Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller

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. '- Elly Swartz, author of Dear Student, 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. Shannon in the Spotlight embraces the power of honesty and the idea that anxiety neither defines nor limits us on stage or in life. Praise for Shannon in the Spotlight: 'A heartprint story of resilience, friendship, and family. 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. To make matters worse, Shannon's eccentric and opinionated grandmother moves in with her and her mom after a fluke house fire. She lands a lead role, and everyone in her life is ecstatic. But when she braves the audition, she discovers that center stage is the one place where she doesn't feel anxious. As a twelve-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she depends on routine.

But when the director of the summer musical hears Shannon singing, he encourages her to step out of the wings and into the spotlight. Shannon's always been content to stay backstage, helping wherever she can. Not like her two BFFs, Elise, an actress, and Fatima, a techie. Shannon Carter never considered herself much of a theater person. 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 in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller