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I Don't Know How the Story Ends
The bustling beginning of Hollywood comes to life in this funny yet touching novel.
When Isobel Ransom is dragged on a long vacation to Hollywood, she anticipates nothing more than homesickness, especially with her father away at war. But that's before she meets her cousin, Ranger. Ranger's making his very own motion picture, and he insists that Isobel and her little sister, Sylvie, be a part of this secret project. But it soon appears that Ranger hasn't yet found a story to tell - that is, until Isobel's injured father returns from the front. Movie stars, eccentric directors, and the wild-west atmosphere of early Hollywood form a lively context to this story of learning how to make sense of an unexpected world.
When Isobel Ransom is dragged on a long vacation to Hollywood, she anticipates nothing more than homesickness, especially with her father away at war. But that's before she meets her cousin, Ranger. Ranger's making his very own motion picture, and he insists that Isobel and her little sister, Sylvie, be a part of this secret project. But it soon appears that Ranger hasn't yet found a story to tell - that is, until Isobel's injured father returns from the front. Movie stars, eccentric directors, and the wild-west atmosphere of early Hollywood form a lively context to this story of learning how to make sense of an unexpected world.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
13 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
J.B. Cheaney
6 books28 followersJ. B. Cheaney’s The Playmaker was named one of Booklist’s Top Ten First Novels for Teens. She and her husband live in the Ozarks of Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 20, 2016
Loved this story about a young girl and her experiences with the beginnings of Hollywood. Really interesting details about movie making in that era and the struggles of those who had loved ones away at war.
November 4, 2015
The amount of research and feeling that went into this book are stunning. This novel, set in the early days of Hollywood near the end of World War One, is a different sort of story that not all readers will fully appreciate, but if you care about stories, history, and the human urge to make sense of the world through art, you will love this. I was not sure what to expect from this book, but it blew me away. The prose is wonderful and expressive, the characters are endearing, and the book conveys powerful messages without ever diverting from the story. Nothing about this is preachy: all the messages are portrayed through the events and character interactions, and it's beautifully done.
September 8, 2015
4 stars!
I really thought this was a pretty good little story for YA. It may be a little juvenile for adults, but I enjoyed it. Not only was it a story, but it taught a little lesson there at the end. And it name drops some of the biggest names prior to talkies that were icons of the big screen.
It was written well and I liked the characters. Someone should have hogtied that little sister though, boy is she a hand full.
I am now kicking myself that I didn't request the other book this author wrote when I had the chance, something about someone will be famous on this bus or something like that. I won't be passing up anymore of this author's books in the future, that's for sure. I definitely recommend this one.
Thanks Sourcebooks and Net Galley for the free e-galley in exchange for an honest review!
I really thought this was a pretty good little story for YA. It may be a little juvenile for adults, but I enjoyed it. Not only was it a story, but it taught a little lesson there at the end. And it name drops some of the biggest names prior to talkies that were icons of the big screen.
It was written well and I liked the characters. Someone should have hogtied that little sister though, boy is she a hand full.
I am now kicking myself that I didn't request the other book this author wrote when I had the chance, something about someone will be famous on this bus or something like that. I won't be passing up anymore of this author's books in the future, that's for sure. I definitely recommend this one.
Thanks Sourcebooks and Net Galley for the free e-galley in exchange for an honest review!
March 4, 2017
I'd give it 2 1/2 stars, though it would be a good book for the right reader, it is hard to determine the audience. Perhaps intentionally, the author has created the pacing of both the books her heroine reads and the D W Griffith epics, but it makes the book painfully slow reading. The setting (early Hollywood) is well realized, and the characters are interesting. There is no sex and only hints of scandal and romance, making it a good choice for very good middle school/early high school readers who are patient and like historical fiction.
Isobel is already in the habit of telling stories to her sister, but Sylvie always falls asleep before the end, so she never has to worry about the ending. When her cousin Ranger talks the sisters, visiting Los Angeles for the first time, into working with him and his friend Sam on a film, Isobel is reluctant. Her father is in France, serving in World War I, and her mother has escaped rainy Seattle to visit her sister and get a taste of the California sunshine in which she was born. Does she like the sun and the glamour of the stars she meets a little too much? Why doesn't Father write? Scenarios are all very well, but will Isobel have to finally write an ending? And will it be one they can live with?
Isobel is already in the habit of telling stories to her sister, but Sylvie always falls asleep before the end, so she never has to worry about the ending. When her cousin Ranger talks the sisters, visiting Los Angeles for the first time, into working with him and his friend Sam on a film, Isobel is reluctant. Her father is in France, serving in World War I, and her mother has escaped rainy Seattle to visit her sister and get a taste of the California sunshine in which she was born. Does she like the sun and the glamour of the stars she meets a little too much? Why doesn't Father write? Scenarios are all very well, but will Isobel have to finally write an ending? And will it be one they can live with?
September 9, 2025
* 2.5 stars *
The story was fun to read! I do think some people out there would have thoroughly enjoyed this book much more than I. I liked most of the characters and the plot but to me, there wasn’t much meat to the story, and the meat that was there, wasn’t delved into as much as I had hoped. Not for me, but still fun, still good, and I am still glad that I read it!
