Recent Reads: Upstaged by Robin Easter

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Upstaged by Robin Easter  

Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Publication Date:  May 28, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:



Goodreads Synopsis:

 In a summer of goodbyes and new beginnings, shy Ashton Price hopes to confess to their theater camp crush in this heartfelt middle-grade graphic novel. Perfect for fans of The Tryout and The Girl from the Sea .

This is the last hurrah, the final curtain call. 

Ever since sixth grade, Ashton Price and their best friend and enduring crush, Ivy Santos, have spent their summers together at theater camp. Now it’s their last year before they part ways for high school, and Ash is determined to end it on a high note!

With Ash as stage manager and Ivy the lead in this year’s musical, this summer’s shaping up to be everything the two could have hoped for. Maybe Ash will even work up the courage to ask Ivy out! But between Ivy rehearsing long hours with her colead and Ash throwing themself into an ambitious stage production, will they end up drifting apart instead?

As summer wanes and September looms, Ash and Ivy’s friendship will change forever, one way or another.

Review: 

Happy June, Happy Pride month! 

Upstaged is a middle grade graphic novel about Ash and Ivy. Told from Ash's point of view. They are headed to their last summer of theater camp and Ivy is starring in the play while Ash is the stage manager. Ash has had a crush on Ivy and this is their last chance to tell her. 

Their time at camp is not going as planned from the start and Ash is starting to feel like everything is going to be ruined. Not only are they not bunk-mates but Ivy is also spending a lot of time with the other lead Lukas. 

I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see a middle grade LGBTQ+ representation, and it was throughout the book, not just the main characters. I appreciated the use of pronouns and that all that characters had them. I know it still feels a bit odd to read "my pronouns are..." but think that it should be the norm in all books, especially when people are introducing themselves to others anyway. 

The illustration and coloration throughout were really well done and I think that it was easy to read and middle grade readers will enjoy it. The story was great! Ash and Ivy's friendship and conflict aside, the other characters were great as well and the overall premise was fun and light. It was a sweet, straightforward graphic novel.

I don't want to give too much of that plot away, so if you are a fan of theater, summer camps, and a diverse cast of characters, this would be a fun book to pick up! 

A note about the review copy - I know they have to have watermarks before release bit it make some panels blurry and difficult to read.