The Showstopper: A Rebecca Mystery (AmericanGirl Beforever 1914: Rebecca Mystery)

Rebecca Rubin's cousin Michael puts this first of three American Girl mysteries for 2018 into motion when he forgets his lunch. He's working at a famous Broadway theatre and of course stagestruck Rebecca and his sister Ana get to take his forgotten meal to him and go backstage in the bargain. The girls find out the theatre is looking for children their age for a job, but when they actually get permission to work there, they find out it's not for acting, but to support a miniature farm that's on the roof of the theatre. Disappointed at first, Rebecca is determined to stick with it because she gets to associate with talented new actress Olivia Berry—only to discover someone appears determined to harm "Ollie," as she asks the girls to call her: the young woman is almost injured on stage, and other frightening things keep happening.This story could easily be rewritten into a more adult thriller once the culprit is revealed, yet there is nothing too frightening or sinister here for the audience this volume is intended for. A bunch of historical facts are painlessly included in the narrative, including the fact that the plays given in the theatre weren't the sole things entertaining the crowds back the. The miniature farm depicted on the roof of the theatre, the rooftop lake and restaurant, and the stage show "up above" were all real aspects of some vaudeville theatres of that era, and the Oscar Hammerstein that Rebecca and Ana meet is the real-life grandfather of Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote the lyrics to the songs in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, OKLAHOMA, etc. with his partner Richard Rogers. An excellent outing for Rebecca.

Bought this for my grand daughter's 10th birthday; she is just starting to enjoy "chapter books". This one is a winner!

Great product

The Showstopper: A Rebecca Mystery by Mary Casanova is an AmericanGirl Beforever book set in 1914 New York. Rebecca and her cousin, Ana, volunteer to take their cousin, Micheal's, lunch to him when he forgets it. They thought they were just getting out of doing needlework with their grandmother but it became the start of an adventure in the theater, which Rebecca has always longed for.Micheal works painting sets at Oscar Hammerstein's theater and while the girls are there, they meet Mr. Hammerstein, who offers them jobs. Since their families are Russian immigrants and struggling financially, the girls are given permission to accept the jobs.The world of theater seems so exciting to Rebecca and she is thrilled to meet her favorite star of the stage - Ollie Berry. Ollie is starring in a new production in the Ziegfeld Follies across the street from the theater where the girls are working. But Rebecca soon begins to see signs that the theater has a dark side, too.When Ollie has attempts made on her life, Rebecca decides to uncover the perpetrator before something really bad happens to Ollie.This is a fun mystery but the real draw is in the picture of life in 1914. It will be interesting to read this with my granddaughter the next time she visits because I know she will enjoy hearing how little girls lived 100+ years ago.

1914 was the year the Great War (later known as WWI) began. Rebecca Rubin, the American girl featured in this book is eager to resume her acting career. An aspiring actress, Rebecca and her cousins literally walk into a love for acting when they walk into a Broadway theater to bring their cousin the lunch he forgot to pack. Once backstage, Rebecca and her sister Ana become bitten by the acting bug and smitten with the theater. The theater is allegedly seeking child actors, but in reality is looking for children to support a farm on the theater's roof. While not showbiz, Rebecca is delighted when she meets Olivia "Ollie" Berry (a nod to Halle Berry, perhaps?) who is a well respected actress who is currently under a cloud of danger. Someone or something appears to be out to get Ollie and Rebecca and her cousins are determined to keep Ollie from having her leg broken or worse!What I like about the American Girl series is the theme of Girl Power, of girls portrayed in strong, positive and intelligent roles and I like the way history is interwoven in each installment. Each of the American Girls is placed squarely in a time frame and young readers learn about the issues and available entertainment of the day.

My granddaughter, aged 9, loves the American Girl Dolls and wants to be an actress. This was the perfect book for her. Taking place in 1914, this book also represents a different era, and a different culture.Rebecca and her cousin Ana have taken the subway in New York to 42nd street to a Broadway theatre to deliver lunch to Ana’s brother. In the process they have been invited to help care for a lovely garden, and this is the beginning of the mystery. They get to know the star of the show Olivia Berry, and find she may be in danger. This is a mystery that young girls can sink their teeth into. This is a wonderful story that brings us into another era, but could be a mystery at any time.The young women Rebecca and Ana in this book are presented in a manner that employs these young women in a very positive light. They act in a positive manner are polite to elders and show good manners. At the same time they are independent, and after a time their concerns are-considered. This is a book that most young people will enjoy, and if you have a love of the theater, you get a front row seat.Recommended. prisrob 09-04-18