Showstopper

Gr 9 Up–Anderson’s (Killer House Party) latest finds Afro-Puerto Rican Faye, 17, gearing up for her final summer at Ghostlight ­Theater Camp. Faye is determined to break out of the white-passing ingenue box she’s been cast in for years; right from the beginning, it’s clear that this year will be far from ordinary. The director is found dead, longtime staffers are turning up murdered, and only Faye seems to think that something is very wrong. Packed with classic theater-kid antics, camp drama, and a touch of mystery, the book captures both the chaos and the heart of life in the performing arts. Anderson, a former theater camper herself, perfectly nails the backstage dynamics and on-point Broadway references. Narrator Leigh brings all the characters vividly to life, capturing their motivations, quirks, and energy across a large ensemble. Even when the plot stretches believability, Leigh’s performance keeps the story engaging and the pacing sharp; audiences will be happy to suspend belief as they race to the story’s end. One standout line—“She sucks, but she doesn’t deserve to die!”—lands with pitch-perfect teen angst and campy humor any theater kid will appreciate. ­