• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Gerri waits outside all night to audition for Big Time, her favorite TV singing competition.

She believes she has a shot at success, but when she’s insulted by one of the judges and kicked out of the competition, she thinks she’ll probably never sing again. After a teacher at her school asks her to join a choral club, Gerri reluctantly gets involved. Even though she can’t read music and she doesn’t know the other kids, she finds herself enjoying the group and learning a lot about music. A cute guy she met at the Big Time auditions joins the group, and when they perform their unique mashups at an open-mic night, Gerri realizes there’s more than one way to be a successful—and happy—singer!

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Tom Ryan is the award-winning author of several acclaimed books for young readers. He has been nominated for multiple awards, including the White Pine Award, the Ann Connor Brimer Award and the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award. His YA mystery Keep This to Yourself was the winner of the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Thriller and the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Best YA Crime Book. Two of his books were Junior Library Guild selections, and three of his young adult novels, Way to Go, Tag Along and Keep This to Yourself, were chosen for the ALA Rainbow List, in 2013, 2014 and 2020. He was a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult Fiction. Tom, his husband and their dog live in Nova Scotia.

Tom Ryan's profile page

• Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"A feel-good story that is all about a love of music and following one’s dreams."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"A believable and instructive story about art and life."

Resource Links

"Readers will want to ride along for the high hopes and disappointments, as well as the self-discovery that is part of Gerri’s journey to embrace and polish her talent."

Publishers Weekly

"I would recommend this book, due to its stellar characters and unique concept. Performing arts novels are quite rare after all!"

Bookish Serendipity

"Readers who have a musical interest will appreciate Gerri’s musical journey. It’s also refreshing to read about Gerri’s family that is extremely supportive of her dreams but realistic. Music brings generations together in this novel. The Limelights series promises readers a quick, interesting read and this book delivers."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)