Language: R (161 swears, 36 'f'); Mature Content: R (sexual activity - clothing removed, heavy petting, mention of prostitutes, gay and straight kissing); Violence: PG13 (domestic violence described, verbal sexual harassment)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
17yo Danny's life has recently changed dramatically. It's 1996, and he and his mother have run away from Danny's abusive father, and they are living in a seedy apartment in Staten Island. The apartment belonged to Danny's uncle, who has died, and who left behind a large collection of Broadway cast albums on cassette. Danny is bullied at the Catholic school he attends, and with his new interest in Broadway, he auditions for the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City and gets in! He meets Christian, a dance major who is learning to perform drag. Christian welcomes Danny into his friend group, and the two become best friends. But Danny is worried when his feelings for Christian change to something more.
Based on New York in the 90s when author Andrew Keenan-Bolger first arrived there and the city was gritty and sleazy. Although Danny only lives a ferry ride away, his life experience is very different from the kids he meets at theater school.
I loved it when they took him to all the places they loved in New York City. I loved all the show references and nods to really old Broadway songs and composers like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, but Keenan-Bolger also referenced contemporary shows like Rent and Les Misérables. Much too mature for a middle grade audience, I think high school theater kids will enjoy this LGBT coming of age story set right around the corner from Lincoln Center and Broadway.
Danny is white, and Christian is Asian.
Lisa Librarian
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