Written by Saundra Mitchell with Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin, and Matthew Sklar
The Prom is based on the Broadway hit musical. Set in Edgewater, Indiana, the story centers around Emma, a YouTuber who has a secret girlfriend, Alyssa Greene. Emma decides she wants to go to prom, but the PTA decides that only straight couples can go to the school’s prom. Alyssa is the “IT” girl and Emma’s secret girlfriend. However, Alyssa isn’t sure that she is ready to come out. Will Alyssa and Emma get to go to the prom together?
The plot is quirky and humorous. The characters are realistic and endearing. The author does a great job of showing the struggles the two characters are dealing with while staying true to the musical. The Prom will activate empathy in its readers. Young adults will feel drawn into the story and find themselves rooting for the characters, while adults may think about their actions from a different perspective. However, the choppy writing style, while true to the story, may dissuade some readers.
Reviewed by Jessica Moody, Library Media Educational Technology Specialist, Olympus Jr. High
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 8-12
The Prom (a novel)
Written by Saundra Mitchell with Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin, and Matthew Sklar
Viking, 2019
212 pages
Release Date: September 10, 2019
ISBN: 9781984837523
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
