Fame

In the Cards #2

by Mariah Fredericks

Encouraged by the tarot cards, Eve goes forward with her audition for the school musical, but getting the part is only half the battle as backstabbing and gossip become the norm backstage and putting on a good show becomes more drama-filled than she could have ever imagined.

Genres: Middle Grade, Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Mariah Fredericks was born, raised, and still lives in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series as well as The Lindbergh Nanny, which Nelson DeMille called, "a masterful blending of fact and fiction that is as compelling as it is entertaining." The Wharton Plot, was named one of the best mysteries of 2024 by Library Journal. "An Edith Wharton scholar could read Ms. Frederick’s novel with profit and amusement."—Wall Street Journal. Her next novel, The Girl in the Green Dress, featuring Zelda Fitzgerald and New Yorker writer Morris Markey, is out September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like "Love," I enjoyed Fredericks' next installment in the In the Cards series, "Fame." Unlike other sequels/follow-ups, it did take me a while to get into this on, though, and I think the reason is that the narrator's voice changed from Anna to Eve in this book. Eve's voice, like her personality, is a lot different from Anna's, and it was a little discombobulating at first. Once I got used to the switch, though, it was very interesting to see the same people and school culture from a different person's point of view. This story pivots around Eve's decision to get off the Freak bus and get involved in the school by trying out for the school play after a consulting of Anna's Tarot cards. The play is Cabaret which is a slightly controversial choice both in the book and for prospective readers since issues like prostitution and abortion are dealt with in the musical. The director (and presumably the author) justify the choice by saying that it is a way of getting the students to understand life in Nazi Germany since they'll be imersing themselves in characters who lived during this time period and had to cope with prejudice and inequality. Eve's family dynamic is another focus, and her relationships with her grandmother, parents and brother add to the plot development. Now that I have this one finished, I'm anxious to get Syd's take on "Life," the third book in the series.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty typical. Eve was the type of girl who wanted to be a famous star. She gets the chance to make her dream come true and all that. She's afraid what the cards will show--an award for being an outstanding actress or something as pathetic as shoving pop corn in her mouth while watching a TV show?

It wasn't really, really bad, though. There are some good things about the book. I'm giving it two stars.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book of the In The Cards trilogy. Eve has Anna read the cards to see if she will get the lead in the school production of Cabaret. The cards seem to indicate success, but Eve will have to achieve her success at the expense of someone else. Is fame under those circumstances worth it? Are there some prices that are just too high? A tale of teenage desire, meanness, and self sacrifice.

[Geeta Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was possibly the hardest one to read of all 3 books- Eve was just a very frustrating character to have to read. I could understand her conquest to become a brilliant star- but she seemed like a bad friend- i felt as if she took advantage of everybody around her because she just wasn't used to hearing the word no and when she does hear it she had a hissy fit.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the way this book continues the story line. I think Eve make the worst decisions based on the cards of all of the three girls. She used them as an excuse not to prepare for school, auditions, anything, and she really messes herself up. I think she grows less through the course of the book than her friend did, but she is learning.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, becuase there are some people who think they have the fame by some cards but hey really don´t... one day a boy started to ask what if we really became famous, so he made a lot of ways to become famous... are they going to become famous or waht is going to happen?

[Emmag. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was just okay. It was slightly cheesy and pretty typical. It was not a bad book or that Mariah Fredericks is a bad author, although I do think it would have been enjoyed more by a younger age group.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a good book with a great lesson i would recomend this to anyone

[Alyssah-Jasmine Merani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great book. About a girl who auditions for a play and all this drama happens...it is soo good that i cannot tell you guys.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should really read this book!
Mariah Fredricks is such a good author.
READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

another great one but i liked the In the cards : love better...

[Lucy Zheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book about eve.Eve became a star. Eve and her friend help her be a star.read more to find out.

[Nataliah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think its an ok book but i have read better books. I think a person that likes drama would like this book.

[Justine Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me cry...

[Angela9600 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I got the first one from a library book sale- I am loving this series.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can relate to Eve, I mean, I'm not that obsessive. But, I used to be like that when I was younger. I really like a theatre theme/ scene, so this was a good book to me.