Customer Reviews

Claim to Fame

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unlike most of her books I've read, this one reminded me much of Double Identity. I loved that book and I loved this one as well. The analogy behind what Lindsey is going through and the past behind her. What I loved about this book is really how teenagers feel right now, obsessed about what they look like and wanting to know what others think about them. Well Lindsey does know from all around the world of every second of every day if she isn't inside her house.

Another thing is that this kind of gives a glimpse of how teens feel about just wanting to hole up and not come out of their home. Also about losing parents, in Lindsey's case both, one through death, the other through misunderstandings. I truly love this book and know that many of the teens in our library will truly enjoy it, especially our young teenage girls.

As a huge fan of Haddix, I anxiously awaited this book. I can't describe how disappointed I was, however, once I received and read it.

There is virtually very little "action", something kids this age require in their reading. The plot moves along very slowly and was actually boring at times. The biggest problem with this book, however, is that it is so closely tied to Transcendentalism - something that most children this age have never even heard of much less understand. I struggle with the understanding part myself and I am an educated 48 year old! Quotes from Thoreau that are included do nothing to help clarify what Lindsay is going through...in fact, in adds to the confusion!

Haddix has always been an author that I have recommended to my 6th grade students but this book will NOT be added to my list of recommended reading. I do hope this is just a "fluke" and her future writing will once again be back up to her standard.

Like her other books, this one plays with reality for a book with just a hint of sci fi/fantasy. Watching Lindsay deal with her talent provides the momentum for the plot and the dramatic tension. Because I came to care for Lindsay I wanted to see how she would cope, and the main question of the narrative is whether she will become a crazy recluse or be able to handle normal society. Maybe not a question of riveting interest to young people (especially boys) but I was hooked.

The book was clean, although rape and child molestation are mentioned in mostly veiled references among Lindsay's fears. There is a slightly disturbing scene near the end where a prisoner who, it has been suggested, plans to violate Lindsay is released from prison and is coming closer and closer to get her. (They can keep tabs on his progress through Lindsay's talent). The scene works out in a happy manner without any violence but a sensitive child might have trouble with the innuendo throughout the book involving the prisoner.

The take-home message was not to care too much about what other people think of you, which is appropriate for the main audience of the book. Lindsay is a strong main character and a good role model. Recommended.

In her numerous books for young people, Margaret Peterson Haddix has excelled in creating vivid characters enmeshed in unusual --- and often surprising --- situations. With CLAIM TO FAME, her latest novel, Haddix continues to surprise. The first hundred pages alone ask readers to shift directions a half-dozen times --- shifts that they will be more than happy to make as they try to figure out the mystery behind the protagonist's odd behavior and bizarre thoughts.

In a small college town in Illinois, Lindsay Scott lives an extremely sheltered life. She does her schoolwork online, has no friends, and is cut off from television, her neighbors and most of the outside world --- which is exactly how she wants it. More than anything, she hopes that the public will just forget about her and her past career as the precocious child star of a popular television show called "Just Me and the Kids." She knows that millions of people remember her "claim to fame," since the program lives on in reruns even years after its cancellation. But she realizes just how vivid she still is to some fans when two boys kidnap her from her own home after reading a tabloid article about her extreme isolation. They blame her controling father for keeping her shut away from the world and are convinced that she needs to be rescued from him --- and that they are the perfect heroes to do just that.

Unfortunately, Lindsay doesn't want to be saved, and the boys (not to mention the tabloids) have missed one crucial piece of information about her dad. She is also hiding a secret that no one knows --- a secret that keeps her bound to her house and hidden away by choice, wondering all the while if she is losing her mind. The near-disastrous kidnapping plot, however, sets events in motion that might force her not only to leave her house and connect with other people but also to confront the mysteries in her own past.

CLAIM TO FAME sets up a fascinating, complex mythology with ties to transcendental philosophy and literature, utopian societies, and the modern culture of fame. It also connects these issues in a very specific way to young readers' own lives, to the universal process of being a teenager --- and of growing out of it. Readers will stay on their toes, not only because of the perpetually shifting quality of the narrative, but also because they will be fascinated by Lindsay's predicament and curious as to how --- or if --- she will escape from her self-imposed "prison."

