WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Megan’s in charge of the student talent show: There’s so much that can go wrong, or right—it’s up to readers to choose.

Readers make choices at each fork in the road, guiding Megan to different conclusions. It’s a powerful position for youngsters who are often told what to do. Middle schooler Megan wakes up late for school and is running behind in her duties directing the talent show. Should she eat breakfast, do her hair, or grab her notebook? The scenarios that follow are by turns wacky, gratifying, or even scary; all are absurd. In one possibility, Megan’s mom goes onstage to present a slideshow highlighting Megan’s life, starting with a naked baby picture! In another, the talent show is enlivened when a pizza delivery guy goes on stage to dance. When a sick schoolmate’s germs crawl all over Megan, she’s left sprawled on stage—for 80 years. One storyline even focuses on her pet hedgehog. Each of the over 100 paths is illustrated in colorful panels with exaggerated cartoon-style art in which Megan’s every emotion is comically depicted. The book, which provides an entertaining, less text-heavy alternative to typical choose-your-own-adventure titles, ends with drawing lessons. Central characters read White; background characters have varying skin tones.

Readers will enjoy owning the action, navigating obstacles, and dealing with the consequences in this quirky story.