Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Shira gets pushed by her friend Cassie into auditioning for her middle school’s production of The Music Man, and she’s not sure she wants the role she gets: Jacey Squires, a member of the barbershop quartet.  No one is surprised when eighth-grade diva Monica gets the part of Marian the Librarian, but it comes as a shock when Shira is asked to be her understudy.  Cassie has been Shira’s only friend for the last couple of years, but as the play gets underway, her confidence slowly increases and she finds herself with some new friends…and a crush or two.  There’s plenty of drama outside the play itself, and a surprise or two in the final production, all of which leads to a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Middle school musical fans get two excellent new books this year: The Chance to Fly and now Upstaged.  This one has a much more low-key cast of characters who are all dealing with some insecurities that many middle school kids will relate to.  There’s plenty of humor, too, and the middle school boys especially rang true for me.

Cons:  It would have been nice to give Monica and Ms. Channing, the ditzy director, a little more substance.

Published by Albert Whitman and Company

Summary:  Lilla is known as the quiet one in her trio of her, Vivi, and Knox.  But it’s getting harder for her to keep quiet about all the changes going on in her life: her parents’ divorce, their pressure for her to try for a magnet school that doesn’t feel like the right choice, and a possible crush on Knox.  When she gets chosen for a position as a junior camp counselor instead of Vivi, life gets even more complicated.  Then she’s involved in a sexual harassment issue with one of the senior counselors, and she realizes she can no longer keep quiet.  Encouraged and supported by her friends, Lilla begins to find the courage to figure out what’s right for her and to speak up, even when she’s afraid of the consequences.  240 pages; grades 5-8/

Pros:  I found this book hard to put down; I could so relate to Lilla’s struggles to speak up for herself…still working on that myself even though it’s been a long time since I was Lilla’s age.  Her confusion around sexism and harassment felt very real as well, and this is undoubtedly a book many middle school girls will relate to and find helpful.

Cons:  There were a lot of topics being tackled in 240 pages, and it felt a little rushed to get them all resolved before the end.

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Nat is nervous about moving to New Jersey, away from her California home and her best friend Chloe.  Her dad signs her up for a wheelchair track team, but at the first practice she sees a flyer for the activity she really wants to try: a production of Wicked for middle school kids.  Although she’s never acted, she loves singing and musical theater, and, against her parents’ wishes, decides to audition.  To her delight, she gets a part in the chorus and finds her tribe with the theater kids, including Malik, her first crush.  When a fire at the theater threatens to put an end to the play, Nat is unwilling to let go of her dream of performing on stage.  She and the other kids rally to put the show together, and Nat gets her chance–both literally and figuratively–to fly.  Includes a note from the authors about how they met and collaborated.  288 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Attention all middle school theater kids: here is a book about you that will have you on your feet by the last page, applauding Nat’s courage and determination to succeed.  Readers will build empathy for what it is like to be in a wheelchair, and may let go of some limiting beliefs about people with physical disabilities.  Be sure to look for YouTube videos of some of the performances of co-author and Tony Award-winning disabled actress Ali Stroker.

Cons:  Due to my mediocre knowledge of musical theater, I didn’t get the references of all the chapter titles (which are lyrics from various musical songs).

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Simon’s new fifth grade teacher begins the first day of school by jumping on his desk and rapping about being a scholar, Simon is excited.  An aspiring rapper himself, he sometimes struggles with being brave enough to speak or rap publicly.  When Mr. James announces a class project that involves a presentation and picks Simon to go first, school suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting anymore.  Simon decides to research homelessness, and his dad introduces him to Sunny, a homeless man who helps keep their street clean.  As Simon gets to know Sunny better, he learns that there’s a lot more to him than being homeless.  Sunny helps Simon find his voice and the courage to do his presentation, which in turn leads to new ways for Simon to help Sunny and other homeless people in his community.  240 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Debut author Dwayne Reed is also a rapping teacher who seems to have a good understanding of the kids from his Chicago community.  Simon’s raps, interspersed through the text, are a fun addition that also help move the story along.  Although the tone is light, some serious issues are addressed at a level that is just right for the intended audience.

Cons:  It was clear that Bobby, the class bully and Simon’s nemesis, was having a tough time at home, but there weren’t enough details given to make him a more sympathetic character.

Published by Versify

Summary:  As if immigrating from Haiti isn’t hard enough, Gabrielle has to move to America by herself, her parents promising to join her soon, but admonishing her not to get into any trouble lest she get sent back.  Her aunt and uncle make her feel welcome, but Gabrielle gets bullied because of her accent and other connections to Haiti.  When she meets a witch who promises her three wishes to help her fit in, it’s hard to say no.  Of course, there are always strings attached to such propositions, and when Gabrielle wishes to speak flawless English, she loses her ability to speak Haitian Creole.  Gabrielle’s new friendships with Carmen, a Mexican-American girl in her class, and Rocky, a talking rat who wants to be a rabbit, help her to feel stronger.  When the witch threatens to take away Gabrielle’s family and her essence, she has to find the courage to fight back and to express who she really is.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  What starts as an ordinary middle grade novel about immigration quickly takes a detour into some fun magical realism.  Plenty of readers will relate to Gabrielle’s middle-school wish to blend in, and the ending will show them that being yourself is more important than being popular.

Cons:  The whole be yourself/find your voice message got a little heavy-handed toward the end.