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In the Key of Us
Thirteen-year-old Andi feels stranded after the loss of her mother, the artist who swept color onto Andi’s blank canvas. When she is accepted to a music camp, Andi finds herself struggling to play her trumpet like she used to before her whole world changed. Meanwhile, Zora, a returning camper, is exhausted trying to please her parents, who are determined to make her a flute prodigy, even though she secretly has a dancer’s heart.
At Harmony Music Camp, Zora and Andi are the only two Black girls in a sea of mostly white faces. In kayaks and creaky cabins, the two begin to connect, unraveling their loss, insecurities, and hopes for the future. And as they struggle to figure out who they really are, they may just come to realize who they really need: each other.
At Harmony Music Camp, Zora and Andi are the only two Black girls in a sea of mostly white faces. In kayaks and creaky cabins, the two begin to connect, unraveling their loss, insecurities, and hopes for the future. And as they struggle to figure out who they really are, they may just come to realize who they really need: each other.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 26, 2022
About the author
Mariama J. Lockington
7 books177 followersMariama J. Lockington is an adoptee, author, and educator. She has been telling stories and making her own books since the second grade, when she wore shortalls and flower leggings every day to school. Mariama’s middle-grade debut, For Black Girls Like Me, earned five starred reviews and was a Today Show Best Kids’ Book of 2019. Her sophomore middle-grade book, In The Key of Us, is a Stonewall Honor Award book and was featured in the New York Times. Her debut young adult novel, Forever is Now, is the 2024 winner of the Schneider Family Book Award. Mariama holds a Masters in Education from Lesley University and a Masters in Fine Arts in Poetry from San Francisco State University, she calls many places home, but currently lives in Kentucky with her wife, her sausage dog, Walter, and an abundance of plants. You can find her on X: @marilock and on Instagram/TikTok @forblackgirlslikeme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
August 30, 2023
This beautifully written middle grade novel tackles some pretty challenging issues. The content is likely to be quite confronting for some as there are on-page descriptions of self-harm. Therefore I would be a bit judicious when recommending this book to younger middle graders. There are also some very ignorant and racist views on full display with comments about how these two girls will get along because they have things in common. The subtext is that they are both black therefore they will be besties. The book also looks at the competitive nature of this music camp and how young people navigate the expectations others have for them. It also tackles losing a parent and managing grief. See what I mean? It's a lot. And it is also a story about 'coming out' and first love with a side helping of body confidence. I was thoroughly engaged in this novel and loved the interludes written in verse from the POV of the camping ground itself.
I open my grounds to all of them
I listen I listen I listen
Until my listening becomes a prayer
I creak and sag and hold the weight of
their dreams
Until their music is everywhere-
In the concrete of each foundation
In the nails holding up the rafters
In the soft dirt of each pathway
Until I am so full of harmonies
I remember:
As long as there is a song
I am alive
I open my grounds to all of them
I listen I listen I listen
Until my listening becomes a prayer
I creak and sag and hold the weight of
their dreams
Until their music is everywhere-
In the concrete of each foundation
In the nails holding up the rafters
In the soft dirt of each pathway
Until I am so full of harmonies
I remember:
As long as there is a song
I am alive
September 11, 2023
Queer middle grade, summer camp, young girls opening up about their struggles!! This book was so beautiful. Andi and Zora are the only two Black girls at their prestigious music summer camp. At first they don’t really get along, but when they’re paired up to practice together they start to get closer. The book is told in both Andi and Zora’s POVs allowing the reader to get to know both girls super well in addition to understanding how they feel about one another.
Andi is dealing with the death of her mother and having to move in with her aunt and uncle. Before the start of camp Zora came out to her best friend and told her that she had feelings for her, but it didn’t go super well. So both girls have a lot that they’re dealing with on top of the super stressful atmosphere of the camp and having to audition for their seat positions each week.
I appreciated being able to see the ways that Andi and Zora slowly became closer and helped one another. I also liked seeing when they asked for help from adults. Like Zora opening up to her parents about the ways that she was self-harming and how she has other desires outside of music.
