Here's a transcript of this episode, which focuses on middle grade books about the theater:
Cue the music! Raise the curtain! Bring up the stage lights! It’s time to talk about middle grade fiction titles that have one thing in common: they all revolve around (dramatic pause) the the-a-ter. Welcome to the 2nd episode of Happy Reading, a podcast about middle grade fiction, with the occasional young adult title and picture book thrown in, where each episode centers around a single theme. I’m Sarah Threlkeld, an elementary school librarian, former middle school reading teacher, and admitted theater nerd.
I was bitten by the theater bug in kindergarten when I was cast as a section of a caterpillar. Yep, you heard that correctly. I wasn’t even the whole caterpillar, just a section of one. I didn’t have any lines, but I felt like a star parading in front of parents and siblings in the middle of the day. There was no doubt in my mind - those strangers had come to see me! Since that very auspicious beginning, I have been fortunate enough to play Bagheera in The Jungle Book, Clairee in Steel Magnolias, and Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. Yep, the pinnacle of my acting career was the male lead in a musical written sixty years ago. That’s what happens when you attend an all girls school. I haven't acted on a stage in years, but my passion for theater is as strong as ever. I still love going to shows in Seattle and rocking out to original cast recordings. The Hamilton soundtrack has a permanent home in my car and I often break into impromptu song and dance routines in the kitchen. Is it any wonder I adore books about the stage? So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite middle grades titles about the theater.
There have been many successful stage adaptations of movie musicals. Hairspray, Mary Poppins, Newsies, The Lion King, Billy Elliot...the list goes on and on. There have also been some infamous flops, like High Fidelity, The Silence of the Lambs, and Carrie, which only had five Broadway performances. In Better Nate Than Ever, author Tim Federle dreams up a show so outrageous and unexpected that it might just work: E.T.: The Musical!
This hilarious and endearing novel opens with Nate Foster, 13-year old musical theater junkie, preparing to run away to the Big Apple to audition for E.T. His best friend Libby has convinced him that he is perfect for the role of Elliott and, despite all of his insecurities, he agrees to leave Jankburg, Pennsylvania under the cover of darkness and brave the big city alone. Does everything go as planned? Of course not! Which is what makes this such an entertaining read. Here’s what happens when Nate arrives in New York:
Excerpt - page 33
Oh, Nate, how I adore your sweet naïveté. We totally would have been friends when I was twelve.
You know a book is going to be good when you want to stay up late reading it, despite the 8 month old in the room next door who’s going through sleep regression and will undoubtedly wake you up at 3:30 in the morning to party. So it was with Jack & Louisa by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead. As a proud musical theater nerd, I was immediately pulled in by all the Broadway references and felt a kinship with both Jack and Louisa, who spend their days memorizing Tony acceptance speeches and original choreography for shows that have been on the Great White Way. Jack is a native New Yorker who has actually performed in a couple of shows, but recently witnessed the death of his acting career when his voice changed and his family moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio. Louisa dreams of making a living as a stage actress while surviving middle school in a Cleveland suburb. Clearly, they are destined to be friends. Or are they? Things aren’t too peachy when these two meet, but auditions for a community production of Into the Woods may just change all that.
I loved the authenticity of the characters in this book, the dual narrative, and, of course, the fact that the plot revolves around a show by Stephen Sondheim, a true genius and legend. Whether you’re a fan of musical theater or just enjoy fast-paced, funny realistic fiction about friendship, you’ll devour Jack & Louisa: Act 1. Here are two excerpts, one from Jack’s perspective and one from Louisa’s, to give you a sense of the characters’ endearing personalities:
Excerpt 1- pages 3-4
Excerpt 2 - pages17-18
Have you ever owned an item of clothing that made you feel beautiful or powerful or ridiculously charming every time you paraded around town in it? What about something that never quite fit right and made you feel dumpy or ugly or just uncomfortable in your own body. This is what it’s like for George, the titular character in Alex Gino’s debut novel. He spends every day struggling to meet his family's and classmates’ expectations of what a boy should wear and how a boy should talk and what a boy should be interested in, every day fighting against this role that has been forced upon him by society and makes him extremely uncomfortable, because in his heart and in his soul he knows that he is really a girl. George is convinced she will have to keep her true identity a secret forever, but then something incredible and life-changing happens: her teacher announces the class play will be Charlotte’s Web. George is desperate to play Charlotte, but her teacher won't let her audition for the role because she’s a boy. Heartbroken, George turns to her best friend Kelly for comfort and the two hatch a plan to get George on stage and reveal her true self to the world. This is a thought-provoking and uplifting story about friendship, identity, and the bravery it takes to be our most authentic selves. Here’s an excerpt from chapter two.
Excerpt - pages 24-25
I'm not sure how Summerlost by Ally Condie ended up on my radar - perhaps it was on display at Powell’s Books in Portland when I visited last spring or a fellow bibliophile tweeted about it - however it landed in my lap, I am so grateful because it was one of my favorite reads from 2016.
I’m going to jump right into the excerpt, since Condie does such an exceptional job of setting the tone of the story from the very first page.
Excerpt - page 1
Revisiting that opening makes me want to read the entire book again! If that intro didn’t whet your appetite, here’s a brief synopsis of the story. In an attempt to start healing from the tragic loss of her husband and son, Cedar’s mom decides to buy a house in her hometown of Iron Creek and spend the summer fixing it up so she can rent it out during the school year. Cedar doesn't mind the move, although she fully expects her summer to consist of doing chores and babysitting her younger brother. Then, out of the blue, a boy in a crazy outfit rides past her house on a bike and she decides she has to figure out where he's headed in such an odd ensemble. Cedar tails him to the Summerlost theater festival and discovers a fascinating world of actors, costume makers, patrons and volunteers; she has to get involved!
Summerlost is a beautifully written story about loss, family, friendship, and the healing power of the arts. The author also manages to weave an element of mystery into Cedar’s tale, adding another layer to this already intricate story.
Well, there you have it listeners, four fabulous middle grade books that are worthy of your most exuberant jazz hands. If you’re a fan of young adult fiction, I'd also highly recommend Dramarama by E. Lockhart, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green, and Drama, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. If you know of other middle grade titles about the theater, I'd love to hear about them! You can find me on Twitter at @happyrdng, email me at happyrdng@gmail.com, or leave a message on my blog at www.happyrdng.blogspot.com. You’ll also find a transcript of each episode at my website, along with links to all of the books I recommend. Thank you so, so much for taking the time to listen to episode two of the Happy Reading podcast! I have been overwhelmed by the kind words people have shared after listening to the first episode, and I feel so fortunate to be able to share my passion for books with you. Take a little bow, give yourself a round of applause, and, as always, happy reading!
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