12/12/2016
In a historical novel that opens in 1913 Vermont, Ketchum (Out of Left Field) weaves a gripping story of racial discrimination in the performing arts. Money is always tight for Teresa LeClair’s white family; although they have left their vaudeville life behind, 15-year-old Teresa dreams of a career as a singer. When Teresa’s father wants her to risk her voice and health to work in the tuning rooms of an organ manufacturer, she runs away, and her younger brother, Pascal, follows. After Teresa meets a tap dancer named Pietro, who is black, the two begin traveling and performing together, but as they travel to New York City and then Colorado, Teresa’s opportunities on the stage far outnumber those of the equally talented Pietro, which outrages her. Ketchum paints a vivid portrait of the difficult life of a performer and the indignities and prejudice endured by artists of color like Pietro, including being forced to perform in blackface. Lovers of theater and history will find a great deal to sink their teeth into. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (Jan.)
"Vaudeville in the early 1900s makes for a thought-provoking setting for a tale of racial discrimination with direct parallels to today's issues.... The plot and characters are strong enough to carry that theme.... Historical fiction, racial discrimination, a budding love story, and youthful characters make this a fine additional purchase for libraries." School Library Journal
"Raised on the road with vaudevillian parents and gifted with a golden voice, young Teresa LeClair sets out to 'shoot for the starsor die trying' in Ketchum's newest historical novel. A jam-packed ride through early-20th-century performance culture." Kirkus Reviews
As seen in the Publishers Weekly African-American Titles for Young Readers feature
Ketchum’s new read stars a teen whose beautiful voice takes her out of her family home to the great New York City. Filled with young dreams and the realities of racial discrimination, it’s a story that’s as relevant today as ever.
Liza Ketchum creates a story as vibrant as the era itself ... perhaps the greatest strength of the story is the historical accuracy tangible in the novel. Ketchum manages to capture the unique flavor and tone of the era of Vaudeville - the bond of shared dreams and challenges that connected performers as a family. a fun and quick read for younger teens.
Provides much fodder for discussing race relations and the power of song.
This was a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the vaudeville circuit ... .I love a good historical read, and I can’t advocate enough for these types of books that combine fiction and history in positive ways ... to be required reading in our schools. Factual history books are important, sure, but if you can find a realistic character to empathize with ... I think you’re going to be a more well-rounded person for it. Ketchum brought the 1910s NYC to life, using real songs and places to bring an air of authenticity to the novel.
"The Life Fantastic provides a fascinating window into the 1900s New York vaudeville scene, while examining the complexities of family support and expectations, as well as burgeoning black activism ... .Ketchum fits it together seamlessly and entertainingly. Her love of vaudeville shines through Teresa and her descriptions of 1913 Broadway, but she does not ignore the built-in limitations placed on people of color."
Provides much fodder for discussing race relations and the power of song.
12/01/2016
Gr 7–10Vaudeville in the early 1900s makes for a thought-provoking setting for a tale of racial discrimination with direct parallels to today's issues. Teresa, a white girl with a golden voice, yearns to be on stage, as her parents were in their youth. Her parents, however, think otherwise. Her father declares that the theater is no place for a woman, but Teresa secretly defies him, sings in a talent competition, and runs away to New York City to pursue a performing career. Unfortunately, her younger brother, Pascal, stows away on the train, too, forcing Teresa not only to navigate the big city but also to provide for him. Another performer, Maeve, takes both siblings under her wing, as does the tap dancer Pietro. Teresa's understanding of the inequality and discrimination faced by people of color in and out of show business solidifies when her relationship with Pietro, who is black, threatens them both. The novel's sections, interspersed with passages written as lyrics and in a play-script style, don't always feel well integrated. Yes, the book is set on the vaudeville stage, but here the plot and characters are strong enough to carry that theme through without the distracting narrative devices. VERDICT Historical fiction, racial discrimination, a budding love story, and youthful characters make this a fine additional purchase for libraries with a large historical fiction fan base.—Lisa Ehrle, Falcon Creek Middle School, CO
2016-11-16
Raised on the road with vaudevillian parents and gifted with a golden voice, young Teresa LeClair sets out to "shoot for the stars—or die trying" in Ketchum's newest historical novel.Though Resa longs for fame and the bright lights of the stage, her French-Canadian father has other plans. He expects the 15-year-old white girl to put her perfect pitch to work at the Estey organ factory in Brattleboro, Vermont. Victory in a local singing competition and taunting encouragement from a young African-American tap dancer, Pietro Jones, compel Teresa to run away to New York City rather than settle for a life in the tuning rooms of Estey. Restrictions on young performers as well as the specter of segregation and racial inequality are consistent trials throughout the story. Discussion of the practice of blackface will likely give some readers pause. The pace is quick, but at times it's to the detriment of narrative flow, as readers must pause to recalibrate how they arrived at many plot points. Many characters come and go without much development, as if plugged in simply to fill holes, but this also serves to illustrate the transient nature of life in the theater. A jam-packed ride through early-20th-century performance culture, if one can hold on. (list of songs, author's note, glossary, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 12-16)