Stuff We All Get

by K.L. Denman

Fifteen-year-old Zack finds a home made CD with the word Famous written on it. Lonely and bored while suspended from school, he puts the CD on and loses himself in the music. Zack has sound-color synesthesia. He sees colors when he hears music, and the music on the Famous CD causes incredible patterns of color for him. Zack becomes obsessed with the girl on the CD and tries to find her. He tracks down the singer, Jolene, in a cafe where she works while she dreams of the big time. He convinces her to let him help her achieve her dreams, but soon discovers that in her quest for fame, Jolene has done a lot of damage. Stuff We All Get is a gentle critique of celebrity culture in North America.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUICK READ!!! this book is good

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

***********GIVEAWAY WIN***********
In an effort to reclaim the french of my youth I entered this giveaway.
My french is not strong enough to work through this with any sort of accuracy on it's own......
soooooooooo I got the english copy from the library and read them in tandem.
I read the english version first and then went on to this version where it became clear very quickly that this book was written in english first and then as an afterthought translated into french.
There is a lot of slang and phrasing used in the english version that become choppy or inaccurate in the french version.
The story is really cute and the MC Zack is realistically weird.
His awkwardness (surprisingly) comes across better in french than it did in the english version. For some reason he seems slightly less cool in french....perhaps that's only because it's not my native tongue? In any case the awkward is better in french.
The french version gets a 3 star for the choppy translation and the english version gets a 4.

[Gena Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great. Even though the inappropriate picture Pete posted of Zack's behind was really mean, it was also hilarious to read! I really enjoyed the colors they described Zack seeing while he was hearing the music. Jolene was a very mean person, and I hate how Zack decided to help her. Also, I enjoyed how Frank corresponded the CD to a hitchhiker. It was very clever! Overall, this book was a really good read!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an effort to reclaim the french of my youth I entered a giveaway for the french version of this book La Cache.
My french is not strong enough to work through it with any sort of accuracy on it's own......
soooooooooo I got the english copy from the library and read them in tandem.
I read the english version first and then went on to french where it became clear very quickly that the book was written in english first and then as an afterthought translated into french.
There is a lot of slang and phrasing used in the english version that become choppy or inaccurate in the french version.
The story is really cute and the MC Zack is realistically weird.
His awkwardness (surprisingly) comes across better in french than it did in the english version. For some reason he seems slightly less cool in french....perhaps that's only because it's not my native tongue? In any case the awkward is better in french.
The french version gets a 3 star for the choppy translation and the english version gets a 4.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book for this series. I liked how the story felt longer, in a good way, than it actually was. Zack was an okay character. He seemed typical of a teenage boy, I wished he would've behaved better but at least the story had a strong and caring parental figure in it (which can be rare in books nowadays). Stuff We All Get is a book that I believe would appeal to both boys and girls.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuff we all get is a hilarious book. It is about a Zack a 15 year old boy receiving a suspension from school. Zack gets grounded and was stuck at home with numerous chores to do. His mom finds about geocaching and decides to try it with Zack. They put item in a box called geocache and hide it somewhere and post the GPS coordinates online find it. Zack and his mom finds a geocache box. Zack picks a C.D from the box and listens to it. Overall it is a nice quick read novel but if it was more detailed it would have been more interesting. Overall it nice novel.

[J. S. Seebauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit when I was about 1/5 into this book, I almost put it down. I was sure I knew how it would end; the ending was one I didn't like. Thankfully I did not. The story was good, had a strong morale and shared some key points of coming of age.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zach is a 15 year old boy who has a condition which I had never heard of before.
People with synesthesia may experience colours when listening to music and when he and his mum find a CD on a geocache game, he is enthralled by the colours it produces and the words of the three songs on the CD.

[Fatima Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is a amazing book, but the things pass fast and doesn't has so much details.

[⭑✯*⭒.✶ianis✶.⭒*✯⭑ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok?

[Abree Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing Ica totally relate any way i highly recommend it itś an amazing book so go and read it!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I loved how it kept me occupied, and not checking the time every 2 minutes, I very much recommend

[Jaymee Sitchon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuff We All Get by K.L. Denman was an interesting read. The book starts of with Zack, a fifteen-year-old boy, receiving a suspension from school. Zack got grounded, and was stuck at home with numerous of chores to do. His mother, a police officer, finds out about geocaching and decided to bring Zack along. Apparently, geocaching is very popular all over the world. Basically, people are on hunt for a box, which they call the geocache. Once you find the box, you can take something from it and replace it with one of your own stuff and they call it ‘SWAG’S-Stuff We All Get.’ Zack decided to take a CD with ‘Famous’ written on it. One thing I found very interesting was that Zack has a sound-colour synesthesia, where he sees colours when he listens to music. I’ve never heard of this before, so it was very cool to learn something new. While listening to the songs, he explains the colours he is seeing based on the song. As he listened to the CD, he starts to fall in love with the singer’s voice. He goes on a detective mode, and tries to look for the singer. He finds out that it was a girl named, Jolene. When Zack found Jolene, he had nothing but praises for her. He encouraged her to let everyone know of her songs, little did Zack know they weren’t Jolene’s original songs, they were Frank’s, Jolene’s ex-boyfriend. The whole story is all very interesting to me because it’s something new. I liked how it was fast but very fun and informative read. I learned about synesthesia, in this book. However, I didn’t really like how fast it ended. I would prefer it to go more in depth on Zack’s relationship with his mother, and Jolene.

[E. Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new novel in the Orca Currents line is exactly what Orca Currents promises -- fast, fun, and engaging. Following the story of Zack, a fifteen-year-old who has just moved with his police officer mom to a new town and a new school, STUFF WE ALL GET is a story of expulsion, assumption, revelation, and redemption.

