Gr 9 Up
The stage is calling to Demi and Sadye (aka Douglas and Sarah), so they're off to Wildewood Academy's summer theater program for eight weeks of showtimes, show tunes, and show-offs. The teens enjoy the whirlwind pace of the theater, but their close friendship begins to fray; Demi gains fame and gets a boyfriend, while Sadye clashes with her roommates and fights with the directors. When the pair are caught drinking on the campus rooftop, Sadye takes the fall so that Demi can remain at Wildewood. Strong secondary characters round out the plot; the gay relationships are mostly chaste, featuring kissing but avoiding more physical encounters. Teens will identify strongly with both the heartbreak and the humor in this authentic portrayal of friendships maturing and decaying. Those who don't follow musical theater might not recognize the show titles or tunes, but the campy spirit of the book shines through, regardless. An effervescent read, this is an excellent purchase.
—Chris ShoemakerCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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