Curtain Up

Curtain Up follows three siblings - Sorrel, Mark, and Holly Forbes - who move to London during World War II to live with their grandmother, a former actress, after their father goes missing in combat and their grandfather passes away. The children are enrolled in the Children's Academy for Dancing and Stage Training, where they discover unexpected talents in acting, singing, and dance. Their education is sponsored by the now-grown Fossil sisters from Ballet Shoes, who maintain correspondence with the children throughout their training. The story connects with Streatfeild's earlier work through overlapping characters and the continuing theme of young performers developing their craft during wartime Britain. Each Forbes child must navigate their own path in the theatrical world while dealing with family expectations and personal challenges. This classic children's novel explores themes of family legacy, artistic discovery, and resilience in the face of loss. The theatrical setting serves as a backdrop for examining how children cope with dramatic life changes and find their own identities.

Readers describe this as a solid entry in Streatfeild's theater-focused stories, though not as memorable as Ballet Shoes or Theater Shoes. Many note it provides an accurate depiction of post-war British theater life and child actors. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of stage families and theater operations - The character development of the three main children - The incorporation of Shakespeare plays and acting technique details Common criticisms: - Slower pacing compared to other Shoes books - Less emotional depth in the relationships - Some found the ending rushed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (212 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Several readers mentioned this book works better as a companion to other Streatfeild novels rather than a standalone. One frequent comment noted: "It has all the usual Streatfeild elements but doesn't quite reach the magic of her best works." The book is currently out of print, which has limited its reach to new readers.

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild Three orphaned sisters pursue their dreams at a performing arts school in London, navigating the challenges of training, competition, and family bonds.

Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild Children from a theatrical family attend a dramatic arts academy while their father serves in World War II, learning to embrace their heritage and talents.

The School Story by Andrew Clements A twelve-year-old girl writes a novel and navigates the publishing world by creating a secret identity to submit her work.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo A teen mother pursues her culinary dreams at a vocational program while balancing family responsibilities and her own ambitions.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang A young immigrant girl manages her family's motel while harboring dreams of becoming a writer and helping other immigrant families in their community.

🎭 During WWII, many London children were enrolled in performing arts schools not just for training, but to keep them safely occupied while their parents contributed to the war effort. 🎬 Noel Streatfeild worked as both an actress and a children's nurse before becoming an author, experiences that heavily influenced her authentic portrayal of both theater life and children's perspectives. 📚 The book was originally published under the title "Theater Shoes" in the United States, following a publisher's tradition of adding "Shoes" to the titles of Streatfeild's theatrical-themed books. 🎪 The Children's Academy depicted in the book was inspired by real London theater schools of the era, particularly the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, founded in 1911. 🌟 Despite being known for her "Shoes" books about performing arts, Streatfeild wrote over 80 books in various genres, and her first adult novel, "The Whicharts," was considered quite controversial for its time.