Show, Don't Tell

Summer is coming to an end, as school at Orion Academy begins in one week. Yet, Bryan's summer is finally looking up when Hope returns from her trip to New York and Sam's boyfriend is still off with his mom. He finally has his two best friends all to himself, at least for now. But the girls' idea of fun isn't what Bryan is into. Turns out that the Renaissance Faire is making an appearance in their town, and Sam, who used to travel with the Faire, is absolutely ecstatic that she can both see her old friends and let her new friends experience what her life was like before moving. Of course, there has to be tons of drama coming their way. Like the fact that one of Sam's old friends, Marq, is gay, and is putting the moves on Bryan, who doesn't seem to mind too much but still doesn't want anything to leak out about his sexuality. Can he trust Marq, or is he even the person Bryan should be worrying about? Bryan and his friends are also putting on a skit at Orion Academy about the Renaissance, which comes with a little competition by a rival who will stop at nothing to outdo Bryan and his gang. But Bryan is never one to back down. So much DRAMA... so many laughs. As the third novel in the series, SHOW, DON'T TELL pulls you in right from the first page. Bryan is one hilarious character, and with Hope and Sam by his side, they are one group of friends you do not want to mess with. The issues and angst that Bryan faces are still very relevant, and this adds a certain reality to the story. A great addition to a series that just does not disappoint! Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Paul Ruditis's highly entertaining "Drama!" series chronicles the eventful goings-on at the Orion Academy, an L.A. high school with more than its fair share of budding young actors, singers, dancers, writers, and black-hearted, nefarious schemers. This third installment shows what excitement--and trouble--these hopeful thespians find during their summer break when the annual Renaissance Faire comes to town. Here's the great thing about "Drama": the characters in this series are really serious about their art. They are no-holds-barred Drama Kids who don't just act in plays. They organize the plays themselves, they direct them, they obsess over them, and they even write their own scripts. Each book builds to a climactic performance in which the really appealing underdog characters (Bryan, Samantha, and their scrappy band of pals) have a spot-lit showdown with the villains of the piece, the silver-spoon set led by hereditary starlet-in-the-making Holly Mayflower. The moral here is clear and awesome: while some people will cheat, lie, and steal to get what they want (that wicked Holly Mayflower!), the classy and principled thing to do is to rise above it all. Although Bryan and Sam are regularly tempted to play Holly's dirty game (or to just reenact a fight scene from "West Side Story" without the dancing), they know that it's better to take the high road and show her up where it really matters: on stage, where everyone can see, point, and laugh. They resist her bullying and backhandedness through their talent and hard work--really, through the power of art. It's priceless. (Plus, these are clever, funny, flat-out enjoyable YA novels; I'd read one every week if Ruditis could write them that quickly.) This third act of "Drama" gets a little more personal as Sam deals with her father having abandoned her family years ago, and Bryan finally starts to confront his strong reluctance to open up to people, including a potential love interest, when he's not on stage. This book has a bit more mature content than the previous two (mostly characters contemplating losing their virginity), but it's still pretty tame, and the focus of the story remains on titanic friendship squabbles, thespian grunge matches, and of course, drama!

This is a wonderful series..please start with Book #1.I believe the author mis-treats the central character, Bryan, in this third book..but there is a fourth coming shortly and I assume he will make up for it!