The story was fun to read! I do think some people out there would have thoroughly enjoyed this book much more than I. I liked most of the characters and the plot but to me, there wasn’t much meat to the story, and the meat that was there, wasn’t delved into as much as I had hoped. Not for me, but still fun, still good, and I am still glad that I read it!
November 26, 2018
“The first I heard of Mother’s big idea was May 20, 1918, at 4:35 p.m. in the entrance hall of our house on Fifth Street. That was where my little sister ended up after I pushed her down the stairs.”
Matilda Ransom was tired of the dreariness of Seattle and the restlessness of her daughters and decided that the three of them would spend the summer in California. Isobel (Izzy) wasn’t too keen on the idea, but between her father being in France serving in the Great War and her constant bickering with her little sister, Sylvie, her mother’s mind was made up. The family was off to visit Aunt Buzzy in Los Angeles. Izzy would soon find herself pulled away from the security of her books and thrust into the world of early Hollywood—filled with silent screen stars, bigger-than-life directors, Keystone Cops, a moving panorama, and a headstrong boy determined to make a name for himself in film. For a girl who loves to tell stories, this summer would undoubtedly provide Izzy with more than enough content.
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, so when I see an interesting topic written especially for younger readers, I am beyond thrilled. Being surrounded by everything digital, it was a joy to escape to Hollywood’s earliest years and learn more about the world of the silent screen. Cheaney introduces her readers to such directorial deity as D. W. Griffith, Mark Sennett, and Cecil B. DeMille, as well as screen legends Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford. Cheaney allows us to be a part of the action by giving us a first-hand look at staging, lighting, makeup, filming, and post-production editing. We often forget just how skilled and talented these early filmmakers were and I, for one, am grateful to her for reminding us of their groundbreaking brilliance.
In addition to the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, this book also examines the reality of a world at war and the brave men who returned home, but forever left a part of themselves on the battlefield. During a particularly difficult moment, Izzy’s friend, Sam, once said to her, “Some film can’t be cut” meaning that some things just can’t be fixed and some matters can’t be undone. While the entire book is informative and entertaining, it is the last few pages that are the most touching, emotional, and poignant. For the first time, Izzy sees her story told and knows exactly how it ends. Izzy’s Aunt Buzzy once told her, “Life is like that—the strangest or most unwelcome, even the saddest things that happen can come to make sense in the end.” Like the movies in early Hollywood, Izzy’s story didn’t need any sound. All it needed was a picture…a picture of what true love really looked like.
“Remember how small the world was before I came along? I brought it all to life: I moved the whole world onto a 20-foot screen.”—D. W. Griffith, Director, Writer, Producer. Thank you for making the world a whole lot bigger Mr. Griffith.
Matilda Ransom was tired of the dreariness of Seattle and the restlessness of her daughters and decided that the three of them would spend the summer in California. Isobel (Izzy) wasn’t too keen on the idea, but between her father being in France serving in the Great War and her constant bickering with her little sister, Sylvie, her mother’s mind was made up. The family was off to visit Aunt Buzzy in Los Angeles. Izzy would soon find herself pulled away from the security of her books and thrust into the world of early Hollywood—filled with silent screen stars, bigger-than-life directors, Keystone Cops, a moving panorama, and a headstrong boy determined to make a name for himself in film. For a girl who loves to tell stories, this summer would undoubtedly provide Izzy with more than enough content.
Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, so when I see an interesting topic written especially for younger readers, I am beyond thrilled. Being surrounded by everything digital, it was a joy to escape to Hollywood’s earliest years and learn more about the world of the silent screen. Cheaney introduces her readers to such directorial deity as D. W. Griffith, Mark Sennett, and Cecil B. DeMille, as well as screen legends Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford. Cheaney allows us to be a part of the action by giving us a first-hand look at staging, lighting, makeup, filming, and post-production editing. We often forget just how skilled and talented these early filmmakers were and I, for one, am grateful to her for reminding us of their groundbreaking brilliance.
In addition to the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, this book also examines the reality of a world at war and the brave men who returned home, but forever left a part of themselves on the battlefield. During a particularly difficult moment, Izzy’s friend, Sam, once said to her, “Some film can’t be cut” meaning that some things just can’t be fixed and some matters can’t be undone. While the entire book is informative and entertaining, it is the last few pages that are the most touching, emotional, and poignant. For the first time, Izzy sees her story told and knows exactly how it ends. Izzy’s Aunt Buzzy once told her, “Life is like that—the strangest or most unwelcome, even the saddest things that happen can come to make sense in the end.” Like the movies in early Hollywood, Izzy’s story didn’t need any sound. All it needed was a picture…a picture of what true love really looked like.
“Remember how small the world was before I came along? I brought it all to life: I moved the whole world onto a 20-foot screen.”—D. W. Griffith, Director, Writer, Producer. Thank you for making the world a whole lot bigger Mr. Griffith.
