First published 2012
Tallulah Casey faces the chaos of her new life at Dother Hall, a performing arts college in Yorkshire. She struggles to fit in among the drama students while dealing with her complicated feelings about boys, friendship, and her own insecurities. Her roommates present their own challenges, and Tallulah finds herself caught between her desire to be sophisticated and her tendency to create awkward situations. When the students prepare for their end-of-term performance, Tallulah must confront her fears about performing and figure out where she belongs. The pressure builds as she navigates romantic confusion, social dynamics, and her own self-doubt. Through mishaps and misunderstandings, Tallulah discovers that growing up means accepting herself, even when everything feels like a mess. Her journey at Dother Hall becomes about more than just learning to perform on stage.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, adolescence
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Dother Hall, Yorkshire
Period: 21st-century
334 pages · Paperback · Harper Collins Children’s Books