A great middle grade read featuring emotions that many middle schoolers deal with: friends to crushes, first crushes, friends finding new friends, and asking for help.

Ash is off for six weeks of theater camp, and looking forward to spending time with the girl they have a crush on. Unfortunately, things don't work out as planned, and the pair end up spending most of their time apart. For most of the book, Ash is VERY whiny, moody, and downright unlikable, and this did have some influence on my rating. They do see the error of their ways, and make amends toward the end of the story, and the show does go on. Like a cute rom-com, this is one of those cases where lack of communication fuels the fire, and drives the plot.

I found it odd that the kids seemed to be mostly unsupervised, and given a lot of responsibility, especially for youngsters who haven't even started high school, but perhaps I'm quibbling here. I'm sure the younger set will enjoy it much more than this old lady. The author's artwork is delightful, and I do look forward to reading their next book.

It's another summer, and more time to put on a show at theater camp. Ivy is prepared to take the stage in a Cinderella take called Ella, while Ashton prepares the tech crew as stage manager. The teens are in charge of the acting, props, and effects. And Ash plans to spend the time in-between with Ivy. Maybe they'll get the courage to ask Ivy out, in case Ivy likes them back.

Things are different this year. Ivy and Ash are assigned different cabins, and as the lead Ivy has to run plenty of lines with her costar. New and established campers look to Ash for guidance as they assemble the magic pumpkin and carriages, while contrasting makeup designs with fabric choices for ballgowns. Ash wants to keep it together, sketching comics in their notebook when not building sets or reviewing shades of blush. But things may come to a head, when it seems like Ivy is avoiding them.

We can never have too many graphic novels with stage plays, musicals, and queer representation. And while we don't see much of Ella, since Cinderella is a ubiquitous fairy tale in the west, we get enough to see why Izzy and Ash adore the show.

In this case, Ash is their own worst enemy. They button up rather than talk to Izzy about making time for each other. The assistant stage manager wants to help, but Ash rebuffs them. And that pumpkin carriage needs to be finished ASAP. Sometimes you need to know when to ask for help, and when to express your feelings in a healthy manner.

A lot of standard elements at play here though they come together in a pleasant way. Combining camp and theater plots with the standard middle grade elements of crushes and changing friendships. I like the addition of control and perfectionism as character elements.

Ash is so excited for camp and to see her best friend/crush, Ivy. They have the perfect summer planned - they will rule the camp play as star and director, room together in the same cabin, and Ash is hoping to gather all their courage to tell Ivy how they feel. But everything is going wrong! They aren't in the same cabin, and Ivy is spending all her time practicing lines with her costar. Ash is letting it make them miserable, but if they don't look up soon, they are going to miss all the other opportunities and friends camp can bring.

Upstaged is a fantastic YA graphic novel. This book covers a lot of topics from friendships and crushes, to working as a team to mental health. Hand this to kids who love drama as well as those who just love a great friendship story! Highly recommended!

Friendship troubles can become so tricky in middle school, so this was a perfect way to talk about different friend groups and making space for your best friend to have other friends. I really liked how they dive into theater and stage crew, along with some behind the scenes look at how actual productions can pull some of the stunts off. Although the main characters are eighth graders, it would definitely be suitable for upper elementary readers (so long as they can handle a kiss!)

This graphic novel was quirky and a perfectly timed read. I plan to read Cinder with my students next year and this graphic novel has a Cinderella tie-in that I can use and recommend! Huzzah! I loved the character dynamics and the realistic drama with the larger drama/theater camp. Sometimes, life throws you curve balls and you have to learn to roll with them. This novel showcases a realistic and holistic look at the drama of teens and how to cope with the drama. I liked the colors (and the panel debating about color schemes). I really enjoyed the camp vibes from the novel too.

Ash and Ivy head off to theatre camp, but complications immediately ensue when they're in separate cabins. Each adjust to new roles and new friends.

Great queer exploration of friend groups and changing relationship dynamics, as well as mental health.

Happy June, Happy Pride month!

Upstaged is a middle grade graphic novel about Ash and Ivy. Told from Ash's point of view. They are headed to their last summer of theater camp and Ivy is starring in the play while Ash is the stage manager. Ash has had a crush on Ivy and this is their last chance to tell her.

