For What It's Worth

May 28, 2012
Music-obsessed 14-year-old Quinn is growing up in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, where he has personal relationships with stars like Mama Cass and Frank Zappa. When he gets his first girlfriend, his life is “Phil-Spector-produced perfect,” but then it starts to warp: Quinn’s girlfriend may be more interested in one of his band mates, his parents are separating, and he must decide what to do about a “draft dodger” friend of his sister’s who refuses to fight in Vietnam. Readers unfamiliar with the music and events of the ’70s may take a while to get into the rhythm of Quinn’s story, but Tashjian (The Gospel According to Larry)
informs them in fun ways, including themed playlists, Quinn’s interspersed school newspaper columns about music, and a Ouija board that Quinn believes connects him to the spirits of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin. Even those who do not share Quinn’s musical passion will be inspired by his growing understanding of the complex adult world and the sacrifice he makes. Ages 12–up. Agent: Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents.

May 15, 2012
A music-obsessed teen in Los Angeles' Laurel Canyon begins to connect the songs he loves to world events. In 1971, Quinn enjoys a sweet life. His family counts Mama Cass Elliott and Carole King as friends, and he can spend every dime on an impressive collection of some of the greatest albums pressed to vinyl. Quinn's taste and knowledge are as eclectic as they are rigorous--he loves Frank Zappa, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Aretha Franklin and Nick Drake with equal gusto--and music permeates his every waking thought, including the thematic lists and columns he publishes in his high school newspaper. While the endless stream of musical and historical references places the action very firmly in 1971-72 and showcases Tashjian's flawless research, it also threatens to overwhelm the narrative, which is itself overstuffed. Too many pages call attention to historical details such as the cancellation of Star Trek or the passage of the 26th Amendment, ejecting readers from the story. They may have a hard time caring about Quinn's humorously awkward first romance with Caroline, his Ouija-board-based communication with the spirits of Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin, or his developing political consciousness regarding the draft and the brutalities of the Vietnam War. Young readers will discover some wonderful music, but only if they're prepared to wade through a stultifying thicket of social and cultural references. (Historical fiction. 12-16)

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July 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-Set in the music mecca of Laurel Canyon, CA, in the early 1970s, this story chronicles Quinn's struggles with the insecurities and nuances of adolescence as he navigates painful discoveries about the times in which he resides. It is first and foremost a well-written, sensitive coming-of-age story. The 14-year-old lives and breathes rock 'n' roll and his candid, self-deprecating narrative is interspersed with the incredibly detailed music columns and lists that he writes for the school newspaper. When Caroline becomes his first girlfriend, no one is more surprised than Quinn. Tashjian is spot-on as she describes the boy's growing awareness of the world, developing understanding of his parents as people, and awakening to varied injustices. She masterfully focuses on the teen's personal journey from a one-dimensional rock-music addict to a young man trying to cope with bigger issues. Up to this point, Quinn's worldview has been focused like a laser beam, but outspoken discussions initiated by one of his teachers awaken him to awareness of the Vietnam War, as does Caroline's sadness when her brother is drafted. When Brett, a draft dodger and a friend of his sister, shows up, Quinn takes courageous risks to help Brett make it to Canada. He creates Club 27 and uses a Ouija board to seek advice from Janis Joplin and other rock musicians who oddly and coincidentally died at the age of 27. Tashjian's talent for characterization is evident throughout, most notably in Quinn. Fans of Blake Nelson's Rock Star Superstar (Viking, 2004) should enjoy this quirky, absorbing book.-Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.