Dustin dreams of being an actor, and finally his school is doing a play. The sixth-grader has the best part in the whole show – until a professional child actor comes to town, that is.
Between a big brother who reinvents himself every time he dates a new girl and his rather ditzy aunts and grandma who live in the other half of the house, Dustin’s life seems complicated. The divorce has torn Mom to pieces – who knew Dad would leave to do a stand-up comedy gig and never come back? So Dustin and his best friend Wally are keeping quiet about the play.
It’s really lucky that Miss Honeywell came to teach in Buttermilk Falls since Principal Futterman only cares about sports. Their class has practiced and practiced The Castle of the Crooked Crowns, created costumes and sets, and is about to take the stage when a fire drill interrupts their first and only performance!
During all the confusion, Dustin hears a rumor that someone famous is enrolling in their school, in their class. When it turns out to be Jeremy Jason Wilder, star of his favorite funny sitcom, Dustin thinks things will be great – until a big disaster during the rescheduled play.
Silly little Ellen from next door insists on talking to Dustin when he just wants to concentrate on having another chance to do Crooked Crowns. Somehow trying to become friends with Jeremy gets in the way of staying friends with his lifelong buddies, and the school bully starts getting more aggressive.
Will Jeremy try to steal the show when Crooked Crowns returns to the stage? Why did he come to this small town from Hollywood anyway? Will Dustin ever hear from his dad again?
This first novel from actor John J. Bonk will have readers shouting “Encore!” and eagerly awaiting Dustin’s next adventure in the series.
Recommended by: Katy Manck, Librarian-at-Large (retired academic/corporate/school librarian), Gilmer, Texas, USA – blogging young adult books beyond the bestsellers at https://BooksYALove.blogspot.com
