[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Shira is ambushed into auditioning for The Music Man. Her best friend, Cassie, thinks it’s a great way for Shira to move past her shyness. All Shira knows is that getting the first tenor part for the barbershop quartet in the play is drawing a lot more attention than she wants.
But being a girl cast in a male role in middle school starts to feel like small potatoes when Shira is asked to also be the understudy for Marian, the female lead in the musical. While Shira’s nervous about dealing with Monica, the 8th grade diva cast in the role, she really understands and identifies with the prim and shy librarian in the play.
But when Monica starts causing problems for Shira and her friends – and the production – Shira has to dig deep and find her voice, for the sake of everything that has become so important for her.
Review
This was so fun!! I had high hopes for this one. I adored the author’s previous book, Sidetracked. And I enjoy The Music Man as well as school stories, so this felt like it would be a good fit for me – and it was!
I think it will help readers if they have seen a production of The Music Man. Even if they don’t know the songs, it will help to understand the plot and especially the main characters. If I was doing something with this book in a classroom – a read-aloud, a book group – I would schedule a viewing if I could. It would be so fun!
Shira’s shyness is not an extreme example; she doesn’t have a paralyzing level of anxiety. She’s comfortable singing in private. And once she meets each new challenge in the story, she gains confidence and keeps moving forward.
There are plenty of middle grade standard elements here – friendship pieces, a mean girl, oblivious school personnel, amazing teachers, some crushes, etc. Any reader who enjoys contemporary middle grade fiction can find something here to love. Theater fans, singers, performers, and Music Man fans should absolutely check this one out!
Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*
*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.
My daughter started reading this book and loved it then she got the the part in Chalter 4 that makes is obvious the main character’s teacher is gay. Why his sexual preference even needs to be discussed In a children’s book is beyond me. Skimming through to chapter 5, the main character’s 4th grade sister is talking about a boy being “hot”. Why? What is the point of sexualizing our children and filling their minds with these things instead of innocent stories filled with strong sentence structure, grammar and vocabulary? This book is a disappointment and is going in the garbage.
Sounds like this one wasn’t a good fit for you. Hopefully you’ll find some other books that are a better fit. I always told my students, no book works for every reader. I really enjoyed this one.
Jaymie, I loved reading your kind words about SIDETRACKED and UPSTAGED. So glad UPSTAGED lived up to your expectations! (Whew!).
Thanks so much, and best wishes for a healthy, happy spring!
You too, Diana!