Bookanistas: MY LIFE, THE THEATER & OTHER DISASTERS by Allen Zadoff

Plot without spoilers...Adam Zeigler is a techie. He helps run lights for the high school drama club actors who are preparing for their spring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Still mourning the death of his father and struggling to find a way to relate to his away-at-college big brother, Adam is content to operate in the shadows, following the school adage that "techies and actors don't mix." Then, a girl named Summer, an egomaniacal student designer named Derek, a quirky best friend named Reach, and a hilarious drama teacher named Mr. Apple can help Derek find his own way into the light.

Of literary interest...Shakespearean chapter titles add a delightful layer to this behind-the-scenes drama. Adam's memories of his dad looking at a Rothko painting, describing the light in his workshop, and dissecting a glow stick in the woods give readers insight into the person Derek can become if he allows his own talents to shine.

Finally, just gotta say...As a complete Gleek, I love a good drama tale and this one is special, not just because of its unique "techie" point-of-view.  While filled with lighthearted, humorous moments, MY LIFE, THE THEATRE, AND OTHER TRAGEDIES is, at its core, an honest high school story about a young artist-in-the-making.

What are the other Bookanistas applauding this week...?

Elana Johnson and Scott Tracey find wonder in The Near Witch


LiLa Roecker sings out about Where She Went

Christine Fonseca adores A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie

Corrine Jackson delights in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Veronica Rossi is wild about Wildefire