Tara Takes the Stage

Tara Takes the Stage
Tamsin Lane
Simon & Schuster, May, 2018 151 pages
Grades 5-7
Realistic Fiction/Romance
Yes, No, Maybe So series #1

A new series launch that re-vamps the "Choose Your Own Adventure" format, while embracing a diverse group of young friends and adding a decidedly female spin. Tara is an aspiring actress who works in her parents’ Indian sweet shop. A community theater production of The Wizard of Oz is looming and Tara is convinced that she would make a wonderful Dorothy, especially since her crush is auditioning for the scarecrow, but is he really the guy that she thought he was? And that nerdy boy who works in the lighting booth and seems to like her is actually pretty cute also. Meanwhile, famous Bollywood actress, Preeti Chandran, makes an appointment to come to her parents’ shop to taste treats for her upcoming wedding. Preeti is visiting the same day as drama club. What should Tara choose; the appointment or the club meeting? Things get more complicated when the cute family friend who works for her parents asks her to the movies. Should she go with him or rehearsal with her drama crush? Lastly, should Tara help out at Preeti's wedding or audition for Dorothy? Readers will have to make choices that lead them to different scenarios, endings, and potential love interests.

Tween girls are the target audience for this new series, sure to appeal to reluctant readers. I forgot how much I love "Choose You Own Adventure" type books. When I was young I would read them through and then read again making different choices until I chose them all. I did the same thing with Tara Takes the Stage and loved every minute of it. I also love that this story features an Indian character, who, although has immigrant parents and is being raised within the Indian culture, is an average American girl living a normal suburban life. Indian girls will be happy to see their culture represented, yet non-Indian girls will also relate to the story and Tara's struggle to choose between her family's interests and her own. Because it is romantic in nature, I would not recommend this title for younger elementary. The romance remains innocent, making it appropriate for tween girls starting to have their own crushes. The next installment in the series will feature Tara's best friend, Yael, who is an observant Jew. Both series entries will appeal to the town I serve and feature cultures not often represented in books for young people. A website highlighted at the end of the book will offer readers quizzes and excerpts of future releases in the series. A welcome new series that will be enjoyed by young female readers.