Langston,
Laura. Stepping Out. (Orca Limelights) Orca 2016 137p $9.95 ISBN 978-1-4598-0895-9 ms/hs Conflict
E-BN
Paige has always looked at life through the lens of humor,
even with the struggles she has faced due to her childhood surgeries for a club
foot. She posts humorous vlogs based on her experiences and observations about
life. Her friends enter Paige into a national contest that is seeking the next
teenage comedy star. At the competition, Paige must overcome her fears, as she
is required to do a standup routine, something she is uncomfortable doing. The winner must be a versatile comedian.
Paige’s sister causes numerous problems as she insults Paige’s comedic
abilities and fashion sense, even telling Paige that she is a freak. Readers
will cheer Paige as she deals with the lack of family support, learns to
overcome her need to be self-deprecating, and finally makes a change so that a
childhood boy friend becomes a boyfriend. Lots of humor is written into her
monologues, and the novel tackles a career not often written about in young-adult
literature. Supportive teachers are also a nice addition to this novel about
setting goals and working to achieve them. It also includes lots of tips for
aspiring comedians, as well as performance tips for anyone who envisions
himself or herself in a career as a performer.
Summary: Paige enters the comedy arena by posting vlogs, using
her experiences as the basis for her comedy. She makes it to the final round of
a national competition. Will her disability or her sister sabotage her chances
of winning? This novel is insightful and compelling. Grades 7-12.
Comedy-Fiction, Comedians-Fiction --Lois McNicol
