did seem like she could do better... maybe I'll read another of her books.
Mac is overbearing and bossy, especially in the later books. Coco was ok, but still, I didn't love her. They were just all so fake. The plot was ok, but at the end of the book every one had a problem. Bleh. It was just unrealistic and not my favorite book. This author did seem like she could do better... maybe I'll read another of her books.
June 26, 2008
It was a pretty good book - similar to the Clique series - not so much of the A-List - Zoey Dean's famous and bestselling series. The A-List is pretty good, too - but definitely for TEENS and ONLY TEENS. TALENT is a book about girls who are twelve years old - which is why it's more moderate in terms of teen books - unlike the A-List - which is about girls who are in college.
July 1, 2008
This book is so good! The only thing I didn't like about it was the fact that it is so much like 'The Clique' series. But it's still really good!!
July 2, 2008
this book looks a lot lke the clique series, but all the same, a great book
March 14, 2020
I don't know why i thought would like this book. I did enjoy reading it because it's kinda fun but Mac drove me up the wall. the only, ONLY good thing she brought was when she said "Here's nothing"... ..."In case you forget how much i respect you." she was obnoxious. she was so focused on having talent when she comes from a rich and famous family. She obsesses over how she has no talent instead of thinking about how good she is with outfits. literally the entire book the tells people exactly what to wear specifically for the tone of their skin in that moment. that sounds like a talent to me. The plot was centered around her and her willingness to throw away her trust in relationships for her own popularity. we see this kind of things millions of times and it never works out. the best character was Coco. she had a goal and was working towards that goal the entire book. despite her big secret she still managed to keep a healthy relationship with her friends even though they wouldn't listen to her when she tried to tell them what the secret was. there was the dynamic with her mom that i wish had been explored more but she still had more depth than any of the other characters. there was also Cocos relationship with the"rival" Ruby. Coco at points in the book questions whether or not she should really hate Ruby even if that's what Mac wants. she realizes maybe Ruby isn't that bad. even with everything i did or didn't like i would still recommend this to some of my friends. it may not be my cup of tea but it might be theirs and i wouldn't hold them from that because i don't like the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2021
This book would be great for any middle school girl to read. It has realistic characters that many preteens or teenagers can relate to. Mac Armstrong is rich, beautiful, and popular girl who is loved by her family and adored from her friends but still feels incomplete. She sees everyone else with hobbies and goals and she feels like she is stuck in a routine until one day she witnesses Emily Mungler, an average girl from the Midwest. lie her way into one of the most exclusive movie premieres of the year! Armstrong believes Mungler has the potential to be a Hollywood celebrity after watching her act as someone she is not as this premiere but realizes quickly it will not be easy work.. Can they accomplish their goal of turning Emily Mungler, an average girl from the Midwest, to an A1 celebrity? Although this book is fiction it expresses the importance of friendship and loyalty throughout. It is an interesting book that has a fast paced setting and shows a girl who seems like she has everything in the world but who still feels empty inside.
February 4, 2022
This book had good parts and bad parts. It would have been a lot better if the girls were in... maybe their Junior year or something. Being 12 makes no sense at all. However, the book still left me wanting to read more and it was a nice, easy book to read when my brain wasn't feeling too happy to read.
March 9, 2019
I’ve read the second book in this series years ago (without realizing it was the second book) so I added this to my TBR and it’s taken me all this time to get to it. I throughly enjoyed this book and actually look forward to reading the rest of the series
February 7, 2018
Fun look into Hollywood and how "the other half" lives.
March 24, 2020
This was so cute! I read this after I read The Clique, but I think if I had read it before I would have liked it more and read the rest of the series. Its so cute and fun
October 14, 2021
I thought this book was good, but it was also kind of bad.
Read
February 24, 2022I remember loving these😳
November 15, 2017
This book is about a girl named Mac Armstrong, and she deals with challenges throughout the story. Between friendship, boys, and a movie premiere party at the Roosevelt in Hollywood. Mac has to make tough choices that can destroy her relationship between her best friend. Mac starts hanging with a girl that some don't like and she is keeping it from her bff. Mac is also lying to her friends about things that she shouldn't. In the book, Mac realizes she has a talent. I like the part when Mac was doubting herself about at first, but then realized that if she has the talent that everyone else sees in her then she will do it. Mac's friends help her out with the premiere and I thought that was very kind of them to that. What stunned me was the fact that in the beginning of the story, the author says that Mac is a nobody at school and that she was very shy, but her mom is the most powerful talent agent in L.A. That part real1y got me. To find out more about Mac's talent and to see how good of friends she has and to look at what challenges she faced all through out the book, then you will just have to read it.
