Rock On

Gr 8 Up—Orion Taylor is a pretty awesome musician. He and his friends Nick and Troy have formed a band to be named later. As Ori saves for his dream guitar, a Les Paul, and rehearses like a madman for the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest, he must also contend with his somber and antagonistic older brother. After being put on academic probation and leaving college early, Del is lashing out at everyone: his parents, his younger sister, and especially Orion. The band still can't agree on a name, but eventually settles on a rocking bass player named Gwyn, a deaf girl who can literally play by feeling the musical vibrations in her feet. She joins the group, and Orion falls for her best friend, Jane. When Del begins showing an interest in her and Jane seems as if she might be interested back, the real war between the brothers ignites. In this thoughtful tale, sibling rivalry is taken to the next level. Both Ori and Del prove to be likable characters in their own respective ways, and jealousy between brothers is hardly unheard of. A true strength of this title proves to be supporting character Gwyn, who is seamlessly integrated into the story without making her deafness debilitating.—Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library