Lucille O’Malley teen years are not footloose and fancy-free.  In the heart of the Depression, the O’Malley family barely makes it by on the small profits from doing other people’s dirty business – their laundry.  Lucille’s mother always has a happy outlook, but Lucille desperately wants to find other means to support her family.  Unfortunately, it was another kind of dirty business that allows her an opportunity.  While delivering garments one afternoon, Lucille witnesses a New York mobster, Salvatore Benedetto, kill another man.  With the police already on Sal’s heals, he doesn’t shoot Lucille too.  But when the police question Lucille, she covers for Sal.  Impressed but still worried she might spill the beans at some point, Sal grants her wish to move to Hollywood and arranges for her to become an actress with an agent.

In a parallel storyline, Frederick Preston Aloysius van der Waals, the heir to a business and lifestyle of power and extreme wealth in New York, is learning that he doesn’t like his life either.  He appreciates his betrothed girlfriend who wants to marry the 17-year-old but he doesn’t love her.  He used to love his father but learns that he is a back-stabbing, lying, money-hungry power monger who has no sense of remorse or empathy for others.  Wanting nothing to do with the family “business” anymore, he disappears and begins to cross the country, heading for California.

The 2 plot lines remain separate for part 1 and 2 of the book.  Lucille learns what it takes to be a Hollywood starlet and Frederick bums his way across the country with the aid of a companion named Ben.  How their paths cross is unique and it is quickly realized that they will eventually couple up.  But each keeps their secret of how they ended up in California from each other until the fates push out the truth.  Frederick’s greedy father and notorious Sal both make resurgences to bring about the climax.  How the issue with Sal is wrapped up feels rushed and weak considering his gangster status but the relief of tension between Frederick and his father is satisfying.  Authors Adam Shankman and Laura Sullivan keep this plot driving forward, especially in part 3 as another gunshot puts Lucille in the center of a high-profile Hollywood scandal.  Looking at these author’s own profiles helps explain why this text is such a well-written young adult novel that feels like it could go straight to a screenplay.   Both male and female teens would enjoy this story if only the publisher hadn’t put a picture of a female on the front.  Why do they do that??? Highly recommended for middle or high school libraries.