It all starts when Zack gets in a fight with this kid at school. And, during his week at home, where he is, obviously, grounded, Zack's mom thinks it might be fun to take up geocaching -- a hobby where people use GPS trackers to find hidden treasure all over the world. There are several caches in Zack's new town, and, reluctantly -- if only to get out of the house (and his chores) -- he joins his mom for an "adventure." But then, in the cache's SWAG (Stuff We All Get) -- which is less hidden treasure, Zack thinks, and more just a bunch of random junk -- there's a CD with just the word "famous" written on it in black marker. Soon, Zack is entranced by the songs on the CD. And he's determined to find the girl singing. So determined, in fact, it's all he can think about.

This fun, sweet story by K.L. Denman, targeted at reluctant teen readers, is a great addition to the Orca Currents line. Readers who enjoy stories about music and small town adventures will surely be charmed.

[bjneary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Laurie O for reading and reviewing this for PSLA 2012!
Zack is the new kid in school trying to find his niche. After an inappropriate picture of him is posted online, Zack punches the guy who posted it. Zack is suspended and has to deal with a laundry list of chores from his mom. His mom also decided to take up a new hobby: geocaching. According to his mom, people all over the world are doing this. They put items in a box called a geocache, and they hide it somewhere. Then they post the GPS coordinates online. Other people can use their GPS devices to find it. Zack's lack of enthusiasm is evident but his mom drags him along anyway. Inside their first find is a CD titled Famous. Zack listens to the CD in hopes of drowning out the loneliness and boredom of suspension. Zack becomes enthralled by the lyrics, the music, and the singer. Suddenly he has a mission which will occupy all his free time. Will this mission bring him peace of mind or will he only end up in more trouble? Stuff We All Get has a few unexpected twists and turns which keep readers intrigued!

[Britney Ou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is " Stuff We All Get", it is written by K.L. Denman. The key character in this book is a fifteen years old Zack who really go into listening music. The main event that have occur is that Zack notice that a famous word was written on one of his CD, and he is going to find that famous person. The central idea of this book is to teach us to stay confident about what is happening and that if something happen try to solve it. I think the genre of this book is social issue. I think it is social issue because there is a talk and argument between one person and with a group of people. And also in the book Zack is trying to convince the singer that the singer should not take somebody else's songs and make it their own songs. What I like least about this book is when the singer ignore what Zack had said and wasn't a little bit entertain by Zack's words. I would read it again because I want to know what is happening next. I would recommend it to other people because I think they would like to read it.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been allot of fun, challenge and few mystery from read this book... Before I read this book I want to my own community library, I start look for other novel book but vary simple words then other teen novel. So I did grape this book and even this book has simple words. Because I have problem with big words so I take a challenge.

When I read this book it was amazing journey they are look for a girl who is singer. The people in the town was talking this mystery girl and some of chapter was mystery until next few chapter. I enjoy so much this book is simple words some words I still problem, I keep trying to replay again when I read.

This is my first time to read novel at my home, it feel little bit different because there is no pictures. I not like without pictures why? It simple, I want to see what going on with book! it's not make any idea. I did try to read novel at my high school because teacher if use novels without pictures.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book "Stuff we all get" but i was confused with some of the pages when it was saying how and what stuff we all get because it introduced characters that all got stuff they get and then how another character comes in and has nothing. But i liked the book it was good it was a decent book showing back rounds of characters showing what they do like how they help do work. Also what i loved about the book is how the author included not important characters and gave back round details about that. I recommend this book to people who like reading social issue books. Another reason why I recommend this book is because it has some really surprising events. For example there was one kid who really wanted to get something but he couldn't get nothing for begging so much.If you are interested on reading this book then you are welcomed to read it and if you like reading social issue books than you will really like the book!

[Sue Poduska · Rating 4 out of 5]

With an amazing number of twists for such a short novel, the author paints a fascinating picture of teen angst. Fifteen-year-old Zack, suspended from school and grounded by his single mother, feels isolated in his new town. Mom takes him geocaching, an activity where people seek swag (stuff we all get) by following GPS coordinates. Zack finds a CD and builds up the singer in his mind to the point he is compelled to find and befriend her. Of course, the singer does not live up to his image, but he does find other friends along the way, and he discovers Mom can also be his friend. The author teaches several life lessons without getting preachy. A quick read, this book will appeal to boys and girls alike.

[Yolando · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book with only 114 pages,I believe this book is great for young readers.It shares the life of a 15-year old boy named Zack who gets suspended from school over a basketball game incident.While on punishment his mom takes him geo-caching where he finds a CD titled "Famous". After becoming a obsessed with the girl who is singing,Zack decides he must find the girl.After meeting the girl,Jolene ,Zack sees that all she cares about becoming famous and comes to realization she is not a good person.I just think for a young readers book that this was interesting and recommend it.

[Siting Zeng · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Fifteen-year-old Zack finds a home made CD with the word Famous written on it.Lonely and bored while suspended from school, he puts the CD on and loses himself in the music.He tracks down the singer, Jolene, in a café where she works He convinces her to let him help her achieve her dreams, but soon discovers that in her quest for fame, Jolene has done a lot of damage. I recommend it because there is surprising parts you thought wouldn't have happened.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, short read for the middle school set, very engaging and would appeal to a reluctant reader. It's about a fifteen year-old who moves to a new town in British Columbia and almost immediately gets grounded for punching out a bully. He finds a CD that intrigues him while geocaching and sets out on a search for the owner. Great coming of age vignette.