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Shannon in the Spotlight
After Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD.
Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon’s always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight.
At first, Shannon is hesitant. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine. But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn’t feel anxious. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic . . . except Elise.
To make matters worse, Shannon’s eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. As opening night approaches, Shannon feels pressure to save her friendship with Elise, to make Mom and Grandma Ruby act like grown-ups, and to follow the old theater adage The show must go on.
Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon’s always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight.
At first, Shannon is hesitant. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine. But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn’t feel anxious. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic . . . except Elise.
To make matters worse, Shannon’s eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. As opening night approaches, Shannon feels pressure to save her friendship with Elise, to make Mom and Grandma Ruby act like grown-ups, and to follow the old theater adage The show must go on.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2023
2 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Kalena Miller
4 books38 followersKalena Miller is the author of several books for children and teens. She graduated from Carleton College before receiving an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University. She currently lives with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog in College Station, Texas, where she runs a bookstore with her mom. When she is not writing, reading, or selling books, Kalena enjoys tap dancing, crocheting, and watching an embarrassing amount of reality television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 31, 2024
A young girl who struggles with OCD encounters some surprises, good and bad, when she gets a part in a theatrical production.
I was so excited when I first saw the cover of this book, and read the summary on Netgalley. I guessed immediately what play it would be by looking at the costumes. (No spoilers! You have to read the book to find out which one it is, because the book flap info does not reveal it!)
Anyway, I went on to read and thoroughly enjoy this story. Shannon is a girl many readers will relate to, because the author’s details of middle-school friendship angst are spot-on. Shannon is the narrator, so you get inside her head as she deals with her OCD, and the family drama that arises when Grandma arrives for a protracted visit!
Here’s a confession: there’s a tiny part of me that wishes I could go back in time and be a character in a play as a kid/ young adult. I always thought I was too shy to be in that kind of spotlight, but over the years I’ve thought that I might have enjoyed acting, maybe even been good at it! Shannon sums it up best when she declares that she likes acting because it gives her a chance to become another, different kind of person while she’s onstage.
I was so excited when I first saw the cover of this book, and read the summary on Netgalley. I guessed immediately what play it would be by looking at the costumes. (No spoilers! You have to read the book to find out which one it is, because the book flap info does not reveal it!)
Anyway, I went on to read and thoroughly enjoy this story. Shannon is a girl many readers will relate to, because the author’s details of middle-school friendship angst are spot-on. Shannon is the narrator, so you get inside her head as she deals with her OCD, and the family drama that arises when Grandma arrives for a protracted visit!
Here’s a confession: there’s a tiny part of me that wishes I could go back in time and be a character in a play as a kid/ young adult. I always thought I was too shy to be in that kind of spotlight, but over the years I’ve thought that I might have enjoyed acting, maybe even been good at it! Shannon sums it up best when she declares that she likes acting because it gives her a chance to become another, different kind of person while she’s onstage.
January 7, 2023
Kalena Miller's lead character in Shannon in the Spotlight unexpectedly finds herself cast in a community theater production of The Sound of Music, which drives a wedge between her and her best friend. And that's just for starters. Add in family turmoil, Shannon's struggles with OCD, and a budding relationship with Micah (is it a romance?), and her well-ordered life threatens to spiral out of control. I loved this timeless middlegrade tale whose beautifully crafted, three-dimensional characters also include Shannon's fellow actors, her eccentric grandmother, her annoying but sympathetic mother, and her all-too-human therapist. Coming April 23, 2023, from Delacorte.
August 28, 2022
I recieved a free eARC so I could read and review this book. Thank you for the opportunity.
Shannon is a tween who loves music theater, hanging out with her friends...and who needs order and routines. Shannon's OCD affects her life. When Shannon gets cast in the part her best friend wants and her grandmother moves in after a house fire, her carefully controlled life spins out of control.
This is a positive book that addresses OCD in a realistic way. Shannon's struggles to control her life and deal with her OCD are relatable, as are her friendship struggles. Grandma Ruby is a quirky character and adds life to this book. Middle grade readers who enjoy books about theater, friendships, and family relationships will enjoy this book, and may learn something about OCD in the process,
Shannon is a tween who loves music theater, hanging out with her friends...and who needs order and routines. Shannon's OCD affects her life. When Shannon gets cast in the part her best friend wants and her grandmother moves in after a house fire, her carefully controlled life spins out of control.
This is a positive book that addresses OCD in a realistic way. Shannon's struggles to control her life and deal with her OCD are relatable, as are her friendship struggles. Grandma Ruby is a quirky character and adds life to this book. Middle grade readers who enjoy books about theater, friendships, and family relationships will enjoy this book, and may learn something about OCD in the process,
May 14, 2023
Truly attention-grabbing theater kid, middle grade novel! Shannon and her two best friends do everything together until Elise gets accidentally shown up. The community theater director hears Shannon belting out a song when auditions are over and everyone is clowning around. He is so taken with her voice and tone, he demands to know who just sang that last line. So, the usual backstage techie somehow ends up with a major part.
How Shannon works through the drama with her friends and the horror of her grandmother having to move in temporarily makes for an excellent story.
How Shannon works through the drama with her friends and the horror of her grandmother having to move in temporarily makes for an excellent story.
October 17, 2022
What a great book.
