27. Drama Queen by Lara Bergen

DRAMA QUEEN by Lara Bergen (Scholastic, 2007)

GENRE: Contemporary / Chick Lit

HONORS: N/A

REVIEW:

Charlie’s first year in middle school isn’t starting off too well.  First, she is blessed with a squeaky locker that attracts attention from everyone in the hall, including the mean eighth grade girls led by Amber Wiley.  Then, when she finally decides to try out for the school musical, she chokes and runs off stage before the audition is over, leaving her with the role of “woodland creature,” while Amber gets the starring female lead.  Even worse, the male lead is Charlie’s crush, Kyle.  And, with a single mom and four attention-grabbing siblings, Charlie feels neglected at home.  However, when Charlie gets the chance to be Amber’s understudy, things start to look up for this sixth grader.

OPINION:

This is a fun book that will appeal to reluctant tween girl readers.  They will relate to all of the drama that comes with sixth grade and suddenly being the youngest in the school.  Although the side characters do not have too much depth to them, they fulfill the roles they are assigned, giving Charlie a school bully to torment her, a best friend to confide in, and a school crush to fawn over.  Overall, the book reads like a Disney Channel movie, with little negativity and some funny situations, including those between Charlie and her best friend Nicole.

IDEAS:

This book would be perfect for a library display of books for tween girls.  Also, it could be a part of a display featuring books that will appeal to fans of High School Musical.