A cute story about a theater summer camp. Although the different gender identities give the book a bit of a twist, this is a fairly simple book with a simple plot. Several years ago this book would have been ground-breaking but now it doesn't really stand out from other graphic novels out there. Appropriate for 4th/5th grade and above.

✨ Review ✨ Upstaged by Robin Easter

Thanks to Little Brown, TBR and Beyond and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book is a fabulous queer middle grades summer camp graphic novel. Before starting high school, Ash is off for one more theater summer camp adventure. They're the stage manager and their best summer camp buddy, Ivy is the lead in the camp musical.

The camp adventure doesn't start off as planned though when Ivy gets assigned to a different cabin and befriends the other lead of the play. Ash really wants to ask Ivy out but is afraid she likes the other lead. It's the perfect amount of anger and love and relationships for a middle grades coming of age book.

The illustrations were great and it draws you right into the story. It's also great for theater lovers! I really loved it and can't wait to share it with my 11yo!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: summer camp
Pub Date: May 28 2024

Playlist perfect for summer camp excitement and angsr:
1. Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
2. Cruel Summer by Banana rama
3. Cruel Summer (again but) by Taylor Swift
4. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey
5. Summer by Calvin Harris

First up a big thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours + the publisher for allowing me to read this one. Sadly, due to the low quality of the scan/the blurry text I cannot read this one. I am going to buy this one when I can (was already planning that, but now it is even more of an necessity) and I will update my review as soon as I have read the book/the review is up on my blog (which given everything will probably be July, haha). Because I do love a book about camp, the art looks really really fun and I love the character designs, I am curious if our MC will find new friends now they are split from their one camp bestie, and I want to see all the things going on in this camp. Theatre camp sounds like so much fun. I won't be giving it a 1 star, for now I will give it 3 stars (because disappointed I cannot read it, but I know I will like the book) and update accordingly.

This was really cute and I will be buying several for my classroom. I think MGers would really enjoy this text.

This will be a hit in my classroom. I could tell instantly because my 4th grade daughter read it all in one sitting. It’s bright, colorful, and the kids will really connect with the awkwardness of the main character.

This is such a sweet book, perfect for all the queer theatre kids out there!

The whole story is set at a performing arts summer camp, where they’re putting on a Cinderella-inspired show called “Ella”. Our main character, Ash, is the stage manager, and they have a crush on their best friend, leading lady Ivy.

I really liked the setting of the summer camp; the rehearsal and show process provided a really strong narrative, and there was that sense of excitement and camaraderie that felt really nostalgic as an adult reader.

I also loved how all the characters were able to exist without their identities being a central talking point. They were all able to live as their authentic selves, without comment or question, and I think it’s so important to have books out there like this one for queer kids as they’re growing up.

The real star of the book, of course, is the friendship-turned-romance between Ash and Ivy. They have such a lovely friendship, and it was so sweet to see them figure out their feelings for each other.

All of this is tied together with bright, vibrant artwork, that really completes the summer fun vibes. While the book is aimed at middle grade readers, I think there’s something for all ages to enjoy.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This graphic novel follows Ash as they navigate their last summer at theater camp. Ash has a huge crush on their theater camp bestie, Ivy, and is jealous when Ivy starts to bond with her co-star. This book is cute and packed full of feelings. I love the nonbinary rep and the cute relationship between Ash and Ivy. I also thought the art was excellent. However, I wanted there to be more happening. I also get that Ash was navigating feelings of jealousy and loss but I found them to be unlikeable at times. I would happily recommend this to teens and tweens in the library though!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

The Good:
-Adorable art
-LGBTQIA+ rep for days
-Great message about friendship and the importance of communication

The Meh:
-How did this camp work? I assumed everyone was working on the play but there was a conversation where some people weren't working on the play. What are they doing if not the play?
-The plot felt a little rushed. I think I just wanted more time with the characters working on the play altogether, but it jumps to the performance pretty quickly after a major setback happens.

The Bad:
-There is no way Ash is dying their brown hair purple without a lightener first. That's not how vivid color works.

Super cute story about queer kids at a performing arts summer camp. Great for middle school students. I would read another book about these characters.

This was a great read. The art was cute. Students will enjoy the story. I will definitely add this to my library because students will connect with the characters and how it addresses friendship and friend drama. I also loved the LGBTQIA representation.

Very cute graphic novel that covers friendship, friend drama, and a little growing up.

I would definitely recommend for addition to middle grade libraries!

A short and sweet drama camp romance .. …. . . . …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Upstaged is a cute graphic novel set at a theater camp. It focuses on ash who has a crush on their best friends and is wanting to confess, the comic deals with feelings of jealousy and accepting that things are not always how you expect them to be. I loved the LGBTQA+ representation. I think my only critique is it kinda feels a little like a sequel to another comic, I'm not sure how to explain it but it felt like I missed some story building.

Ash must find a way to confess their crush to their long-time friend Ivey while producing the camp's play.

This book hooked me in from the first couple of pages. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Ash is in love with their best friend, and plans to tell her while they're at their summer theater camp. Unfortunately, they end up having to spend more time apart than together due to their different roles in the show. Ash struggles with jealousy, insecurity, and accepting help from potential new friends. I think this is a really fun middle grade book about a first big crush, especially for theater kids. I appreciated how the queerness in this story was intrinsic, and while essential to the characterizations for many of the main and side characters, it wasn't the focal point to the plot itself. This is not a coming out story, instead we have a character who is already firm in their queer identity, which I haven't gotten to see in a lot of middle grade reads. Very much enjoyed this one!

This was very cute. I loved the PB&j references that was adorable. I am begging publishers though when they send out advanced copies, please for the love of everything, make them so that the file isn't freaking blurry. I swear I thought my eyesight was going out while trying to read this book because everything was blurry. It took me way longer than it should have to finish because I genuinely had to take breaks.

It has a non-binary main character with a bisexual love interest. It is a nod to summer camp and theater and overall a very cute graphic novel.

Sweet, fun story of a nonbinary tween at theater camp. Ash is relatable: they have good intentions, but sometimes they definitely make mistakes. It's lovely how supportive and forgiving all their friends and colleagues at camp are when they finally realize that they've been so focused on their crush that they've been letting everything else slide. A good-hearted book that also has a lot of fun theater stuff!

This was such a cute, fun graphic novel! I loved seeing such diverse characters, and it was really fun to see all the theater stuff going on. The art style was awesome, and the colors really made everything pop! I loved the character development, as well, and the arc of the story! Will definitely add to my reader’s advisory lists!

Love to see more nonbinary rep in graphic novels, particularly from authors with lived experience. This is a super cute summer theatre camp story with great rep, a sweet romance and a realistically flawed protagonist. An easy recommend!

I ached for Ash so many times in the story, holding in a crush, almost ready to speak, letting so much valuable time slip by. It was inspiring to see the other campers and and friends rally around them and willing to look past their preoccupation. A timeless, universally relative tale of missing the life going by you while you focus on your own fear and insecurity. I can't wait to hand this to fans of Smile, the Sunny series, and Awkward.