Julia is short for her age. This summer she gets cast as a munchkin in a production of The Wizard of Oz. She never thought of herself as a performer, but her new friendship with an adult with dwarfism who doesn’t let her size define her, and an artistic neighbor, she finds that she may not be very tall, but she more than deserves to hold her head high.
“Sweet, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny, this delightful novel by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a wonderful read, bubbling with discovery and excitement and embracing the bittersweet in life.”
— Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media
“Readers who enjoyed Holly Goldberg Sloan’s very successful novel COUNTING BY 7’s have long awaited her next book while wondering what it will be about and whether or not it will be as moving as a story about a girl coping with heavy loss. While the book SHORT has a more light-hearted tone, it will not disappoint Sloan’s many fans.”
— Angela Warsinske, KidsReads
“Julia Marks is taking readers somewhere over the rainbow and embarking on a summer of self-discovery. Always considered short for her age, Julia is used to being picked last for sports teams in school, even by her closest friends, and is self-conscious enough of her height that she never uses the dreaded S-word. Her outlook changes, however, when her mother forces her to audition for the local university’s summer-theater production of The Wizard of Oz, in which she is cast as the lead Munchkin dancer. Chance friendships with her neighbor Mrs. Chang, a costuming genius, and Olive, an adult cast mate who is her exact size, help transform Julia’s summer from one of grudging obligation into an inspirational experience that enables her to put her own insecurities into perspective. Sloan combines Julia’s interior monologue with events in real time to create a winning portrait of an inquisitive white adolescent girl whose shrewd observations of family members and cast mates reveal a keen mind and a delightfully quirky sense of humor. Her musings about the play also serve as a well-crafted introduction to theater terminology and convey drama’s ability to open participants up to new experiences.”
“A charming read with an important message that no matter one’s stature.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“Short joins other middle-grade novels . . . in celebrating the transcendent power of theater for kids.”
— The New York Times Book Review
“Sweet and uplifting. . . . It’s refreshing that Julia doesn’t mind being short and believes she’s ‘little, but big inside.’ Her self-acceptance is inspiring and the joy she experiences in her foray into theater is irresistible.”
— Booklist, starred review
“Sloan again captures the authentic voice of a child dealing with weighty topics, including loss and identity, in a charming and often funny way. . . . A narrative filled with lighthearted and candid moments.”
— Publishers Weekly
“The funny narration is in Julia’s rambling, middle-school voice, which allows readers to experience her emotions and maturation with her. . . . Highly recommended.”
— VOYA
“A joy to read.”
— School Library Connection
“This is . . . a jubilant story about the way a new context can give kids a whole different perspective on life and themselves, and readers feeling stuck in their roles will particularly appreciate the implication.”
— BCCB
