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.

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 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 absolutely adored Shannon in the Spotlight by Kalena Miller! I loved learning about Shannon's OCD and how it affected her. I loved reminiscing about my own theater background as I became absorbed in her experiences. I loved reading about her friendship challenges and watching how she navigated them. Lastly, I loved watching the developing relationship with her quirky grandmother who unexpectedly moved into their house.

At first, Shannon was really only involved in the theater because of her best friends, Elise, a performer, and Fatima, a behind-the-scenes techie. But when the director hears her singing, he railroads her into auditioning, which leads to Shannon getting the role Elise really wanted. Will Elise's jealousy permanently destroy their friendship?

In addition, Shannon suffers from OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. While she mostly has it under control, will the added stress of the musical, her grandmother moving in, and the possibility of losing her BFF cause a relapse?

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

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.

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.

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.
*Thank you, Netgalley, for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. Shannon in the Spotlight is a middle grade book. Over the years I have been enjoying middle grade more. Miller did not disappoint, the story is well written, it had a beautifully written world, and I liked the characters. Shannon is a fun and interesting character to follow. Her are her friends were relatable.

Description: "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. 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."

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.

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.

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 Obessive Complusive 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 apprecitated 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, Debra. 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.

I’m a sucker for any theater kid book and I was so excited to dive into Shannon in the Spotlight. Not only did it make me feel like I was back doing community theater in high school, but all of Shannon’s anxieties about her friends reminded me of things I had gone through in middle school and I related to her story so much.

No doubt, this story deserves five stars and a standing ovation!

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.

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!

I came to check out the representation of the two Black + Muslim side characters in this book. Things ceased to be realistic for me when this girl is allowed to sleep over at her friend's McMansion supervised by said friends two rich dads.
Nah.

As a 7th grade ELA/musical theater teacher at a performing arts middle school, my students are *the* target audience for this book. I am happy to report that Shannon in the Spotlight was fantastic. I can NOT wait to share it with my students!

Kalena Miller captured the magic of children’s theater, along with the drama (both on & off the stage). I saw so many of my students in the characters… Our protagonist, Shannon, the dedicated backstage kid who decides to audition & snags a featured role. Elise, the die hard theater kid who deals with a bad case of post cast list jealousy. Fatima, the techie that loves being part of the theater world & knows everything about stage craft & tech. I loved the disability rep in this book. Shannon has OCD, and the way that it was presented was so authentic. Her OCD did not limit her from shining onstage. There were challenges for her, and she ultimately overcame them with the support of her friends, cast-mates, family, & therapist.

I really loved this book. Thank you to RH/Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an early copy!

4.5/5 stars

This was what I was hoping for from the description, this is what I was hoping for when I requested this book. It was a beautifully done story about theatre and the strains that it causes in friendships. The characters were so well done and felt like people I would have been friends with. It was a joy to read and I enjoyed the way Kalena Miller wrote this.

"I barely listened to Mr. Bryant’s instructions. This may be my first time acting, but it’s not my first show. I know we’ll be performing the musical from start to finish with lighting, sound effects, and all the props that are finished. Mrs. Davis will oversee everything in the sound booth while Mr. Bryant will be backstage with us. It’s not technically a dress rehearsal because our costumes aren’t ready, but it’s close to the real thing."

Shannon has always been in the background of the tech crew, but when she accidentally auditions and gets cast as Brigitta in the Sound of Music things start to go a bit awry. Now her best friend isn't talking to her, Grandma moves in, and her new therapist wants her to do behavior modification for her OCD. But acting is the best part of life and Shannon needs to learn to stand up for herself to the people around her.

I really enjoyed this stories. It's one of the best I've read in a while. I found Shannon to be a compelling character. Her OCD was not the focus of the story and it wasn't cured in the book, but it was great to see her work with her therapist to make her mental health more manageable.

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!

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.