All the Wrong Chords

November 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-In this complex contemporary romance, Scarlett spends the summer with her grandpa in a small town in Georgia. Her older brother Liam died after overdosing on pain pills and Scarlett is seeking respite. She joins a band and promptly falls for Declan, the flashy lead singer. Meanwhile, Zach, the songwriter of the band, encourages her to develop and grow musically and emotionally. Hurley Deriso skillfully handles the delicate topic of drug addiction, humanizing this national epidemic while also creating a believable and breezy love story. Told from Scarlett's perspective, the narrative slowly reveals an authentic portrait of Liam's character. The heroine also learns that she was not alone in her feelings of loss, and that her best friend Varun was Liam's boyfriend. In a sensitive treatment, the author honestly depicts Zach and his family as they deal with his mother's degenerative disease. Additionally, the development of the relationship between grandpa and Scarlett based on mutual trust and a touch of shared mirth is endearing. The romantic plot is well-traveled territory, but the complexities of the relationships and interwoven themes ring true, elevating the overall reading experience. While Scarlett's love story does come to a satisfying conclusion, her real salvation is in the music she plays, her own evolution, and the friendships she develops through her growth that summer. Mature themes include drug abuse and smoking. Accompanying original band music is available online. VERDICT Recommended for teens who enjoy a summer romance with serious content. Purchase where books by Jenny Han, Jay Asher, and Jennifer Niven are popular.-Eva Thaler-Sroussi, Needham Free Public Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
After the death of her brother, Scarlett finds solace and romance by joining a band. The white teen is spending the summer at Grandpa's house in Georgia before starting college. Her beloved brother has recently died of a prescription drug overdose after a long struggle with addiction. Within short order she mingles with and joins the small town's main musical interest, a band called the Beastings. It takes merely moments before Scarlett is smitten by the gorgeous and careless lead singer, Declan. As she gains a deeper understanding of the other members, especially guitarist Zach, it becomes clear that tensions are mounting within the band. Scarlett's relationship with her best friend, Varun, gay and of Indian descent, is also suddenly mysteriously strained. Told through Scarlett's intimate and sometimes-droll perspective, the story touches on the timely topic of opioid addiction while maintaining a swift and light narrative flow. However, the song lyrics and musical descriptions leave something to be desired: "Zach lurches into a searing solo that sounds like a car engine revving" is not atypical. When all is said and done, the key characters in this mostly pleasant drama stumble then pick themselves back up having learned something about grief and loyalty. Grandpa's small Georgia town seems to be a pretty white one. A topical musical romance that mostly hits the right notes. (Fiction. 14-18)

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October 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 Scarlett is spending the summer after high school with her grandfather in the small town of Oakboro, ostensibly to look after him. But it's also an opportunity for Scarlett to distance herself from the grief of losing her older brother, Liam, to an accidental drug overdose. Liam was a gifted musician who taught Scarlett to play guitar, but she's been unable to touch an instrument since his death. So when a local band invites Scarlett to play with them, she's thrilled to be making music again and to attract the attention of the hot-but-irresponsible lead singer, Declan. But will Scarlett be able to recognize the folly of her crush before losing her chances with Zach, a truly talented songwriter and altogether good guy? While the plot is safely predictable, the infusion of original music lyrics and the satisfying descriptions of musical harmony give this story added appeal. In addition, Scarlett's interactions with her family and community are fresh and believable. Fans of Alecia Whitaker's Wildflower series will like this blend of tentative romance, music, and family.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)