I really loved the characters. Mom, Grandma, friends, and of course Shannon. Their interactions, dialogue and thoughts were honest and at times, funny. I liked the backdrop of the play and the fun the actors and actresses had. This book was great if I stopped right here but the author took the next step and added OCD into the mix. It made the story even better. I absolutely loved the relationship with her therapist and her grandmother. It was brilliant.
This book is well worth your time.
Enjoy!
I really loved the characters. Mom, Grandma, friends, and of course Shannon. Their interactions, dialogue and thoughts were honest and at times, funny. I liked the backdrop of the play and the fun the actors and actresses had. This book was great if I stopped right here but the author took the next step and added OCD into the mix. It made the story even better. I absolutely loved the relationship with her therapist and her grandmother. It was brilliant.
This book is well worth your time.
Enjoy!
May 29, 2023
This was a delightful read. While many books still bear traces of the “very special episode” approach to handing mental illness, Shannon in the Spotlight normalizes it, situating her OCD within a constellation of other middle-grade dilemmas—conflicts with friends, family dynamics, and the pressure of her first time performing in a musical. The book is undeniably fun, and watching the musical slowly evolve will appeal to any middle-grade reader who loves theatre.
May 6, 2023
I was initially drawn to this book as the main character’s name is Shannon Carter. This is my name too! How awesome to see my name in the spotlight. While I’m nowhere near 12 years old, I found Shannon to be very relatable. I have certainly had my share of fights with friends over the years! I kept forgetting Shannon was so young as her thoughts and actions were very mature. The play prep was written in just the right amount of detail to make me feel like I was part of the cast, and when the book ended I had an urge to watch the play!
It is nice to see a character living with anxiety and OCD in a healthy way, with the help of a therapist and family and friends that are supportive. Shannon was not made fun of and was allowed to be herself. I really appreciated this aspect of the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It is nice to see a character living with anxiety and OCD in a healthy way, with the help of a therapist and family and friends that are supportive. Shannon was not made fun of and was allowed to be herself. I really appreciated this aspect of the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 7, 2023
Shannon in the Spotlight was such a delight to read, primarily because of Shannon herself and how easy it was to empathize with her as she navigated rehearsals, family challenges, therapy, and friend drama over the course of one summer. Kalena Miller does such a wonderful job balancing funny moments and middle school chaos with genuinely poignant scenes about the power of theater and communicating honestly with loved ones. I LOVE musicals, and although I was never a theater kid myself, I loved watching the kids and adults in this book put The Sound of Music together and getting to see glimpses of rehearsals and the tech crew. I highly recommend this book for any young readers! (and adults)
April 16, 2023
This was a delightful story about friendship, family, and giving yourself grace. The cast of characters is well thought out, with real and relatable interactions and conversations between friends and family. I especially loved the language used around therapy and how Shannon's friends and family all have their own little way to support her, whether by hiding extra chapstick or bringing a clean blanket to sit on. It was so great to see the love and support she has in all aspects, from taking on new challenges to dealing with familiar ones.
April 29, 2023
A marvelous, diverse, inclusive, fun, entertaining, and heartwarming middle grade book! Shannon had me singing with her and rooting for her from the start, and it is probably the first MG I read with OCD rep! I loved how the other kids reacted to this. Shannon will stay with you (and have you humming all the way!)
December 18, 2025
Cute and well-written, but I don’t like its stance on OCD treatment.
Shannon’s mother enables her OCD throughout the book. At one point near the middle, her grandmother helps Shannon with an exposure therapy challenge by distracting her with Scrabble. She’s able to resist a compulsion for hours. Then, Shannon’s mom comes home and yells at the grandmother for doing that. I figured okay, this is going to be the conflict between them, and the mom will figure out later that Grandma had the right idea.
But nope. They never go back to distracting Shannon through the compulsions. They never reconsider that Grandma was supposedly in the wrong for doing it.
There’s this particular OCD fear that seems primed to be overcome as part of the climax. Shannon is afraid of wearing her character shoes for the play. Surely, she’s going to overcome it and wear the shoes onstage, right?
Nope. The grandmother, having apparently ‘learned her lesson,’ offers her an accommodation that allows her to wear her own shoes.
Look, I get that resisting OCD is nightmarish and that sometimes, accommodating it is all you can do. But this is a kids book structured to have a happy ending. I don’t want the protagonist’s mental illness being totally enabled to be presented as the happy ending.
Shannon’s mother enables her OCD throughout the book. At one point near the middle, her grandmother helps Shannon with an exposure therapy challenge by distracting her with Scrabble. She’s able to resist a compulsion for hours. Then, Shannon’s mom comes home and yells at the grandmother for doing that. I figured okay, this is going to be the conflict between them, and the mom will figure out later that Grandma had the right idea.
But nope. They never go back to distracting Shannon through the compulsions. They never reconsider that Grandma was supposedly in the wrong for doing it.
There’s this particular OCD fear that seems primed to be overcome as part of the climax. Shannon is afraid of wearing her character shoes for the play. Surely, she’s going to overcome it and wear the shoes onstage, right?
Nope. The grandmother, having apparently ‘learned her lesson,’ offers her an accommodation that allows her to wear her own shoes.
Look, I get that resisting OCD is nightmarish and that sometimes, accommodating it is all you can do. But this is a kids book structured to have a happy ending. I don’t want the protagonist’s mental illness being totally enabled to be presented as the happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.