The novel does wrap up rather abruptly, which might disappoint some readers who will want to remain enmeshed in Haddix's thought-provoking mythology just a bit longer. But Haddix gives readers much to consider --- about Lindsay's unique talent or curse, and about their own lives and relationships with others.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I have read several Margaret Peterson Haddix YA novels, and they are always great reads. Ms. Haddix's stories involve unique, young female characters in unusual and interesting situations. Frequently her books contain a hint of fantasy as well. And CLAIM TO FAME, her latest work, certainly did not disappoint. Instead of fantasy, however, this novel has hints of a paranormal, combined with a tension-filled psychological thriller.

In CLAIM TO FAME, 16 year old former child actress Lindsey Scott has become a recluse, ever since her wildly popular family sitcom was cancelled 5 years ago. You see, Lindsey has a secret. At the age of 11, Lindsey developed a special talent: she can hear everything everyone is saying about her all the time, all over the world. The noise inside her head can be deafening at times, and it nearly drove her crazy. Until her father moved her to Springdale, to a house that, strangely enough, shields the noise. For five years, Lindsey has remained in that safe haven, hiding from the entire world. But now, her father is dead, and Lindsey herself has been kidnapped. Out in the world again, she is hearing it all. Will Lindsey be able to keep her sanity, and return home? Or will her life be changed forever?

I found CLAIM TO FAME to be a quick and captivating read. The pages turned very fast. The author uses simple, clear language that keeps the story flowing smoothly, and cleverly builds tension until I had to know what happened next. The plot is fresh and clever, and it is something I think my twelve and ½ year old daughter would enjoy. And since there is no sex, no swearing, and no gore in this book, I feel completely comfortable recommending it to her.

Overall, CLAIM TO FAME is a remarkable psychological thriller, appropriate for tweens on up. And once again, Margaret Peterson Haddix and her intriging stories have completely captured my imagination. CLAIM TO FAME is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

My daughter (age 11) LOVES Margaret Peterson Haddix. I believe that she's read every book that she's ever written, and most of them she's read more than once. She tells me that they are suspenseful and exciting.

When I had the opportunity to review CLAIM TO FAME, I jumped at it because I have been meaning to see what all the fuss was with this popular author (and I knew she'd be thrilled to have her latest book in her hands).

CLAIM TO FAME is about former child-star Lindsay Scott. Lindsay is kidnapped by some well-meaning fans (her own age) who are concerned that she is being locked up in her house by her father, as a tabloid reported. They become friends after Lindsay assures them that she's not being locked up.

But Lindsay has secrets that she doesn't tell them. For one, her father recently died unexpectedly of a heart attack, and she's living there alone. And the reason that she doesn't leave her house is because it's the only place where she doesn't hear everything that anyone says about her.

That's right, ever since she hit puberty, Lindsay Scott can hear every word people say about her -- whether it's her father's secretary, or an 8-year-old watching a rerun of "Just Me and the Kids" claiming that she wants her hair cut like Lindsay's.

It was narrated in first person, which moved it along quickly. The characterization of Lindsay Scott and the other characters was true. I liked how they were each "broken" in some way. I think that young teens could relate to this.

The end wrapped up very quickly. The book wasn't that long, so it could have been longer with a longer resolution to the action.

Another reviewer referred to the fact that there's very little action, which kids need. To an extent, that's true until the end, but I do think that there is a good bit of psychological suspense. We want to know why Lindsay is the way she is, and we follow her on that quest.

However, my 11-year-old did not enjoy this as much as the other Haddix books that she has LOVED.

I think that this might be more appropriate for older tweens and younger teens -- 12 - 14.

CONTENT NOTE: I think that there is a mild swear word or two. The characters are 16-years-old, but there's not much teen behavior. The other characters assume that Lindsay does drugs, since she was a movie star (but she doesn't), and there are references to pedophilia, although they are subtle (a prisoner watching Lindsay on TV says "there's my girl," and it creeps Lindsay out). This was key to the plot, but it's subtle enough that I don't think it would bother a younger tween unaware of this type of behavior.