December 15, 2009
No pain NO gain
Having everything you ever wanted is just effortless for Mac when it come to having talent is harder than anything! In the book Talent by Zoey Dean, Mackenzie Little- Armstrong the daughter of the most powerful agent in L.A, the leader of Bel-air middle school, and know as the “it� girl is found talentless. Desperate for a talent where this turn out to be something even more than Mac, Coco and Beck could even imagine. Talent is filled with competition, talent, and friendship issues.
In the book Talent by Zoey Dean, Mac is trying to prove that she has better skill than everyone. Using every strategy trying to keep up with being social chair but, when Ruby Goldman going toward the same goal, the competition now even more critical for Mac. . When Ruby announce that she be running for social chair against Mac and she has a major secret that will win her social chair talentless Mac announce”I am a Talent agent”p.58, Before Mac knew it was too late to take back the words she said. The competition between Mac and Ruby is one. Everyone excited to see who will win social chair this year In Bel-air Middle school.
At the biggest movie premiere Deal with It staring hit star Davey Woodward. Mac faces her enemy Ruby Goldman. When Ruby announce that she be running for social chair against Mac and she has a Major secret that she will announced on the first day of school, Mac realizes that Emily Mugler has a great potential in acting with her ways to “pretend� to sneak into the biggest movie premiere in Hollywood. She offers Emily a chance to become a Hollywood star. This change Emily’s lives forever! Going from a normal girl turn into an overnight sensation.
Everything was perfect, until it all, turned upside down! At Kimmie birthday party, Mac and Ruby Tubman were faced to face. Mac found out that Ruby big secret was her big time dance off with Mac’s best friend Coco. This was a slap in the face for Mac knowing her best friend betray her. Making matter even worst Mac mom found out that she faked her auditions with Emily! There was no real Talent agent. With Emily being decided to quit, it will just prove that Mac is Talentless once again having no friends.
With all the tangle mess can Mac find a way to fix everything before it too late? Going from the leader of Bel-Air to a talentless nobody. Can Mac win the competition, turning Emily into a star and getting her best friends back again? Talent is a great book dealing with issues that teen faced everyday! This book will keep reader flipping pages and will never wants to put it down!
Having everything you ever wanted is just effortless for Mac when it come to having talent is harder than anything! In the book Talent by Zoey Dean, Mackenzie Little- Armstrong the daughter of the most powerful agent in L.A, the leader of Bel-air middle school, and know as the “it� girl is found talentless. Desperate for a talent where this turn out to be something even more than Mac, Coco and Beck could even imagine. Talent is filled with competition, talent, and friendship issues.
In the book Talent by Zoey Dean, Mac is trying to prove that she has better skill than everyone. Using every strategy trying to keep up with being social chair but, when Ruby Goldman going toward the same goal, the competition now even more critical for Mac. . When Ruby announce that she be running for social chair against Mac and she has a major secret that will win her social chair talentless Mac announce”I am a Talent agent”p.58, Before Mac knew it was too late to take back the words she said. The competition between Mac and Ruby is one. Everyone excited to see who will win social chair this year In Bel-air Middle school.
At the biggest movie premiere Deal with It staring hit star Davey Woodward. Mac faces her enemy Ruby Goldman. When Ruby announce that she be running for social chair against Mac and she has a Major secret that she will announced on the first day of school, Mac realizes that Emily Mugler has a great potential in acting with her ways to “pretend� to sneak into the biggest movie premiere in Hollywood. She offers Emily a chance to become a Hollywood star. This change Emily’s lives forever! Going from a normal girl turn into an overnight sensation.
Everything was perfect, until it all, turned upside down! At Kimmie birthday party, Mac and Ruby Tubman were faced to face. Mac found out that Ruby big secret was her big time dance off with Mac’s best friend Coco. This was a slap in the face for Mac knowing her best friend betray her. Making matter even worst Mac mom found out that she faked her auditions with Emily! There was no real Talent agent. With Emily being decided to quit, it will just prove that Mac is Talentless once again having no friends.
With all the tangle mess can Mac find a way to fix everything before it too late? Going from the leader of Bel-Air to a talentless nobody. Can Mac win the competition, turning Emily into a star and getting her best friends back again? Talent is a great book dealing with issues that teen faced everyday! This book will keep reader flipping pages and will never wants to put it down!
December 7, 2009
Hollywood life in L.A , no worries, hakuna matata, a rich,
talented, golden celebrity life,right? Wrong, almost all the characters in Zoey Dean's "Talent" have problems. Take(Mac)Makenzie Little-Armstrong for example, the daughter of the powerful agent Adrienne Little-Armstrong. Everyone in Mac's family is talented except for her. Is being a rich eighth grade girl at Bel-Air Middle School count as talented or famous? Mac doesn't think so. Mac and her BFFs, Coco& Becks have been ruling the social chair since the day they got there and they're not about to give it up to the suddenly popular, not so fat anymore, amazing dancer, snobby Ruby Goldman! Now Mac needs to find a new talent to prove that she's worthy of the social chair and her famous family. Coco and Becks have their own issues. Coco's mom, Cardammon Kingsley a famous, retired pop-dancer, wants Coco to perform in front of a major dance producer so that her daughter could be famous.Guess who Cardammon partners Coco with? Dean is great in describing Coco's anxiousness about finding out who her dance partner is. Is it Ruby? Becks' problem is, how does she get Austin to like her? The boy who's always been her neighbor and friend just might have changed into her dream boy. Meanwhile, Mac's decided that she want to be a talent agent like her mom. She is on talent spree and finds Emily Mungler. Emily is an ordinary teen visiting L.A from Iowa who acted her way into seeing Davey Woodward, her heart-throb,in an A-list Hollywood glam party.
"Corey Woodward, thought Emily, that would work!She knew everything about Davey's family from watching E! 24/7. She remembered that Davey's cousin Corey was her age and had a fake sounding southern drawl which was easy to mimic.Can't be too hard."
This would be fantastic for teens who love to read about celebrities, realistic fiction, and humor. "Talent" really good because of the exceptional voice and great description that Dean incorporated. You've got to read it!
March 31, 2009
This was a good read. I happened across it in my school library while looking for books to read over Spring Break. The story switches between the view-points of Emily Mungler, a 12-year-old girl on vacation in L.A. with her mother and best friend, Paige, Mackenzie Little-Armstrong, known as Mac, daughter of a very powerful talent agent, on a search for something that will guarantee her leadership of the local middle school for her eighth grade year(to be shared with her friends, of course), and Mac's friends Coco Kingsley (daughter of the famous pop star Cardammon, she desperately wants to follow in her mom's footprints) and Evangelina Becks (passionate surfer reliant on Mac for fashion sense, carrying a new-found crush for her best boy-buddy). When Mac spots Emily wowing the "list-man" at the premiere party for Emily's star crush(Davey Woodward)'s new movie, she realizes that Emily has TALENT, and helping her to the top might be just the gossip that will get her voted Social Chair at school. She immediately swoops onto Emily, and begins the journey to take them BOTH to the top, dragging her friends along with her.
The only little thing that bugged me was how a lot was mentioned about clothes. At the party, Mac instantly checks her outfit to make sure she looks okay along with whatever everyone else is wearing, and that she looks effortlessly cute and sassy, while looking at everyone else's outfits to make sure that no one else looks better than she does. The book was always mentioning different designer labels and what each girl chose to wear that day, or what-not. And, me being me, I know absolutely ZIP about that sort of thing, so I never really looked at those parts in the book, merely skimmed over them. How people look at you is NOT always based on wearing designer labels and the perfect outfit, Mac.
The only little thing that bugged me was how a lot was mentioned about clothes. At the party, Mac instantly checks her outfit to make sure she looks okay along with whatever everyone else is wearing, and that she looks effortlessly cute and sassy, while looking at everyone else's outfits to make sure that no one else looks better than she does. The book was always mentioning different designer labels and what each girl chose to wear that day, or what-not. And, me being me, I know absolutely ZIP about that sort of thing, so I never really looked at those parts in the book, merely skimmed over them. How people look at you is NOT always based on wearing designer labels and the perfect outfit, Mac.
October 20, 2013
I read the book Talent by Zoey Dean. This book is about a clique of girls that have big dreams to become actresses. Also, this clique of glamorous girls have perfect lives. The characters were very believable and realistic. Throughout the book, Mac, the main character, is in charge of getting Emily ready for her auditions. Emily is casted for a role of a guy, so she has to act like one. Emily is very believable because her actions are “boy like�. Additionally, she dresses like a boy, burps out loud, and wears her pants down low. Mac, is a perfect young teenage girl, with high expectations. I think it is believable that she is the leader of their “clique�. Mac demands things and expects them to be done. I loved reading about their fights and separations.
There was not a vivid place where this book took place. The author did not create a strong sense of place. The girls are all over with their weekly shopping activities and their actressing jobs. However, the book Talent was a very fast paced book that carried on with the girls lives. Overall, the book was easy to understand; however, at certain times the story line was complicated. The majority of the book grabbed my attention, but there were parts that were slow. Zoey Dean used descriptive words to describe the girls, their fights, and their outfits.
The theme of this book is to choose friends that will support you in good times as well as bad times. I agreed with the author concerning her ideas regarding friendships and relationships. This theme relates to my life as well. Overall, I liked this book and I agreed with the author's theme.
There was not a vivid place where this book took place. The author did not create a strong sense of place. The girls are all over with their weekly shopping activities and their actressing jobs. However, the book Talent was a very fast paced book that carried on with the girls lives. Overall, the book was easy to understand; however, at certain times the story line was complicated. The majority of the book grabbed my attention, but there were parts that were slow. Zoey Dean used descriptive words to describe the girls, their fights, and their outfits.
The theme of this book is to choose friends that will support you in good times as well as bad times. I agreed with the author concerning her ideas regarding friendships and relationships. This theme relates to my life as well. Overall, I liked this book and I agreed with the author's theme.
March 16, 2015
Talent
Zoey Dean
I like this book, it’s based on the lives of girls around my age, so it’s easier to relate. In the book, a girl named Emily is from a small town, nothing exciting, yet. Thats the same for me, just a regular, boring life. Mackenzie ends up having serious friend issues, which I have had plenty of. This book has got drama, friendship, backstabbing, lies, and secrets. It’s a book where I’d like to have the rest of the series.
The main setting of the book is Los Angeles, I’d be more distinctive but there’s not really a smaller main setting than noisy, busy, dramatic Los Angeles. The main characters are (1) Emily Mungler, a bright-eyed talented girl from Iowa who was on vacation where got the chance of a lifetime, to become a movie star. (2) Mackenzie Little-Armstrong (aka Mac) is a determined, preppy kind of gal who spots Emily one night and realizes she has talent. She puts all her effort into helping this Iowa nobody to becoming the Next Big Thing. The main conflict in this book is how Mac is going to make Emily big. Its a fight against time, friendship, enemies, and talent to win the biggest role in Hollywood right now. With mini conflicts from friends, Emily and Mac are in for a bumpy ride.
I would recommend this book to others, its a solid eight out of ten at least! I would recommend this to people who like drama, friendship, and battle of the enemies. Its just a good book the opens your eyes and makes you realize truth, trust, and friendship shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Zoey Dean
I like this book, it’s based on the lives of girls around my age, so it’s easier to relate. In the book, a girl named Emily is from a small town, nothing exciting, yet. Thats the same for me, just a regular, boring life. Mackenzie ends up having serious friend issues, which I have had plenty of. This book has got drama, friendship, backstabbing, lies, and secrets. It’s a book where I’d like to have the rest of the series.
The main setting of the book is Los Angeles, I’d be more distinctive but there’s not really a smaller main setting than noisy, busy, dramatic Los Angeles. The main characters are (1) Emily Mungler, a bright-eyed talented girl from Iowa who was on vacation where got the chance of a lifetime, to become a movie star. (2) Mackenzie Little-Armstrong (aka Mac) is a determined, preppy kind of gal who spots Emily one night and realizes she has talent. She puts all her effort into helping this Iowa nobody to becoming the Next Big Thing. The main conflict in this book is how Mac is going to make Emily big. Its a fight against time, friendship, enemies, and talent to win the biggest role in Hollywood right now. With mini conflicts from friends, Emily and Mac are in for a bumpy ride.
I would recommend this book to others, its a solid eight out of ten at least! I would recommend this to people who like drama, friendship, and battle of the enemies. Its just a good book the opens your eyes and makes you realize truth, trust, and friendship shouldn’t be taken for granted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2012
Characters: I hated the characters. I didn't like them, they weren't even the type of characters that you loved to hate, no! They were just horrible. I felt that they all pretty much had the same personalities. They were all plain and boring and you could tell Dean tried to add little things to make then different but in my opinion it didn't work. Sometimes I just wanted to reach in the book and scream at them. Sure there were some moments when it wasn't that bad but they were very rare.
Plot: The plot was a bit different than I expected. In some parts I was in love with the story line but in others I felt as if I was forcing myself to finish. The writing style was very plain and there was nothing very good with it. One thing I'll say is that this book definitely doesn't have plot holes. Everything that happened happened for a reason. But the plot was very easy to figure out and I basically knew what was going to happen at the first couple of chapters. I don't know if it was just me but it was very disappointing.
