Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller
Published by Delacorte Press on April 25, 2023
ISBN: 0593486056
Pages: 272
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Shannon and her friends love participating in their community theater’s summer musical each year. Shannon and her friend Fatima work behind the scenes, while their friend Elise prefers to be up on stage in front of the audience. Shannon, suffering from severe OCD, sticks to her routines and tries not to draw attention to herself. However a chance encounter at auditions lands her one of the starring roles – unfortunately the role her bff Elise wanted. As rehearsals get underway, Elise distances herself from the friendship, Fatima becomes increasingly busy in the tech side of the play, and even her mom has misgivings about her ability to perform and doesn’t seem supportive. Just when things couldn’t get more stressful, a fire forces her cantankerous grandmother to move in with Shannon and her mother – and it is not an ideal living situation due to the stress and fighting between her mom and grandma, and her grandmother’s refusal to accept Shannon’s mental health issues. But Shannon relishes being on stage, and with the help of her new friend (crush) Micah, a fellow actor, she finds her place in the spotlight. This is a great middle grade read highlighting coping with mental illness, navigating rocky friendships and family situations, and overcoming your fears to let yourself shine. A solid pick for a middle grade collection.

Recommended for grades 4-7

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York