#upstaged

In a summer of goodbyes and new beginnings, shy Ashton Price hopes to confess to their theater camp crush in this heartfelt middle-grade graphic novel. Perfect for fans of The Tryout and The Girl from the Sea.

This is it: the last hurrah, the final curtain call. 

Ever since sixth grade, Ashton Price and their best friend and enduring crush, Ivy Santos, have spent their summers together at theater camp. Now it’s their last year before they part ways for high school, and Ash is determined to end it on a high note!

With Ash as stage manager and Ivy the lead in this year’s musical, this summer’s shaping up to be everything the two could have hoped for. Maybe Ash will even work up the courage to ask Ivy out! But between Ivy rehearsing long hours with her colead and Ash throwing themself into an ambitious stage production, will they end up drifting apart instead?

It was the big day: never one for the spotlight but I wanted the recognition. I waited my whole life to not be part of the crowd but to dance in the middle of the street with all the displays and my name in lights. But when I stepped forward the streets were empty and someone took my place. How could you reign on my parade?

Never mind. Whatever floats your boat but mine’s tits up and the ship has sunk. Just the other day, I checked for holes and found none. But now I may as well have been a sponge.

Never mind. Whatever you call your throne may as well be my face with your name on it. The coronation, my damnation. My crowning achievement was placed on your head. I’m crowning and I’ve returned to being an infant Fresh from the womb, I’m an open wound. My mother’s cold sore. Lo and behold, the doctor declares: “A scar is born; the ache shall never heal again!” I couldn’t afford the treatment so the doctor bashed my teeth in. You were provided for while I’m covered in debt. For all the bullshit I’ve endured I must be seeing red because you’re the matador of this stage.

Never mind thunder you never needed to steal anything. Instead of sunshine you should have been soaking up my sheets. It would only have been fair but it could never be even. I’d have to get on my knees just to squeeze out a hint of truth from you. Never mind pride, I know you wear the emperor’s new clothes. You could have stained my back instead of my legacy. Now what do I have? You reigned on my parade.

Well I hate to be window dressing but I’d gladly change my appearance just to toss your salad.

At the swearing in ceremony for Kennedy’s cabinet