I want to preface this with this is very, very middle grade. I appreciate how the novel focuses on Shannon's OCD in a way to normalize it rather than attempt to "solve" it because even by the end of the novel, she is still doing the same rituals and everything else she does with OCD. Others adapt to her rather than her adapting to them. The OCD also wasn't the main plot point, rather, it was typical 12 year old issues of friend drama and family drama and really just Shannon coming out of her shel after being (accidentally?) casted in the musical.
I say this was middle grade because the plot was there but it wasn't a very deep plot, and the pacing is incredibly quick and there are large time gaps in the play. After Shannon gets into a fight with her friend, the novel just moves past like 3 weeks of awkward silence between them. I did like the plot and the subplots in it though, and I appreciated how it showed Shannon's therapy appointments.
I really rated this mostly because it is a great mental health representation, especially for younger readers.
I want to preface this with this is very, very middle grade. I appreciate how the novel focuses on Shannon's OCD in a way to normalize it rather than attempt to "solve" it because even by the end of the novel, she is still doing the same rituals and everything else she does with OCD. Others adapt to her rather than her adapting to them. The OCD also wasn't the main plot point, rather, it was typical 12 year old issues of friend drama and family drama and really just Shannon coming out of her shel after being (accidentally?) casted in the musical.
I say this was middle grade because the plot was there but it wasn't a very deep plot, and the pacing is incredibly quick and there are large time gaps in the play. After Shannon gets into a fight with her friend, the novel just moves past like 3 weeks of awkward silence between them. I did like the plot and the subplots in it though, and I appreciated how it showed Shannon's therapy appointments.
I really rated this mostly because it is a great mental health representation, especially for younger readers.
March 3, 2023
3.5
I feel a little mislead by the cover of this new middle grade with the visible Muslim in hijab on the cover. There is nothing in the text that suggests the Egyptian heritage siblings are of any particular faith, save one mention of hijab when the character adjusts it. Fatima and her brother Amir Suleiman, honestly might not be written as Muslim, it all really hangs on one word inclusion and a cover illustration. The book is about theater, and friends, family, and a first boyfriend, and coping with it all while having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I started reading it because I was hoping to see some Muslim representation, but I kept reading because the writing and story were good. The "criticism" isn't on the story, just on the misleading nature of the diverse cast of characters. Fatima and Amir would read exactly the same no matter their skin color, ethnicity, or faith. It feels a little like token inclusion to be honest. I have people close to me with OCD, so once I realized that the two side characters had no problem with dating, Amir brushed off a girl liking him because of theatrical integrity, I stuck around to see if the book would be a good reading recommendation for their children, and I honestly don't know. The theater centering might deter some readers, there is a light romance with the main character holding hands and becoming girlfriend/boyfriend with a boy in the play, one of the characters has two dads, there is music, sleepovers, birthdays, and a grandma who smokes cigarettes. I definitely feel more compassionate to those I know with OCD after reading it, so there is that, and I think literature is a tremendous tool to providing insight into what those suffering endure and need from their friends/family.
I feel a little mislead by the cover of this new middle grade with the visible Muslim in hijab on the cover. There is nothing in the text that suggests the Egyptian heritage siblings are of any particular faith, save one mention of hijab when the character adjusts it. Fatima and her brother Amir Suleiman, honestly might not be written as Muslim, it all really hangs on one word inclusion and a cover illustration. The book is about theater, and friends, family, and a first boyfriend, and coping with it all while having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I started reading it because I was hoping to see some Muslim representation, but I kept reading because the writing and story were good. The "criticism" isn't on the story, just on the misleading nature of the diverse cast of characters. Fatima and Amir would read exactly the same no matter their skin color, ethnicity, or faith. It feels a little like token inclusion to be honest. I have people close to me with OCD, so once I realized that the two side characters had no problem with dating, Amir brushed off a girl liking him because of theatrical integrity, I stuck around to see if the book would be a good reading recommendation for their children, and I honestly don't know. The theater centering might deter some readers, there is a light romance with the main character holding hands and becoming girlfriend/boyfriend with a boy in the play, one of the characters has two dads, there is music, sleepovers, birthdays, and a grandma who smokes cigarettes. I definitely feel more compassionate to those I know with OCD after reading it, so there is that, and I think literature is a tremendous tool to providing insight into what those suffering endure and need from their friends/family.
April 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, author Kalena Miller, and Random House Children's: Delacorte Press for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
I LOVED this!! I was a theater kid growing up, and this book was such a delight to read for that exact reason!! Shannon was such a relatable narrator, and I loved that Miller really explored the nerves and excitement that come along with stepping into a new role of performance. The representation of Shannon's OCD seemed extremely authentic and was handled with such grace to show how it was just a part of who she was but that it was also okay for her to be working through some of her compulsions in therapy. Much of the storyline deals with Shannon struggling with friend drama, family drama, and first crushes as well, making this an almost perfect coming-of-age story. I say almost perfect because I would have liked to see more from her friends Fatima and Eliza; I feel like they kind of took a backseat to the story at times to just be figures for the drama rather than developed characters. I feel the same in that I wish I saw more bonding between Shannon and her grandmother as well. However, this was one of the most enjoyable and refreshing coming-of-age MG books I've read in a really long time, and I so look forward to reading more of Miller's work!