I did think that some of the ending of the book was rushed. I would’ve liked to see a bit more space for certain plot points to breathe before the story was over. But overall this was a lovely read. It covers some heavy topics but I never felt like the book got too intense.
Andi is dealing with the death of her mother and having to move in with her aunt and uncle. Before the start of camp Zora came out to her best friend and told her that she had feelings for her, but it didn’t go super well. So both girls have a lot that they’re dealing with on top of the super stressful atmosphere of the camp and having to audition for their seat positions each week.
I appreciated being able to see the ways that Andi and Zora slowly became closer and helped one another. I also liked seeing when they asked for help from adults. Like Zora opening up to her parents about the ways that she was self-harming and how she has other desires outside of music.
I did think that some of the ending of the book was rushed. I would’ve liked to see a bit more space for certain plot points to breathe before the story was over. But overall this was a lovely read. It covers some heavy topics but I never felt like the book got too intense.
April 3, 2023
i’m almost tearing up because of how beautiful this book was
grief and queerness go hand in hand in stories, it’s nothing new but damn if it doesn’t get me every time! i love the way the characters grieve. they grieve their parents and their past selves and out of that grief they build something new together and with music. it’s a lullaby and a triumphant symphony. this is the type of book that makes you think of the characters past this story. you know in your heart that even if they don’t stay together or even keep in touch, they will always be connected, they will always remember this summer and they’ll always remember the song they played, the ghosts they saw and how they grieved together. jfc what an amazing book.
grief and queerness go hand in hand in stories, it’s nothing new but damn if it doesn’t get me every time! i love the way the characters grieve. they grieve their parents and their past selves and out of that grief they build something new together and with music. it’s a lullaby and a triumphant symphony. this is the type of book that makes you think of the characters past this story. you know in your heart that even if they don’t stay together or even keep in touch, they will always be connected, they will always remember this summer and they’ll always remember the song they played, the ghosts they saw and how they grieved together. jfc what an amazing book.
May 8, 2022
4.5/5
July 7, 2022
I cried for one hour after finishing this book. Im still wrecked about it this morning so im going to keep this very short.This book was pure bliss, painful, joyful and was addressing a lot of things that were personal to me.This story was like stepping into a pile of grass early in the morning and letting the morning dew bless your feet. It was funny at times (these kids are hilarious), it was devastating other times. I am eternally grateful to this author for the Black queer rep, the representation of big Black girls who love their bodies just the way that it is. Every dining hall scene was like someone giving me a warm hug. I wanted to hold these two girls Andi and Zora and squeeze them and tell them how amazing they are. Christopher was a lovely character too. The writing in this book is gorgeous and very descriptive. I would check content warnings for this book before going in but otherwise i honestly think this is one of the best books i've read this year so far, and it might be for you too.
April 4, 2024
i was so so so so close to crying 😭😭
May 16, 2022
Deep, lively, beautiful 💛
Andi isn’t super excited for music camp after the loss of her mom and rough end of the school year. Zora is eager to return to camp but feels like music isn’t her true passion. Together, they explore the setting with a stronger heart and hope…
This book is so special. I love the writing and characters. Andi and Zora are relatable and interesting. The plot had a perfect balance of description and action. Loved this!!! 🥰
Andi isn’t super excited for music camp after the loss of her mom and rough end of the school year. Zora is eager to return to camp but feels like music isn’t her true passion. Together, they explore the setting with a stronger heart and hope…
This book is so special. I love the writing and characters. Andi and Zora are relatable and interesting. The plot had a perfect balance of description and action. Loved this!!! 🥰
February 3, 2022
Sweet, sad, and hopeful. Andi is dealing with the grief of losing a parent while trying to fit into a new family dynamic, Zora is struggling with self-harm and high, mismatched parental expectations, and both are working hard to understand their creative needs and to express themselves artistically, as one of a very few Black kids attending a prestigious music camp. This is just a small number of the many pretty heavy topics covered in this book, but all the issues in the novel appear and are covered organically and with love and care, and at a level totally accessible to middle grade readers.
