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The Face in the Mirror
Fifteen-year-old Jared is forced to join his father's theatrical troupe during a production and to cope with his hostile, competitive brother, until he is befriended by the spirit of an old actor who vows that Jared will become a star.
- GenresYoung AdultHorrorFiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1998
30 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie S. Tolan
40 books96 followersStephanie S. Tolan's earliest memories involve books. Those that were read to her and those she read to herself, often late at night with a flashlight under the covers. She always thought there was a special magic in the little black marks on paper that could turn into whole worlds and real people. Born in Ohio and raised in Wisconsin, she wrote her first story in the fourth grade. It was thrilling to discover she could make the magic herself, and she decided then and there to be a writer.
Other ambitions came and went, but writing stayed on, and she majored in creative writing at Purdue University, then went on to a Master's Degree in English. Marriage and the sudden addition to her life of three young stepsons, and then a son, forced writing into the nooks and crannies, but she wrote poetry and plays for adults as she taught college English. In the mid-seventies, Stephanie began working in the Poets-in-the-Schools program in Pennsylvania. Her first group of students were fourth and fifth graders, and she found among them a new generation of intense readers, still using the flashlight-under-the-covers trick.
The difference, she felt, was less in the children themselves than in the fast-changing world they lived in. Her writing for children and young adults, beginning with Grandpa -- And Me in 1978, has reflected that contemporary world.
Stephanie Tolan is also well known as an advocate for extremely bright children. She co-authored the award-winning nonfiction book, Guiding the Gifted Child, and has written many articles about the challenges gifted "asynchronous" children and adults face as they find a way to fit into their world. She lectures throughout the country to audiences of parents, educators and counselors attempting to find ways to meet the children's needs. Her experiences with these "amazing, off-the-charts" young people inspired the themes of Welcome to the Ark, a powerful novel about four brilliant young misfits in a world teetering on destruction.
Stephanie Tolan currently lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband.
Other ambitions came and went, but writing stayed on, and she majored in creative writing at Purdue University, then went on to a Master's Degree in English. Marriage and the sudden addition to her life of three young stepsons, and then a son, forced writing into the nooks and crannies, but she wrote poetry and plays for adults as she taught college English. In the mid-seventies, Stephanie began working in the Poets-in-the-Schools program in Pennsylvania. Her first group of students were fourth and fifth graders, and she found among them a new generation of intense readers, still using the flashlight-under-the-covers trick.
"They brought back to me that special reading joy that most adults, even the readers among us, have lost, and I wanted to try my hand at writing for those kids, so like myself at their age and yet so different."
The difference, she felt, was less in the children themselves than in the fast-changing world they lived in. Her writing for children and young adults, beginning with Grandpa -- And Me in 1978, has reflected that contemporary world.
Stephanie Tolan is also well known as an advocate for extremely bright children. She co-authored the award-winning nonfiction book, Guiding the Gifted Child, and has written many articles about the challenges gifted "asynchronous" children and adults face as they find a way to fit into their world. She lectures throughout the country to audiences of parents, educators and counselors attempting to find ways to meet the children's needs. Her experiences with these "amazing, off-the-charts" young people inspired the themes of Welcome to the Ark, a powerful novel about four brilliant young misfits in a world teetering on destruction.
Stephanie Tolan currently lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 2, 2009
Genre: Science Fiction
In this book, Stephanie Tolan, places Jared at the mercy of his recently discovered father and half-brother. Phillip Kingsley, Jared's father and manager of a newly formed Shakesperean acting troupe, brings Jared into the world of theater in their debut performance of Richard III. While learning to cope with a new set of parents, a vindictive brother, and a huge script to memorize, Jared finds a deserted area of the theater house to call his own only to discover that he must share the space with Garrick Marsden, a real-life ghost and former actor extraordiare. When Jared learns of the ghosts treacherous past, he must choose whether to follow the same path or to set his own future. I really enjoyed this reading, but only because I'm a theater buff myself and liked reading about the ridiculous Star Wars version of Richard III they tried to pull off. The character development was fairly decent and the writing was easy to read. A fun and fast read if you're a fan of the bard and like a good laugh.
In this book, Stephanie Tolan, places Jared at the mercy of his recently discovered father and half-brother. Phillip Kingsley, Jared's father and manager of a newly formed Shakesperean acting troupe, brings Jared into the world of theater in their debut performance of Richard III. While learning to cope with a new set of parents, a vindictive brother, and a huge script to memorize, Jared finds a deserted area of the theater house to call his own only to discover that he must share the space with Garrick Marsden, a real-life ghost and former actor extraordiare. When Jared learns of the ghosts treacherous past, he must choose whether to follow the same path or to set his own future. I really enjoyed this reading, but only because I'm a theater buff myself and liked reading about the ridiculous Star Wars version of Richard III they tried to pull off. The character development was fairly decent and the writing was easy to read. A fun and fast read if you're a fan of the bard and like a good laugh.
March 18, 2025
liked
214 pages
- fun ghost story
- def for younger readers
214 pages
- fun ghost story
- def for younger readers
July 3, 2017
After Jared's grandfather (his primary guardian) has a stroke, Jared must go to live with a father he's never met. Phillip (his father), stepmother, Julia and his half brother Tad are trying to get their New World Shakespeare Company off the ground. There's even a part for Jared: he will be playing Edward V to Phillip's Richard III. But Jared has a lot to learn about the theater as well as learning about his new family ... especially a spoiled younger brother. Then, of course, there are the rumors about the ghost that haunts the Addison Opera House. Jared meets the ghost first and sees him as a good ghost, but there are those who think he's dangerous. And what about the play? Jared is playing the part of a nephew that is murdered by his uncle. Should he be worried?
August 14, 2016
For a book I bought at the dollar store, The Face in the Mirror was actually pretty enjoyable. I think you have to be an actor/actress or be in the theater productions to really enjoy it, but it was an easy read and entertaining. Tad is a snotty, spoiled antagonist and you do end up feeling for Jared. The climax and resolution was a little weak though.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews