The Backstagers and the Ghost Light (Backstagers Book One)

The Backstagers (Book 1)
The Backstagers and the Ghost Light
Publisher:  Amulet Books
Publication Date (September 2018)
ISBN 10 - 1419731204
ISBN 13 - 978-1419731204
208 Pages

Theater and Mystery - the perfect combination for a great book. Throw in an author who is actually an actor who portrayed the Pied Piper in CW's television series, The Flash, and it makes the attraction even stronger. Now, on top of that, base the book on a successful comic book series, and there is no way in the world that I could not pick this up! Thus explains why I bought this first book in a new series of novels by Andy Mientus based on the Boom! Studios comic book series, The Backstagers.

Now, the first thing I realized after getting several chapters into The Backstagers and the Ghost Light is that this series is definitely intended for readers who are already familiar with the comic book series. While the characters are given fairly decent introductions that gives you an idea of who they are, there are so many references to past adventures and experiences, this feels like a sequel of sorts to the comic book series.  I began to feel like I had missed out on a huge chunk of the story that brought these characters to where they are now, that I started to wonder if this was an intentional marketing ploy to try and lead people who have never read the comic to rush out and buy the comic and find out what the characters are talking about (as they mention past adventures and situations, but don't provide any details, leaving new readers in the dark to a certain extent....)

Nevertheless, I trudged on with the book, and I did find the story to be rather enjoyable. Five backstagers in their school theater - Sasha, Becket, Hunter, Jory, and Aziz - are prepping finishing up the run on their current production and getting ready for the next one, when a ghostly mystery presents itself. All theater geeks know that every theater leaves a single light on every night - a "ghost light" - to keep away any ghosts and spirits who may want to haunt the theater.  It's a tradition. So what happens when the Backstagers' ghost light goes out? Why, it opens the door for a ghost who suddenly creates havoc for the upcoming show, starting with a ruined audition due to a falling light fixture ... and culminating in a supernatural portal opening backstage that lets in one of the most dangerous creatures of another realm this world has ever not seen! And the Backstagers' only hope is the young girl who was cast as the lead in the new production - and who just so happens to have her own secret reason for being in that very theater!

It's obvious Mientus is familiar with the theater life, as not only does he use the proper lingo, but he also captures the true feel of the theater, from the director, to the actors, to the stage hands and stage managers.  It was almost like being part of a production (albeit with a supernatural twist) again as I read the book. And the ending definitely sets the stage (no pun intended!) for the next book in the series.

RATING:  6 cans of Diet Coke out of 10 for mixing theater and mystery with a dash of comic fun!