May 15, 2022
Beautiful!! I’m a big fan of this author after her magnificent debut and this one is a hit, too. Andi and Zora are two young Black musicians at a music summer camp. Andi is struggling w grief after her mother’s death the year prior and trying to find her way back to her soul music on the trumpet. Zora is a perfectionist struggling to please her demanding parents and wishing she could express herself as a dancer rather than a flautist. The two don’t hit it off at first, but when they do it’s magic. Addresses self harm, racism and micro aggressions, as well as LGBTQ coming out. Highly recommended!! Grades 5+
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June 25, 2022I really enjoyed this excellent story where two girls connect during summer music camp. Andi is dealing with the loss of her mom and is trying to rekindle her musical expression that disappeared when her mom died. Zora is a music-driven performer who wishes she could have freedom to pursue her love of dance. Over the course of the summer, the girls develop a relationship that helps them feel accepted for who they truly are, and to find the courage to move beyond the limitations they've placed on themselves. The book explores issues such as race and self harm with LGBTQIA+ representation. I would definitely recommend this book for middle-school collections.
December 1, 2022
Andi heads off to a music camp in hopes of finding her people - after her mother's death, she's felt displaced in the home of her aunt and uncle. But Andi struggles to find a place at camp, since she prefers to feel the music rather than read it. Zora has been going to camp for years, but her heart lies in dance. When the two girls are instructed to be "buddies," at first they struggle to find a common ground. Soon, however, they realize their differences can help each other.
I'm not a music person, so that whole aspect of the book bored me a little. I did enjoy Andi's artistic spirit and understood why she stubbornly refused to compromise it, and her memories of her mother were probably my favorite in the novel. Zora had the opposite problem, where she was so tightly controlled that she struggled to let it out. Christopher was a surprise favorite character, and the budding romance between Andi and Zora was sweet. I feel like it took too long to get to Zora's point of view and I might have liked this better if it had alternated between the two more quickly rather than starting alternate viewpoints more than a quarter of the way in (it may have been even halfway before it swapped). Overall, a sweet coming of age romance focusing on two Black girls in a mostly-white environment.
Content advisory: Characters experience racial and sexual microaggressions (and sometimes macroaggressions), one character engages in self-harm.
I'm not a music person, so that whole aspect of the book bored me a little. I did enjoy Andi's artistic spirit and understood why she stubbornly refused to compromise it, and her memories of her mother were probably my favorite in the novel. Zora had the opposite problem, where she was so tightly controlled that she struggled to let it out. Christopher was a surprise favorite character, and the budding romance between Andi and Zora was sweet. I feel like it took too long to get to Zora's point of view and I might have liked this better if it had alternated between the two more quickly rather than starting alternate viewpoints more than a quarter of the way in (it may have been even halfway before it swapped). Overall, a sweet coming of age romance focusing on two Black girls in a mostly-white environment.
Content advisory: Characters experience racial and sexual microaggressions (and sometimes macroaggressions), one character engages in self-harm.
October 10, 2022
I thought about 5 stars, but that would be me indulging myself, because this book gets Michigan, Interlochen (poorly disguised as Harmony Music Camp), and being a young musician there, so right. I’ve often bemoaned children’s books unrealistic portrayals of talent (with the exception of Kadohata’s Checked). Just this year I’ve complained about Glaser’s Duet for Home and Broach’s Duet for non-credible depictions of classical music children. But Lockington knows her stuff and more importantly feels it.
July 14, 2022
This is a sweet and gentle middle-grade book that also includes pain and healing and fear. The Black Queer romance between Andi and Zora is well written. I love the music camp setting and the centering of young artists. Must-read!
July 7, 2023
5 stars for middle grade readers
This book tackles so many big issues in an appropriate and approachable manner for the middle grade audience.
When Andi is sent off to music camp the summer after losing her mom she is angry. She doesn't like the uniform, she doesn't feel like she belongs and can she fit in in a space where very few are like her?
