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Step into the Spotlight!
This glittery early chapter book series is all about friendship! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Meet the amazing Stardust Girls -- Marlo, Bella, Carly, and Allie! They all live and work at the Stardust Circus. Marlo, the new girl, is eager to make friends. The other girls welcome her and she tries everything to fit in -- trapeze, tightrope walking, juggling, and even dog training -- all with hilarious results. Marlo wants to shine in the spotlight, but what will her special talent be? With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this glittery series is full of sparkle and friendship!
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2015
19 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 12, 2016
Glittery first reader for almost 6 year old Granddaughter.
March 15, 2025
This book was very interesting! I see no flaw in the writing. It was inspiring because they do really challenging things that I would like to try some day. There are lots of friends and resolved conflicts. I see no flaws in the pictures either. This book is amazing for people just learning to read leveled readers or Acorn books and are looking for something more challenging. xo, Daphne
February 25, 2019
What’s more fun than living on a circus train? Pretty good book for early readers.
Want to read
January 14, 2021AR BL: 2.7
February 11, 2022
Pretty formulaic.
April 4, 2024
Very fun read
August 7, 2020
The main character discovers her talent for hula hooping is actually exceptional and worthy of the circus without any need for hard work, refinement, polishing, etc. It's incredibly frustrating to read books targeted at boys that put value and emphasis on hard work versus books targeted at girls that put value on luck and happenstance.
December 19, 2016
This is a review of books 1 and 2 of the Amazing Stardust Friends series.
The Amazing Stardust Friends, a new series in Scholastic's Branches line, is set in the famous Stardust Circus. In book one, Step into the Spotlight, Marlo arrives at the circus along with her mom, who is the new chef. When Marlo asks to be allowed to join the parade that takes place at each performance, Liam the Ringmaster tells her she must first find a talent. After trying many things, she realizes she has had a special skill all along. In the forthcoming second book, Be a Star, producers come to film the circus performers and trapeze artist Allie becomes obsessed with the idea of landing a part in a TV show, even though she is not being seriously considered. This causes much conflict with the other Stardust Friends.
This series gets credit for trying a new setting. With so many friendship stories for this age group, this one at least stands out a little bit by taking the story outside of the usual school and home environments. The circus train is an appealing location, made more so by the map which appears early on in each book. Unfortunately, aside from this map, the illustrations feel strangely dated, as though they came from a Jem and the Holograms coloring book. The big eyes and hair on the covers give off a creepy vibe, and the characters look like they are much older than the stories themselves suggest. The vocabulary is simple enough, and short chapters filled with short sentences make the text easy enough to read for at least some second and third graders. The look of the books, though, makes them seem more middle grade, which might cause parents to dismiss them as too mature even though the content is perfectly appropriate for beginning chapter book readers.
The Branches books continue to be very inconsistent in terms of quality and kid appeal. This series seems to fall somewhere in the middle - not the best, but certainly not the worst, either. For more circus-themed books for this age group, also try the Three-Ring Rascals series by Kate and M. Sarah Klise.
The Amazing Stardust Friends, a new series in Scholastic's Branches line, is set in the famous Stardust Circus. In book one, Step into the Spotlight, Marlo arrives at the circus along with her mom, who is the new chef. When Marlo asks to be allowed to join the parade that takes place at each performance, Liam the Ringmaster tells her she must first find a talent. After trying many things, she realizes she has had a special skill all along. In the forthcoming second book, Be a Star, producers come to film the circus performers and trapeze artist Allie becomes obsessed with the idea of landing a part in a TV show, even though she is not being seriously considered. This causes much conflict with the other Stardust Friends.
This series gets credit for trying a new setting. With so many friendship stories for this age group, this one at least stands out a little bit by taking the story outside of the usual school and home environments. The circus train is an appealing location, made more so by the map which appears early on in each book. Unfortunately, aside from this map, the illustrations feel strangely dated, as though they came from a Jem and the Holograms coloring book. The big eyes and hair on the covers give off a creepy vibe, and the characters look like they are much older than the stories themselves suggest. The vocabulary is simple enough, and short chapters filled with short sentences make the text easy enough to read for at least some second and third graders. The look of the books, though, makes them seem more middle grade, which might cause parents to dismiss them as too mature even though the content is perfectly appropriate for beginning chapter book readers.
The Branches books continue to be very inconsistent in terms of quality and kid appeal. This series seems to fall somewhere in the middle - not the best, but certainly not the worst, either. For more circus-themed books for this age group, also try the Three-Ring Rascals series by Kate and M. Sarah Klise.
January 24, 2016
One of Scholastic’s Branches titles, Step into the Spotlight, part of a new series, The Amazing Stardust Friends shares the story of an eight year old girl, Marlo, and her mother who join a circus for Mom’s new job as the chef. Marlo is in a brand new situation with new people and new adventures--but how will she fit in when she’s never been a part of a circus? Marlo meets the Stardust Girls and just wants to fit in with her own fabulous talent--but she can’t get Bella’s animals to dance with her, hang forever on the aerials like Annie, or juggle like Carly. Learning to fit in with your own talents is a theme throughout the whole story, and will resonate with late primary and early intermediate elementary school readers. Perfect for any young reader who loves sparkles and gymnastics, and meant for students ready for more text than early readers and early chapter books, this book still includes black and white illustrations to keep a reader engaged. Plus, who doesn’t want to learn fun facts about a circus?
