Drama Queens in the House

Williams, Julie. Drama Queens in the House. Roaring Brook Press, 2014.

Jessie's family owns and runs a theater company, and they are happily celebrating Jessie's early graduation from high school when she discovers that her dad is cheating on her mom ... with a man. Jessie spends a tumultuous year adjusting to a new family dynamic and trying to discover her place in the world.

I really liked the premise of this book, and I love that the narrator is a POC, but the book isn't just about the Jessie's race. However, Jessie seemed very immature for sixteen. If I imagined that she was twelve or thirteen instead, then the book made perfect sense, but Jessie did not read like a high school graduate trying to find her way in the world. I could easily recommend this book to the middle school students in my library, and even some upper elementary students, but it would not fit a high school audience.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

Read-Alikes: Better Nate Than Ever