Zora is a camp queen. As a veteran to the camp she has her group of friends, she knows the ropes and is driven to be the greatest and keep her top chair. But she's realizing this may be more her parents dreams than her own. Having headed to camp after a blow up with her best friend the summer is not starting off as she would like.
While the bunkmates are certainly different and know so little about one another there is something that draws them to one another. Can they connect and help each other with the things they've been fighting and hiding?
This book tackles so many big issues in an appropriate and approachable manner for the middle grade audience.
When Andi is sent off to music camp the summer after losing her mom she is angry. She doesn't like the uniform, she doesn't feel like she belongs and can she fit in in a space where very few are like her?
Zora is a camp queen. As a veteran to the camp she has her group of friends, she knows the ropes and is driven to be the greatest and keep her top chair. But she's realizing this may be more her parents dreams than her own. Having headed to camp after a blow up with her best friend the summer is not starting off as she would like.
While the bunkmates are certainly different and know so little about one another there is something that draws them to one another. Can they connect and help each other with the things they've been fighting and hiding?
July 6, 2023
Hmmmm. A while ago I stopped keeping track of my favorite books, but I may have to start again because it feels wrong to not give this one a spot. It was outstanding. I related to Zora more than I related to Andi, but I thought both of their stories were equally important. Each of them had their own crazy world in their heads, confusion about themselves, and things to discover. They needed each other to do this. I liked how none of them labeled themselves 100% as anything even though their both queer. It shows that even if you begin to have these feelings, you don’t have to know anything for sure- especially at their age. The author’s voice was beautiful. She could describe something as simple as a lake using up an entire page and I still wouldn’t want to put the book down. The way she unraveled them story was she extremely captivating. I strongly encourage you to read this marvelous story.
March 20, 2022
What a beautiful book on so many levels. Andi is struggling with the death of her mother. She's living with her aunt and uncle, feeling like a 5th wheel, trying to grapple with her actions prior to her mother's death, and coping with the changes in her life and in her world. Her aunt sends her to Music Camp over the summer, and Andi reluctantly goes, not expecting to connect or fit in. Over the course of the month she learns the meaning and value of friendship and family connections.
Zora has gone to Music Camp for many summers, and always looks forward to it. This year she begins the summer with a fight with her best friend, and a fear of letting down her parents. She also has a secret bubbling to the surface of her world, and she struggles with all she holds dear.
A coming of age story of two twelve year old girls, their budding awareness of friendship, life, and acceptance of the changing nature we all go through. It's beautifully written and the characters are rich in their exploration of the summer and growing up. They are more knowledgeable of the world and it's challenges than I remember being at twelve, but the world is a vastly changing space, and this book can create a safe space for self-exploration, and can encourage young girls to look within and accept themselves as they are, regardless of skin color and gender roles.
Zora has gone to Music Camp for many summers, and always looks forward to it. This year she begins the summer with a fight with her best friend, and a fear of letting down her parents. She also has a secret bubbling to the surface of her world, and she struggles with all she holds dear.
A coming of age story of two twelve year old girls, their budding awareness of friendship, life, and acceptance of the changing nature we all go through. It's beautifully written and the characters are rich in their exploration of the summer and growing up. They are more knowledgeable of the world and it's challenges than I remember being at twelve, but the world is a vastly changing space, and this book can create a safe space for self-exploration, and can encourage young girls to look within and accept themselves as they are, regardless of skin color and gender roles.
October 5, 2023
This book was so beautiful and tackled some really tough subjects. I really enjoyed my time at Camp Harmomy getting to know Andy and Zora and their growing friendship. I wish the points of view could have switched more frequently instead of every week, so we really could have been with Andy in the ending too and felt her feelings about her aunt and uncle and her new baby cousin, as well as her feelings about her mom, change as she changed because of Zora. Not having anything from Andy in the ending made the ending feel rushed to me and a bit unsatisfying. But on the whole this was an incredibly moving book.
