Starry-Eyed

September 15, 2013
Sixteen stories of performing are each paired with anecdotes about life behind the scenes and in front of the footlights. Even a teen with only a pang of stage or screen hunger will be fascinated by this book, with its various accomplished contributors, from the introduction by Clay Aiken to stars from television shows such as Modern Family and Glee. The stories run a rich and varied emotional gamut. A handkerchief might be a worthy prop when reading Maryrose Wood's story about a teenager who finds herself under the reluctant tutelage of an aged, renowned singer; she is stingy with compliments but has a tremendous heart and a tragic secret. Cynthia Hand's "Stage Kiss" is a hilarious tale about a high school junior who seeks to change her never-been-kissed status by auditioning for a play in which the last scene ends with a kiss. Her plan goes comically awry, but readers will swoon at the ending that plays out at the final curtain. Each story is followed by a first-person anecdote by a noted performer, which is itself followed by a brief biography. Teens needn't be star-struck to enjoy this collection, as under the hubbub of the theater world are themes that deal with common teenage issues such as insecurity, jealousy, the fear of coming out and young love. Definitely worthy of applause. (Anthology. 12 & up)

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Starred review from November 15, 2013
Grades 7-12 *Starred Review* For any teen who has dreamed of being a star, this will serve as both encouragement and a reality check. YA authors like Alex Flinn, Aimee Friedman, and Garret Freymann-Weyr weave mesmerizing stories of talented kids whose lives revolve around music, drama, and the arts. They'll meet videographers Stringbean and Goose; Becca First, Meghan's rival for every solo and every role, but keeper of a sad secret; and the vanished Maia Crane, spotted during a bizarre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Juxtaposed with each short story is an anecdote from artists familiar and less so: Clay Aiken, Andrea McArdle, Montego Glover, and Anthony Fedorov. The amalgam of swoon-worthy and unfamiliar household names is a reminder that TV, Broadway, movies, and records provide myriad opportunities for happiness and career satisfaction, if not fame and fortune. The short stories themselves, each of which is memorable for unique characters and situations, spotlight the importance of the arts in the growth and developmentand even the survivalof a large portion of the teenage population. Complex and focused on far more than art as a high-school extracurricular, thisbreaks a leg in the finest sense of the word.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)