Do you like to solve mysteries? Know an amateur detective? Need a series for reluctant readers? The What Happened Series is the answer. And SHOWTIME SABOTAGE is the perfect place to start.
Green Valley Middle School’s theater students knew their production of Pirates and Lost Boys was cursed. After months of snow days, chicken pox, and flaring rivalries, they have finally made it to opening day. But when the lights go out and props and costumes get wrecked mere hours before showtime, the cast and crew suspect something even worse: sabotage. But who would do such a thing? Was it a self-absorbed pirate worried about being upstaged by the incredible set? Or a brand-new actor fearful of being outperformed? Or maybe it was rival students annoyed at having their talent show moved to the gym. Unless . . . the play couldn’t actually be cursed, could it? (Jolly Fish Press)
Showtime Sabotage is a middle grade novel written from the points of view of four diverse middle school students. Through each student we learn about the play’s “curse” and their theories on who, or what, may have caused the destruction to the set and costumes. The personalities are well-developed, and just like the teenagers I have at home, are hysterical, sarcastic, and spirited. They play off each other as they come to conclusions about what really happened.
The story is set in the auditorium as the students are finishing last minute preparations for that night’s play. Through the words and descriptions, the author brings us right up on stage with the kids and allows us to form our own idea of what may have happened.
Can you solve the mystery?
Crack open a What Happened? book to investigate a preposterous mystery from four different perspectives. See what the witnesses gets right . . . and what they get hilariously wrong. Bet you’ll never guess what really happened! (Jolly Fish Press)
Showtime Sabotage is one of eight What Happened books. The text in Math Test Mischief was also written by Rebecca J. Allen. Enjoy them all!
Showtime Sabotage: Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.
Math Test Mischief: Indiebound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.
