A MILLION VIEWS

A tween filmmaker rallies classmates to create the next viral sensation.

Brewster Gaines loves movies. He may not have friends or an attentive teacher or even loving parents who are home every night, but at least Brewster has the movies. His quest to create a viral sensation dominates his every waking moment. When Brewster enlists energetic, photogenic new kid Carly for his latest 10-second video, he sets in motion a chain of events that lead the pair of tween filmmakers to join forces with a quintet of fellow young artists who band together to produce a trailer for an epic fantasy film. A simple day shoot turns into a weeklong endeavor with a budget, method actors, special effects, and craft services. They evolve into a group of friends, and as Brewster observes his new buddies relate to their families, he comes to understand his own has a handful of shortcomings he never before considered. Starmer skillfully explores his band of misfits: Every one of the seven tweens gets subtle character shadings that make for a memorably engaging group of characters. The humor is sharp, the story is well paced, and any reader who ever hoped to go viral will find plenty to enjoy here. The characters read as default White in the text; the cover art indicates some racial diversity.

A well-rounded, heartfelt tale of creativity and family.