Mallory in the Spotlight: 14 (Mallory, 14) - Tapa blanda

"Mallory wonders why her best friend, Mary Ann, seems preoccupied and uncommunicative. She doesn't even seem excited about trying out for the school musical, Annie. When Mallory gets the lead and Mary Ann is left out, the gap grows wider until a crisis comes. The fourteenth volume in the Mallory series is a fast-moving chapter book depicting a low period in the girls' strong friendship. Although the play provides new vocabulary (defined in shaded ovals between paragraphs), the rehearsal and performance scenes seem perfunctory next to Mallory's offstage drama with Mary Ann. Bold drawings add visual appeal." --Booklist

"After landing the title role in Annie, Mallory can't figure out why her best friend, Mary Ann, doesn't seem happy for her. Could Mary Ann be jealous of Mallory's newfound fame, not to mention her new (and kind of mean) actress friends? Mallory learns important lessons about friendship; the story's focus on the excitement of staging a musical helps mask the message." --The Horn Book Guide

The world is a stage for Mallory McDonald! When Mallory tries out for a part in the school play and gets the lead, she is super excited. But not everyone shares her enthusiasm, especially her best friend Mary Ann. In fact, the more excited Mallory gets, the less excited Mary Ann becomes. Mallory can't understand why Mary Ann is acting so strange. Even though the lights are shining bright, is there something Mallory's not seeing? Can Mallory find a way to play the roles of leading lady and best friend?