All That Glitters (Likely Story Series #2) »

David Van Etten is actually three writers: Chris Van Etten is a full-time writer for ABC’s One Life to Live; David Ozanich is a freelance writer and playwright; and David Levithan is the author of Boy Meets Boy, and many other young adult novels for Knopf.

ALL THAT GLITTERS is definitely not gold as Mallory struggles to control the runaway train that is her brand-new soap opera. At the end of Likely Story, Mallory had just learned that her TV show was greenlit, but that her mother, and arch enemy, was being brought in to play one of the main characters. Now, as production gears up for the broadcast premier, Mallory finds herself fighting off take-over attempts (by her mother), trying to keep unhappy teen-star Dallas under control (if they won’t let him quit, he’ll do whatever it takes to get fired), and just trying to keep her head above water, both on the set and in high school. She’s ready to walk away from all of it, just to have a “normal” teenager’s life, but how can you walk away from something that won’t let you leave?

KLIATT

When last we tuned into Mallory's story (in Likely Story, Book One), she had just been given the chance to produce her very own soap opera. All that Glitters picks up the plot as the cast assembles, publicity is hyped, and all hell breaks loose. The lead actor starts his own sabotage campaign. Mallory's life is chaotic: she is trying to do her schoolwork (she is only 16), organize the first scripts for the show, and placate the many egos involved, including the ego of her own mother who has a supporting role in the soap. Also, her boyfriend, a normal guy who just wants to finish high school and work at California Pizza so he can go to college, understands that Mallory has very little time for him, but he does indeed want more of her attention. Let's just say that the soap opera becomes a soap opera. The ending is an absolute hoot, keeping the reader baffled and amused. This YA novel is witty, smart and creative. It probably helps that three wacky, talented guys are the writers—David Van Etten is three minds in three bodies: David Levithan, David Ozanich, and Chris Van Etten. I'll bet they've been having a lot of fun with this outrageously outlandish series. Reviewer: Claire Rosser