Their time at camp is not going as planned from the start and Ash is starting to feel like everything is going to be ruined. Not only are they not bunk-mates but Ivy is also spending a lot of time with the other lead Lukas.

I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see a middle grade LGBTQ+ representation, and it was throughout the book, not just the main characters. I appreciated the use of pronouns and that all that characters had them. I know it still feels a bit odd to read "my pronouns are..." but think that it should be the norm in all books, especially when people are introducing themselves to others anyway.

The illustration and coloration throughout were really well done and I think that it was easy to read and middle grade readers will enjoy it. The story was great! Ash and Ivy's friendship and conflict aside, the other characters were great as well and the overall premise was fun and light. It was a sweet, straightforward graphic novel.

I don't want to give too much of that plot away, so if you are a fan of theater, summer camps, and a diverse cast of characters, this would be a fun book to pick up!

A note about the review copy - I know they have to have watermarks before release bit it make some panels blurry and difficult to read.

In terms of enjoyment, it's probably more of a 3 star, but when looking at it from how well it was made it's a 4 star. It has a lot of different lgbtqia+ identities in the story and it's all very accepting and cool. It's a graphic novel about Ash who's going to go to Summer Camp and wants to make it the best summer ever. It was a very cute story and I would recommend it to older elementary and middle school age kids. It might be marketed as YA because the characters are in that age range, but that's just my opinion.

Happy Reading!!

Sweet middle grade romance with a theatre camp setting that just made my little theatre geek heart so happy! I love that this group of people is so particularly welcoming and affirming and a real haven for those who don’t fit the mold. We get to see such perfect intersectionality here in this short but powerful story. I hope it gets in the hands of lots of young readers!

Thank you to NetGalley and TBR&Beyond Book Tours for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Highlights:
✨Vibrant Illustrations that really bring the story to life
✨Summer Camp for theater kids
✨Sweet romance
✨Importance of leaning on each other
✨Queer Rep, including a non-binary MC - This is not a coming-of-age story. Instead, all the campers are confident and comfortable in their queer identity or their friends’ queer identity.

Summer theater camp meets middle school romance in this debut graphic novel. There are so many opportunities for middle grade readers to see themselves in Ash and Ivy’s story. All the anxieties, the up and down emotions, and sweet friendships make for a perfect summer read. Excellent opportunities for LGBTQIA readers and allies to learn from one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

#UpstagedAGraphicNovel #NetGalley

This is a cute middle grade graphic novel for kids. It is written beautifully. The illustrations were amazing! I really loved the Cinderella carriage. The plot was perfect. This is a story of romance, change, theatre, camp, and friendship. The characters are fun.This book also teaches you it is better to work as a team than alienate yourself.

This title was super cute! A quick read, great for kids who like graphic novels. I will definitely be adding it to our collection!

Very cute graphic novel. It has a non-binary main character with a bisexual love interest. The setting is a summer camp and theater and overall a very cute graphic novel. I think it would be very relatable for some young adults.

Ashton has big plans for their last summer at camp. They know that everything will go perfectly for their last show, and bunking with their best friend Ivy will finally lead to the perfect summer romance. When Ivy gets placed in a different cabin, Ashton still has high hopes for a great summer. But with Ivy focused on her role in the show and Ashton running the crew, will they ever have time to spend together?

I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic novel. It is equal parts middle grade in it's tame content, but also will fit with a similar lower high school crowd because it's not written "too young." Solid messages about friendship, responsibility, and teamwork, and interwoven diverse representation that isn't part of the plot itself.

Omg Upstaged was such a cute Graphic Novel and Ash and Ivy were the perfect Characters and I was rooting for them as it was clear to me how perfect they were.

Usually the side characters were used as fillers but not in Robin's world as each had their own scenes and played important roles in the story.

Then you have the wonderful illustrations which screamed Summer.

I had such a good time reading Upstaged and hope to see more of Ash and Ivy. For all the above reasons Upstage receives 4 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Robin Easter and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fun middle grade graphic novel about last hurrahs, expressing your feelings, and summer camp! I loved Ashton and their friendship with Ivy.