February 1, 2021
Following a Broadway dream takes a budding actress on an unforgettable adventure. Middle school student Monica Garcia is thrilled to learn that she's been cast as an understudy in a real Broadway musical. She travels from California to New York City with her abuelita to begin rehearsals for a new show at the legendary but financially failing Ethel Merman Theater. Monica learns to her surprise that due to unfortunate events she will be stepping into the lead role. As practice gets underway, Monica is unsure what to think of the rumblings from the cast and crew about a curse and possible haunting of the theater. When strange and unexplainable occurrences pull Monica and the other young actors, now dear friends, deeper into the mystery of the cursed theater, Monica finds that a tale from her family history might help point the way to turning things around. Though the storyline follows a familiar Scooby-Doo-type arc, the quirky theater setting and likable characters make for an engaging read. Penned by someone who is herself a Broadway star of such mega-hits as Wicked and Hamilton, the story is peppered with authentic theater lingo and interesting backstage tidbits. Monica and her family have Mexican ancestry. Will hit all the high notes for theater and mystery fans alike. (Mystery. 8-12)
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March 26, 2021
Grades 3-6 Gonzalez, a Broadway star and creator of #FearlessSquad, a group fostering inclusivity, aspiration, and camaraderie, brings drama, mystery, and more in her thrilling love letter to Broadway theater. Pulling from her own experiences, she offers here an adventure in which Monica, a young Latinx kid with a passion for singing, gets a call to be the understudy for one of the leads in Our Time. When she arrives in New York City, she is dazzled, right up until she learns about the curse on the theater where she's working. After receiving an odd key and some cryptic messages, she embarks on a journey to break the curse on the theater forever. More than just a mystery, this is about all the magic of theater, written by someone with a deep appreciate for the art form. Readers will learn about different shows and people, all the while easily relating to the main characters, who are vividly fleshed out on the page. The kids, especially Monica, are easy to root for, and the author delivers a very satisfying ending.
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