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 cafÈ 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.

Review

"Offers reluctant readers (or those reading below the assigned grade level) an edgy, fast-paced, and thought-provoking storyline written in a very straight-forward, comprehensible style. Highly Recommended." (CM Magazine 20130301)

"A gentle, thought-provoking story on the fickle nature of fame...Denman's story avoids simplified characters, creating a surprisingly layered treatment of media obsession." (Booklist 20111115)

"Orca Currents has once again hit the mark...The setting and plot come together in a very satisfying way. The most powerful element in the text, however, is undoubtedly the emotional honesty of the characters Denman creates...Zack could be a real person, and his responses to the situations he finds himself in resonate with authenticity." (Resource Links 20111001)

"This fast-paced story is excellent for reluctant readers. Moreover, the sound-color synesthesia Zack experiences will intrigue many readers. An overall quick read that is recommended for purchase by public libraries." (Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group 20111114)

"Zack's story is engaging." (The Horn Book Guide 20120501)

From the Back Cover

The office is a windowless gray cell. The vice-principal across the desk from me says, "A one-week suspension is automatic." Suspended from school, lonely and bored, fifteen-year-old Zack will do anything for amusement. His mom drags him out geocaching, and Zack finds a CD with the word Famous written across it. He puts the CD in his stereo 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 decides he has to find her.