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Big Time
Gerri waits outside all night to audition for Big Time , her favorite TV singing competition. She believes she has a shot at success, but when she’s insulted by one of the judges and kicked out of the competition, she thinks she’ll probably never sing again. After a teacher at her school asks her to join a choral club, Gerri reluctantly gets involved. Even though she can’t read music and she doesn’t know the other kids, she finds herself enjoying the group and learning a lot about music. A cute guy she met at the Big Time auditions joins the group, and when they perform their unique mashups at an open-mic night, Gerri realizes there’s more than one way to be a successful―and happy―singer!
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Tom Ryan
10 books491 followersTom Ryan is an award winning author, screenwriter and producer. His YA mystery KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF was the winner of the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Thriller, the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Best YA Crime Book, and the 2021 Ann Connor Brimer Award, and is currently being adapted for television. His followup YA mystery I HOPE YOU’RE LISTENING was the winner of the 2021 Lambda “Lammy” Award for Best LGBTQ Mystery. He was a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult Fiction.
Tom, his husband and their dog live in Nova Scotia.
Tom, his husband and their dog live in Nova Scotia.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 6, 2014
I like that it had a signing character . .. we do not have many of those at our school.
January 6, 2020
Gerri is a sympathetic and inspiring main character who experiences nervous excitement singing for an audience, disappointment at rejection from a music competition, and love/compassion from her family and dreams.
I decided to rate this book as "it was ok" because it was not entirely what I was hoping for in terms of a plot and depth. The storyline is very straightforward which made for a quick read. Readers who have a musical interest will appreciate Gerri’s musical journey. It’s inspiring to read about Gerri’s family that is extremely supportive of her dreams. I would recommend this book to the 9-12 age range because it mainly focuses on chasing your dreams and working through rejection, which readers can relate to as they might be fighting for their dreams as well. The book is written well and I believe it was simply a mistake on my part for having higher expectations upon reading it.
I decided to rate this book as "it was ok" because it was not entirely what I was hoping for in terms of a plot and depth. The storyline is very straightforward which made for a quick read. Readers who have a musical interest will appreciate Gerri’s musical journey. It’s inspiring to read about Gerri’s family that is extremely supportive of her dreams. I would recommend this book to the 9-12 age range because it mainly focuses on chasing your dreams and working through rejection, which readers can relate to as they might be fighting for their dreams as well. The book is written well and I believe it was simply a mistake on my part for having higher expectations upon reading it.
June 23, 2024
Short, sweet, and full of life lessons
This is a shorter read perfect for preteens up. It's got a good message about losing but continuing on, but it's fun to read as well. There's no agenda. It's a very clean book.
This is a shorter read perfect for preteens up. It's got a good message about losing but continuing on, but it's fun to read as well. There's no agenda. It's a very clean book.
July 11, 2018
Not a bad book. I enjoyed reading it.
February 26, 2024
This book reminds me of growing up. I was really into music. Did the competitions, sang in church and all that. It was hard work, but I loved it.
October 31, 2025
This was good. Expected but good. Someone faces disappointment, that disappointment leads them to something better which develops their skill and character. I really enjoyed that development. Although the book was predictable, it was still a good read.
July 7, 2014
This review originally appeared at www.bookishserendipity.com
I occasionally watch television shows like America's Got Talent or American Idol (I am a horrible Canadian, I know) and I sometimes wonder what it is like to be the person performing in front of millions of people, or just to audition and know that this is one of the biggest opportunities you may ever get so if you mess up, your failure could be broadcasted on national television. Ouch. In Big Time, Gerri audtions for a reality show called, well, Big Time. I loved the peek into the world of an auditioner and how unfair they could make it.
Review
I occasionally watch television shows like America's Got Talent or American Idol (I am a horrible Canadian, I know) and I sometimes wonder what it is like to be the person performing in front of millions of people, or just to audition and know that this is one of the biggest opportunities you may ever get so if you mess up, your failure could be broadcasted on national television. Ouch. In Big Time, Gerri audtions for a reality show called, well, Big Time. I loved the peek into the world of an auditioner and how unfair they could make it.
