These two titles explore the drama, the excitement, and the endless moving parts involved in the world of theater.

Champion, Lindsay. Setting the Stage. 208p. (Cast vs. Crew: Bk. 1). Holiday House/Pixel+Ink. Oct. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781645953289.
Gr 5 Up–Eighth grader Ella Amani has been theater-obsessed for as long as she can remember. Now, it’s finally her time to shine as stage manager for her school’s production of Curie: The Musical. She’s been prepping for this job for years; with her annotated binders and can-do attitude, she’s ready for anything! Except, it seems like all the problems cropping up are exactly what Ella’s not prepared for, like a major prank war with the show’s cast and growing distant from her BFF and tech lead Levi. When so much goes wrong that it feels like nothing can be fixed, the Juniper Valley Middle School crew must band together to help their fearless leader. Champion crafts a big, bustling novel that gives readers a comprehensive education on all things theater, specifically the intricacies and significance of the tech crew. The story flits between the first-person POV of multiple characters whose experiences are more distinct than their narrative voices. Having so many separate, interweaving plots bogs down the pacing for the first two-thirds of the novel as character personalities and backstories are established. Nevertheless, the action mounts towards the book’s end, and a major cliff-hanger will ensure readers anticipate the next installment. Character description is minimal aside from hair and eye color; Ella is described as having dark hair, and it is implied she is Iranian. VERDICT A plucky, engaging series debut that will resonate with theater-loving tweens. Perfect for middle school collections where Wicked is the musical du jour.–Ashleigh Williams

LaTulippe, Renée M. Limelight: Curtain Up on Poetry Comics! illus. by Chuck Gonzales. 144p. Charlesbridge Moves. Oct. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781623541422.
Gr 4-7–In a book with an incredibly specific subject matter from LaTulippe, it would be easy to think this collection of poems would lose readers who are not deeply interested in the world of the stage. However, this is not the case. At its core, this is a series of love letters to an art form. There are so many pieces to making a theatrical production a reality, and each one is treated with dedication in these pages. Even the casual audience member will be captivated by the descriptions of each piece of the puzzle. From the writing of a script to the flypersons, the pit orchestra to the marquee outside—every aspect both scene and unseen (pun intended) is appreciated. Those less acquainted with theatrical terminology have nothing to fear; a glossary of theater terms is part of the back matter. For readers for whom poetry is a fascination in itself, the author explains each form presented, as well. Gonzales’s limited color palette helps guide the eye across panels. The characters are illustrated with diverse skin tones and hair textures. VERDICT A graceful homage to theater as both a space and an art form, lovingly broken down to its individual parts to give each its moment in the spotlight.–Lauren Sullivan