Short
by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Author)
In this heartwarming and funny middle-grade novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s, Julia grows into herself while playing a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz.
Julia is very short for her age, but by the end of the summer run of The Wizard of Oz, she'll realize how big she is inside, where it counts. She hasn't ever thought of herself as a performer, but when the wonderful director of Oz casts her as a Munchkin, she begins to see herself in a new way. As Julia becomes friendly with the poised and wise Olive--one of the adults with dwarfism who've joined the production's motley crew of Munchkins--and with her deeply artistic neighbor, Mrs. Chang, Julia's own sense of self as an artist grows. Soon, she doesn't want to fade into the background--and it's a good thing, because her director has more big plans for Julia! Bubbling over with humor and tenderness, this is an irresistible story of self-discovery and of the role models who forever change us.
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School Library Journal
Gr 5-8—Middle schooler Julia Marks reluctantly lands a part as a munchkin in a summer stock production of The Wizard of Oz. Tentative at first about her performing abilities, she's helped along by a group of adults who see what she has not yet realized about herself: she makes a big impression for such a small person. Julia is indeed very small; the title of the book describes the protagonist, who is several inches shorter than her classmates and has been uncomfortable about her height since she overheard her parents discussing it negatively. Julia's rambling first-person narration is very funny as she resists every new opportunity (lead munchkin dancer; second string winged monkey) and then decides she loves it once she tries it. Julia finds mentors in the well-drawn characters who make up the theater group, especially the charismatic director, who works lying down after he breaks his tailbone, and a septuagenarian costume designer and former prima ballerina. She changes her perspective on her own size when she befriends Olive, an actress with dwarfism who wows the protagonist with her singing and dancing chops, her fashion sense, and her confidence as she dresses down the director for his bias against an aspiring cast member. Brief chapters and an accessible writing style add to the novel's appeal. VERDICT Theater kids and fans of Tim Federle's "Nate" books will love this.—Beth Wright Redford, Richmond Elementary School Library, VT
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly
Julia Marks, 11, is short for her age, doesn't dance, can't carry a tune like her brother Randy, and definitely doesn't want to spend her summer acting in community theater. All of that changes when she and Randy are cast as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz. The play forces Julia to challenge her perceptions of herself: being a dreamer isn't necessarily a bad thing, and being short doesn't mean one can't do great things. It also allows her to engage with people she wouldn't have otherwise met, like elderly neighbor Mrs. Chang (who turns out to be both a skilled seamstress and an agile Winged Monkey); Olive, one of three adult Munchkins; and Shawn Barr, the play's charismatic director. Sloan (Counting by 7s) again captures the authentic voice of a child dealing with weighty topics, including loss and identity, in a charming and often funny way. Julia's natural naivete (such as not knowing that L. Frank Baum is not "El Frank Bomb") and inability to self-censor make for a narrative filled with lighthearted and candid moments. Ages 8-12. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House (Jan.)
Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
A charming read with an important message that no matter one’s stature, “the way we move tells the world who we are.”...
Review quotes
Praise for Short New York Times Bestseller "Short joins other middle-grade novels . . . in celebrating the transcendent power of theater for kids."—The New York Times Book Review "Holly Goldberg Sloan is skilled at creating sympathetic and utterly charming young characters, and in Short she succeeds once again. . . . Sloan manages to deftly weave in tough topics like grief and identity with both the same humor and tenderness that made Counting By 7s such a hit." —Entertainment Weekly * Sweet and uplifting. . . . It's refreshing that Julia doesn't mind being short and believes she's 'little, but big inside.' Her self-acceptance is inspiring and the joy she experiences in her foray into theater is irresistible. —Booklist, starred review A charming read with an important message that no matter one's stature, 'the way we move tells the world who we are.' —Kirkus Very funny. . . . Theater kids and fans of Tim Federle's 'Nate' books will love this. —School Library Journal Sloan again captures the authentic voice of a child dealing with weighty topics, including loss and identity, in a charming and often funny way. . . . A narrative filled with lighthearted and candid moments. —Publishers Weekly A joy to read.—School Library Connection This is . . . a jubilant story about the way a new context can give kids a whole different perspective on life and themselves, and readers feeling stuck in their roles will particularly appreciate the implication.—BCCB The funny narration is in Julia's rambling, middle-school voice, which allows readers to experience her emotions and maturation with her. . . . Highly recommended.—VOYA
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Holly Goldberg Sloan, the acclaimed author of I'll Be There, has worked as an advertising copywriter and a writer and director of feature films. She lives in Santa Monica, California.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780399186226
Lexile Measure
810
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Rocky Pond Books
Publication date
January 20, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV031060 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Theater
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV031060 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Theater
Library of Congress categories
Young adult fiction
Theater
Self-acceptance
Size
Short people
Theater
Self-acceptance
Size
Short people