August 31, 2015
Cheaney has written a delightful, engrossing historical fiction tale of old Hollywood in the silent film era. Isobel, her mother, and younger sister Sylvie are spending the summer in sunny southern CA with her mother's sister Aunt Buzzy. Isobel regards Buzzy's stepson Ranger with a wary eye but is soon won over by his enthusiasm for filmmaking - he's an aspiring director (D.W. Griffith is his idol) and before long Isobel and Sylvie are getting a crash course in silent filmmaking and loving the adventure. Packed with rich historic detail, the novel contains fascinating facts about shooting and editing films, but never lets that information bog down the narrative or get in the way of rich characterization. Sylvie is a precocious hoot, filmmakers Ranger and his buddy Sam have depth and their own backstories, and Isobel's wry wit makes her a notch above the usual spunky gal heroine. Her struggle to come to terms with her father's condition upon his return from was is honest and heartfelt. Deft writing makes for memorably observed moments, and there are several laugh-out-loud moments as well. This is pure pleasure historical fiction that I will be sure to mention come mock-Newbery time.
November 8, 2015
I had received a free copy via Good Reads Giveaway. It was actually a really cute story!
Not giving any spoilers out, this book was about a girl and her sister, and her mother, aunt, and her aunt's step son and others. Their tale of getting through getting on. Living with a father in the military as a doctor and creating art through moving pictures.
Happy moments, sad moments, this is definitely got them!
I recommend this to all my readers young at heart.
Not giving any spoilers out, this book was about a girl and her sister, and her mother, aunt, and her aunt's step son and others. Their tale of getting through getting on. Living with a father in the military as a doctor and creating art through moving pictures.
Happy moments, sad moments, this is definitely got them!
I recommend this to all my readers young at heart.
April 24, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Our story begins in a dusty little town in California, a bustling place called Hollywood…
Isobel Ransom is anxious. Her father is away treating wounded soldiers in France, leaving Izzy to be the responsible one at home. But it’s hard to be responsible when your little sister is chasing a fast talking, movie-obsessed boy all over Hollywood! Ranger is directing his very own moving picture… and wants Izzy and Sylvie to be his stars.
Izzy is sure Mother wouldn’t approve, but scouting locations, scrounging film, and “borrowing” a camera turn out to be the perfect distractions from Izzy’s worries. There’s just one problem: their movie has no ending. And it has to be perfect – the kind of ending where the hero saves the day and returns home to his family. Safe and sound.
It just has to.
Lots of different thought about this one. Let's begin with the positives:
* Loved the setting. Hollywood in the early 20th century was a bit of a masterstroke for this story.
* The characters of Isobel (Izzy) and Sylvie were brilliant. I just loved the two of them so much!
* The prose was sparkling. So very easy to read, in terms of language and style.
However, a few things dragged this down for me:
* Not sure about the target audience. At times, it felt middle-grade, but then the affairs of Chaplin were more aimed at older kids. Also, the name dropping of the stars and producers of the time would probably be wasted on younger kids.
* The pacing was hard. Slow to begin (which isn't really great in a book aimed at middle-grade children), it never really does pick up any momentum.
*The last chapter and epilogue were a bit much. I think trying very hard to get that "I cried at the end" response...I think it could have been handled a little differently and gotten the same response.
All in all, though, a good, fun historical fiction novel for younger readers.
Paul
ARH
Our story begins in a dusty little town in California, a bustling place called Hollywood…
Isobel Ransom is anxious. Her father is away treating wounded soldiers in France, leaving Izzy to be the responsible one at home. But it’s hard to be responsible when your little sister is chasing a fast talking, movie-obsessed boy all over Hollywood! Ranger is directing his very own moving picture… and wants Izzy and Sylvie to be his stars.
Izzy is sure Mother wouldn’t approve, but scouting locations, scrounging film, and “borrowing” a camera turn out to be the perfect distractions from Izzy’s worries. There’s just one problem: their movie has no ending. And it has to be perfect – the kind of ending where the hero saves the day and returns home to his family. Safe and sound.
It just has to.
Lots of different thought about this one. Let's begin with the positives:
* Loved the setting. Hollywood in the early 20th century was a bit of a masterstroke for this story.
* The characters of Isobel (Izzy) and Sylvie were brilliant. I just loved the two of them so much!
* The prose was sparkling. So very easy to read, in terms of language and style.
However, a few things dragged this down for me:
* Not sure about the target audience. At times, it felt middle-grade, but then the affairs of Chaplin were more aimed at older kids. Also, the name dropping of the stars and producers of the time would probably be wasted on younger kids.
* The pacing was hard. Slow to begin (which isn't really great in a book aimed at middle-grade children), it never really does pick up any momentum.
*The last chapter and epilogue were a bit much. I think trying very hard to get that "I cried at the end" response...I think it could have been handled a little differently and gotten the same response.
All in all, though, a good, fun historical fiction novel for younger readers.