February 3, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4
I really enjoyed this, primarily the first half. I did enjoy the second half, but I wish it was only Andi's POV or if the dual POV's appeared sooner. Overall, this is a great story for young readers and it should be read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this, primarily the first half. I did enjoy the second half, but I wish it was only Andi's POV or if the dual POV's appeared sooner. Overall, this is a great story for young readers and it should be read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for my honest review.
May 18, 2023
Summer music camp, finding true friends, queer self discovery, great depiction of adult and kid white-nonsense micro aggressions. getting free from parental tyranny, Delightful!! Loved Christopher and so nice to see a kid like that NOT get bullied. Kudos to author Mariams Lockington for avoiding that trope! Great summer read!!
January 3, 2023
Wow. This was emotional! It felt very real. Super cute crush/romance story mixed with some real issues of grief, self-harm, mental health, etc. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
February 16, 2023
I loved this story!
September 7, 2024
All the stars to this beautiful YA book about music, grief, love and summer camp.
August 19, 2022
Camp story! Duel-narrator that works well. The perspective shifts week by week over the course of the four-week camp. A solid middle grade growth story.
I hated (hated, hated, HATED!) the poetry interludes from the camp's point of view. So cringe-y.
Read for Librarian Book Group
I hated (hated, hated, HATED!) the poetry interludes from the camp's point of view. So cringe-y.
Read for Librarian Book Group
July 3, 2022
IN THE KEY OF US deals so deftly with difficult themes such as grief, loss, self-worth, and more, but at the end of it, my lasting impression is just that it's heartwarming and wholesome. which, if you ask me, is the perfect balance to have for a middle-grade novel or any novel—a nuanced story that leaves you feeling hopeful.
this book has all the makings of a good summer story: music camp in the woods, a cast of dynamic personalities, and the tentative-ness but earnestness that comes with young love. the sapphic romance is heart-fluttering yet complex. lockington tackles a lot of difficult topics but weaves it in well. and all the characters are three-dimensional—even the parents—which i always appreciate.
would have loved this book at 13, and i love it now at 20. i think in some ways we are all always coming-of-age, so there's something so profound to be found in andi and zora's stories.
this book has all the makings of a good summer story: music camp in the woods, a cast of dynamic personalities, and the tentative-ness but earnestness that comes with young love. the sapphic romance is heart-fluttering yet complex. lockington tackles a lot of difficult topics but weaves it in well. and all the characters are three-dimensional—even the parents—which i always appreciate.
would have loved this book at 13, and i love it now at 20. i think in some ways we are all always coming-of-age, so there's something so profound to be found in andi and zora's stories.
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July 30, 2022Without a doubt this has been one of my favorite reads this summer. I could not stop turning the pages because I just had to know what happened next in Andi and Zora’s stories. This story touches on so many important topics and would make for a great conversation starter, as well as an opportunity for some readers who don’t typically see themself reflected in literature to finally see themselves in a powerful way.
August 2, 2023
First audiobook I've listened to since 90s/00s roadtrips. It was nice to listen to during deep work periods.
Overall, i really enjoyed this book! All the characters are strong, detailed, and well rounded. I would definitely recommend.
Overall, i really enjoyed this book! All the characters are strong, detailed, and well rounded. I would definitely recommend.
