The casting dilemma by Lynne Stringer

Kate loves musical theatre, singing and performance and is very talented, but is concerned that her lack of confidence and her looks do not make her leading lady material. When she auditions for the Year 10 school musical she is filled with doubt and struggles with where the teachers who cast the production will place her. Can she inhabit the leading role, or any role for that matter, and light up the stage with confidence? 

This is a Teen Fiction easy read book (written with minimal words, but maximum impact) that plumbs the depths of the teen that would love to be a star but is filled with uncertainty. The simplicity of the language (and short sentences and simple construction) does not detract from the emotional insights, and this is a great book to recommend to a teen reader who might be daunted by a longer text but does not want to read books aimed at pre-teens. I loved the drama of the on-stage experience and the behind-the-scenes turmoil, and Kate also enjoys friendships and mild bullying and put-downs from others within her school context, so this will strike a chord for many young readers aged 12-14. Family support is also presented positively, and teachers are also given a redemptive role for Kate. This is an uplifting story, and the format is very helpful for developing or struggling readers (perhaps ESL students will also benefit). I enjoyed following the growth of the main character in this story… and I am not the target audience!

Themes: Musical theatre, Acting, Appearance, Dreams, Anxiety, Perseverance.

Carolyn Hull