Dramatically Ever After

Gr 6–10—In this sequel to Bookishly Ever After, two teen friends are facing college applications and other more serious life issues. Em (Ephemia) Katsaros, a talented actress, is desperate to attend a university with a world-class drama program, not the more local (free) college where her mom works. Money is very tight, as her dad is unemployed, so Em is checking out every scholarship opportunity. The big one is a speech contest. Em is chosen as one of 100 young men and women to participate in the U.S. Youth Change Council, representing New Jersey. She has tough competition, not least from the male representative of her state, her stuck-up nemesis and classmate Kris Lambert. The event takes place over the course of a week, in Boston, where the 100 high school students are mentored prior to their final presentations, and Em is experiencing self-doubt. In order to psych out Kris, whose game plan is to be nice to his rivals and then decimate them, she decides to flirt with him and throw him off balance. They predictably begin to fall for each other. Teens familiar with reality shows such as American Idol and academic competitions will be a ready audience for this well-plotted, gently humorous, and relatable novel.