The middle-grade novel Fearless, by debut author and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez, takes you on a courageous and fresh journey about what it means to be a fearless youngster with the heart of a performer. Seventh-grader Monica Garcia wants nothing more than to star in the much-anticipated Broadway show Our Time. Monica loves singing since she was very little, and adding to her motives to shine is a deep wish to help her younger brother, Freddy, receive the medical attention he needs. However, there appears to be a curse at the show’s location, The Ethel Merman Theater, and what unfolds is something readers may not easily guess. Told in third-person narrative, Gonzalez gives readers unique supporting characters who, along with Monica, help lift the storytelling with humor, friendship, family support, courage, mystery, shenanigans, and the performing arts.
Readers start off in New York City, where Monica has traveled to from California with her grandmother. Monica has been selected as an understudy to the understudy for Michie, one of the lead characters in the Our Time Broadway show. However, as she enters the Ethel Merman Theater, Monica immediately finds herself facing an ambulance with the show’s understudy being carried off to the hospital. Monica must then take the lead as Michie, much to Monica’s surprise and fear of failing. But everyone involved at the Ethel Merman Theater believes that the previous actresses’ accidents were caused by a curse. Thus, this increases Monica’s self-doubt and curiosity to find out what’s truly happening.
Credit: Simon & Schuster.
Monica struggles with finding her voice and letting go of fear as the story continues, while readers are introduced to four great supporting characters who help make up the Our Time cast; April DaSilva, Relly Morton, and Hudson Patel. April is a bright and enthusiastic youngster with a big personality, who initially tends to speak up for Monica, while Hudson is a sarcastic young boy who loves mixing foods to create something new, such as a “cronut” (croissant + donut). Relly brings out his own unique personality with electric blue hair, can find humor in stressful situations, and entered the performing arts world through a dance competition. Additionally, everyone comes from different socio-economic backgrounds; while April has had bigger acting opportunities, Relly lives in a small, two-room basement apartment in Harlem with his brother and mother, and has only participated in one Broadway production so far. Gonzalez also presents a backstory to how Monica’s love for the performing arts began; six-year-old Monica went to see the play “Dreamgirls” with her family, and since then, was constantly taken to malls to sing aloud. In present times, Monica expresses, “When I sing, I can turn into anyone I want to be.” She has a lot to practice and learn before Our Time’s opening night.
While the young cast is on the lookout for clues and answers about the mysterious happenings at the Ethel Merman Theater, they encounter historical artifacts and stories from places they explore and the adults they ask. Monica’s grandmother, for instance, adds a possible explanation for the Ethel Merman Theater’s spooky events: the concept of fear through Monica’s past family history. Her grandmother states, “You can’t break a curse when you live in fear of it.” In addition, the use of interludes nicely contributes to each chapter’s tone and scenario.
Mandy Gonzalez also gives readers great, detailed insights into theater production. The fact that “Broadway attracts big personalities” is reinforced throughout the story. Among the things Gonzalez teaches readers is that the reason the insides of many theaters are red is because red is the first color to get lost in the dark when the lights go out. She also intertwines theater necessities like props, the backstage, and the rest of the theater crew. Aspiring performers will get the chance to read and learn that performing in front of a live audience requires constant rehearsals, and proper coaches like Mr. Fernando, Monica’s vocal coach, and Mrs. Bigsley, Broadway’s most illustrious piano player. Thus, there’s a great emphasis on the need to surround yourself with people who are willing to help you succeed.
Fearless is an intriguing read for theater aficionados, mystery-genre fans, anyone who loves the performing arts. Monica and co. will take readers on a trick-or-treat styled endeavor to help the Ethel Merman Theater shine bright again. Readers will be pleased to know that the Fearless author, as stated in an interview, recently created the robust hashtag #FearlessSquad, with the sole focus to create a community to support people to follow their dreams and celebrate those who get them there. Mandy Gonzalez leaves young readers with the ultimate message Monica Garcia learns: be yourself and choose to be fearless, because the show must go on!
For more updates on her latest works, follow author Mandy Gonzalez on:
Twitter: @_mandygonzalez
Instagram: @mandy.gonzalez
Website: https://mandygonzalez.com/
Yvonne Tapia is a Mexican-American professional from East Harlem, New York. She earned a BA in Media Studies and Psychology from Hunter College. Additionally, she has worked in the educational and media fields through various outlets. With a long-term enthusiasm for children’s media, she has been involved at Housing Works Bookstore and Latinx in Publishing. She currently works on the Marketing and Publicity team at Levine Querido. Yvonne is excited about the power of storytelling, and dedicated to engage content awareness in underrepresented communities.
