Coming Of Age In The Limelight

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we first head to 1990s New York City with Broadway actor and author Andrew Keenan-Bolger, here to celebrate his YA novel Limelight. Set in 1996, the story follows Danny, a shy Staten Island teen who lands a spot at LaGuardia High School, the famed performing arts school. Andrew explains that Danny is not a version of his younger, confident, Broadway‑kid self; instead, he wanted to write about someone with their “nose pressed to the glass,” feeling like an outsider looking in—just like so many real teens do.

Andrew talks about moving to New York as a child actor, the sensory overload of Times Square in the 90s, and how that era’s gritty, transforming city—along with the evolving realities of queer life post–AIDS crisis—shaped this queer coming‑of‑age story. He leans into the darkness of the period: toxic masculinity, homophobia, racism, and misogyny, while still keeping the book tender and often funny. Theater deeply informs his writing—his sense of rhythm, character, and ensemble—and writing Limelight alone gave him a new sense of confidence and purpose. He also dreams of adapting the book for TV or film someday.

Later in the episode, we travel to Hartford, Connecticut, to meet Devon Torres, author‑illustrator of the rhyming picture book Freddy the Frog. Devon shares how Freddy’s playful, confident energy is meant to remind families of unstructured playground fun in a screen‑saturated world. Drawing on his love of art, support from his wife, and inspiration from teachers, Devon hopes the Friendables series will blend vibrant illustrations, joyful play, and gentle learning for young readers.