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Reading age
8-12
Genre
Realistic fiction
Publisher
HarperAlley
Publication date
April 22, 2025
Lucy loves playing the flute and is quite skilled at it. Last year, she held the first chair position in her band class, but things began to change when she transferred to Windley Middle School. Now, Lucy is no longer the best player; she is second chair, behind her ex-friend, Tolli. Additionally, Lucy is struggling in many of her classes, particularly math, and she faces many difficulties at home. Her dad drinks frequently, and her parents are often fighting. Lucy believes that if she can become a strong flute player and regain the first chair position, her life will return to normal.
This book was so good that it almost made me cry. Every time there was a mention of her dad, I felt sad. I appreciated the band competition aspect, as it added a significant element to the story. I’m part of my school band (I play the clarinet), but unlike in this book, we don’t have chair positions. The characters were fantastic; I really liked Lucy because of her competitive nature. I also liked Tolli, although she gave me the impression that she was afraid of her mom, who constantly pushes her to excel in band.
Overall, this book was excellent, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.
My rating
