Acting Out:  Six One-Act Plays!
Six Newbery Stars!
edited by Justin Chanda

    ACTING OUT edited by Justin Chanda
    Category:  Anthology
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  6/17/08
    Publisher:  Atheneum
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    What happens when you ask six Newbery Award winners to write one-act plays?  Well, you get a book like
    ACTING OUT, and you get the potential for a lot of fun.

    Award-winning authors Avi, Susan Cooper, Sharon Creech, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson, and Richard
    Peck were asked to write one-act plays.  They were given the freedom to write about anything, but there was one
    catch.  Each author picked a word which was to be used in all six plays.  The words chosen were dollop, hoodwink,
    Justin, knuckleball, panhandle, and raven.  Their creative efforts are a pleasure to read.

    The subjects of the plays include school topics like the detention room and a scary substitute, a mysterious voice, a
    moving, talking giant rock, a childhood Edgar A. Poe, and a selfish billionaire.  Each script includes stage directions,
    character descriptions, and production hints.  

    ACTING OUT is successful as a casual reading experience as well as for its potential for actual staged
    performances.  Readers will appreciate seeing a different side of some of their favorite Newbery authors.