I LOVED this!! I was a theater kid growing up, and this book was such a delight to read for that exact reason!! Shannon was such a relatable narrator, and I loved that Miller really explored the nerves and excitement that come along with stepping into a new role of performance. The representation of Shannon's OCD seemed extremely authentic and was handled with such grace to show how it was just a part of who she was but that it was also okay for her to be working through some of her compulsions in therapy. Much of the storyline deals with Shannon struggling with friend drama, family drama, and first crushes as well, making this an almost perfect coming-of-age story. I say almost perfect because I would have liked to see more from her friends Fatima and Eliza; I feel like they kind of took a backseat to the story at times to just be figures for the drama rather than developed characters. I feel the same in that I wish I saw more bonding between Shannon and her grandmother as well. However, this was one of the most enjoyable and refreshing coming-of-age MG books I've read in a really long time, and I so look forward to reading more of Miller's work!
April 15, 2023
The theater allows us to be things we never thought were possible. Shannon’s battle of dealing with her OCD, family issues, and trying to figure out why a close friend all the sudden wants nothing to do with her is such a real story. I love watching her trying to work through all the things that seem to be going wrong in her life mixed with small joys. Life is so full of ups and downs but dealing with a mental health issue while trying something new and having life seem to fall apart can be so difficult. Sadly, life doesn’t slow down when we need it to but Shannon is able to start figuring out ways to navigate life where she feels like she has more of a voice. I truly enjoyed how relatable Shannon was, and that she was able to find people who can accept her the way she is and even have tools to help her if she needs them to calm down.
Thank you so much to Random House Children and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Thank you so much to Random House Children and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
April 25, 2023
Wonderful contemporary middle-grade novel, suitable for upper elementary school age into middle school. I loved the trip down memory lane of putting together a community musical - a really fun backdrop for the action and conflicts of the book.
The author notes at the end that she has OCD (like main character Shannon) and she provided a great look into what it's truly like to live with OCD, busting a lot of the stereotypes about the condition.
Shannon's relationships with her mom, grandma, two best friends, and therapist Ariel are the heart of the novel. I loved watching how much Shannon grew into herself and figured out how to tell people (respectfully) what she needs. That's a great lesson for young girls to see playing out with the specific examples in the story.
Other Notes:
Romance - budding relationship between M/F characters, but not the main focus of the book (hand holding, and possibly one kiss, I can't remember for sure)
Language - no expletives; a couple arguments between characters
Content - main character has OCD; strained family relationships;
The author notes at the end that she has OCD (like main character Shannon) and she provided a great look into what it's truly like to live with OCD, busting a lot of the stereotypes about the condition.
Shannon's relationships with her mom, grandma, two best friends, and therapist Ariel are the heart of the novel. I loved watching how much Shannon grew into herself and figured out how to tell people (respectfully) what she needs. That's a great lesson for young girls to see playing out with the specific examples in the story.
Other Notes:
Romance - budding relationship between M/F characters, but not the main focus of the book (hand holding, and possibly one kiss, I can't remember for sure)
Language - no expletives; a couple arguments between characters
Content - main character has OCD; strained family relationships;
June 3, 2023
A cute middle-grade overall! As a thespian myself, of course I loved the theatre parts of it, and I think the author did a great job with mental illness and therapy representation. The pace was a bit fast, and it all felt very surface-level and a bit rushed, but I did enjoy it and read it in just a few hours.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
March 10, 2024
Shannon in the Spotlight
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 8
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 7
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 8
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 7
April 4, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
Shannon is a 12-year-old girl with OCD who finds her self cast in a big role in her first ever theater production. She has to learn how to deal with friends maybe not being so happy for her, her grandmother moving in, and her first crush.
This is a good book for kids to understand a bit of what it's like to have OCD and rough times in friendships. It's a nice look at therapy.
I love that this took place in the Twin Cities.
Kalena Miller only has two books out, but I've really liked them both and I hope she continues to write.
Shannon is a 12-year-old girl with OCD who finds her self cast in a big role in her first ever theater production. She has to learn how to deal with friends maybe not being so happy for her, her grandmother moving in, and her first crush.
This is a good book for kids to understand a bit of what it's like to have OCD and rough times in friendships. It's a nice look at therapy.
I love that this took place in the Twin Cities.
Kalena Miller only has two books out, but I've really liked them both and I hope she continues to write.
February 11, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book.
Wow. This book had me engrossed from end to end. It is such an important book and very well written and relatable. I adored Shannon, the main character, who suffers from OCD and anxiety yet auditions on a whim for a role in the youth theater's production of The Sound of Music. To her surprise (and the surprise of her friends), Shannon gets the part of Brigitta!
The book covers a lot of relevant topics for middle grade readers. Friendship is key, as Shannon navigates some tricky friend struggles with one of her best friends. Mental health is a huge topic in here, and not only do we spend a lot of time with Shannon and her therapist, but we also learn how she is dealing with it and how her family and friends support her. There is stepping outside of her comfort zone but also falling in love with musical theater and how she feels on the stage. There are family dynamics when her grandmother's house is set on fire and she comes to live with Shannon and her mother. And there's even some romance! Shannon develops feelings for a fellow castmate and has to navigate those feelings.
All in all, an excellent middle grade book that tackles mental health in a thoughtful and relevant way. The author's note was especially moving, as Kalena Miller explained that she, like Shannon, has obsessive compulsive disorder.
Wow. This book had me engrossed from end to end. It is such an important book and very well written and relatable. I adored Shannon, the main character, who suffers from OCD and anxiety yet auditions on a whim for a role in the youth theater's production of The Sound of Music. To her surprise (and the surprise of her friends), Shannon gets the part of Brigitta!
