“Thirteen-year-old Calvin knows he's destined to be a star. . . if he can just stop making embarrassing mistakes onstage, like getting stuck on a single line―"Forsooth!"―during the school play. The summer after seventh grade, he's hoping for a fresh start. All he has to do is prove himself as an actor and fix the awkwardness with his friends that started after the play. But nothing's going according to plan. His parents don't get his love of performing. His best friend is moving on without him. And he might have a crush that could change everything. Surrounded by drama on all sides, Calvin will have to go off script if he's going to be a real friend and be true to himself.”
I’m torn by this middle aged title. I think the progression of Calvin and everyone else moves in a very realistic way. We all remember our first group of friends and as sometimes new people come in and others leave, you all wonder if the new people will like you. I also liked the idea that Calvin comes from a very religious family –something that is rarely seem in middle grade books with families who are religious but it is becoming increasingly rare for middle age books. Now I’m not religious in anyway, but having Calvin’s parents be who they are and not apologize for it adds more to the drama for this broadway loving kid (and it’s clear that both his parents are smarter than most –they already recognize that Calvin maybe different).
The dull parts were the angsty drama. Maybe when I was growing up and suddenly realizing you were not like other people, I could not easily put the word to it. In our current, modern age, having Calvin figuring out his identity or his relationship with his friends and family seems a bit farfetched. It’s the weird balance between drama and light-hearted tone that Matejek-Morris fails to bring together.
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