Level: YA
Recommended Age: 15+
Genres: Adventure
Tags: Comedy, Diversity, Drama, Fantasy, History, Magic, Mythology, Paranormal, Romance, Superhero, Theatre
Mature Content:

  - Moderate sexuality: Multiple kissing scenes and descriptions of sexuality, as well as explanation of sexual transitioning.

  - Mild violence: Brief physical attacks

  - Mild language: Minimal uses of language.

Back in high school, Josie Kadaris was kind of a big deal. But then she dropped out to pursue a career on Broadway, changing her name to Josie Pie and singing her heart out with the hope that she’ll make it big. But now she’s stuck in Montana as a nanny, buried in debt and broken dreams. Her best friend and boyfriend are both avoiding her calls, and she’s resigned to her fate as a complete failure.

Until she takes up reading again, and manages to disappear right into the book.

Now she can become characters in books, getting the guy and saving the day with limitless powers and imagination. Books are so much better than reality. But what happens when real life is too stressful to deal with? Josie knows she can’t stay in a book forever, but giving up her chance to be the star over and over is a hard fate to resist.

Review:

This is a love story to both theatre and book lovers. Shannon Hale explores the beautiful escapism of both reading and the accepting atmosphere of theatre. The musical and literature references are so fun, and add a quirky humor that lightens this stuck-in-a-rut story. Every book lover has the pipe dream of disappearing into their favorite story, and this novel covers several genres, all connected by a young girl with too many worries and not enough support.

Josie shows how transitioning from one phase in life to the next can be a struggle. She isn’t close with her family, and she and her friends are growing apart. The person she’s closest with is five year old Mia, the little girl she nannies while Mia’s mother travels for business. The moments between Josie and Mia are so sweet, and I can definitely see how this started out as a story about a new young mom who loves her kids but needs an escape once in a while. Josie adores her young charge, but she’s very wrapped up in trying to fix her life now that she’s a high school drop out in deep dept.

Josie’s adventures from book to book show her imagination, passion for performing, and need for love. She takes advantage of all the cute book boys and, much like anyone who is aware they’re dreaming, enjoys her fair share of kissing. But she also builds her confidence, being the hero in westerns and apocalyptic battles, performing onstage for adoring crowds, and finding her family and friends again and again.

Josie is so young and so heartbroken. Her struggle to accept herself and find love are something everyone can empathize with. So while there are fun adventures and jazzy musical numbers, there’s an overall tone of working through challenges and making hard decisions.

If you love books and theatre, this will hit you hard.