Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2259098 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-An entertaining story set in Hollywood from 1928 to 1934. Rosa Moreno's father was a Mexican actor until his untimely death, which left the 11-year-old and her mother to take care of themselves. Everything they do seems to revolve around one goal-making the girl a star. Readers learn about Rosa's dancing and elocution lessons, her trips to the beauty shop in hopes of having "Shirley Temple curls," and brushes with real or imagined celebrities. At one of her auditions, she becomes fascinated with the movie director, who happens to be a woman, and she decides that she wants to be a director. Duey portrays Rosa's life vividly and realistically, showing readers that would-be child actors in the 1930s lived a difficult life, especially those with determined mothers who lived their fantasies vicariously through their children. Enjoyable fare for film buffs and fans of historical fiction.
Susan Knell, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A young girl struggles to fufill her dreams.
Rosa Moreno grew up in Hollywood, but it wasn't a glamerous life. Since the death of her father, she and her mother have struggled to make ends meet, but the country is in the midst of the Great Depression. Rosa's mother dreams of making her a star, and Rosa doesn't have the heart to tell her mother that she wishes for something different, although she's not sure what yet. But Rosa does manage to discover what it is she wants to be, and determines to live her dream while still making her mother happy. I highly reccomend this novel if you're interested in historical fiction, the early history of movies, or if you're a fan of the American Diaries series.

Rosa Moreno
I loved this book. So now I'm reading more and trying to get my friends to read them to.