The book covers a lot of relevant topics for middle grade readers. Friendship is key, as Shannon navigates some tricky friend struggles with one of her best friends. Mental health is a huge topic in here, and not only do we spend a lot of time with Shannon and her therapist, but we also learn how she is dealing with it and how her family and friends support her. There is stepping outside of her comfort zone but also falling in love with musical theater and how she feels on the stage. There are family dynamics when her grandmother's house is set on fire and she comes to live with Shannon and her mother. And there's even some romance! Shannon develops feelings for a fellow castmate and has to navigate those feelings.
All in all, an excellent middle grade book that tackles mental health in a thoughtful and relevant way. The author's note was especially moving, as Kalena Miller explained that she, like Shannon, has obsessive compulsive disorder.
March 28, 2023
Thank you to #NetGalley, Kalena Miller, and the publisher of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Shanon is a 12-year old who just wants to be a normal theater tech, but when she lands one of the lead roles, she has more to worry about than just memorizing her lines. One of her friends is mad at her for auditioning, her grandma moves in after a fire and her OCD is holding her back.
Will Shanon be able to save her friendship, get her grandma and mom to get along and challenging tasks to help her with her OCD?
A cute and fun middle grade read! It will help upper elementary and early middle grade students who may struggle with friendships or OCD themselves.
Shanon is a 12-year old who just wants to be a normal theater tech, but when she lands one of the lead roles, she has more to worry about than just memorizing her lines. One of her friends is mad at her for auditioning, her grandma moves in after a fire and her OCD is holding her back.
Will Shanon be able to save her friendship, get her grandma and mom to get along and challenging tasks to help her with her OCD?
A cute and fun middle grade read! It will help upper elementary and early middle grade students who may struggle with friendships or OCD themselves.
December 31, 2023
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Shannon and her friends Fatima and Elise are interested in theater to different degrees. Shannon would rather work on set design and tech, while Fatima would like smalls roles and Elise wants to be the star. When the teacher directing the school play hears Shannon singing, he suggests that she try out for the Norther Repretory Theater in town. They're doing the Sound of Music, so need lots of children. To her surprise, Shannon gets the part of Brigitta. Shannon has to deal with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so has some concerns about being in the play, but is glad that she got a part. Complicating her life further is the fact that her Grandma Ruby's house has had a fire, and Grandma Ruby moves in with Shannon and her mother for a bit... into Shannon's room! Shannon sees a therapist to help her with her OCD, and is trying out therapies to help her, such as stepping over the doorway into her room wearing the "wrong" shoes. Grandma Ruby doesn't think much about the therapy and thinks that Shannon just needs to "get over it", and even spends the morning trying to distract Shannon from using Chapstick more than every fifteen minutes, although Shannon does feel calmer playing Scrabble with her grandmother and not thinking about other things. Elise isn't too happy that Shannon got a part, and the two have a bit of a falling out. As the play progreses, Shannon connects with Micah, who has seen Shannon in the therapist's office while he is waiting for his older sister, who is also working with the therapist for OCD. It's good to have someone who understands. Grandma Ruby gets more involved in the play, and Shannon and Elise work out their problems a bit. Will the play be a success?
Strengths: There is a lot of good information about dealing with OCD, similar to the way that ADHD is treated in Gerber's Focused. Shannon's mother is one of the rare parents who seem to take their children's problems seriously in middle grade literature, although I appreciated that the grandmother wasn't completely evil when she voiced doubts about Shannon's insistence on needing so much Chapstick. Micah was a good character, and the friend drama with Elise and Fatima was very accurately described. The details of putting on a play are also good, and Grandma Ruby got to step up again with a positive portrayal.
Weaknesses: There are a growing number of books that involve theater productions that are perfectly fine, but which my students tend not to check out. I've bought several over the last couple of years. This must not be the case in other schools. I used to think it was because our school didn't do any theatrical productions, but sadly this has not changed even since we now do one play a year.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed books like Key's Twelfth, Staniszewski's Double Clique (#2), Green's Violet and the Pie of Life, or Harmon's Upstaged that deal with a variety of middle grade problems set against the back drop of a play production.
Shannon and her friends Fatima and Elise are interested in theater to different degrees. Shannon would rather work on set design and tech, while Fatima would like smalls roles and Elise wants to be the star. When the teacher directing the school play hears Shannon singing, he suggests that she try out for the Norther Repretory Theater in town. They're doing the Sound of Music, so need lots of children. To her surprise, Shannon gets the part of Brigitta. Shannon has to deal with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so has some concerns about being in the play, but is glad that she got a part. Complicating her life further is the fact that her Grandma Ruby's house has had a fire, and Grandma Ruby moves in with Shannon and her mother for a bit... into Shannon's room! Shannon sees a therapist to help her with her OCD, and is trying out therapies to help her, such as stepping over the doorway into her room wearing the "wrong" shoes. Grandma Ruby doesn't think much about the therapy and thinks that Shannon just needs to "get over it", and even spends the morning trying to distract Shannon from using Chapstick more than every fifteen minutes, although Shannon does feel calmer playing Scrabble with her grandmother and not thinking about other things. Elise isn't too happy that Shannon got a part, and the two have a bit of a falling out. As the play progreses, Shannon connects with Micah, who has seen Shannon in the therapist's office while he is waiting for his older sister, who is also working with the therapist for OCD. It's good to have someone who understands. Grandma Ruby gets more involved in the play, and Shannon and Elise work out their problems a bit. Will the play be a success?
Strengths: There is a lot of good information about dealing with OCD, similar to the way that ADHD is treated in Gerber's Focused. Shannon's mother is one of the rare parents who seem to take their children's problems seriously in middle grade literature, although I appreciated that the grandmother wasn't completely evil when she voiced doubts about Shannon's insistence on needing so much Chapstick. Micah was a good character, and the friend drama with Elise and Fatima was very accurately described. The details of putting on a play are also good, and Grandma Ruby got to step up again with a positive portrayal.
Weaknesses: There are a growing number of books that involve theater productions that are perfectly fine, but which my students tend not to check out. I've bought several over the last couple of years. This must not be the case in other schools. I used to think it was because our school didn't do any theatrical productions, but sadly this has not changed even since we now do one play a year.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed books like Key's Twelfth, Staniszewski's Double Clique (#2), Green's Violet and the Pie of Life, or Harmon's Upstaged that deal with a variety of middle grade problems set against the back drop of a play production.
December 31, 2022
Well, this was just a delightful read. It involved theatre, so I had a hunch I loved it. What I didn't know is how much I would love Shannon. Shannon is unexpectedly cast in a lead role in The Sound of Music. She's also been more of a "techie," but now she's in the literal spotlight. This is especially challenging with her OCD. However, she decides to take the opportunity she's been given. Shannon was a character I rooted so hard for and adored. The story also explores some other challenges Shannon is navigating with relationships. I always love a kid's read with authenticity and heart, and this was absolutely that. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this April 2023 release!
September 11, 2022
An engaging story about a firm with OCD who finds herself on stage and in the spotlight. The book has everything you’d want in a MG novel: Close friendships, emerging first love, fights that cause inner turmoil, family relationships and growth as a person. I especially loved how Shannon’s OCD was woven into the story without it being THE story.
May 18, 2023
I REALLY enjoyed this. I picked this up because a) I love theatre books and b) I'm currently reading so much grad school stuff that I can't read anything heavier, and middle grade books are really hitting that sweet spot right now. I was hoping for something basic and palatable, but this was genuinely great instead! Unlike some middle grade books about theatre, this one clearly had an author that was familiar with how theatre works (sad to say, this is very much not always the case). It really made the theatre elements feel familiar and fun, and wonderfully, far more integrated into the plot than many "theatre novels" end up being. (Also, YES, kids doing musical theatre that is appropriate for their voices and age! Not doing Phantom or Wicked or something, which is HUGELY inappropriate for young voices to attempt! YES THIS IS A PERSONAL IRRITATION AND I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR IT.)
I ADORED all of these characters. Shannon is an absolute sweetheart of a person, who has flaws, but you root for her no matter what. Elise and Fatima were very fleshed out as her two closest friends, and you could feel the pain of the argument between Elise and Shannon (which felt very realistic for middle schoolers, though there was one particular element of their fight that I wish had been given a little more foundation throughout the book). Micah is adorable and a good "romantic interest" - even if I wish he had been allowed to just be a really good new friend, because the "romance" just felt unnecessary in some ways. Despite that, it wasn't overwhelming and it did NOT take away from the main plots, so I'll give it a pass even if I deep-sighed.
The grandmother and mom are really interesting, and I'm glad that the conflict between them was not Resolved by the end of the book; they aren't fixed, they don't suddenly become the closest family members ever, they just shift their conflict. I thought that was very realistic; sometimes, in middle grade, there is a push towards resolving EVERY conflict perfectly (understandably! this is for kids, and kids deserve happy endings!), and I appreciated that the author recognized that a change in the conflict is resolution enough for the story but not for the relationship itself. I think it models for kids how there can be changes that don't completely fix a problem, but makes things better. Kids deserve happy endings, but they also deserve to know that there can be gradations in what makes a happy ending.
Finally, I liked the mental health rep in here. Shannon has OCD (as does the author - this is #OwnVoices) but interestingly, her OCD is not the main driver of the conflicts in this book. While her OCD creates challenges for her, and her working on exposure therapy is a major part of the book, it is not the main challenge that Shannon is facing. This could very easily have been a book about how OCD can make doing theatre really hard. I was excited that the author instead wanted to explore how friendship and family can make doing theatre difficult, and OCD also adds some additional challenges to all of that from time to time. I loved that. I made OCD feel more normed, which I can only imagine will be a huge comfort to kids with OCD. It's also great for kids without OCD to read: that Shannon is a regular kid, who has a regular life, and also goes to therapy and has unique challenges that other kids may not have. I think this was best exemplified by the only big OCD-theatre conflict (which came up at the very end) being resolved in just a few quick sentences because the conflict didn't need to be the Big Conflict. I absolutely loved it.
This was such a great book, and I'm glad I picked it up.
I ADORED all of these characters. Shannon is an absolute sweetheart of a person, who has flaws, but you root for her no matter what. Elise and Fatima were very fleshed out as her two closest friends, and you could feel the pain of the argument between Elise and Shannon (which felt very realistic for middle schoolers, though there was one particular element of their fight that I wish had been given a little more foundation throughout the book). Micah is adorable and a good "romantic interest" - even if I wish he had been allowed to just be a really good new friend, because the "romance" just felt unnecessary in some ways. Despite that, it wasn't overwhelming and it did NOT take away from the main plots, so I'll give it a pass even if I deep-sighed.
The grandmother and mom are really interesting, and I'm glad that the conflict between them was not Resolved by the end of the book; they aren't fixed, they don't suddenly become the closest family members ever, they just shift their conflict. I thought that was very realistic; sometimes, in middle grade, there is a push towards resolving EVERY conflict perfectly (understandably! this is for kids, and kids deserve happy endings!), and I appreciated that the author recognized that a change in the conflict is resolution enough for the story but not for the relationship itself. I think it models for kids how there can be changes that don't completely fix a problem, but makes things better. Kids deserve happy endings, but they also deserve to know that there can be gradations in what makes a happy ending.
Finally, I liked the mental health rep in here. Shannon has OCD (as does the author - this is #OwnVoices) but interestingly, her OCD is not the main driver of the conflicts in this book. While her OCD creates challenges for her, and her working on exposure therapy is a major part of the book, it is not the main challenge that Shannon is facing. This could very easily have been a book about how OCD can make doing theatre really hard. I was excited that the author instead wanted to explore how friendship and family can make doing theatre difficult, and OCD also adds some additional challenges to all of that from time to time. I loved that. I made OCD feel more normed, which I can only imagine will be a huge comfort to kids with OCD. It's also great for kids without OCD to read: that Shannon is a regular kid, who has a regular life, and also goes to therapy and has unique challenges that other kids may not have. I think this was best exemplified by the only big OCD-theatre conflict (which came up at the very end) being resolved in just a few quick sentences because the conflict didn't need to be the Big Conflict. I absolutely loved it.
This was such a great book, and I'm glad I picked it up.
July 19, 2023
Shannon has always enjoyed tech crew – she gets the fun of theatre without having to be on stage. But when she unexpectedly auditions for, and then gets, a huge part acting and singing in the summer production of The Sound of Music, her confidence about being in the limelight soars. Why does her best friend Elise stop talking to her? Her other best friend Fatima starts distancing herself too. Another big complication is the tension at home when Shannon has to temporarily host Grandma Ruby in her bedroom. Grandma and Mom are constantly fighting. Shannon is working to manage her OCD and Grandma doesn’t seem to understand. The tension is too much for Shannon to actually follow through with any of the behavioral suggestions that her therapist suggests, so she lies. What could possibly go wronger?!
I loved immersing myself in Shannon’s world: her struggles with OCD felt very realistically portrayed to me. That she is able to be a high achiever academically and to embrace the new experience of performing, even though she has important rituals that help her feel grounded, is important to see. Mental disability is not always exclusive of other achievements. I like the therapy sessions, where we’re treated to listening to a good therapist. And of course, it’s so much fun to also be immersed in the world of summer theatre. There are lots of scenes during rehearsal that paint a fascinating picture of what it’s like to be a part of an ambitious production. Shannon’s excitement over her new role is infectious, and theatre nerds will drink it up. It’s a hoot when the irascible Grandma Ruby ends up playing an important role at the end; nay, she just about saves the production! And there’s the usual friend drama which gets happily resolved at the end.
Shannon’s friends are a range of Black, white and Brown kids; Fatima wears a head scarf; and Elise has two dads: diversity is well represented and taken as a matter of fact among the characters. Shannon even has a sweet, proto-romance with Micah, who is Black. But it’s the portrayal of a Shannon’s rituals, mostly involving actions of three and worries about hygiene, which sets the novel apart. The book is both a window and a mirror for understanding life with OCD.
I loved immersing myself in Shannon’s world: her struggles with OCD felt very realistically portrayed to me. That she is able to be a high achiever academically and to embrace the new experience of performing, even though she has important rituals that help her feel grounded, is important to see. Mental disability is not always exclusive of other achievements. I like the therapy sessions, where we’re treated to listening to a good therapist. And of course, it’s so much fun to also be immersed in the world of summer theatre. There are lots of scenes during rehearsal that paint a fascinating picture of what it’s like to be a part of an ambitious production. Shannon’s excitement over her new role is infectious, and theatre nerds will drink it up. It’s a hoot when the irascible Grandma Ruby ends up playing an important role at the end; nay, she just about saves the production! And there’s the usual friend drama which gets happily resolved at the end.
Shannon’s friends are a range of Black, white and Brown kids; Fatima wears a head scarf; and Elise has two dads: diversity is well represented and taken as a matter of fact among the characters. Shannon even has a sweet, proto-romance with Micah, who is Black. But it’s the portrayal of a Shannon’s rituals, mostly involving actions of three and worries about hygiene, which sets the novel apart. The book is both a window and a mirror for understanding life with OCD.
April 30, 2023
A sensitive portrayal of a young girl’s struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend.
Shannon in the Spotlight is a new middle-grade novel by author Kalena Miller, and it features a tween struggling with OCD, friendship dramas, and a home life that suddenly feels out of control when her grandmother moves in with her and her mother. The main character, 12-year-old Shannon Carter, has enough on her plate with a sudden increase in the repetitive behaviors symptomatic of her OCD, such as washing her hands and reapplying Chapstick constantly throughout her waking hours. Her anticipation of the wonderful summer ahead, spending tie with her two besties on the summer musical, is almost palpable. And her distress and disappointment over how things pan out even more so. The hurt she experiences over Elise’s actions is gut-wrenching, and the girls’ resolution of their troubles is quite emotional. Shannon is one gutsy kid.
