School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 7–10—Will Carter is back in Brent Crawford's riotous sequel (2010) to the hilarious Carter Finally Gets It (2009, both Hyperion). Will Carter has finished his freshman year of high school and is looking forward to a summer of hanging out with his "boys" and his girlfriend Abby. But everything changes when he lands the lead role in a film being shot in his hometown. His teen co-star, the popular Hilary Idaho, has more baggage then he can imagine, and his ex-girlfriend is Hilary's understudy to boot. As the shooting progresses, Carter realizes there is a lot more to the movie business than he ever realized. Having been a starving actor himself, Crawford paints a very real picture of life on a film set. His writing is sharp and humorous, but it's narrator Nick Podehl who once again brings Carter to life. He takes Carter's slacker cluelessness and makes it his own using just the right nuances to capture the quirky teen. For all his faults, Carter is just trying to figure out life like everyone else and the narration makes that apparent. Podehl also captures the personalities of all the other characters and is especially impressive in voicing the females such as Abby and Carter's bossy but wise sister. Though it helps to be familiar with the previous book, this story can stand on its own. Sure to be a hit with teens.—Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI
School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up—In this hilarious sequel to Carter Finally Gets It (Hyperion, 2009), readers once again meet up with Will Carter, 14, who has a terrific girlfriend, Abby, and has just come off a terrific run playing Sky Masterson in his school's performance of Guys and Dolls. Carter thinks everything is going his way when he's cast as the lead in an independent film, but he ends up losing his girlfriend in the process. Fortunately, his new costar just happens to be Hilary Idaho, a Miley Cyrus-type character who ends up making Carter forget all about Abby—or does she? As Carter gets to know Hilary, he finds things hidden beneath her public persona that he's not sure he wants to know about. Plus, making a movie is a lot harder than it looks, especially when his ex-girlfriend is cast as Hilary's stand-in. Carter is a character who will definitely appeal to boys—he's crass, outspoken, and obsessed with T & A. This fast and fun read will definitely appeal to reluctant readers who want to see the underdog succeed in life and love. A must-have, especially where the first book is popular.—Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR
JUNE 2011 - AudioFile
Will Carter’s freshman year of high school just ended, and summer looks fantastic. He’s got a gorgeous, smart girlfriend, a close group of guy friends, and a chance to audition for a Hollywood movie being filmed in his hometown. Of course, the best-laid plans often go awry. Nick Podehl narrates with boundless energy and enthusiasm. He gives spot-on portrayals of wacky teen boys, sassy teen girls, and all manner of adults. The story is told from Carter’s point of view, so listeners enjoy uncensored adolescent goofiness. Crawford’s humor is tempered with sweetness, and Podehl’s narration is so authentic that it sounds like he’s recalling his own teen years. This family-listening audiobook is tailor-made for summer road trips. G.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Narrowly scraping through his freshman year, 14-year-old Will Carter is looking forward to swimming with his buddies and making out with his girlfriend, Abby. Following a disastrous movie date, Carter finds himself both single and signed onto a movie project with the hot tween starlet Hilary Idaho. High-strung producers, on-set conflicts and celebrity drama make for one memorable summer. Crawford brings the same manic voice and frantic pacing that marked this book's predecessor, Carter Finally Gets It (2009). Will is no more mature than in the earlier work, and although the scenarios in which he finds himself require that readers make some serious investment in credulity, the humor is well intentioned and appealing. The gentle digs at the tween-entertainment juggernaut will resonate and may stimulate discussion. No literary blockbuster, this sophomore novel nevertheless propels Carter further along in reader fandom. (Fiction. 10-14)
