The Trouble with Destiny

September 28, 2015
Band geeks and those who love them are a natural audience for this lighthearted romantic comedy from Morrill (Being Sloane Jacobs), which takes place on a cruise ship full of high school students participating in a performing arts competition. The ship, Destiny, proves an ideal setting for both romantic and performing-arts-related high jinks, and high-energy, high-strung drum major Liza Sanders is a cheerful, can-do narrator, whose investment in her leadership role is amusing and endearing. Liza is determined to save her school’s band from folding due to budget cuts by winning the competition’s $25,000 grand prize, even as she spars with rivals (Liza’s ex-friend Demi leads up a competing school’s dance team), juggles multiple crushes, and tries to manage her bandmates’ antics. Well-chosen details of the surreal nature of life aboard a cruise ship (not to mention as a member of a high school band) add authenticity to an upbeat story about underdogs, saving something worthwhile, mending fences with old friends, and finding love in unexpected places. A Paper Lantern Lit property. Ages 12–up. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Foundry Literary + Media.

September 15, 2015
Liza and her school marching band enter a contest on a cruise ship, but only drum-major Liza knows that they will fall to school budget cuts unless they can win the $25,000 first prize. This light farcical romance depends on Liza's misunderstandings and misadventures, which happen often enough to keep readers laughing. Her main rival, Demi, leader of an excellent dance troupe, is her former best friend and has no trouble fighting dirty. As soon as Liza boards the boat, she runs into childhood friend Lenny, who has turned into quite the hottie. Almost worse than Demi is quarterback-turned-band's errand-boy Russ, who is distinguished by his incompetence. The band's rehearsals, when they manage to have them, are near disasters, especially when Liza yields to the pressure and yells at her musicians. And then there's that dropped bowling ball....More and more, she's forced to rely on the help of the patient Russ, with results that will surprise only Liza. Morrill keeps her story light and almost fluffy as Liza flails about, both while leading her band and while pursuing romance. The rules of a rom-com prevail, but the ride is a pretty enjoyable one. Slapstick and romance make for a cotton-candy read. (Romance. 12-18)

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November 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-A campy romantic adventure for fans of Stephanie Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss (Dutton, 2010), the TV show Glee, and the film Mean Girls. Lisa loves the camaraderie and overall fun of being part of Holland High School's Style Marchers. Then she overhears that her beloved band will be defunded next year to make room for a bigger athletic program and, of all things, a new student parking lot. Lisa knows she will do anything to keep her friends playing their beloved instruments and by luck, she finds the perfect plan to make everything all okay-a talent show on a cruise ship with a first place prize that can save the music program. As drum major, she is confident winning will be a breeze and she will never have to tell any band members about the Style Marchers' very possible imminent demise. However, with multiple competitors and the unexpected arrival of a crush from her past, Lisa struggles to keep her focus on the competition and hopes her chances at winning don't go down like a sinking ship. Readers looking for a light, romantic adventure will eat up Morrill's fast-paced plot and fun writing style. While character development remains shallow, the protagonists' over-the-top nature and high jinks will keep teens interested. Minor plot twists will keep pages turning despite the predictable narrative, but brief mentions of drinking and some steamy scenes may alienate some readers. VERDICT A recommended purchase for collections where contemporary romances with nerdy, fun characters reign.-DeHanza Kwong, Wahiawa Public Library, Hawaii

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Grades 7-10 While most of the Holland High School Band expects that spring break on the Destiny cruise ship may actually be fun, drum major Liza knows that it's all about business. The band is entered in Destiny's talent showthe Ship of Dreams performing arts competition which comes with a $25,000 prize for the winner. Holland High's band, on the verge of losing funding, must win this show. And nothing, not even the arrival of Liza's suddenly very good-looking old friend Lenny, will distract Liza from her goal. Except that Lenny seems to really like her. And the captain of Holland High's football team is kind of catching Liza's attention as well. With a cruise ship filled with Liza's allies and enemies, there are bound to be plenty of distracting misunderstandings and competitive high jinks. The result is a light contemporary romance packed with comical implausibilities and the stuff of band-geek daydreams. Readers looking for their own quick break from the real world will enjoy Liza's troubles and triumphs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)