Don't Stop the Revolution....

TITLE: Lemonade Mouth

AUTHOR: Mark Peter Hughes

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Poets. Geniuses. Revolutionaries. The members of the legendary band Lemonade Mouth have been called all these things. But until now, nobody's known the inside story of how this powerhouse band came to be -- how five high-school outcasts found each other, found the music, and went on to change both rock and roll and high school as we know them. It all started at that fateful detention where they found inspiration from a dentist's jingle, a teacher's coughing fit, and a beat-up ukulele. Of course no one knew back then, that this was the start of the Lemonade Mouth revolution.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I saw the Disney Channel Original Movie and enjoyed it, but I heard that it was substantially different than the book. When the sequel came out, I decided I needed to go back and read the original book.

WHY I FINISHED IT: While it IS very different than the movie, it's a very entertaining book. Told by all five members in alternating chapters (plus a few other people), you get to see all sides to the story.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes stories about music, books about high school, and underdogs. People who enjoyed Five Flavors of Dumb or Bandslam.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: As I noted, the book is very different from the movie -- it is clearly aimed at older YA readers (similar to Five Flavors of Dumb). Moderate language warning, and some sexual references (especially in regards to Wen's story).

A sequel, Lemonade Mouth Puckers Up, is available that continues the story. 

Wen also appears as a character in I Am the Wallpaper, which is set before the events in Lemonade Mouth.  While a companion piece of sorts, each book stands alone.

While there is actually an adapted movie tie-in edition available for this title that tones things down for tweens, the library does not have a copy in its collection. You can request it on Interlibrary Loan if you wish.

See you at the library!

This book is anything but "DUMB"...

TITLE: Five Flavors of Dumb

AUTHOR: Antony John

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Piper is a high school senior who has spent most of her school years invisible. During an encounter with the school's resident rock band, Dumb, she has a rare moment of outspokenness, which not only gains their respect, but leads to her becoming their manager... which might be even harder than it would seem, since Piper suffers from moderate-severe hearing loss.

One thing leads to another, and suddenly Dumb goes from a three-piece mess to a hard-rocking quintet. Finally on the verge of breaking through, they're also on the verge of breaking up.

While Piper tries to keep it together, she's also dealing with her family: an unemployed father, a workaholic mother, a brother who's constantly in danger of expulsion, and a baby sister who can either bring them all together again, or tear them completely apart.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love books and movies about music and music groups.

WHY I FINISHED IT: It was very well-written and you come to care about the characters. Piper is an amazing character, and everything about the books rings true. Setting it in Seattle also did a lot to enhance the music aspect of the plot.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves music and/or books about high school. Anyone who loved Bandslam or Lemonade Mouth.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Moderate language warning (Two PG-13-level outbursts, occasional other milder language).

See you at the library!

Movie Review: Bandslam

Will Burton knows about music. A LOT about music. Will doesn't just know the Top 40 chart -- if fact, he doesn't really care much about the current Top 40. He cares about where the current Top 40 music came from; the original artists who took Reggae music and created Ska so Gwen Stefani and No Doubt can have their moment in the sun today.

But Will's a loner -- a bullied kid who spends his days writing e-mails to David Bowie. When Will's mother gets a new job in another state, it gives him the opportunity for a new beginning, a chance to become the person he's always dreamed of being but never had the chance.

At his new school, he hears about something called "Bandslam" -- a local music competition that was almost won the previous year by school band "Glory Dogs". How big is it? "Texas high school football big," says Sa5m, the girl he's been paired with for a class project (the "5", she tells him, is silent). "The winner gets a recording contract." Sa5m is also a loner, but together they form a bond of friendship that slowly brings them both out of their shells and leads to something more.

Will is also befriended by Charlotte, the former head cheerleader who is starting a band to rival the Glory Dogs. Charlotte gives Will a chance to put his vast musical knowledge into practice, offering him the chance to manage her band. Will takes to the challenge, bringing in extra musicians, changing the group's sound, focus, and even their name; giving the group a good chance at not just beating Glory Dogs, but winning the whole thing.

Just as things seem to be going perfectly, problems surface: by spending so much time on the band, Will may have ruined his burgeoning relationship with Sa5m. His past begins to catch up with him. Charlotte, too, has her own problems to deal with, and it all comes to a head at the Bandslam competition.

This is a wonderful film, filled with great music, drama, comedy, romance, and enough plot twists to keep you interested. More importantly, for me, it shows a real respect for music. You'll be heading online to Allmusic.com to find out about the groups and people mentioned by Will that you might not have heard of, but who were essential for bringing music to where it is today, and where it will head in the future.

Starring Gaelen Connell, Vanessa Ann Hudgens, Alyson Michalka, Lisa Kudrow, and Scott Porter. Rated PG for thematic elements, but certainly not a problem for most teenagers.

This movie is not currently available from the library, but is available for rental from most video stores.

EDIT: This movie is now available to check out from the library Circulation Desk. Please remember that you have to be 18 or older to check out items from the video collection.