3.5 stars

Margaret Peterson Haddix is an excellent Young Adult author (I think more of the middle school age) who wrote the Shadow Children series. This is one of her new series that involves some light and not so light topics.

Lindsay is a child star, who at puberty, discovered she could hear everything that was being said about her at any time, anywhere. She goes from beautiful child star to closeted recluse when the voices become so much that she drops out of Hollywood. Her father brought her to her mother's home town... in the middle of nowhere, but the house that they live in is blessedly sound proof. This poor girl seems to have it bad in the first part of the book, she drops out of the limelight, she looses her father (lost her mother at an early age) hears the crap people are saying about her every time she steps out of the house, and to top it all of she ends up getting kidnapped from two boys who think her father is holding her hostage.

Wow... lots to take in.. or maybe too little, depending on how you look at it. The beginning of the book reads a little too much like an angsty children's book with interesting things thrown into the story line to spice it up. The end of the book however moves along quite fast and brings to the table new ideas and views on why she hears voices and why her house is sound proofed. The book was a quick read and would be very good for younger teens to elementary age, but for me it was interesting, but a little too light and feel good. Then again I read (and adored) the Shadow Children series when I was ten so...

Lindsay Scott was famous as a child; she was the youngest actor on a popular comedy called Just Me and the Kids. For five years, she lived a pampered life in front of the cameras...but all that changed on her eleventh birthday. That was the day the voices started and Lindsay's life unraveled.

What would you do if you could hear every single thing anyone ever said about you inside your head? What if you were famous and your hit show (which was cancelled right after you started hearing the voices) is in constant reruns all over the world? The only place Lindsay is alone with her own thoughts is inside the house her father purchased in Springdale, Illinois; it's a haven where the voices can't reach. So for five years, Lindsay stays inside, taking online classes and keeping as much to herself as possible--and always avoiding going outside whenever she knows her show is on in reruns. But all that changes when her father dies unexpectedly and Lindsay's kidnapped by two well-meaning teens (who believe she's being held against her will). Suddenly Lindsay is forced to go beyond her own front door and is confronted with the most shocking revelation of all...she's not alone in hearing the voices.

Margaret Peterson Haddix always has unique storylines, and Claim to Fame is no different. Lindsay, understandably freaked out by her awkward ability, wants to continue living alone but can't hide as a minor. Once she realizes that she's not the only Hearer in the world, she must decide what sort of life she's willing to live by seeing how others' decisions have affected themselves. Lindsay, in most other ways, is a typical teen suffering through the loss of a beloved parent, making friends with people she probably once wouldn't have acknowledged.

The story moved a little slowly at first, but as Lindsay begins to learn more about her "gift", the pages kept turning quickly. I liked that Haddix gives Lindsay much to think about in the future, and I could foresee a possible sequel. I do wish Haddix had given us more information on the actual gift and the town's ancestors, but again, that may be forthcoming. Overall, this is an intriguing story that made me want to know more (and made me thankful I can't hear what others are thinking about me!).

Lindsay Scott was a child star, revered by sitcom-watchers across the country. Now a teen, fallen from celebrity, and living in a small town, Lindsay would rather stay unknown than return to the Hollywood life. But it's not easy when every time you step outside your house you can hear anything anyone in the world is saying about you. Add the fact that reruns of Lindsay's old show are shown around the world at any given time, and you can see why Lindsay has become a recluse. But when the unthinkable happens, Lindsay is forced to brave the world she has hidden from all these years. This riveting novel is a wonderful addition to Haddix's expansive repertoire, sure to impress her many fans.

This book rocked. Lyndsey is a ex famous child actress who can hear everytime someone talks about her. No matter where they are. This sounds stupid, but if you can overlook her gift, you will love this. It's slow paced as Lyndsey gets kidnaped, struggles to deal with her gift, or curse. Tries to elude a nosy charecter invading on her privacy, and tries to live under the press radar so her popularity dwindles to quiet the voices she hears. This story is very modern without much romance. Very clean, good for young teens up.
This is the first I've read by this author, but she was excellent. This book was nearly perfect if you can handle Lyndey's gift. Or curse.