BOOK MARKED
“The Chance To Fly”
by Ali Stroker
This heartfelt middle-grade novel is about
a girl who loves theater and wants noth-
ing more than to “defy gravity” in her new
town’s local production of “Wicked.” When
her parents worry about her ability to fit in,
it is up to Nat to prove to them that she can
take the stage.

“Clark the Shark and the School
Sing” by Bruce Hale, illustrated by Guy
Francis Clark is excited to discover that everyone
in the class will be singing a song. Trou-
ble comes when he learns that not only
will everyone be singing, but they will also
be dancing! Part of the “I Can Read! Com-
ics” collection.

“Sadiq and the Perfect Play”
by Siman Nuurali
Being in charge can be hard work. When
Sadiq volunteers to be the director of a play,
he thinks he needs do all the work on his
own, and the pressure becomes too much.

With a little help from his big sister and her
school show director, Sadiq soon learns that
help can come in many different forms.

MIDDLE GRADE: FICTION
“Better Nate Than Ever”
by Tim Federle
Middle schooler Nate’s parents are going
away for the night just when Nate wants to
go to an open call audition for a new Broad-
way musical. Can he travel to NYC by bus,
audition and get home before being caught?
“Drum Roll, Please”
by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
After best friends Melly and Olivia are sep-
arated into different groups at music camp,
Melly tries to learn not to hide herself and
her music behind her drum set.

“Violets Are Blue”
by Barbara Dee
Twelve-year-old Wren loves special effects
makeup. She loves creating a new look and
becoming a different version of herself—a
version that doesn’t have a best friend who
hates her and a mom with a serious prob-
lem. A touching, realistic novel about
forgiveness and starting over.

audition for the role of Elphaba in their high
school’s production of “Wicked,” but will the
bullying and prejudice they continue to face
at school stop the show? [This book contains
discussion of suicidal thoughts.]
“You in Five Acts”
by Una LaMarche
Told from the perspective of five friends at
a performing arts school in New York City,
each “act” is filled with friendship, love, loss
and drama. With a cast of diverse characters
capturing the emotional roller coaster that
is teenagerhood, LaMarche has crafted an
intricate, socially-conscious narrative that is
heartbreaking and sure to spark discussion.

MIDDLE GRADE:
NON-FICTION “A is for Audra: Broadway's Lead-
ing Ladies from A to Z”
by John Robert Allman, illustrated by
Peter Emmerich
For kids interested in some of the cur-
rent and legendary female Broadway stars,
this book highlights many of the greatest.

Contains brief descriptions and colorful
illustrations of the actors in some of their
best-known performances.

“Boys Dancing: From School Gym
to Theater Stage”
by George Ancona
Photographs enhance this profile of four
boys who are chosen to be part of a dance
boot camp run by the National Dance Insti-
tute of New Mexico, as they are given the
chance to perform with 500 other students.

“To Dance: A Memoir”
(graphic novel)
by Siena Siegel, illustrated by Mark
Siegel This true story follows Siena Siegel’s love
of dance as it takes her from Puerto Rico
to training with the New York City Ballet
during the time of founder and choreogra-
pher George Balanchine.

"Wink" by Rob Harrell
YOUNG ADULT
Learning to play guitar and discovering new
“Can't Take That Away”
bands provides an escape for Ross as he
handles both treatment for a rare eye cancer by Steven Salvatore
Genderqueer Carey is finally brave enough to
and starting middle school.

“Instructions for Dancing”
by Nicola Yoon
Evie is having a rough senior year. Her par-
ents are divorcing, she discovers her dad
was unfaithful and now when she sees a
couple kiss, she gets a vision of how they
meet AND how their relationship ends! Her
attempts to remove the visions lead her to
La Brea Dance Studio, where she meets a
boy named X and enters a ballroom dance
competition. Can she learn to value love,
even knowing it will end?
“Kingdom of Back”
by Marie Lu
Would you do anything to be remembered
forever? Nannerl Mozart is just as talented,
if not more so, than her younger brother,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But, being a girl
in 18th century Europe, she is not allowed
to compose. Nannerl’s dreams are crushed,
until a mysterious stranger from a magi-
cal land offers her a chance... a chance that
might just take more than it gives. T
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