Paul
ARH
May 18, 2018
J.B. Cheaney I Don't Know How the Story Ends, 270 pages. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2015. Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
Isobel Ransom goes to visit her aunt in California with her younger sister and her mother. Her father is away at war and hasn't sent letters home for a while. She in anticipating that all it will be is homesickness and boredom. Instead she is in for a funny, action packed, and touching experience. While she is there she meets her cousin Ranger who is making a movie. He asks for Isobel and her sister, Sylvie, to be in it. Ranger didn't know what his movie was going to be about, until Isobel's father comes home injured.
I liked all the action of the book. I like how the idea of Hollywood was incorporated with the book. Another thing I enjoyed was her father went away to war and she described the memories of the laughter he gave her.
MS - ESSENTIAL 7th grade student reviewer AO
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Isobel Ransom goes to visit her aunt in California with her younger sister and her mother. Her father is away at war and hasn't sent letters home for a while. She in anticipating that all it will be is homesickness and boredom. Instead she is in for a funny, action packed, and touching experience. While she is there she meets her cousin Ranger who is making a movie. He asks for Isobel and her sister, Sylvie, to be in it. Ranger didn't know what his movie was going to be about, until Isobel's father comes home injured.
I liked all the action of the book. I like how the idea of Hollywood was incorporated with the book. Another thing I enjoyed was her father went away to war and she described the memories of the laughter he gave her.
MS - ESSENTIAL 7th grade student reviewer AO
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
November 11, 2022
Isobel Ransom is worried about her father treating wounded soldiers in France. When her mother takes Isobel and her sister Sylvie to visit their aunt in California, Isobel is charged with being the responsible one. That job becomes more difficult when Sylvie becomes obsessed with their step cousin Ranger and his moving picture project. Soon Isobel is running around Hollywood, “borrowing” cameras, shooting scenes, and finding all sorts of trouble in spite of herself. She is just as eager to see that their project has a satisfying ending and hopes it will help her family find a happy ending too.
Cheaney creates a vivid picture of early Hollywood life as well as the struggle of families during World War I. Her characters are engaging and the story entertaining. Her writing will lead a variety of readers wanting to know how the story ends.
Cheaney creates a vivid picture of early Hollywood life as well as the struggle of families during World War I. Her characters are engaging and the story entertaining. Her writing will lead a variety of readers wanting to know how the story ends.
January 24, 2019
While I enjoyed a story about early Hollywood and silent film making, it will take some selling to get middle school readers to give this a chance. It will appeal to budding filmmakers who have or need a healthy respect for film history, but there is a lot that was familiar to me as an adult who actually studied film in college that might not be so familiar to today's youth. It would be a good book for a lit circle and further research. I hope it will spur readers to watch some films that they may have never thought to invest time in before. This early world of film-making will be foreign to the modern teen who carries an entire movie studio in their pocket in the form of a smart phone.
May 5, 2021
I received this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This work takes place during both “The Great War” and the Golden Age of Hollywood. Isobel Ransom and her little sister navigate new friendships, the stress of a father overseas at war, and typical (and sometimes atypical) youthful shenanigans.
The characters are charming, though I wish there were a bit more depth in finding out who they really were. When all is said and done, not a bad little YA offering, and I love all the Hollywood stars that pop up now and then, as bit players as opposed to the leading ladies and gentlemen they played in their real work.
This work takes place during both “The Great War” and the Golden Age of Hollywood. Isobel Ransom and her little sister navigate new friendships, the stress of a father overseas at war, and typical (and sometimes atypical) youthful shenanigans.
The characters are charming, though I wish there were a bit more depth in finding out who they really were. When all is said and done, not a bad little YA offering, and I love all the Hollywood stars that pop up now and then, as bit players as opposed to the leading ladies and gentlemen they played in their real work.
January 11, 2018
Beautifully written, evoking a fascinating time and place—the earliest days of Hollywood during WWI. The way the pieces of the story are cut together works seamlessly on many levels. Humor, poignancy and depth of insight into the nature of our human story are shown with a deft skill. The characters and scenes ring true and will linger in the reader’s memory.
June 10, 2017
Aww. This was a really sweet story of sisterhood, friendship, and family. It was really cool to learn about 1918 Hollywood and how filmmaking worked during that time, and it had plenty of depth that made you feel emotionally attached to everyone.
October 19, 2017
I'm a sucker for tales of early Hollywood, and having never seen a (very) YA take on it, decided to take a punt. It was entertaining, and the backdrop of the First World War kept the story grounded in reality.
July 18, 2018
Nice historical fiction set in Hollywood during World War I. Plenty of action and escapades as three kids try to make their own movie without adults being aware of the project. It also has some big issues because of the war and the main character's fathers role as a doctor on the front.
