Summer in the City

by Fracaswell Hyman

Overview

Get ready, world—Mango’s about to become a STAR! In this sequel to Mango Delight, the delightful heroine’s adventures—and misadventures—continue as she prepares to make her off-Broadway debut.
 
Where Mango goes, drama is sure to follow! It’s summer break, and Mango is content to spend her time babysitting her brother, hanging with her friend Izzy, and binge-watching movies late into the night. Then she runs into her drama teacher, who has some big news: their middle school play Yo, Romeo! is headed to the stage in New York City . . . and he wants Mango for the lead role! After overcoming her mom’s initial reluctance—and with some firm rules established—Mango goes off to Brooklyn to stay with her Aunt Zendaya in a teeny apartment and prepare for her theatrical debut. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, but soon Mango must confront homesickness, insecurity, and the all-important question of what it means to be a good friend—especially when you’re far away from the people you love.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454933946
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	03/31/2020
Series:	Mango Delight Series , #2
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	770L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Fracaswell “Cas” Hyman is an award-winning television writer (Humanitas Prize, Alma Award, Peabody Award) and screenwriter (UCLA Extension Best Screenplay winner.) He is also a playwright, theater and television director, and producer who has created and executive produced successful live-action (The Famous Jett Jackson, Romeo, Taina) and animated (Little Bill) television series for Disney and Nickelodeon. Cas lives with his family in Wilmington, NC, and can be found online at fracaswellhyman.com and on Instagram @fracaswell.
 

Editorial Reviews

"Fans of Hyman’s first book, Mango Delight (2017), will enjoy the further adventures of his titular character as she works to make her dreams come true. Readers looking for books with diverse characters and a strong female protagonist will also enjoy this title."—Booklist

Praise for Mango Delight:

“Mango is as delightful as her middle name indicates, and middle-grade readers will easily recognize their own experiences in her friendship struggles. This is Hyman’s first novel; here’s hoping it’s not his last.” —Booklist, starred review
 
“Though this book clearly helps fill the need for minority female leads, the universal themes it addresses give it broad appeal across ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds. A short and sweet story that will encourage deeper conversations around shame, honesty, and courage.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The writing is accessible without being trite, and Mango’s inner struggle to be a better person is presented in an interesting and relatable fashion. . . . An appealing addition, featuring an African American protagonist, for all middle grade collections; hand to readers who enjoy friendship drama and gentle realism.” —School Library Journal

“The characters . . . are deftly crafted, and their relationships play out in ways that carefully avoid cliché. . . . Mango’s supportive family is also well drawn . . . Kids who’d settle for making it through middle school unscathed but still dream of shining in it will find a kindred spirit in Mango.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Author Fracaswell Hyman has built a fascinating story for middle-graders with well-rounded, believable characters and a story that will keep readers turning pages.” —San Francisco Book Review

“Mango Delight Fuller has returned! In this sequel to Mango Delight, Mango is settling into the summer and her middle school drama has come to an end. It seems she has found her place with her ‘drama nerd’ friends. This summer seems happily predictable . . . Things ramp up when her teacher offers a wondrous opportunity to put on their school play, Yo Romeo!, in an off-off Broadway theater with Mango as the lead. Miraculously, her parents let her go, and Mango can’t wait to experience a real theater with real actors. . . . Mango begins to realize that being the star of a real play is intense work, and navigating the egos of the many professional actors can be just as challenging as middle school drama. Still, she works very hard to stay true to her real self and learns to be comfortable outside her comfort zone. Mango is a likable and relatable protagonist . . . younger readers will nevertheless find this sequel satisfying.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2020-01-26
Mango Delight’s summer takes a detour when she is asked to star in an off-off-off-Broadway musical in New York City.

Mango, a 12 ½-year-old black girl, is just about to settle into her summer vacation routine, babysitting her toddler brother and hanging out with her best friend, when the director of the school musical she starred in in her eponymous debut (2017) invites her to star in the same play—but this time with professional actors in NYC. Once her parents give permission, Mango must contend with her own fears and homesickness, and she faces obstacles including obnoxious co-stars, a case of imposter syndrome, and long-distance fights with her best friend. And the boy she likes is staying in the city too, which makes things even more exciting—and confusing. Mango is a very imperfect, sympathetic protagonist whose humorous perspective is fun to share as she stumbles from one adventure to another, trying to stay true to herself in the process; she peppers her narration with text-message transcripts. Believable secondary characters and lighthearted middle school angst make this journey worth the ride, but Mango’s fascination with white beauty standards detracts a bit from the fun storyline. Mango’s Jamaican dad is a chef trying to get a catering company off the ground while her mom, who has a prosthetic leg, works at Target in order to afford the family’s insurance.

Readers will swallow this book whole, appetites whet for the next installment. (Fiction. 11-13)

Kirkus Reviews