Thirteen-year-old Melissa “Melly” Goodwin is looking forward to middle school band camp—but her parents then tell her the day before that they’re getting divorced. To make matters worse, her best friend Olivia, whom she thought she could lean on, has developed a crush on a boy and is spending all of her time with him. Melly then develops a friendship—and a growing crush—on guitarist Adeline. When Olivia and the boy part ways, however, the dynamics among the three girls are strained. And Melly isn’t sure if she has the talent and drive to become a real drummer.
Author Lisa Jenn Bigelow keeps the tone light and funny as the characters navigate these issues, however, and gives us a rare and recommended middle grade book with a bisexual protagonist.
Melly is White, Olivia reads as Latina, and Adeline has brown skin.
