Take It from the Top

· Sold by HarperCollins
Ebook
256
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Set at a camp over the course of six summers, this novel dives into the falling-out of two girls from different backgrounds who thought they'd be friends forever...until a production of Wicked brings all their buried issues to the surface. Claire Swinarski, Edgar Award nominee of the ALA Notable What Happened to Rachel Riley?, tackles privilege, perspective, and the power of friendship in this page-turning puzzle that readers will devour.

Eowyn Becker has waited all year to attend her sixth summer at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp. Here, the pain of her mom’s death can’t reach her, and she gets to reunite with her best friend, Jules Marrigan—the only person in the world who understands her. To top it off, Wicked—the girls' favorite musical—has been chosen for the camp's end-of-year production. If anyone can be Glinda to Eowyn's Elphaba, it's Jules!

But when Eowyn arrives at camp, everything seems wrong. The best-friend reunion Eowyn had been dreaming of doesn’t go as planned. Jules will barely even look at Eowyn, let alone talk to her, and Eowyn has no idea why.

Well, maybe she does…

There are two sides to every story, and if you want to understand this one, you’ll need to hear both. Told in a series of alternating chapters that dip back to past summers, the girls’ story will soon reveal how Eowyn and Jules went from being best friends to fierce foils. Can they mend ways before the curtains close on what was supposed to be the best summer of their lives?


  • Best Friends to Rivals: Eowyn and Jules were supposed to be Elphaba and Glinda forever. But this summer, a shocking secret turns them from soul sisters into sworn enemies.
  • Dual POV: There are two sides to every story. See the falling out unfold from both Eowyn’s and Jules’s perspectives as they navigate jealousy, grief, and the pressures of the stage.
  • Summer Camp Setting: Welcome to Lamplighter Lake, a magical summer camp for the arts where dreams are made—and friendships are tested—under the stage lights.
  • Stage Fright: For Eowyn, the spotlight has become a terrifying place. She’ll have to confront her deepest fears to reclaim her voice and save her friendship.
  • Books About Theater: Perfect for young readers who love musicals, drama, and heartfelt stories about finding your voice, both on and off the stage.
Set at a camp over the course of six summers, this novel dives into the falling-out of two girls from different backgrounds who thought they'd be friends forever...until a production of Wicked brings all their buried issues to the surface. Claire Swinarski, Edgar Award nominee of the ALA Notable ...

Discover more

About the author

Claire Swinarski was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she still lives with her family and writes stories for readers of all ages. What Happens Next was her debut middle grade novel and was followed by The Kate in Between, Each and Every Spark, and What Happened to Rachel Riley, which was an ALA Notable Children’s Book, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title, a Cybils Award nominee, and an Edgar Award nominee. These were followed by Take It from the Top and Each and Every Spark. Claire believes wandering around a library can solve 95 percent of life’s problems.

Claire Swinarski was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she still lives with her family and writes stories for readers of all ages. What Happens Next was her debut middle grade novel and was followed by The Kate in Between, Each and Every Spark, and What Happened to Rachel Riley, which was an AL...

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.