My Co-star, My Enemy (Hollywood Wars) [Paperback]

Ilene Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Hollywood Wars

When innocent Alison and worldly Jamie are hired to play sisters on a new television series, animosity immediately erupts as Jamie plots to get Alison kicked off of the show.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Hollywood Wars series gets off to a good start with this solid commercial offering. Shy, bookish but beautiful Alison, 15, accompanies a friend to an audition, but it's she who's offered a role in a new TV sitcom. It takes some doing--and a coincidence or two--to convince her overprotective parents to let her accept the part. However, she's not home free: trouble lurks in the form of Jamie, cast as Alison's TV stepsister. Also 15, Jamie's already a has-been; her long-running TV show was cancelled when she was nine and she hasn't performed since. With earnings mostly squandered by her absentee father, the girl and her family just scrape by. Seeing Alison as a threat and envying Alison's supportive and affluent family, Jamie schemes to get her fired. Cooper, author of the Kennedy School series, allows readers a behind-the-scenes view of television production, taking a quick look also at the difficulties faced by young actors--balancing work and school assignments, dealing with jealousy, etc. Some of the exposition is awkward, and the resolution comes too easily. But sparing Jamie the usual one-dimensionality of villains creates a refreshing spin, which, combined with the glamorous setting, should reinforce the book's appeal. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- Alison, 15, accompanies her friend Dana to an audition and ends up being cast for a television series. She's excited, but Jamie, her co-star and a veteran actress, is less than pleased. She would just as soon see the new girl fired and is almost successful in achieving just that. Her plot backfires, however, and it looks as though Alison is around to stay. Much of this book, the first in a series, sets the stage for future entries. Otherwise, the focus of the plot is Jamie's scheme. The characterization is good most of the time, with the exception of precocious child actor Rodney, who is alternately unbelievable or irritating. Jamie, driven by insecurity rather than malice, is made much more sympathetic by the fact of her unstable home life. The Hollywood setting lends a touch of glamour, and the details of life on the set reflect careful research. Libraries looking for a new series would do well to consider this one. --Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140361561
• ISBN-13: 978-0140361568
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,882,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars :), August 29, 2001

By 

Marisa (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Co-star, My Enemy (Hollywood Wars) (Paperback)

--Alison is thrilled when she is offered a part in a new TV series - especially since she didn't try out; she was only at the television studio because her friend Dana wanted to audition! But she soon finds out that show business is tougher than it looks: Alison is getting mixed messages from her co-star Jamie. Is she trying to help Alison...or get her kicked out? Jamie suggests something to "spice up" Alison's character on the series, "Sticks and Stones" which the new director loves...but Alison has a feeling that the old director would have hated it. She can't believe that Jamie would try to get rid of her just because the audition staff took an interest in her by chance. What is Jamie really up to? --Nicely written details in this fast-moving novel gave it a great appeal to me. --Marisa

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and exciting!, June 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Co-star, My Enemy (Hollywood Wars) (Paperback)

I've read this book several times because of its great, exciting plot and true-to-life characterizations. Anyone who's ever dreamed about becoming a star will love this book.

Ali's a rich girl who inadvertantly becomes a television star when she joins her wannabe-actress friend Dana at an audition. Jamie is a former child star now living with her mother and sister over a chinese restaurant. She is joyous at learning that she's been cast in a new TV sitcom, until she learns that she's been paired with amiture Ali simply because both girls have bright red hair. Jealousy and friction occur between the girls, maily on Jamie's part. These issues are not handeled lightly; instead, they are portrayed as realistically as possible. In later books, issues of body image, class conflict, and absent parents are discussed, and none are given easy answers. That's what I like about this book -- it always feels very true to life. As a reader, i identify with both girls at different points in their lives. As well, I can't help but fawn over the lush and lavish descriptions of Allison's house and the life of fame. This is just the type of exciting and interesting book that makes you want to read more-- Oops! Too bad the rest are out of print. :-( Anyway, I really enjoyed this book, and am glad that I got the first three in the series before they went out of print.