Speaking of Gerri, she is a pretty awesome character. Her character growth from the start to finish (only 118 pages!) is extraordinary. She starts off very confident in her abilities but when she gets shot down by a judge at Big Time, she decides she doesn't want to sing again. Enter the choral club. Although the story is pretty predictable and there aren't any big character twists (which would have been great), the other characters are realistic; not everyone gets along.
I also enjoyed the family dynamics. Too many YA and upper MG books don't give enough page time to the family of the protagonist, which kind of makes me sad. Family is a big part of my life, after all!
Like all of the Orca Limelights novels I have read so far, there is romance in this novel. The love interest, Keith, is also a musican, but more of an all-over-the-place guy. He posts covers on Youtube for his large following, is in a rock band but auditioned for Big Time with a country song and, of course, he does choral club with Gerri. He and Gerri were quite cute together. Unfortunately, there isn't much page time with Keith, although I wish there was!
Overall, I would recommend this book, due to its stellar characters and unique concept. Performing arts novels are quite rare after all! I have another Tom Ryan book on my TBR pile so if you'll excuse me, I am going to go read...
GIF Verdict
February 7, 2015
I received an ARC from the publisher of Big Time through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very quick read and I think that young people will enjoy it. It was obviously meant for a much younger audience, so it was a little too easy of a read for me.
It's basically a story about a girl who wants to go on a Canadian version of American Idol. When things don't work out exactly how she hopes they will, she almost gives up her dreams. Notice I say almost, which is very cool because I think it can show pre-teens and teens that resilience and bravery are very important in making your dreams come true.
I do think it was a little short. There were under 200 pages, which could be enough for a lot of kids to read, but might be too little for some bookworms. There was a good deal of Canadian slang, which was interesting, but was to be expected since this was a book set in Canada written by a Canadian author.
The content was a little dry, but that might also be because of the age group that it is written for. I would definitely recommend it for kids who are in the 10-14 age range which is the group that I think it is probably meant for. There isn't any profanity or adult content. There are some rude moments with the book's version of Simon Cowell and some little bits of high school age drama, but nothing that is explicit or obscene in nature. It was just childish people acting childish.
If a kid is interested in music, reality talent shows, or just exploring their dreams, then this is probably a good book for them.
This was a very quick read and I think that young people will enjoy it. It was obviously meant for a much younger audience, so it was a little too easy of a read for me.
It's basically a story about a girl who wants to go on a Canadian version of American Idol. When things don't work out exactly how she hopes they will, she almost gives up her dreams. Notice I say almost, which is very cool because I think it can show pre-teens and teens that resilience and bravery are very important in making your dreams come true.
I do think it was a little short. There were under 200 pages, which could be enough for a lot of kids to read, but might be too little for some bookworms. There was a good deal of Canadian slang, which was interesting, but was to be expected since this was a book set in Canada written by a Canadian author.
The content was a little dry, but that might also be because of the age group that it is written for. I would definitely recommend it for kids who are in the 10-14 age range which is the group that I think it is probably meant for. There isn't any profanity or adult content. There are some rude moments with the book's version of Simon Cowell and some little bits of high school age drama, but nothing that is explicit or obscene in nature. It was just childish people acting childish.
If a kid is interested in music, reality talent shows, or just exploring their dreams, then this is probably a good book for them.
February 10, 2015
Gerri has wanted to audition for the reality singing show Big Time since she was seven, and now that she’s finally sixteen, nothing will stop her. Except the fact that she gets cut in the second round of auditions for being “too boring” and having no stage presence. Although depressed, she rallies and joins a choral club at her school to get more experience with music. She learns to read music, work with others, and even gets a cute guy—who was also cut from Big Time—to join the group and ask her out. Along the way, she learns that what she really loves is making music, and she doesn’t need Big Time to help her with that.