October 28, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Andi doesn't really want to go to summer music camp. She used to love to play the trumpet, but that was before her mother died in a car accident and she had to go live with her uptight aunt and white uncle who never really approved of her mother's artistic lifestyle. To make matters worse, she is going to become a cousin, and feels that her aunt and uncle just want to get her out of the way for the summer. The camp seems uptight as well, and Andi, who prefers to dress in all black, is not keen on the uniform, especially the knee socks. Zora, too, has her reservations about camp. Her parents are also strict, and her mother wants her to excel at playing the flute, especially after Zora had an unfortunate experience with dance. Her mother tells her that dance is not kind to girls "like you", meaning Black and curvy. Andi and Zora are bunk mates, and Zora is supposed to teach Andi the ropes, since Zora has been attending the camp for years, but the two have an unfortunate encounter that strains their relationship. Andi instead makes friends with Christopher, who has a very boisterous personality, loves arts and crafts, and tells Andi in confidence that he young adult sister is raising him after his parents were deported back to the Philippines. Andi struggles with the strictures of the elite camp, and Zora finds that she really does prefer dance after taking a master class with a black dance instructor who has a troupe in Detroit, not too terribly far from Zora's home in Ann Arbor. Both girls know that they are not interestedin boys the way other girls are, and find that they are attracted to each other, but are still a bit unsure how to proceed with a "more than friends" relationship. While Zora's friend Kendall (with whom she exchanges the occasional letter) is cool with her queer identification, as are the girls at camp, she and Andi still have a series of misunderstandings before they are able to admit their feelings. When parents' weekend arrives, both have problems with their families, but are able to work them out and find a way forward where they can embrace their new interests with the support of their families.
Strengths: A change that has arisen in the last two years is that when students ask for romance books, I have to be careful to give them options that move beyond the traditional boy-girl crushes. This is a great book for readers who want a girl-girl romance. There is a lot of information about the musical process of the camp, and chair auditions are brutal when one is in middle school; it was good to see that portrayed. Both girls struggle with the expectations at home, which are very narrow and don't take their opinions into account as much as they should, which many readers will understand. The budding romance between Andi and Zora is the real draw for young readers here. Andi's grief and guilt over her mother's death are realistically portrayed, and it was good to see that she was in therapy and had some coping mechanisms. The cover is very appealing.
Weaknesses: While I understand why we see the plot unfold from the dual perspectives, I was so engrossed in Andi's story that it was a bit jarring when a new chapter started from Zora's perspective. There were also a lot of flashbacks that sometimes took me out of the present story as well. It was important to know the backstory for both Andi and Zora, but I almost wish we had seen more of their separate lives before they got to camp so that the present day narrative didn't need to be interrupted. Summer camp stories and books about band are difficult to place in my library. I loved Grosso's I am Drums, but it rarely leaves the shelves.
What I really think: This would be good for readers who enjoyed Rhuday-Perkovich's It Doesn't Take a Genius and Chase's Turning Point, and was very similar to Bigelow's Drum Roll, Please.
Having been to an elite and very Christian music camp in the early 1980s, I would venture to say that the problems with elite music camps don't only affect Black attendees. I had a miserable experience, and Andi was not alone with struggling with the expectations and narrow mind set. On a personal note, I'm never a fan of negative portrayals of Karens, and Kendall's father is engaged to a yoga teacher who shares my appellation and is described as "white and basic just like her name" (quote from the uncorrected E ARC). I understand why this happens, and know I shouldn't feel hurt, but it's still not a great thing to see negative stereotypes of any kind in middle grade literature.
Andi doesn't really want to go to summer music camp. She used to love to play the trumpet, but that was before her mother died in a car accident and she had to go live with her uptight aunt and white uncle who never really approved of her mother's artistic lifestyle. To make matters worse, she is going to become a cousin, and feels that her aunt and uncle just want to get her out of the way for the summer. The camp seems uptight as well, and Andi, who prefers to dress in all black, is not keen on the uniform, especially the knee socks. Zora, too, has her reservations about camp. Her parents are also strict, and her mother wants her to excel at playing the flute, especially after Zora had an unfortunate experience with dance. Her mother tells her that dance is not kind to girls "like you", meaning Black and curvy. Andi and Zora are bunk mates, and Zora is supposed to teach Andi the ropes, since Zora has been attending the camp for years, but the two have an unfortunate encounter that strains their relationship. Andi instead makes friends with Christopher, who has a very boisterous personality, loves arts and crafts, and tells Andi in confidence that he young adult sister is raising him after his parents were deported back to the Philippines. Andi struggles with the strictures of the elite camp, and Zora finds that she really does prefer dance after taking a master class with a black dance instructor who has a troupe in Detroit, not too terribly far from Zora's home in Ann Arbor. Both girls know that they are not interestedin boys the way other girls are, and find that they are attracted to each other, but are still a bit unsure how to proceed with a "more than friends" relationship. While Zora's friend Kendall (with whom she exchanges the occasional letter) is cool with her queer identification, as are the girls at camp, she and Andi still have a series of misunderstandings before they are able to admit their feelings. When parents' weekend arrives, both have problems with their families, but are able to work them out and find a way forward where they can embrace their new interests with the support of their families.
