Sally loves musical theatre and dreams of a career on Broadway. Living near a theatre with her dad, she can practically see her dreams come true.

Writing her own musical is Sally's first step to a life of fame. It's so annoying that friends and family KEEP hinting that maybe her musical is not really about a lonely frog, but actually about her own life. She's sure no one ever said that to Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Armed with new skills from a course packed with main-cast-energy theatre kids, Sally is ready to take her show public. Will her performance prove to her friends that she's over any problems? The show must go on, after all.



Méabh Collins is a writer and scholar from Dublin. She holds an M.Phil in Children's Literature from Trinity College Dublin, where she is currently pursuing a PhD. In recent years, she has worked as a primary school teacher and in children's and Irish language publishing. She lives in Dublin with her husband and their rescue greyhound. This is her second novel.



a brilliant book full of real-life adventure and modern social life.  I would highly recommend this book to ages 9-14. I give it a 8/10 - by Tess, age 11, 5th Class



it is going straight into the Sixth Class library amarach!



heartwarming … this book explores loss and grief in a wholly accessible way, with its deep pockets of warmth and humour … with fun an topical pop culture references, the book eases you into Sally's world … despite the musical theatre specifics, its realism offers scope for all young people to see themselves in the story and hopefully become inspired by it!



Méabh's warmth, wit and compassion sing through the narrative, and I was sad to say goodbye when the novel ended. It's such a perfect summer escape, which is strange because it explores the things that you can't escape, as well as the refuge, solace and community that art can provide. I'm excited for the theatre kids that get to read (and re-read) this



Sally's witty, original voice drew me in from the first page and this book doesn't shy from her grief … a must for all theatre kids and also readers who like realistic novels with heart



a whirlwind journey ... a true-to-life adventure encouraging you to be exactly who you are; funny, vibrant, full of heart & thoroughly enjoyable



Some may call Sally Flynn "intense", but she insists she's "passionate" = a true theatre kid, dramatic on and off the stage ("I could have had an agent by now, but I'm washed up!" she laments, aged 14). In lesser hands Sally would be a punchline; here we get a more nuanced perspective on the arts as both "a wonderful outlet for expressing our emotions", as a kind teacher says, and a highly competitive, often dysfunctional industry. Sally, defying gravity and not throwing away her shot, is a delight, but so too are the Dublin-specific references throughout the BGE Theatre as a "grand ship on the ocean", her former-broadcaster granny's resentment at missing out on being "the voice of the Luas", the "generous voluntary contribution" parents are hounded for annually. There's care taken with each of the supporting characters including one of my favourites, a male friend who eye-rolls over Sally's musical until he finds a way to connect it to his own Greek mythology obsession and a warm, uplifting ending. Brava!



such an original and absolutely gas book, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading it … The theme of musicals and acting is really fresh with lots of references and in-jokes which were so much fun to read. Sally is so overzealous and passionate but Méabh somehow manages to write her in such a way that she doesn't lean into caricature and is such a loveable character despite being her own worst enemy at times. The depiction of teenage friendships and clashes is *spot on* and her treatment of dealing with grief is beautifully done … the humour … subtle references like kids attending the Happy Larry Stage School, Sally imagining herself being interviewed by an English reporter on the red carpet who calls her British - "you know you've made it when the British media claim you as their own!" - and her father referring to the not-so-involuntary school fees. There is a scene where Sally has to get professional headshots taken that I read back over a few times it had me in absolute stitches! I loved the references to the Dublin setting such as the Lir academy, the Luas and Dublin Bus, Bord Gáis theatre - also how gorgeous is the cover by Catalina Ometita-Dragos? A really brilliant, funny and heartwarming read