April 2, 2020
Early Hollywood and the making of silent film. Isabel and Sylvia visit their aunt and become involved with creating and filming their own picture with their cousin Ranger. Their father serving in WWI returns home injured and everyone must adjust.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2023
That’s what this little picture helped me to see, by cutting up our story and rearranging the parts. There were still a lot of pieces to pick up, but now I had a bigger frame to fit them in. (last page)
March 26, 2016
3.5 stars
It's bad enough that Isobel Ransom's father went off to war when he didn't have to, but now her mother is dragging Isobel and her irrepressible little sister Sylvie off to Los Angeles to stay with Mrs. Ransom's sister. Isobel resents being dragged away from her native Seattle. Los Angeles seems like a foreign land with shoot-outs and cars carrying strange boxes following people's every move. It's 1918 and the motion picture industry is just getting started in LA and it's all very strange and foreign to Isobel, who isn't really allowed to see pictures. The only kid Isobel's age to hang out with is her movie-obsessed step-cousin Roger. Roger wants to be a famous filmmaker, like his idol D.W. Griffith. Roger's father wants to send him to military school, thinking the boy needs to grow up. If only Roger can convince D.W. Griffith to hire him, his father won't make him go to military school. He's been working secretly with his acquaintance Sam on a film but first he needs more actors. He enlists a reluctant Isobel and an eager Sylvie to act in his film. Isobel points out the film's one big flaw- there's no ending. Actually, the plot keeps changing daily! Will Roger ever finish his film? How will the story end?
I really liked this look at early Hollywood. I've read a little bit about the motion picture industry when it was based on the east coast and I've seen History Detectives on a Hollywood investigation but mostly I didn't know much about the silent film era. I know just enough to know D.W. Griffith changed the film industry by making epic films rather than brief vaudeville style acts. I also know a bit about Charlie Chaplin and his womanizing and of course I have seen some of the films featuring his iconic character The Tramp. All this and more is included in this novel. I didn't realize that movie film had to be developed like print film and I didn't really know anything about movie cameras and how movies were filmed. So, obviously, I enjoyed the history behind the story. The plot is cute. I was kept wondering how the movie would turn out and what the plot would ultimately be. I was torn between wanting Isobel's father to return from the war and not wanting him to return. I knew if he did, he wouldn't be the same and Isobel would have a hard time accepting the change. The underlying father at war story made this novel more than a cute story about movies. I found the last chapter and epilogue especially heavy handed and knocked off a star because of it. I also knocked off half a star because I failed to cry at the end, though I can see other readers tearing up.
A note to parents who give this book to children: because the book is set in 1918, the characters sometimes use somewhat offensive ethnic terms to describe people. It may go over the heads of the target age reader or it may bring up questions.
Isobel's whole life has been changed and her father's absence has made her grow up too fast. She's proud but at the same time angry and resentful towards her father for leaving. This gives her character depth, more than any of the other characters who are mostly two-dimensional. I could relate to her, being the oldest child in my family. Sylvie's crazy antics lighten the mood of the story but I got tired of her being the annoying, cutesy little kid all the time. I liked Roger, though I thought he was crazy if he thought he could avoid military school while all his actions pointed towards his father being more inclined to send Roger! The issue of his Indian mother comes up a bit at the beginning but gets dropped quickly. I completely forgot about his being different, which I assume was the author's intention, but some more interaction with his peers would have been nice. Sam is more interesting character. Silent and steady, Sam has had a tough life. He accepts what is and what can not be changed, which is rather sad. It allows him to connect with Isobel. His passion for film making leads him to an odd friendship with Roger and somehow it works.
This story deals a lot with parent/child relationships. Isbobel's mother is, from Isobel's point-of-view, a bit strict and no-nonsense. I'm sure having a husband away at war, even as a doctor, and raising two children would be difficult. Mother's personality changes when they come back to her native LA. Surrounded by her eccentric sister, flattering movie stars, and sunshine, she allows herself to ignore her cares for awhile. This makes her relationship with Isobel complicated and I think I would feel the same way as Isobel at 11. My favorite character is Aunt Buzzy. She's eccentric and a lot of fun - just the opposite of her sister. Her husband, Titus, seems like a fun person too. He appears briefly and then leaves and reappears to advance Roger's part of the plot. Roger has a difficult relationship with his father, similar to Isbobel's father's relationship with his father.
I liked the story enough to read a sequel if there is one and to want to read more by this author but I don't think it will be the best children's book I've read all year.
It's bad enough that Isobel Ransom's father went off to war when he didn't have to, but now her mother is dragging Isobel and her irrepressible little sister Sylvie off to Los Angeles to stay with Mrs. Ransom's sister. Isobel resents being dragged away from her native Seattle. Los Angeles seems like a foreign land with shoot-outs and cars carrying strange boxes following people's every move. It's 1918 and the motion picture industry is just getting started in LA and it's all very strange and foreign to Isobel, who isn't really allowed to see pictures. The only kid Isobel's age to hang out with is her movie-obsessed step-cousin Roger. Roger wants to be a famous filmmaker, like his idol D.W. Griffith. Roger's father wants to send him to military school, thinking the boy needs to grow up. If only Roger can convince D.W. Griffith to hire him, his father won't make him go to military school. He's been working secretly with his acquaintance Sam on a film but first he needs more actors. He enlists a reluctant Isobel and an eager Sylvie to act in his film. Isobel points out the film's one big flaw- there's no ending. Actually, the plot keeps changing daily! Will Roger ever finish his film? How will the story end?
