CHUM

A young teen finagles his way onto a reality TV show.

Thirteen-year-old Los Angeles resident Levi Middleworth is absolutely convinced that great things are in store for him. He's got a Destiny with a capital D—all he has to do is find it. When his impressive swimming skills catch the attention of a talent scout looking to cast a reality show, Levi lies about his age and signs up for Chum TV. The show is set upon a boat traveling along the Pacific coast, and contestants are tasked with finding a small object known as a Chum each day. A player who doesn't find his or her Chum by the end of the day will be tossed overboard in a sort of weird variation on musical chairs. The last player standing wins $1 million. There's an interesting premise here, but unfortunately, the author seems unsure exactly how to exploit it. The novel's tone constantly switches between satire and straight drama, making it difficult for readers to decide whether they should care about the characters aboard the preposterous, increasingly dangerous ship. Muddying the waters further are arguments against fame-based culture and reality TV that seem a decade too late. These complications continue to compound, leaving readers with little to latch on or relate to.

Frustratingly ineffectual.