Written by Claire Swinarski
Every year Eowyn Becker counts down to to the time she spends at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp. She’ll get to spend time with her best friend, Jules Marrigan, the only person who has ever understood how badly she wants to be a star like her late mother. This summer, as soon as Jules opens her mouth, Eowyn knows something has changed between them. Could Jules’ coldness mean she is still upset about what happened during last summer’s camp production?
When Eowyn and Jules are cast as Glinda and Elphaba, their chemistry on stage will hinge on their ability to work through their grievances off stage. Amidst rigorous rehearsals, demanding directors, and the breakdowns of musical numbers we know and love, the layers are pulled back to this friendship. Alternating perspectives and moving back and forth in time to expose the hurt feelings, the misunderstandings, and the things that may still be worth fighting for.
Question…when author, Claire Swinarski, set out to write this middle-grade novel, a story about a summer theater camp production of Wicked, did she realize it would come out at the same time as the movie, or was that just purely serendipitous? Either way, this book feels like the biggest gift to readers and fans alike. Will this novel stand the test of time?…probably not, but it is screaming to be read by middle graders who are experiencing the drama of friendship fallout. I enjoyed this as my first read of 2025 and I think many students will too.
Reviewed by Kristen Hunt, Librarian, Whittier Elementary School
Review shared in January 2025
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-7
Take It from the Top
Written by Claire Swinarski
Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
248 pages
Release Date: November 19, 2024
ISBN: 9780063321731
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
