Act I, Act II, Act Normal

Act I, Act II, Act Normal

I felt my ears get hot. I'd gotten my wish--a big part--but this part? And in this play?Topher Blakely has been waiting all his life to get the lead in the eight-grade play. But the contest winner is a fairy tale! At least Topher gets to act mean and wear a fake beard.Topher and his best friend, Kip, know that from Populars to Losers, the label you get is the label you live, and nobody lets you forget it. At least half the school would rather eat rocks than try out for a play. Want people to think you're a geek or gay? Hang out near the theater. And Bad Daniel, the school bully, makes sure Topher never forgets it.At least a guy can go home to relax, right? Won't Topher's savvy, undertanding parents, his adoring little sister, and his fun-loving pet cat put life in perspective? Yeah, rrriiiight. . .From School Library JournalGrade 5-8-Each year at Hope Springs Middle School, eighth graders write plays, and one is selected for production. Topher believes wholeheartedly that his friend Kip's mystery, The Sweet Tooth of Death, will be picked and that he will get the lead. Instead, Rumpelstiltskin-The Musical wins. Kip convinces Topher to audition and he's cast as Rumpelstiltskin. What follows is the protagonist's take on the ups and downs of rehearsals with a touchy female lead and a defensive playwright. The play fits into the boy's busy life as he copes with the illness and death of his elderly cat and challenges from a bully at school. As Topher states, "Want people to think you're a geek or gay? Hang out near the theater." Lighthearted and humorous, this novel presents a realistic and insightful look at artistic young people. Give it to fans of Gordon Korman's No More Dead Dogs (Hyperion, 2000) or Avi's Romeo & Juliet-Together (& Alive!) at Last (Orchard, 1987).Crystal Faris, Nassau Library System, Uniondale, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.From BooklistGr. 4-7. Hilarity and poignancy mix in a story that hits the bull's-eye for middle- graders. (Chris) Topher Burke has won the lead in the eighth-grade play, a musical version of "Rumpelstiltskin." Although he loves being on stage, he's got plenty of headaches to contend with: a recalcitrant playwright, a temperamental leading lady, and a group of boys who think he's a "fag" for liking theater. The first-person narrative clips along with little description, but, with the exception of characters' ages (Topher seems more like 12 than 14), Weston, best known for her picture books, still gives readers a solid idea of who the characters are. The humor builds throughout the story, becoming laugh-out-loud funny when Topher's tights (which he borrowed from his younger sister to complete his costume) keep inching down over his butt. The play ends just in time. Tempering the comedy is a subplot involving the illness and death of Topher's cat, which Weston neatly ties into play. Give this a round of applause. Ilene CooperCopyright