I really liked this look at early Hollywood. I've read a little bit about the motion picture industry when it was based on the east coast and I've seen History Detectives on a Hollywood investigation but mostly I didn't know much about the silent film era. I know just enough to know D.W. Griffith changed the film industry by making epic films rather than brief vaudeville style acts. I also know a bit about Charlie Chaplin and his womanizing and of course I have seen some of the films featuring his iconic character The Tramp. All this and more is included in this novel. I didn't realize that movie film had to be developed like print film and I didn't really know anything about movie cameras and how movies were filmed. So, obviously, I enjoyed the history behind the story. The plot is cute. I was kept wondering how the movie would turn out and what the plot would ultimately be. I was torn between wanting Isobel's father to return from the war and not wanting him to return. I knew if he did, he wouldn't be the same and Isobel would have a hard time accepting the change. The underlying father at war story made this novel more than a cute story about movies. I found the last chapter and epilogue especially heavy handed and knocked off a star because of it. I also knocked off half a star because I failed to cry at the end, though I can see other readers tearing up.
A note to parents who give this book to children: because the book is set in 1918, the characters sometimes use somewhat offensive ethnic terms to describe people. It may go over the heads of the target age reader or it may bring up questions.
Isobel's whole life has been changed and her father's absence has made her grow up too fast. She's proud but at the same time angry and resentful towards her father for leaving. This gives her character depth, more than any of the other characters who are mostly two-dimensional. I could relate to her, being the oldest child in my family. Sylvie's crazy antics lighten the mood of the story but I got tired of her being the annoying, cutesy little kid all the time. I liked Roger, though I thought he was crazy if he thought he could avoid military school while all his actions pointed towards his father being more inclined to send Roger! The issue of his Indian mother comes up a bit at the beginning but gets dropped quickly. I completely forgot about his being different, which I assume was the author's intention, but some more interaction with his peers would have been nice. Sam is more interesting character. Silent and steady, Sam has had a tough life. He accepts what is and what can not be changed, which is rather sad. It allows him to connect with Isobel. His passion for film making leads him to an odd friendship with Roger and somehow it works.
This story deals a lot with parent/child relationships. Isbobel's mother is, from Isobel's point-of-view, a bit strict and no-nonsense. I'm sure having a husband away at war, even as a doctor, and raising two children would be difficult. Mother's personality changes when they come back to her native LA. Surrounded by her eccentric sister, flattering movie stars, and sunshine, she allows herself to ignore her cares for awhile. This makes her relationship with Isobel complicated and I think I would feel the same way as Isobel at 11. My favorite character is Aunt Buzzy. She's eccentric and a lot of fun - just the opposite of her sister. Her husband, Titus, seems like a fun person too. He appears briefly and then leaves and reappears to advance Roger's part of the plot. Roger has a difficult relationship with his father, similar to Isbobel's father's relationship with his father.
I liked the story enough to read a sequel if there is one and to want to read more by this author but I don't think it will be the best children's book I've read all year.
April 9, 2018
If you are into old time movies this will be the book for you!
April 20, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. It was pretty good!
July 5, 2019
This was a fabulous middle school story. It takes place during World War I in Hollywood, California when moving pictures were just beginning. So well done!
March 26, 2021
Consistently "clean" author. Great YA historical fiction. 3/21
September 5, 2023
engaging light read
January 3, 2026
Solid story telling, good details about film making for budding moviemakers.
February 25, 2017
When people think of “Hollywood” these days, they think of glitz, glamour, and movie stars galore. There was a time, however, when Hollywood was a bit simpler of an operation, filled with ambitious actors/directors just looking to carve out a niche for this “newfangled device” called the motion picture. “I Don’t Know How The Story Ends” is a story about those times.
For a basic plot summary, the book focuses on one season in the life of young Isobel Ransom. Izzy’s father is off in France fighting in the Great War (WWI), so her mother decides to transplant the family closer to her roots in southern California. While there, Izzy (and younger sister Sylvie) make the acquaintance of Ranger, a boy who has big dreams of becoming a director. The gang (with the help of a semi-stolen camera from another friend) set up to create the “Great American Motion Picture” so that Ranger can (hopefully) impress his favorite director, D.W. Griffith. What they discover, however, is that life can imitate art as much as the other way around.
This novel is a great YA read for two primary reasons:
1. Simply put, it’s a good “dealing with war issues” read. It is very interesting to see how Izzy deals with having a parent on the front lines, as well as how it affects all the relationships around her. This plotline will immediately connect with young people who may have recently had a parent or two serving in a more current conflict.
2. Old-Hollywood is fascinating! Most of us love of a good movie, but most of us are always rather oblivious to how that movie-making process actually works. This book takes you back to the very beginning, where movies were made by scouting sets, splicing film, manual-induced sound effects (this is the Silent Era), and expressive acting. A movie set (and the process it entails) would make an exciting backdrop to nearly any story, and to see a rare glimpse into those “early years” truly is fascinating.
