Shannon in the Spotlight, Kalena Miller
Shannon in the Spotlight, Kalena Miller
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

Shannon in the Spotlight

Author: Kalena Miller

Narrator: Valerie Rose Lohman

Unabridged: 6 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/25/2023


Synopsis

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.

About The Author

Kalena Miller grew up in College Station, Texas. After high school, she moved a thousand miles north to attend Carleton College, where she graduated with a BA in Religious Studies. After a brief stint working as a paraeducator in Seattle, Kalena decided she missed school too much, so she spent the next two years pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at Hamline University. Kalena lives in Minnesota with her husband, Kenny, and their Toy Australian Shepherd, Toshley. She loves books that make her laugh and make her cry, preferably at the same time, and she firmly believes all quality novels should feature a cat.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Laura on January 06, 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 r......more

Goodreads review by Donna on 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 gr......more

Goodreads review by Carol on 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 v......more

Goodreads review by Tracy on 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 au......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer on 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 o......more


Quotes

Praise for Shannon in the Spotlight:

A JLG Gold Standard selection!

"Shannon in the Spotlight is the most authentic, beautifully-drawn book about a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder I've ever read. Kalena Miller nails all the parts of middle school—the good, the bad, and the triumphant."—Carrie Firestone, author of Dress Coded

“A tender and heartfelt story of family, friendship, and identity. Readers will root for Shannon as she finds herself on and off the stage.”—Christina Li, author of Clues to the Universe

"A heartprint story of resilience, friendship, and family. Shannon in the Spotlight embraces the power of honesty and the idea that anxiety neither defines nor limits us on stage or in life."—Elly Swartz, author of Dear Student

"Miller spins a winning story that offers an insightful introduction to OCD. It’s an inspiration and joy to watch [Shannon] step into the spotlight and let her voice truly be heard."—Booklist

"[A] delicately realized novel."—Publishers Weekly

"Offers readers a positive role model for living with mental illness."—Kirkus Reviews

"A great read about what it’s like to live with a mental illness and what it’s like to just be your average middle schooler getting through daily life."—SLJ

"This book is a must-read for kids who love theater and stories about friendship."—Brightly