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Gr 3–6—British fifth grader Dara Palmer is a natural-born actress, destined for Hollywood stardom. At least, that's what she and her best friend, Lacey, think, until neither of them lands the lead role in their school's musical production of The Sound of Music. Dara, who is adopted from Cambodia, believes that she may have been passed over for the role because she doesn't look like the original Maria. After seeing that the cast includes other nonwhite students in important roles and talking to the director, Dara realizes ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Though not a sequel to Shevah's first novel, Dream On, Amber, this book is set at the same British elementary school and features another memorable narrator. Fifth grader Dara is genuinely gobsmacked when she isn't given the part of Maria in the school performance of The Sound of Music. Is it because evil Miss Snarling, er, Snelling doesn't think an Asian girl would make a good Austrian nun? Nope -- Dara actually doesn't get any part (except a spot in the choi...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

[add race relations to subjects]Adopted Cambodian-British fifth grader Dara is gobsmacked when she isn't given the lead in the school musical. Dara's realizat...Log In or Sign Up to Read More