Road Rash

Gr 9 Up—Zach Ryan is in disbelief when the Sock Monkeys replace him with a new drummer whose father has both connections and a recording studio. Zach now has no idea what he'll do with this summer. The teen's luck turns around when he's invited to go on tour with a bigger, more popular band. Zach skills blossom as he plays with the more talented group, his confidence grows, and he begins to play around with some original songs written by his bandmate Glenn. He voices interest in adding the original songs to the set list. Unfortunately, another musician feels threatened by Zach's dabbling; tension within the group results, leaving readers to wonder if Zach will be kicked out of this band, too. While the book is a bit too long, the plot and characters will keep readers entertained throughout. The drumming lingo might confuse some readers, but it doesn't negatively affect enjoyment of the story.—Sarah Allen, Judson High School, Converse, TX