Shannon in the Spotlight

February 15, 2023
A 12-year-old girl navigates OCD and rocky friendships while discovering her theatrical talents. Shannon Carter looks forward to summers, when she and her two best friends take part in the local youth theater's annual musical. Egyptian American hijabi Fatima is devoted to working behind the scenes, while performer Elise loves the spotlight. Shannon, who is cued White like Elise, describes herself as a hardcore techie, happy to stay out of sight focusing on costumes and props, but when the director overhears her singing, he insists she audition. One whirlwind song later, she's cast as Brigitta von Trapp, the role Elise desperately wanted in this year's show, The Sound of Music. Now Elise is ignoring her, and Fatima's so busy backstage she has no time to talk. What's more, following a house fire, Shannon's maternal grandmother is temporarily moving in, and she's quite the abrasive personality, often criticizing Shannon's mom's parenting, particularly how she handles Shannon's OCD. Shannon's therapist suggests they try some exposure therapy activities, and there's this new boy at the theater who's pretty cute--Micah, who reads Black. It's a lot to deal with. The book thoughtfully portrays Shannon as having agency in handling her OCD symptoms; they affect her life without controlling it. A natural-born performer despite her initial apprehension, she finds being on stage exciting and fulfilling, offering readers a positive role model for living with mental illness. A solid read with valid representation. (Fiction. 9-13)

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March 6, 2023
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, complex tween relationships, and finding one’s niche take center stage in this delicately realized novel from Miller (The Night When No One Had Sex). In suburban Minneapolis, white 12-year-old Shannon Carter has always kept her love of musical theater behind the scenes, staying within her comfort zone as a techie. But when the director of her community theater’s production of The Sound of Music hears her sing and demands that she audition, Shannon finds herself cast as Brigitta von Trapp—the role coveted by one of her best friends. As Shannon moves forward into rehearsals, her OCD presents new challenges, a rival production increases pressure, and her critical grandmother temporarily moves in after a house fire—taking Shannon’s bed, and clashing with her single mother about parenting and Shannon’s OCD. On top of all that, she becomes interested in Black-cued Micah, the assured new boy cast as Kurt in her production. Miller, who lives with OCD, employs a conversational first-person voice, relaying self-aware Shannon’s endeavors to balance her mental health, her newfound confidence, and her desire to keep the peace, while emotionally profound themes elevate a low-stakes plot. Context cues suggest a racially diverse secondary cast. Ages 10–up. Agent: Stacey Kondla, Rights Factory.

April 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Shannon always enjoys working behind the scenes at her town's summer musical, but she's mostly there to spend time with her theater-loving friends. Elise adores acting and is hoping for a starring role, while Fatima is taken by the technical aspects of production. Shannon prefers to be backstage and assumes that her obsessive-compulsive disorder may not lend itself to long rehearsals and performing to packed audiences, but when the director overhears her singing, she finds herself cast in a leading role, and life gets more complicated as she navigates a jealous Elise, a budding crush, family upheaval, and a newfound love of the stage. Miller spins a winning story that offers an insightful introduction to OCD. A diverse cast of friends and family provides a warm, supportive core to the story, in which Shannon is allowed to take chances and make decisions about her therapy and treatment. It's an inspiration and joy to watch her step into the spotlight and let her voice truly be heard.

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