Look Both Ways

April 25, 2016
Cherry (For Real) will delight theater fans with this novel about a girl who seems to lack her family’s knack for performance. Brooklyn Shepard, 17, lives in the shadow of her mother, a famous Broadway star, but she plans to hone her own talents at a prestigious summer-stock program. Yet even there, Brooklyn is surrounded by skilled peers who idolize her mother, and she can’t shake her insecurities about whether she deserves to be in the program, wondering whether her mother pulled strings to get her in. Soon, Brooklyn discovers that her place in the theater world might be as a musician, and she begins developing feelings for Zoe, her summer roommate (who has a boyfriend). Cherry’s writing is smooth, and her characters are bright and full of humor. She explores Brooklyn’s struggles with self-esteem and uncertainty about her sexuality with a sensitivity and openness that gives the story notable depth and should expand its audience beyond those who dream of the stage. Ages 12–up. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary.

April 15, 2016
At theater camp, a girl struggles to become the star performer her family pushes her to be.Narrator Brooklyn Shepard comes from a family of theater people. When accepted as an apprentice at the famous Allerdale Playhouse, she knows it's her chance to stop hiding behind the piano as a mere accompanist; Allerdale will make her the performer she's meant to be. After all, she's the daughter of the famous Lana Blake Shepard. But as soon as Brooklyn arrives at the prestigious summer-stock theater, she's overwhelmed--maybe going was a mistake. Then she lays eyes on her stunning roommate, Zoe, a talented actress destined for Juilliard, and it isn't long before the two become inseparable. Brooklyn leans on Zoe when, oddly, she's not cast in any of the main stage productions. Zoe picks up a lead in Bye Bye Birdie but proves loyal even when others question Brooklyn's talent. As the two girls edge closer, romance flourishes, leaving Brooklyn confused but exhilarated. Allerdale might not teach her what she hoped it would, but she learns more about herself than she could have ever expected. The two white girls form a palpable bond filled with sweet moments of emotional connection, but it's Brooklyn's epiphanies about what makes her an artist that really sing. Theater enthusiasts will relish all the details.A tender coming-of-age story that refreshingly allows identity to trump romance. (Fiction. 14-18)

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May 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-A well-written novel that pushes the envelope but remains true to its premise. Rising senior Brooklyn Shepard has always felt out of sync with her theatrical family; thus, when she gets accepted to Allerdale Playhouse Summer Theater, she is hoping she'll fall in love with performing and finally fit in. Though not cast in any main stage productions, she dives into doing technical work, meeting Russell, a scenic designer wannabe who gives her some much-needed support. In fact, when a fire destroys the main theater, the twosome crank out a clever musical spoof to save the final production, and Brooklyn finally realizes her true talent as a composer/lyricist. On a personal front, despite some sexual experiences with her Juilliard-bound roommate Zoe, she decides to consider Russell's romantic feelings. Brooklyn is a well-developed, soul-searching, angst-filled adolescent; Russell and Zoe are also fleshed-out characters. Most of the others are mere caricatures-the over-the-top master, the backbiting fellow performers, the actor-hating techies, and the inept, avant-garde director. Strong language and sexual references abound. They are well handled and in keeping with the book's focus on self-discovery. Most theater terms are clarified in the text, and high school thespians will easily relate to the theatrical lifestyle that is featured.

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