Have you ever been in a play or musical? Were you confident, or did you have stage fright? Either way, being on stage is both amazing and scary! Some kids are natural hams, others are brave enough to put themselves right out there, and still others have to overcome stage fright. Read all about what it’s like to join a production in one of these fun books!
Our Five Books list include 5 books (or sometimes more!) on a specific topic, with a short synopsis so you can decide if it sounds like something you would like. Five Books–one old, one new, one popular with kids, one well-reviewed, and one staff favorite. (But you’ll have to guess which is which)!
So now…on with the show!
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The Swish of the Curtain by Pamela Brown
What starts as a diversion to stave off boredom during the holidays soon becomes much more for the seven young members of the Blue Door Theatre Company. The four girls–Lyn, Sandra, Vicky and Maddy–and three boys–Bulldong, Nigel and Jeremy–play every part in the theatre, not only on stage but off it too, producing everthing from the scripts and sets to the music and costumes. They also learn that the show must go on, even in the face of their arch-enemy, Mrs. Potter-Smith, local critic and leader of the Ladies’ Institute.
The classic story of seven children with a longing to be on stage: the inspiration for actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen Atkins.
Pippa Passes by Scott Corbett
Meg Kendrick and her sister Lulie expect the usual boring train ride to summer camp. But before the girls can say Camp Hockawattamesset, they’re up to their ears in excitement and intrigue! At the train station, the sisters bump into Pippa Phillips, a famous child movie star, who is running away from her aunt and uncle. She thinks they’re exploiting her talents for their own profit. Immediately sympathetic, Meg and Lulie concoct a brilliant strategy to help Pippa–stage one is to disguise the young actress as just another camper, and to sneak her into Hockawattamesset as their cousin.
Once they’re at camp, Pippa and Lulie have a great time…but Meg is having some doubts. Pippa isn’t used to NOT being in the spotlight, and some of her escapades are getting Meg into trouble. She also starts to have some doubts about hiding someone so famous…who has people looking all over for her. As the week goes on, the girls are facing all kinds of complications, including a riotous ballet performance in the camp Talent Show. How can Meg make Pippa and Lulie see that they need to bring some adults into their little conspiracy? Will this end well for Meg, Pippa, Lulie and all the adults in their lives?
Better Nate Than Ever! by Tim Federle
Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for seeing a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.
A hilarious and heartwarming debut novel full of broken curfews, second chances, and the adventure of growing up–because sometimes you have to get four hundred miles from your backyard to finally feel at home. And read the rest of the trilogy too: Five, Six, Seven, Nate! and Nate Expectations.
Fearless by Mandy Gonzalez
Monica Garcia has arrived in NYC with her grandmother and a few suitcases to live her dream on Broadway. She’s been chosen as understudy to the star of Our Time, the famed Ethel Merman Theater’s last chance to produce a hit before it shutters its doors for good. Along with her fellow castmates–a.k.a. “the squad”–Monica has a big and very personal reason to want this show to succeed. But rumors of a long-running curse plague the theater. And when strange and terrible things start to threaten their hopes for a successful opening night, Monica and the rest of the squad must figure out how to reverse the curse before their big Broadway debuts. With the help of her new friends, her family, and a little magic, can Monica help save the show–and save their dreams?
From Broadway and television star Mandy Gonzalez comes a story about what it means to dream, be yourself, and be fearless. Read the sequel as well: Boulevard of Dreams.
Leading Ladies by Marlee Maitlin & Doug Cooney
Megan’s class is putting on their own original musical based on the book The Wizard of Oz, and Megan wants to be the star of the show and play Dorothy. Since she’s deaf, she will sign the songs for her audition. However, a problem develops when Lizzie, her best friend from camp, transfers from her all-deaf school to Megan’s class – and signs the same two songs that Megan was going to do! Luckily, Megan has some other ideas up her sleeve…
From the Best Actress (For Children of a Lesser God) Academy Award winner.
Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller
Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon’s always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight. At first, Shannon is hesitant. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine.
But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn’t feel anxious. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic . . . except Elise. To make matters worse, Shannon’s eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. As opening night approaches, Shannon feels pressure to save her friendship with Elise, to make Mom and Grandma Ruby act like grown-ups, and to follow the old theater adage The show must go on.
A contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD
Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
When orphans Sorrel, Mark, and Holly are sent to live with their grandmother, a famous English actress, she enrolls them in the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, the same academy that made the orphans from Ballet Shoes famous so long ago. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but the academy won’t give the children the “proper” education their parents would have wanted. However, the children learn to love the academy when they discover that Sorrel has dramatic flair, Mark can sing, and Holly charms everyone with her adorable impish ways. Maybe talent does run in the family.
This classic children’s book is perfect for kids who dream of being onstage–dancing, singing, or acting. Don’t miss the other classic Noel Streatfeild books Ballet Shoes, Skating Shoes, and Dancing Shoes!
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I’m pretty sure everyone has already read Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel Drama, but if not, you should definitely read that one too! If you’ve been to a play (or maybe have a friend in one of the Weston Drama Workshop productions this summer) you may be picturing yourself up on stage as well. Would you rather be in a musical, or a dramatic play? Check out one of the books on this list and see what MIGHT be happening behind the scenes. We also have some great books on being backstage at a musical or Broadway production. Check them out in J 792.02.
If you can think of any titles we’ve missed, let us know! As always, if you need help finding these or any other books, ask one of our librarians. We love matching readers with books!
Happy Reading!
::Kelly::
BellaOnBooks's Blog 