The setting within a community theater production of The Sound of Music was fun and full of little bits of theater business and traditions. That world can be all-consuming to its participants, so Elise’s devastation over her audition and subsequent casting as Louisa rather than the prime role of Brigitta was realistic. She’s also twelve and doesn’t handle her disappointment or jealousy over her friend’s good fortune very well. I loved how Grandma Ruby slowly inserted her way into the production and how she and Shannon were able to build a relationship with each other that was separate from the fallout of the rift she had with her own daughter. I also loved the close relationship Shannon shared with her mother.With its sympathetic and engaging main character, the sensitive portrayal of her struggle with OCD and the changing relationship with her best friend, and the competitive, yet ultimately cooperative, community theater setting, I recommend SHANNON IN THE SPOTLIGHT to middle-grade readers, especially those looking for OCD representation in fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
July 1, 2023
The OCD representation in this middle-grade novel is very realistic and comes from the author's personal experiences. I really appreciated that, but I found the theater-centric story somewhat dull, since the theater parts are full of rote details without enough suspense or humor to keep it compelling.
The relationship tension in the protagonist's life was extremely realistic and extremely stressful to read about. Shannon's grandmother and mother constantly argue, put each other down, and create unnecessary drama, and one of Shannon's best friends is a complete and total jerk for almost the entire book. I would have enjoyed the story more the author had chosen between these subplots, since their intense negativity takes up much of the book.
As another reviewer has already noted, the Muslim representation is extremely superficial. Since Fatima appears in hijab on the cover, I expected her religion to be part of the story, but she and her brother could have been written as any other race or religion without their characters changing at all. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since plenty of culturally Mulism teenagers aren't notably different from their peers, but the hijab's prominence of the cover will make many readers hope for more.
I was going to recommend some other middle-grade novel about OCD at the end of this review, but there are too many for that to be practical, which makes me really happy! If you're looking for books with similar mental health representation, feel free to look through my OCD shelf.
The relationship tension in the protagonist's life was extremely realistic and extremely stressful to read about. Shannon's grandmother and mother constantly argue, put each other down, and create unnecessary drama, and one of Shannon's best friends is a complete and total jerk for almost the entire book. I would have enjoyed the story more the author had chosen between these subplots, since their intense negativity takes up much of the book.
As another reviewer has already noted, the Muslim representation is extremely superficial. Since Fatima appears in hijab on the cover, I expected her religion to be part of the story, but she and her brother could have been written as any other race or religion without their characters changing at all. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since plenty of culturally Mulism teenagers aren't notably different from their peers, but the hijab's prominence of the cover will make many readers hope for more.
I was going to recommend some other middle-grade novel about OCD at the end of this review, but there are too many for that to be practical, which makes me really happy! If you're looking for books with similar mental health representation, feel free to look through my OCD shelf.
April 18, 2023
Twelve-year-old Shannon Carter isn't someone who typically enjoys the spotlight. In the past she's been part of the stage crew for the summer community theatre productions. But when the director hears her voice, he insists that she try out for a singing role in The Sound of Music. She nails it, but in the process, she alienates one of her best friends, Elise, especially since she is awarded the role Elise wanted. As tension escalates between the two girls and their other best friend, Fatima, is caught in the middle, Shannon continues to deal with her severe OCD and the ongoing conflict between her mother and grandmother after the elderly woman moves in while her house is being repaired. There are many aspects of this book that make it perfect for middle grade readers--jealousy between friends, a first crush, and trying new things--and the depiction of a girl struggling with her compulsion to wash her hands, put Chapstick on her lips a certain number of times, and avoid dirt and germs as much as possible is spot on. The scenes with her therapist ring true too, especially how she lies about trying the small steps Ariel suggests to help her cope with her OCD. Many readers with similar issues will find comfort and inspiration in Shannon's example while also recognizing that none of this is easily resolved. The book also contains dashes of humor and drama verbage that will please anyone into musical theatre.
October 4, 2023
Blurb:
After Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD.
Favourite quotes from the book:
“My brain is complicated. The stuff that scares me doesn't always make sense. Things like being dirty and walking barefoot are terrifying.“
“Grandma Ruby may get angry quickly, but she calms down even faster.”
Review:
Shannon is a very likeable and relatable character. There is a rift in her friendship, family drama as well as having to deal with her OCD tendencies. The interactions between the characters were very open and honest bringing the story to life. Relatable, enjoyable story, perfect middle grade book for KS2 children.
I really liked how OCD was portrayed in a positive light, showing the difficulties someone may have in every day life in a realistic way.
Themes include: family drama, living with OCD, friendship hardships and of course the theatre.
After Shannon accidentally lands a lead role in the summer musical, she realizes she has bigger things to worry about than stage fright in this contemporary middle-school novel about strained friendships, the positive power of theater, and the realities of being a tween with OCD.
Favourite quotes from the book:
“My brain is complicated. The stuff that scares me doesn't always make sense. Things like being dirty and walking barefoot are terrifying.“
“Grandma Ruby may get angry quickly, but she calms down even faster.”
Review:
Shannon is a very likeable and relatable character. There is a rift in her friendship, family drama as well as having to deal with her OCD tendencies. The interactions between the characters were very open and honest bringing the story to life. Relatable, enjoyable story, perfect middle grade book for KS2 children.
I really liked how OCD was portrayed in a positive light, showing the difficulties someone may have in every day life in a realistic way.
Themes include: family drama, living with OCD, friendship hardships and of course the theatre.
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