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!
