Limelight

Gr 7 Up–A powerful coming-of-age story set in 1996 New York City. Danny Victorio, 15, desperately needs to escape his bullies and broken family on Staten Island. When Danny takes a chance and fumbles through his audition for the renowned LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, his song performance gets him into the school. Danny feels out of place at the school and in Manhattan, but Christian Geronimo, a dance student, takes Danny under his wing and introduces Danny to new friends, musicals, nightlife, and New York City. But Danny must come to terms with who he really is and his life back home on Staten Island. While Danny has a solid character arc that will have readers rooting for him, the secondary characters don’t feel fully fleshed out and come off as caricatures. Keenan-Bolger’s (Jack & Louisa) dialogue and internal monologue also feel unrealistic and over-the-top. Despite this, Danny’s growth feels realistic and earned, and an accurate picture of NYC in the 1990s is provided. Danny is cued white; Christian is Filipino American.