Overall, I think that “I Don’t Know How The Story Ends” will be one of those rare titles that can capture a child’s attention despite being set roughly 100 years in the past. Through the themes of film and war (two concepts that are just as relevant today as they were back then), author J.B. Cheaney crafts a tale that can be identified with despite that passage of time. Most of the characters are children in those book, so its primary audience will obviously be YA, but even adults can read and appreciate the deeper themes brought on by discussions of war and how it affects family life.
For a basic plot summary, the book focuses on one season in the life of young Isobel Ransom. Izzy’s father is off in France fighting in the Great War (WWI), so her mother decides to transplant the family closer to her roots in southern California. While there, Izzy (and younger sister Sylvie) make the acquaintance of Ranger, a boy who has big dreams of becoming a director. The gang (with the help of a semi-stolen camera from another friend) set up to create the “Great American Motion Picture” so that Ranger can (hopefully) impress his favorite director, D.W. Griffith. What they discover, however, is that life can imitate art as much as the other way around.
This novel is a great YA read for two primary reasons:
1. Simply put, it’s a good “dealing with war issues” read. It is very interesting to see how Izzy deals with having a parent on the front lines, as well as how it affects all the relationships around her. This plotline will immediately connect with young people who may have recently had a parent or two serving in a more current conflict.
2. Old-Hollywood is fascinating! Most of us love of a good movie, but most of us are always rather oblivious to how that movie-making process actually works. This book takes you back to the very beginning, where movies were made by scouting sets, splicing film, manual-induced sound effects (this is the Silent Era), and expressive acting. A movie set (and the process it entails) would make an exciting backdrop to nearly any story, and to see a rare glimpse into those “early years” truly is fascinating.
Overall, I think that “I Don’t Know How The Story Ends” will be one of those rare titles that can capture a child’s attention despite being set roughly 100 years in the past. Through the themes of film and war (two concepts that are just as relevant today as they were back then), author J.B. Cheaney crafts a tale that can be identified with despite that passage of time. Most of the characters are children in those book, so its primary audience will obviously be YA, but even adults can read and appreciate the deeper themes brought on by discussions of war and how it affects family life.
January 11, 2016
A high 3.5 stars. This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
I know pretty much nothing about the history of filmmaking. What little I do know comes from Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I know much more now, though - I Don't Know How the Story Ends is a very educational book! That's not its priority, though, that's not what it's first and foremost meant to be. It's just that it's set during WWI, in Hollywood, and the main characters happen to be making a movie.
This is a rather strange book, filled with a mixture of old movie-making and timeless relationship issues. Isobel is torn apart between missing her father - who is serving as a doctor in the war - being proud of him, and worrying that her mother is forgetting about him. Charlie Chaplin approaches Isobel's mother partway through the story, offering her a role in his next movie, and Isobel is afraid to see her mother blushing and laughing with him. When her father comes home injured - pretty mutilated, really - Isobel's internal conflict takes center stage for a while as she can't cope with the fact that her handsome father has been turned into such a scarred, hideous creature.
As I'm completely uninterested in movie-making both past and present, some parts of the story kind of dragged for me as the kids wandered around filming shot after shot. By the end of the story I was a little more invested in the movie-making process, though, and the movie itself intrigued me because it was like a puzzle: they had all these scenes, shot out of order, and no idea what sort of story they would make. It was pretty cool seeing the story evolve as shooting went along. The movie they eventually produced was really great, too, though the scene where they reveal it fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure why - perhaps I just wasn't invested in the characters enough.
That's probably my main issue with the book, really, is that I wasn't quite as absorbed into the story and the characters as I usually am. Perhaps it was just me, perhaps I was having an off-day, but I never truly reached the place where I abandoned my surroundings and dived whole-heartedly into Isobel's. I liked Isobel, but I kind of hated the way she reacted toward her father; I liked Ranger, but he sometimes struck me as being a rather contrived character; I like Isobel's little sister Sylvie, but - actually, no buts there. Sylvie was perfect, just as annoying and gullible and precious as any real-life little sister. I think she may have actually been my favorite character.
Anyway, I do recommend this book to you if you like the history of filmmaking or reading about the families of men who went off to war. I think many people will like this book more than I did, so don't skip it because I liked but didn't love it. There are a lot of different things to chew on in I Don't Know How the Story Ends, a lot of different themes that different people will draw out of the story, but I personally didn't get anything out of it besides a few hours of entertainment.
And really, a few hours of entertainment is benefit enough all on its own.
I know pretty much nothing about the history of filmmaking. What little I do know comes from Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I know much more now, though - I Don't Know How the Story Ends is a very educational book! That's not its priority, though, that's not what it's first and foremost meant to be. It's just that it's set during WWI, in Hollywood, and the main characters happen to be making a movie.
This is a rather strange book, filled with a mixture of old movie-making and timeless relationship issues. Isobel is torn apart between missing her father - who is serving as a doctor in the war - being proud of him, and worrying that her mother is forgetting about him. Charlie Chaplin approaches Isobel's mother partway through the story, offering her a role in his next movie, and Isobel is afraid to see her mother blushing and laughing with him. When her father comes home injured - pretty mutilated, really - Isobel's internal conflict takes center stage for a while as she can't cope with the fact that her handsome father has been turned into such a scarred, hideous creature.
As I'm completely uninterested in movie-making both past and present, some parts of the story kind of dragged for me as the kids wandered around filming shot after shot. By the end of the story I was a little more invested in the movie-making process, though, and the movie itself intrigued me because it was like a puzzle: they had all these scenes, shot out of order, and no idea what sort of story they would make. It was pretty cool seeing the story evolve as shooting went along. The movie they eventually produced was really great, too, though the scene where they reveal it fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure why - perhaps I just wasn't invested in the characters enough.
That's probably my main issue with the book, really, is that I wasn't quite as absorbed into the story and the characters as I usually am. Perhaps it was just me, perhaps I was having an off-day, but I never truly reached the place where I abandoned my surroundings and dived whole-heartedly into Isobel's. I liked Isobel, but I kind of hated the way she reacted toward her father; I liked Ranger, but he sometimes struck me as being a rather contrived character; I like Isobel's little sister Sylvie, but - actually, no buts there. Sylvie was perfect, just as annoying and gullible and precious as any real-life little sister. I think she may have actually been my favorite character.
Anyway, I do recommend this book to you if you like the history of filmmaking or reading about the families of men who went off to war. I think many people will like this book more than I did, so don't skip it because I liked but didn't love it. There are a lot of different things to chew on in I Don't Know How the Story Ends, a lot of different themes that different people will draw out of the story, but I personally didn't get anything out of it besides a few hours of entertainment.
And really, a few hours of entertainment is benefit enough all on its own.
Read
April 2, 2017I really don't know how the story ends as my digital library check out ran out before I finished this book. I'll probably go back to it at some point although this book did not really grab my imagination, thus my attention.
June 22, 2016
Review copy provided by NetGalley
This was a fascinating look into the birth of Hollywood, as well as a heartfelt examination of life for families left behind when a father left for World War I. It follows two sisters, Isobel and Sylvie Ransom, as their mother takes them from Seattle to Hollywood to visit their newly married aunt while their father serves as a medic in the first world war. Told from the point of view of Isobel, the older sister, it relates the heart-wrenching fear that she experiences daily as she imagines what might be happening to her father in France.
However, the book doesn't dwell on that. Instead, upon reaching Hollywood, the girls meet their new step-cousin, Ranger, and find themselves swept up in his dream-like love of the burgeoning motion picture industry. Ranger is obsessed with finding a place in films, as an actor, writer, and/or director, and his single-minded approach is both infectious and unpredictable. I didn't expect the book to be nearly as funny as it was, and that is a big part of what I liked best about this story. Ranger reminds of Harris from Harris and Me. He's always coming up with a new scheme to get his own motion picture rolling. Isobel and Sylvie, who is a fearless daredevil, are carried along into his secret project, where they meet Sam, Ranger's collaborator due in large part to his access to his father's camera when Sam's father is at work on the film sets.
This book has heart and depth. It makes you laugh, pause to think, and at times will make you shed a tear. In all, this is a book that you are bound to remember. All the characters have their motives, and at different points you get to peer into what motivates each of them, from fear of what the future holds, to racism, to a painful past that the character feels they must keep hidden. This is a great read that will certainly engage the readers but will also invoke discussion about issues that continue to impact people today. To top it all off, the chance to witness the rise of Hollywood in the days of silent movies through the eyes of a child will certainly interest middle grade readers.
This was an impressive book, one that will certainly be added to my school library this year.
This was a fascinating look into the birth of Hollywood, as well as a heartfelt examination of life for families left behind when a father left for World War I. It follows two sisters, Isobel and Sylvie Ransom, as their mother takes them from Seattle to Hollywood to visit their newly married aunt while their father serves as a medic in the first world war. Told from the point of view of Isobel, the older sister, it relates the heart-wrenching fear that she experiences daily as she imagines what might be happening to her father in France.
However, the book doesn't dwell on that. Instead, upon reaching Hollywood, the girls meet their new step-cousin, Ranger, and find themselves swept up in his dream-like love of the burgeoning motion picture industry. Ranger is obsessed with finding a place in films, as an actor, writer, and/or director, and his single-minded approach is both infectious and unpredictable. I didn't expect the book to be nearly as funny as it was, and that is a big part of what I liked best about this story. Ranger reminds of Harris from Harris and Me. He's always coming up with a new scheme to get his own motion picture rolling. Isobel and Sylvie, who is a fearless daredevil, are carried along into his secret project, where they meet Sam, Ranger's collaborator due in large part to his access to his father's camera when Sam's father is at work on the film sets.
This book has heart and depth. It makes you laugh, pause to think, and at times will make you shed a tear. In all, this is a book that you are bound to remember. All the characters have their motives, and at different points you get to peer into what motivates each of them, from fear of what the future holds, to racism, to a painful past that the character feels they must keep hidden. This is a great read that will certainly engage the readers but will also invoke discussion about issues that continue to impact people today. To top it all off, the chance to witness the rise of Hollywood in the days of silent movies through the eyes of a child will certainly interest middle grade readers.
This was an impressive book, one that will certainly be added to my school library this year.
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