| Sean Rosen is a creative thinker with big plans and he can’t wait to take Hollywood by storm. After a failed attempt to reach out to a “big entertainment company” with his idea, Sean discovers that he needs an agent. When he fails to secure one, he creates his own agent. His alter ego, “Dan Welsh”, becomes almost real to Sean and, in a series of humorous emails and phone calls, almost snowballs out of control. In the end, Sean nearly makes a movie deal but good sense and personal integrity stop him short. I Represent Sean Rosen is a charming fantasy with laugh-out-loud moments. Sean is a likeable character who will appeal to young readers, especially those interested in movie making. There are some fun elements in the novel, including Sean’s quirky friends, a vindictive French teacher, and an annoying but loveable grandmother. A unique “bonus”—Sean has a podcast where he conducts some pretty interesting interviews that readers can find in real life— at www.SeanRosen.com. There is limited Jewish content. Sean’s dad is Jewish but estranged from his own father, who turns out to be a white collar criminal. The family does celebrate Hanukkah. Sean and his family attend his cousin’s dual-themed Las Vegas/Detroit Red Wings Bar Mitzvah. A well-written, funny, perfectly middle-grade novel, I Represent Sean Rosen is a satisfying read that both boys and girls will enjoy. The premise is clever and the use of emails and phone calls adds dynamics to the story. While it is a stretch to believe that Sean would do all this wacky scheming without his parents’ knowledge, young readers will enjoy the ride. - Barbara Bietz |