I read this in about an hour, and it was an easy read—almost no conflict, which I like, but which I know others won’t. Gerri is a sympathetic character, though the others are fairly one-note. The description of American Idol—-sorry, Big Time—-auditions will appeal to kids interested in the show, and musical kids will enjoy Gerri’s discovery of different ways to make music. But really, nothing happens. Even the one time Gerri was going to stand up for herself and insist on a change in songs for a performance, the other person caves before she even proposes anything. Basically, this is a slight book, designed either to comfort those who don’t make it on reality shows, or to show kids thinking about it that it’s not worth it.
I read this in about an hour, and it was an easy read—almost no conflict, which I like, but which I know others won’t. Gerri is a sympathetic character, though the others are fairly one-note. The description of American Idol—-sorry, Big Time—-auditions will appeal to kids interested in the show, and musical kids will enjoy Gerri’s discovery of different ways to make music. But really, nothing happens. Even the one time Gerri was going to stand up for herself and insist on a change in songs for a performance, the other person caves before she even proposes anything. Basically, this is a slight book, designed either to comfort those who don’t make it on reality shows, or to show kids thinking about it that it’s not worth it.
July 8, 2016
When 16-year-old Gerri Jones tries out for the Big Time televised singing show (Canada’s answer to American Idol), she fails before making it on TV and is called by a judge, “one of the most boring performers I’ve ever encountered in 25 years in show business.”
This crushes Gerri’s dreams of ever singing publicly until her high school’s music teacher asks her to join a new choral club that’s just starting. She doesn’t want to sing in front of others again as her humiliating rejection still stings, but her grandfather helps her remember why she started singing in the first place.
Gerri reluctantly joins the choral club and asks a cute guy she met at the Big Time auditions to join the club too. Can Gerri conquer her fears of public singing and remember she first sang because she loved it, not to become famous?
Like other Orca novels, this Limelights novel will appeal most to reluctant readers, especially teens who enjoy singing with their teenage drama. Each book in this series focuses on one performing art, such as music, theater or dance. for grades 7 and up
This crushes Gerri’s dreams of ever singing publicly until her high school’s music teacher asks her to join a new choral club that’s just starting. She doesn’t want to sing in front of others again as her humiliating rejection still stings, but her grandfather helps her remember why she started singing in the first place.
Gerri reluctantly joins the choral club and asks a cute guy she met at the Big Time auditions to join the club too. Can Gerri conquer her fears of public singing and remember she first sang because she loved it, not to become famous?
Like other Orca novels, this Limelights novel will appeal most to reluctant readers, especially teens who enjoy singing with their teenage drama. Each book in this series focuses on one performing art, such as music, theater or dance. for grades 7 and up
February 17, 2014
Gerri wants to be on Big Time but is brutalized by a judge during her audition. She considers giving up singing but is invited to join a choral group. As she tries it she discovers the joy of music again. She also discovers that dreams do not die but can be changed to be what is right for a person. I liked Gerri. I also liked Keith, a boy she meets through the audition. This is a quick read and shows that changing your dream is not losing but freeing you to find something of value and worth for you.
August 20, 2014
Review to come.
September 6, 2016
Super quick YA read from Orca's Limelights series. Teenage singer Gerri tries out for a television talent show. Author Tom Ryan obviously loves music in all its forms.
July 7, 2016
Thin, quick read .
September 24, 2016
Short but sweet!
March 29, 2017
also a keeper for the library's 'quick pick' shelves--good story, liked the dialogue between mom & daughter, and between daughter and friends; nice lesson in how 'all that glitters is not gold', etc.
April 21, 2017
Jones wanted to be a singer but the line was long and her mom wanted her to not go so Jones told her to go home and get some rest then Jones went in the audition room.
The main characters were 2 girls who wanted to become singers and went to audition.
I´m like the main character because,she was a teenager who wanted to sing.
I like that Jones went in the room and sung even though she was nervous. There was nothing I disliked.
I would recommend this book because if you like to read books about people who sings then this would be a good book.
The main characters were 2 girls who wanted to become singers and went to audition.
I´m like the main character because,she was a teenager who wanted to sing.
I like that Jones went in the room and sung even though she was nervous. There was nothing I disliked.
I would recommend this book because if you like to read books about people who sings then this would be a good book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews