The callback by Maddie Ziegler

Maddie Ziegler trilogy book 2. Aladdin, 2018, ISBN 9781481486392
(Age: 9-12) Themes: School life, Dance, Friendship, Identity. Teen Maddie Ziegler, one of the stars on Dance Moms and a judge on So You Think You Can Dance draws inspiration from her life experiences in her trilogy. In The Callback she writes about middle school life, rivalry at the dance studio, friendships, settling in to a new home and life in a new state.
Twelve-year-old Harper's life is super-busy; her family have just moved to Florida and she's joined a new dance studio. She's part of the elite team Dance Starz with five other girls who are very competitive. Their teacher Vanessa challenges the girls with individual solo performances in different dance styles and Harper's is lyrical, a style that she loves. Rival Megan is determined that the solo will be hers and sets about to cause problems by lying and sabotaging her team-mates' individual classes.
When Harper accidentally falls asleep in English because she's stressed about her dancing, her teacher keeps her back after class. As she explains about all her after-school dance classes, her teacher asks for her help. She needs a soloist to perform one dance in the school play of The Little Mermaid because the previous dancer had to pull out. Harper's life becomes even more busy; she's making new friends and enjoying helping with the school play's dance routines. At home, her younger sister Hailey is feeling left out and Harper tries to assist her with her new video adventure 'Hailey on the Daily' with some interesting results!
Maddie Ziegler's novel The Callback is a fun read with plenty of dance moves, school dramas and friendship issues just right for ages 9 to 12.
Rhyllis Bignell