Julie Young, author of popular local histories such as Historic Irvington and Famous Faces of Indy’s WTTV-4, has written her first novel and it is good. Narrated by the protaganist Megan Taylor, Fifteen Minutes of Fame starts with her escape from life as Mon Ami. Then it flashes back so Megan can recount how she moved from typical Indianapolis high school student to Grammy award-winning rock star whose life is out of control.
Megan wins a contest which she thinks will give her a scholarship to Interlochen music camp. Actually, as winner, she has the opportunity to have her parents sign her life over to a music company for grooming as the world’s next great rock star. The only catch is she must never tell anyone about her life as Megan before stardom. Off she goes to New York with the guardian chosen by the company. There she writes songs, has a complete makeover, learns dance routines, records her songs and falls in love with a member of the band. Her songs quickly go gold, she entertains on the Grammy awards show and earns more money than she could have ever imagined. It sounds like the teenage dream come true. Like most dreams, though, it has an unexpected dark side. Pursuant to the terms of the contract, the record company has total control over every aspect of her life.
To be honest, I started the novel with trepidation. Rock stars aren’t my favorite subject. But Julie’s novel grabbed me from the first page. I read straight through till I finished late in the night. Julie’s breathless and colorful style sounded like she was standing right in front of me telling the story. It sucked me in and I really cared about what happened to Megan/Mon Ami.
An interesting sidenote is that Megan’s Kentwood home is clearly Irvington by a different name. It is always fun to read novels set in familiar locales with Irvington references such as Jockamo’s Pizza and concerts in the park.
The book also made me think about life. People need to be careful what they wish for. No career is perfect and every choice brings on many possible difficult situations. If I’d been able to join the diplomatic corps like I dreamed, maybe I would have been in that Iranian embassy in 1979.
I strongly recommend this book for all the young adults out there and adults like me who enjoy a view into an unfamiliar lifestyle. Fifteen Minutes of Fame is available at Bookmamas.