Overall: Overall this was not one of my favorites, I didn't like it throughout the book but in the last couple of chapters I got really into it, too late unfortunately. I might continue with the series but its a definitely maybe .
Plot: The plot was a bit different than I expected. In some parts I was in love with the story line but in others I felt as if I was forcing myself to finish. The writing style was very plain and there was nothing very good with it. One thing I'll say is that this book definitely doesn't have plot holes. Everything that happened happened for a reason. But the plot was very easy to figure out and I basically knew what was going to happen at the first couple of chapters. I don't know if it was just me but it was very disappointing.
Overall: Overall this was not one of my favorites, I didn't like it throughout the book but in the last couple of chapters I got really into it, too late unfortunately. I might continue with the series but its a definitely maybe .
May 26, 2014
Talent by Zoey Dean is about a midwestern girl named Emily Mungler. She and her best friend Paige Harrington have been waiting all their lives to meet the famous movie star, Davey Woodwardand they finally have a chance when they travel to LA with Emily's mom. Soon after arriving they realize that Hollywood wax museums are the closest they are getting to meeting any real celebrities, but when tey hear about an after party for the premier of Davey's new movie they decide to sneak out of their hotel to go. But they just have a teeny problem, the doorman doesn't have their name on the guest list, but that doesn't stop them. Emily pretends to be Davey's cousin and sneaks past the doorman. When Mackenzie Little-Armstrong sees this she knows that Emily has the "it" factor and she swears to get Emily into Davey's new movie Deal With It. Mac and her two best friends, Coco Kingsley and Evangelina Becks, will help Emily on the road to stardom and Emily will be treated like royalty. But what happens when she leaves Paige behind? Will she realize what the possible role is doing to her life before it's too late? Read this book to find out. I really liked that you got to see the different perspectives throughout the book.
October 5, 2014
Talent by Dean - Mackenzie Little-Armstrong (known as Mac) will be the Social Chair at BAMS (Bel-Air Middle School) no matter what it takes. She’s the daughter of two Hollywood heavyweights, and she has Coco and Becks, her equally wealthy and powerful BFFs, to help her get there. The three are reunited after a summer apart and are accosted at a at Davey Woodward’s Premier party at Tommy’s by Ruby Goldman who looks great and wants the Social Chair position as much as Mac. Feeling talentless compared to her siblings and friends, Mac decides to catapult an unknown girl from Iowa in Hollywood for a week’s vacation and make her a star. Emily had crashed the party hoping to see her crush Davey Woodward and is swept up in the excitement. This was a fun, quick read but the focus on fashion and brands like Versace and Gucci made me want to barf. It would work well for some reluctant readers. The underlying message about the girls each needing to recognize what it is within themselves that drives them is a good one,, but the cattiness and focus on appearance were too much for me.
November 1, 2008
well it is about these 2 girls who got to visit Hollywood for 10 days with Emily's mother. They saved up all of their baby-sitting money to but vintage tees. Well when they were there they heard on the tv that their favorite star was at a party at the hotel next to theirs! So when Emily's mom fell asleep they went out and they fooled to get in. When they got in Mac saw Emily trick her way in and decided to make her a movie star. So they talked to emily. Emily said ok but didn't quite believe them. So they had a meeting with Emily's mom. And she said ok. But after they audition, Emily ______________ the part. She was not sad but not happy. But Mac and her mom talked and said that she saw her audition tape and she was great! So Emily ____________ the part after that. She was so excited. Read this book and you figure out what happened!
April 29, 2009
It’s all about TALENT in this world!
Talent is about a girl named Mac Armstrong who is 13 and lives in L.A. In L.A. it's all about TALENT and who has and who doesn't, and who wants it or who finds it first. When Mac witnesses Emily lying to gain entry to a performance during a movie premier party. When Mac sees this it dawns her that her own talent is to discover it in others. So Mac and her friends set out to prove it and become fresh and new girls so they can go back to school in the fall as the poplars.
This is definitely a page-turner with all the drama. One of the best things I learned from this book is that no matter how famous you are friendship always comes first. This book is similar to the Clique Series.
Talent is about a girl named Mac Armstrong who is 13 and lives in L.A. In L.A. it's all about TALENT and who has and who doesn't, and who wants it or who finds it first. When Mac witnesses Emily lying to gain entry to a performance during a movie premier party. When Mac sees this it dawns her that her own talent is to discover it in others. So Mac and her friends set out to prove it and become fresh and new girls so they can go back to school in the fall as the poplars.
This is definitely a page-turner with all the drama. One of the best things I learned from this book is that no matter how famous you are friendship always comes first. This book is similar to the Clique Series.
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