Strengths: A change that has arisen in the last two years is that when students ask for romance books, I have to be careful to give them options that move beyond the traditional boy-girl crushes. This is a great book for readers who want a girl-girl romance. There is a lot of information about the musical process of the camp, and chair auditions are brutal when one is in middle school; it was good to see that portrayed. Both girls struggle with the expectations at home, which are very narrow and don't take their opinions into account as much as they should, which many readers will understand. The budding romance between Andi and Zora is the real draw for young readers here. Andi's grief and guilt over her mother's death are realistically portrayed, and it was good to see that she was in therapy and had some coping mechanisms. The cover is very appealing.
Weaknesses: While I understand why we see the plot unfold from the dual perspectives, I was so engrossed in Andi's story that it was a bit jarring when a new chapter started from Zora's perspective. There were also a lot of flashbacks that sometimes took me out of the present story as well. It was important to know the backstory for both Andi and Zora, but I almost wish we had seen more of their separate lives before they got to camp so that the present day narrative didn't need to be interrupted. Summer camp stories and books about band are difficult to place in my library. I loved Grosso's I am Drums, but it rarely leaves the shelves.
What I really think: This would be good for readers who enjoyed Rhuday-Perkovich's It Doesn't Take a Genius and Chase's Turning Point, and was very similar to Bigelow's Drum Roll, Please.
Having been to an elite and very Christian music camp in the early 1980s, I would venture to say that the problems with elite music camps don't only affect Black attendees. I had a miserable experience, and Andi was not alone with struggling with the expectations and narrow mind set. On a personal note, I'm never a fan of negative portrayals of Karens, and Kendall's father is engaged to a yoga teacher who shares my appellation and is described as "white and basic just like her name" (quote from the uncorrected E ARC). I understand why this happens, and know I shouldn't feel hurt, but it's still not a great thing to see negative stereotypes of any kind in middle grade literature.
April 29, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for the advance Kindle copy of this book. I’m a tad late, as it came out this past Tuesday. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this beautiful and sad dual-perspective story. Black teens Andi and Zora meet an a summer orchestra camp. Andi is mourning the death of her mother and upheaval of her life as she has moved in with her aunt and uncle, who are polar opposites of her mom. Zora is cracking under the pressure of being the perfect daughter, student, and friend. They find each other and learn that they may be more than friends, and navigate how to best be there when life gets to be too hard. Trigger warning: self harm. Beautifully done and recommended for grades 6-8.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this beautiful and sad dual-perspective story. Black teens Andi and Zora meet an a summer orchestra camp. Andi is mourning the death of her mother and upheaval of her life as she has moved in with her aunt and uncle, who are polar opposites of her mom. Zora is cracking under the pressure of being the perfect daughter, student, and friend. They find each other and learn that they may be more than friends, and navigate how to best be there when life gets to be too hard. Trigger warning: self harm. Beautifully done and recommended for grades 6-8.
August 23, 2022
I picked this one up because the camp is modeled after Interlochen in Michigan. The story touched on a lot of important issues and was well told.
March 9, 2022
Andi and Zora are the only two Black girls at Harmony Music Camp, a prestigious summer program for young musicians. Andi is still mourning her artistic mom, and Zora is drowning under the weight of her family's expectations for her. Despite their initial personality clashes, Andi and Zora begin to gravitate together and find comfort in each other as they navigate the difficulties of growing up and moving forward in this middle grade novel of grief, competition, and sweet first love.
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