February 21, 2015
Marlo's mom has just joined the circus: joined as a chef. Her and her mom will now be living on a circus train. There are several other children for Marlo to get to know: some are performers themselves, some are children of employees and/or performers. Marlo really wants to become friends with the three Stardust girls: Allie, the acrobat, Bella, the animal trainer, and Carly, the clown. She's been told she can join the Stardust Parade IF she can come up with an amazing act of her own. She has just TWO days until the next performance. She's very determined and quite ambitious. Perhaps she can learn to be an acrobat? or a clown? or work with animals? Or perhaps not. Can Allie, Carly, and Bella help Marlo find her own way of being amazing? And will Marlo become a Stardust girl too?
This is an illustrated chapter book. I liked it. I did. It's a fun book with a playful premise.
This is an illustrated chapter book. I liked it. I did. It's a fun book with a playful premise.
December 13, 2015
Marlo and her mom have joined the circus. Mom is the new cook and Marlo wants to perform. With the help of Allie, Bella, and Carly, she finds her talent and becomes one of the performers in the circus.
This is one of the books in the “Branches” series by Scholastic which is aimed at just beginning to read chapter books for kids. There are plenty of simple sentences and lovely artwork to keep the young reader turning pages. The story line is interesting and easy to follow. The chapters are short and sweet. The print is crisp and precise. This would be an excellent addition to the children’s section of the library. Recommended for grades 1 – 3.
This is one of the books in the “Branches” series by Scholastic which is aimed at just beginning to read chapter books for kids. There are plenty of simple sentences and lovely artwork to keep the young reader turning pages. The story line is interesting and easy to follow. The chapters are short and sweet. The print is crisp and precise. This would be an excellent addition to the children’s section of the library. Recommended for grades 1 – 3.
March 5, 2015
Eight-year-old Marlo's mom has just gotten a job cooking for the members of the Stardust Circus. Marlo loves her new life -- complete with a bunk on the Stardust train, a traveling classroom, and friendships with an acrobat, an animal trainer, and a clown. But how will she ever begin to fit in without a special role of her own?
What a great concept for a series! The story is filled with lots of little details that make the circus world come to life. Marlo's struggles are very real, while her bravery and star power give her a heroic, larger-than-life quality that makes her easy to root for.
What a great concept for a series! The story is filled with lots of little details that make the circus world come to life. Marlo's struggles are very real, while her bravery and star power give her a heroic, larger-than-life quality that makes her easy to root for.
June 3, 2015
Marlo and her mother are getting ready to live the life that many people dream of but few get a chance to do - they are joining the circus. Of course her mom is only the cook for the traveling show. However Marlo is left with having to go to school on the train with the other circus kids. Luckily there are three girls her age but will they let her into their tight circle? This new series from Scholastic Branches is a sure winner for young girls. Full of sparkle and excitement the message of making and keeping friends will be easily received.
October 8, 2015
This is a solid series beginning for kids just starting out in chapter books who would also love to be famous some day. It's about a girl whose mom takes a job cooking for a circus crew. The girl wants to join an act with other girls her own age, but needs to find or develop a talent. Very sweet. Serious wish fulfillment. Kids who aren't quite old enough for Katie Kazoo Switcheroo or the Fancy Nancy chapter books should check this out.
February 3, 2016
Love...
... the Branches series from Scholastic
... the idea of a circus train (!!!)
Not a fan of...
... the cover art (looks very 1990's)
... black and white illustrations when such colorful & glittery circus outfits are being described
I will still highly encourage my 2nd and 3rd graders to read these. :)
... the Branches series from Scholastic
... the idea of a circus train (!!!)
Not a fan of...
... the cover art (looks very 1990's)
... black and white illustrations when such colorful & glittery circus outfits are being described
I will still highly encourage my 2nd and 3rd graders to read these. :)
December 31, 2016
Read this with my reluctant reader daughter. She enjoys the glitter and glamour and the circus setting is nice for being different. The circus people are sufficiently diverse and the friends are suitably supportive. All in all, cute beginning chapter book.
I agree with someone else who said the covers look a little more difficult than the content actually is.
I agree with someone else who said the covers look a little more difficult than the content actually is.
September 2, 2015
My 6 year old daughter and I read this book over the summer. It kept her attention and was not too hard for her to read. I did have to help her with some words but by the end of the book she could read most of it with out my help. She wants to get the next book in the series to read.
April 30, 2015
Much cuter than I expected. Fairly predictable but should have a wide audience.
June 6, 2015
Cute but predictable and the friendship development is overly simplified. Maybe I'm expecting too much from such a short book. I didn't like this as much as the Eerie School series.
June 27, 2015
Another fun beginning chapter book ( A Branches book from Scholastic). Girls who are interested gymnastics/dancing or books about friendship or looking for your talent would enjoy this.
December 29, 2015
Another good entry in the Branches series for beginning readers, accessible and high in appeal for its target audience.
January 29, 2016
Cute book! Perfect for second grade reading level.
March 8, 2016
I did not know Marlo was going to hula hoop for the circus show.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews