Struts & Frets

November 9, 2009
This first novel about a boy who loves music can be heavy-handed, but it hits enough high notes to be a crowd-pleaser. Sammy is trying to keep his band, Tragedy of Wisdom, together, but with a bullying singer and a spacey bassist, it seems destined to end in disaster. Of course, Sammy’s got his own problems, from his grandfather’s deteriorating health to a good friend who is hoping to escalate their relationship. After a bad open mike night, Sammy is convinced he “can’t sing in front of other people.” The characters are a bit extreme, such as Joe, the band’s rage-ridden frontman from the projects who writes a song about the “sanity closet.” Readers will easily predict the trajectory of Sammy’s story, but even so, this angsty protagonist is an easy character to like, and readers will relate to his struggle with the fact that “hings happened that you couldn’t control.” The use of music throughout, as well as descriptions of what it’s like to play and perform, add flourish to this coming-of-age story. Ages 14–up.

January 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Music is the center of Sammy Bojar's world, despite his therapist mother's urging that he pursue a more profitable career and stable lifestyle. Though he is now sinking into dementia, Sammy's grandfather, a jazz musician, is still able to encourage his grandson to follow his dream: "You're like me]. Always reaching for the moon." When Sammy's band decides to enter a competition that could result in a chance to record in a real studio, he fluctuates between his extravagant dreams of rock-star fame and his nagging fear that the group is far from ready to perform. Meanwhile, he struggles with the realization that a longtime friend wants to be his girlfriend. When it becomes clear that their romance is about to become more physical, Jen5 responsibly blurts out a reminder not to "forget to]uh]go to the "drugstore" before you come over." The resulting hilarious scene in which Sammy is utterly baffled by the vast variety of condoms on display is just one of the narrative's many entertaining depictions of the turmoil of growing up. A playlist identifies the songs mentioned in the text, while a classroom scene in which Sammy's teacher reads aloud from "Macbeth" makes the origin of the book's title clear. This debut novel will find an audience not just with music fans, but also with those who appreciate a good coming-of-age story."Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA"

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