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New Girl
"Mi-ser-y!" That's what Fran thinks the summer will be. Her best friend is away at camp. Everyone's gone - except that creepy new girl from Hollywood, Veronica.
Then Fran sees the ad: SUMMER THEATRE PROJECT FOR KIDS. And the fun begins: acting costumes, make-up, a part in a play - and a big surprise about Veronica.
Originally published in hardcover as Break a Leg!
Then Fran sees the ad: SUMMER THEATRE PROJECT FOR KIDS. And the fun begins: acting costumes, make-up, a part in a play - and a big surprise about Veronica.
Originally published in hardcover as Break a Leg!
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
38 people want to read
About the author
Stella Pevsner
28 books12 followersStella Pevsner, who is the author of eighteen books for children from 8 to 13 years, was voted Illinois Children's Book Author of the Year 1987. Among her awards are The Golden Kite; the Carl Sandburg, the Society of Midland Authors, Arkansas State, Virginia State, and the Dorothy Canfield Fisher.
After a career in advertising and freelance writing, she turned to children's books at the request of a young son who said his favorite author "didn't write fast enough." She wrote a book to fulfill her role as "the invincible parent" and enjoyed it so much that after the book-by-request (Break a Leg!) was published she kept on writing.
Early favorites among her books are The Night the Whole Class Slept Over; Me, My Goat and My Sister's Wedding; A Smart Kid Like You; Cute is a 4-Letter Word; Sister of the Quints; I'm Emma: I'm a Quint. One of her prize-winning novels, And You Give Me a Pain, Elaine describes how a girl survives life with an out-of-bounds teenage sister and then a greater family tragedy. Teen suicide and its after-effects on the family is the subject of another awards book, How Could You Do It, Diane?
Her experiences tutoring at Literacy Chicago led to a book which depicted the life of her Chinese student, an outcast in north Viet Nam during the war. The young girl, along with other children, hid in the jungle during air raids, and finally, was forced to flee with her family. The book, called Sing for Your Father, Su Phan, is treasured by the former student, now a Chicago salon owner, as a record of more difficult times. A continued association with the Chinese family inspired Stella Pevsner to write a book about the friendship between an Asian and Caucasian girl, titled, Would My Fortune Cookie Lie?
Jon, Flora, and the Odd-Eyed Cat describes the secret meetings on summer nights between a boy recovering from rheumatic fever and the never-seen-in-daylight girl who owns a mysterious cat. A girl who feels the whole world has gone berserk is the heroine of Is Everyone Moonburned but Me?
"Although some of my books deal with serious situations in the lives of children, my underlying theme is that there is always hope and yes, humor, in day-to-day living," the author says. In her frequent speeches to school children, she urges them to do their best since, in the words of Samuel Boswell, "The future is purchased by the present." She hopes that kids who enjoy her books will be encouraged to go on reading forever.
After a career in advertising and freelance writing, she turned to children's books at the request of a young son who said his favorite author "didn't write fast enough." She wrote a book to fulfill her role as "the invincible parent" and enjoyed it so much that after the book-by-request (Break a Leg!) was published she kept on writing.
Early favorites among her books are The Night the Whole Class Slept Over; Me, My Goat and My Sister's Wedding; A Smart Kid Like You; Cute is a 4-Letter Word; Sister of the Quints; I'm Emma: I'm a Quint. One of her prize-winning novels, And You Give Me a Pain, Elaine describes how a girl survives life with an out-of-bounds teenage sister and then a greater family tragedy. Teen suicide and its after-effects on the family is the subject of another awards book, How Could You Do It, Diane?
Her experiences tutoring at Literacy Chicago led to a book which depicted the life of her Chinese student, an outcast in north Viet Nam during the war. The young girl, along with other children, hid in the jungle during air raids, and finally, was forced to flee with her family. The book, called Sing for Your Father, Su Phan, is treasured by the former student, now a Chicago salon owner, as a record of more difficult times. A continued association with the Chinese family inspired Stella Pevsner to write a book about the friendship between an Asian and Caucasian girl, titled, Would My Fortune Cookie Lie?
Jon, Flora, and the Odd-Eyed Cat describes the secret meetings on summer nights between a boy recovering from rheumatic fever and the never-seen-in-daylight girl who owns a mysterious cat. A girl who feels the whole world has gone berserk is the heroine of Is Everyone Moonburned but Me?
"Although some of my books deal with serious situations in the lives of children, my underlying theme is that there is always hope and yes, humor, in day-to-day living," the author says. In her frequent speeches to school children, she urges them to do their best since, in the words of Samuel Boswell, "The future is purchased by the present." She hopes that kids who enjoy her books will be encouraged to go on reading forever.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 9, 2021
Somewhat typical story about growing up and growing apart from your best friend. When Fran realizes she's on her own for the summer, she signs up for a theatre program for kids as something to do which sounds fun. Especially as her best friend hadn't seemed as interested in theatre anymore. Thankfully her BFF was gone for the summer so she gets to explore her passion, while at the same time getting to know a new girl, and several old classmates in a new way.
While the storyline feels like the same old / same old as many other books of this type, what is fresh and interesting here is an exploration about how some friends really do hold you back, especially those who tend to dominate every interaction. Until this summer, Fran never had the freedom to discover who she truly is and comes away stronger for it. I honestly wanted to keep reading and discover what happened next. I'd like to think this newfound love of theatre and the company of new friends has left her changed permanently in very positive ways.
As a side note, this has to be read with an understanding of when it was written. Some of the world feels very different even if the story itself is timeless. That's kind of fun too, because I grew up in this era, so perhaps this book spoke more strongly to me than expected for that reason.
While the storyline feels like the same old / same old as many other books of this type, what is fresh and interesting here is an exploration about how some friends really do hold you back, especially those who tend to dominate every interaction. Until this summer, Fran never had the freedom to discover who she truly is and comes away stronger for it. I honestly wanted to keep reading and discover what happened next. I'd like to think this newfound love of theatre and the company of new friends has left her changed permanently in very positive ways.
As a side note, this has to be read with an understanding of when it was written. Some of the world feels very different even if the story itself is timeless. That's kind of fun too, because I grew up in this era, so perhaps this book spoke more strongly to me than expected for that reason.
February 6, 2015
I received this book for as a Christmas present from my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Logan. I really liked it at the time and reread it frequently when we were making fewer trips to the library. (All the books I owned I read over and over and over again.) The things I remember the most about it were that it got sort of deep into acting and was definitely a trigger for my own personal love of acting, and that it was sort of about overcoming bullying although at the time I didn't tend to think in those words.
September 4, 2019
I enjoyed this story about a children's drama program, as a child. What I remember liking was--seriously--the tips for acting. I think it also helped that, although the boy and girl characters may hate each other a little less by the end of the book, the main plot is about friendship among girls. I also liked the jokes. Can't say this is one of the children's books I most enjoyed rereading with adult perspective, but it's short enough for an adult to read once.
September 16, 2019
This is another sweet story from my 1970's children's book collection. Fran thinks the summer will be misery without her best friend Debbie, who is off to camp. Fran enrolls in a local drama course to pass the time and this is where the fun starts!Not only does Fran learn more about herself, the world of acting and stagecraft but she also makes some new and interesting friends.
A good read for girls 8+
A good read for girls 8+
February 23, 2023
whenever i look at this book i think of reading it on my old windowsill at my childhood home when i was 8. nostalgic
February 16, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed it. The author has a firm grasp on this age group and can write convincingly.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews