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Struts & Frets

by Jon Skovron (Goodreads Author)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 421 ratings · 105 reviews

Told in a voice that’s honest, urgent, and hilarious, Struts & Frets will resonate not only with teenage musicians but with anyone who ever sat up all night listening to a favorite album, wondering if they’d ever find their place in the world.

Music is in Sammy’s blood. His grandfather was a jazz musician, and Sammy’s indie rock band could be huge one day—if they don’t...more

Hardcover, 289 pages

Published November 1st 2009 by Harry N. Abrams

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Community Reviews

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Feb 03, 2010 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

It seems quite fitting to for my first review of 2010 to be of the last YA book I read in 2009. To put it lightly, I friggin loved this book, I even named by brand spanking new laptop "Macbook Sammy". I've only ever read one YA music book, which was so funny and unique, I went into reading this book quite guarded, I never expected to like it nearly as much as I did. Jon Skovron has this way with words that seems so real and raw, the openness of the writing style is heart breakingly beautiful, ye...more It seems quite fitting to for my first review of 2010 to be of the last YA book I read in 2009. To put it lightly, I friggin loved this book, I even named by brand spanking new laptop "Macbook Sammy". I've only ever read one YA music book, which was so funny and unique, I went into reading this book quite guarded, I never expected to like it nearly as much as I did. Jon Skovron has this way with words that seems so real and raw, the openness of the writing style is heart breakingly beautiful, yet very humorous at the same time.

Sammy Bojar is going to be a musician, he has everything he needs to make his dream come true; he can write songs, play the guitar and a band. But Sammy is still struggling to find his place in this so called band as well as in life. Throughout the story, he struggles with uncooperative band mates, his friends and worst of all his family, all while trying to get ready for Battle of the Bands, where his future as a musician may be determined. Music is at the heart of the story and man, Sammy has some cracking taste in music. I may have a crush on him or his music preferences, I haven’t quite decided yet, the jury's still out.

Skovron shows in this beautiful story how much your passion for something can influence your life. Through Sammy he shows that even if you choose not to take the easiest path in life, as long as your doing something you love, you will be happy. I loved following Sammy's journey through learning that maybe being a musician is something his family may not want for him, or watching him struggle with his feelings towards Jen5, his best friend.

The main story was the music, peppered with little song lyrics and song references by Sammy, I felt immediately drawn to him as a character, because he just felt too real. Plus it helps that the guy was so funny, I laughed until my sides hurt. He acted like any boy would, but it felt more lifelike because a male had written the character, not a female, and it really benefit’s a story when you know what your character will be feeling and how they would be acting, because you know, you’ve been there in one way or another.

I loved how his grandfather was wound into the storyline, because it didn’t distract from the story, more like helped carry it to the end. I loved how Sammy got his passion and musical abilities from his musician grandfather. This was pivotal to the story, because it draws you in, holding you in an emotional vice. Plus, it helped that the story was such an easy one to follow, nothing too far fetched happened, it as just a true representation of a teenage boy struggling to find his way in the world. And, yes, this book so rocked the male protagonist. I can't wait to see what Skovron has up his sleeve for his next book. Loved it.
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Jun 26, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: music lovers or wannabes

Shelves: books-read-in-2010, ya-romance-to-everything-in-between, ya-library-books, ya-music-theme

If you love music this book would be great to read. I thought it was really cute.

I thought it was funny, because of the timing of reading it now- Jen5 so reminds me of Crystal Bowersocks from this seasons American Idol. It must be the dreadlocks.

I also thought back to the rock band my high school had. I could only imagine the drama swirling around their lives I didn't know about. I wonder what happened to them or how many high school bands make it big...hummmm.

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 09, 2009 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

STRUTS & FRETS has one of the hottest covers- and titles -around.
And what's inside is even better.
Honest, sweet, authentic boy voice.
Fully fleshed female characters.
Three dimensional grown-ups.
Surprises, drama and most importantly MUSIC!
I kept thinking while reading, "I can't wait to give this to my son when he's a teenager."
And my daughter.
One of the my favorite reads of 2009.
Enjoy the beat.

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 02, 2010 kari rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya, 5-star

I've had this book on my TBR for a bit and I should have read it sooner. Terrific. Fabulous. A wonderful and complete story with an authentic sounding voice.
Sam wants to be a musician. No, more than that, he has to be one, he can't imagine his life without music. I liked the chapter titles that were song titles or lyrics. They tied in well with the story and made sense as Sam is always thinking music, either listening, hearing it in his head or writing it.
The other characters are also well drawn...more

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Oct 18, 2010 K rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Sometimes when I start a book, I can see the plot and outcome right away and end up going through the motions of reading. To feel all-knowing, maybe? While this book wasn’t a wild twist from what I’d foretold in the beginning, it did have personality I wasn’t expecting and told a story with heart that wasn’t totally transparent.

Sammy is a guitarist in a band. He writes all the music and lyrics, but wants no part of being a front man. Instead he damns his band mates to Joe. Dude is scary. Sam’s...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, paper-books, yalsa-best-of-the-best-2013, arc

Based on a publisher provided ARC.

Fun story. Although I felt a little dumb that it took me until the "Caring Is Creepy" chapter to realize all of the chapter titles were song titles.

Many times when ARCs come in, I give them directly to my students and ask them for their reviews. I really should start reading them myself. This has been sitting on my ARC shelf for almost two years. This was a delightful break from dystopia and some of the heavier books I've been reading. I liked the extra dimensio...more

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Nov 19, 2009 Ziaria rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a sweet coming of age tale of a talented boy with big dreams and lets face it who as teenagers didn't have big dreams? I gotta say it was weird for me seeing the male perspective though. I apparently don't read many books from that perspective. When I started this book, I found myself thinking, yuck boys are gross a few times and then I would laugh at myself for thinking that.

This story has a lot of elements in play. Single parent household, a grandfather who is going senile, seeing his...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every time I thought about reviewing Struts and Frets, I was reminded of my initial response to the first couple of chapters. I was convinced that this book featured a group of hormonal teenagers who were milder in their tone than the Inbetweeners but still had their attitude. Imagine placing this bunch of teenagers at a High School Musical party which they are about to gatecrash! Get the picture?

For the first half of the book, this was the way I viewed it. The story line was entertaining as Sam...more Every time I thought about reviewing Struts and Frets, I was reminded of my initial response to the first couple of chapters. I was convinced that this book featured a group of hormonal teenagers who were milder in their tone than the Inbetweeners but still had their attitude. Imagine placing this bunch of teenagers at a High School Musical party which they are about to gatecrash! Get the picture?

For the first half of the book, this was the way I viewed it. The story line was entertaining as Sammy and the rest of his band, Tragedy of Reason, struggled with school, the band and relationships with girls. Sammy was a nice guy; one you would be happy to take home to meet your mum after a couple of dates. A couple of the other band members, you probably would never introduce to another family member, but Sammy was a safe bet.

As the book moved into the second half of the story, it all became more serious and it began to tug a little on my heart strings. Sammy and his mother struggle to come to terms with the deterioration of his grandad. Although it is never mentioned, it appears that he is suffering from Alzheimer's and becomes a danger not only to himself, but also to his loved ones. That is a big issues for a teenager to deal with and I think Sammy has a sudden maturity growth spurt through out this situation. He finally realises what is important to him and what he wants to achieve in life.

This book tackles homosexuality extremely well. Sammy's best friend, Rick, is just coming to terms with telling people about his sexuality and we watch as all his friends learn to deal with the situation in their own way. The majority of them seemed to know before he did and dealt with it with maturity and grace. Others seem to want to 'out' him in public, which is step he wasn't quite ready to take, however when it happens it makes life a lot easier for him, as he can be himself. With all the issues concerning gay and lesbian characters in YA at the moment, it was lovely to read it handled so beautifully. It is definitely a subject that should be increased with the YA market, as at that age, a lot of teenagers are still coming to terms with their sexuality.

The book watches the progression of the relationship between Sammy and his mother as she learns to accept his musical abilities and dreams. For many years, she tied her thoughts and emotions with her past experiences with her parents and could not see past their troubles to envisage Sammy as a separate entity. Once she breaks the connection, she is able to see Sammy for whom he really is and believe in his musical abilities.

For me there was a bit of geeky moment in the book, as Sammy's grandmother was named Viv! My name so rarely comes up in a book,that I always get over excited on the rare occasion it does.

Even though this book is about loud music, it is a quiet story. It develops at a steady pace, as we watch these teenagers deal with the pressures put upon them and learn to cope. A coming of age story that will remind you of your own school days in one way of another. This book will also prove to you that dreams really do come true, as along as you give them 110% of your time!

A thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable read that left me wanting more from Jon Skovron.

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Apr 02, 2013 Samantha Tai rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: yalsa-2013-hub-reading-challenge

When his band can't even decide on a name, Sammy should know that it isn't going to work out. Joe is a bully: he bosses everyone around and thinks he's in charge because he's the lead vocalist even though Sammy writes all the songs. Sammy's best friend Rick, the bass player, doesn't take the band seriously often messing up his parts. Sammy's the only one who cares about Tradegy of Wisdom. He's conflicted when he sees a sign for a Battle of the Bands in his area. On the one hand, Battle of the Ba...more

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Nov 23, 2009 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, age-ya, arcs

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher.

Sammy loves music. He loves it so much he's willing to be in a band with Joe, who scares the crap out of him. He loves it so much he can't see that his best friend, Jen5 (all the other Jennifer nicknames were taken), is in love with him. Music is his bond with his grandfather, who seems to be going a little crazy. Now Sammy's got a girlfriend, and his band, Tragedy of Wisdom, is going to enter a Battle of the Bands contest.

I fell in love with Sa...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 06, 2010 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed

I haven't read a YA book from a male perspective that was written by a male in a long time. It got me thinking....I'm not really sure there is a whole lot out there. A lot of the titles I think about are more J FIC than Y FIC. Carmen, Colfer, Riordan, etc...

Struts & Frets is a story about Sammy and his two loves: his music and his changing relationship with his BFF Jen5. Sammy has an honest voice. He tries to please his mother, his friends, and his bandmates. His grandfather, a former profe...more

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Mar 05, 2010 elissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to elissa by: Capitol Choices

Shelves: youngadult, music, mental_illnesses, my_10s_reads

Exactly the right book for me right now, and I read it quickly. Emotional, but not too much. A very likeable main character (plus great secondary characters--the grandfather, the mom, the girlfriend, friends), and lots of pondering about music and sex. This has the best description of sex, for a teenager who's also a musician, that I've ever heard, and this book is one that's inspired me to add quotes in to goodreads, which I haven't done in awhile. There's not much of a plot, but that's not the...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Carmel Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read the review also at Book Filled Blog.

The first thing to be said about Struts & Frets is that the cover and inside are AMAZING. It looks so cool outside and inside!

Sammy, seventeen, wants to be a musician. Not a rock star, even though some times, he lets the daydreams excel that far. No, he wants to be a musician, to play music because he enjoys not for super fame and fortune. Yet, he also has to worry about family and daily life due to uncooperative band mates, his friends and as well as...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Thebookbutterfly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, music, guy-pov, contemp, cover-love, art-stuff, real-issues, rocks-my-socks-off

"He would talk about how important all music was. How it took us--not just the people who played it but the people who heard it--to a place above the normal boring world."

What I've realized with the world is that you cannot talk about music, good music, without being pretentious which 1) I don't really care. I love music so much that I just don't let it bother me anymore. And 2) There is something wrong about that because you should be able to talk about your opinions on everything from the pun...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good stuff. I love YA lit more than I probably should as an early-30-something guy, but I can't help it. This is the kind of book I really wish I could have read when I was like 17, it might have helped me figure out my own musical aspirations a little bit more at the time.

Still, even now, as a musician, this gives me all kinds of warm fuzzies thinking about all the silly drama that myself and my friends in garage bands went through in the tireless pursuit of rock stardom.

As is sometimes the c...more

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Feb 25, 2010 Kat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Struts & Frets was new and fresh debut from Jon Skavron! I loved the character of our main character, Sammy Bojar. His passion for his love of music just screamed out from each page I read. This was a strong debut for sure and I'm excited to see what else Mr. Skavron has to offer!

1 like · like · see review

Jan 09, 2010 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 14-16, aging, music

Imagine picking a book up with no expectations and suddenly realizing it's set in your own past. That's the feeling I got from reading this Young adult debut by Jon Skovron. Set in my hometown of Columbus, OH, it namedrops places (Blue Danube/a re-named Bernie's) and real life bands and songs (Monster Zero, Charles Cicirella's WHITE JEEP, which I spent HOURS AND HOURS trying to find online last night, even though I know I at one point in time had some kind of recording of it.) Now, imagine that...more

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Jan 21, 2010 Jodysegal rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Middle school- High school

Shelves: art, glbt, realistic-fiction, romance, young-adult

This probably deserves another of my half stars, putting it at 3.5, but since I just finished it, I'll give it the full four.

Struts and Frets is the very enjoyable musical coming-of-age story of Sammy, high school student, new boyfriend of his best friend, grandson to a jazz musician increasingly afflicted by dementia, son to a single mother, psychologist, and apparently "hot babe," according to his friends, and songwriter and band leader. Why the long list? Because all these relationships and...more

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May 13, 2013 Jenni French rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: hub-challenge, age-5-grades-9-12, genre-contemporary-fiction, lgbtqia-lit

If you are interested in music, I'd recommend Sonnenblick's Notes from the Midnight Driver or the book Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. This book has no redeeming qualities, and it has plenty of issues. I understand the use of profanity in young adult works, but there really is no reason to use the term for a person with mental retardation or the term for a gay man (that also happens to be an old term for a stick). Not ever. Aside from the drinking, the sex, and the violence, the teens don't h...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Samuel "Sammy" Bojar's whole life revolves around listening to and making music with the high hopes on one day making it big in the underground scene. Despite what his therapist mother says. There's just one hitch in his plan: his band, Tragedy of Wisdom. Tragedy of Wisdom has the potential of being a really great band, but besides Sammy and his drummer/friend TJ, no one else seems to take the band seriously, or even care that much about it.

So when his band decides to enter a local Battle of the...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Jessica Secret rated it 4 of 5 stars

From shutupimreading.blogspot.com

This isn't my normal type of book, and I hadn't heard much about it. I just randomly saw it at the bookstore, and decided that I needed to read it. Maybe I had some kind of contemporary craving, I don't know. But it must have been just what I needed, because I really enjoyed it.

I know I've mentioned this once or twice (or twenty times...), but I love music. So when my love of music and books combines, it usually agrees with me. I like indie rock, but I don't know...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Princess Bookie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2012

My Thoughts: Sometimes, I really enjoy reading novels from guy’s points of views, sometimes I do not. Struts and Frets was one that I did enjoy.

We are introduced to Sammy who loves music. He has a band that he loves jamming out with. They want to go in the big time. But, Sammy isn’t sure this is going to happen, they have a lot to overcome.

When he sees an ad for Battle Of The Bands, he decides it’s worth a shot.

Sammy and his band enter the contest!

Sammy also has a best friend who is a girl and...more

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Jan 18, 2010 Jenn Estepp rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenage-wasteland

growing up, i would've been all over this book, simply for existing. because at that time, in columbus, ohio, the only cultural touchstones we had were "family ties" which didn't count at all because all the place names were made up. so, a book that actually took place in columbus, dropping location names (the dube! bernies! newport! idiot boy! schiller park! not-named cup o'joe!) and experiences i could totally relate to? yes, please. but, because the setting is near and dear, there are a few t...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Melody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Melody by: Susann

Oh, this was fun! The authorial voice was completely authentic- so much so that I found myself saying stern motherly things to the protagonist. Out loud.

Sammy lives for music, but he's also a regular teenage kid with insecurities, blind spots, family issues and in short, a normal life. I love reading about kids with normal lives, kids who are not Representing A Disorder. Samuel is hilarious to read about from an adult perspective, too- this book works on more than one level, and hits on all cyli...more

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Jan 20, 2010 nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Forewarning: major musical geeking out is about to take place. I kind of feel like a babbling baboon (say that 5x fast, I dare you) Anyway!

Music is such a big part of my life, even considering the fact that I can't play an instrument to save my life. But reading this book reminded me why I love it so much. Like reading, it transports you to a different place. When nothing else can seem to get me grounded, music has what it takes to give me that push.

Struts & Frets reverberates in my brain; l...more Forewarning: major musical geeking out is about to take place. I kind of feel like a babbling baboon (say that 5x fast, I dare you) Anyway!

Music is such a big part of my life, even considering the fact that I can't play an instrument to save my life. But reading this book reminded me why I love it so much. Like reading, it transports you to a different place. When nothing else can seem to get me grounded, music has what it takes to give me that push.

Struts & Frets reverberates in my brain; like listening to a song at maximum volume with the biggest headphones that eyes could ever see. I may not be able to tell you what cord-C or cord-D sounds like or looks like on paper, but the passion for music was just flowing as I was reading this. And it's always amazing when life combines two things I love, reading and music, and provides another outlet that I can get lost in. That is why I absolutely adore this book.

And then you add in everything in between. Sammy Bojar, the main character, is a 16 year-old boy who has a tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve and just wants to make music. So much so, that he is willing to keep his band, Tragedy of Wisdom, together despite the fact that the lead singer scares the crap out of him. But through the journey of surviving high school drama, family woes, dealing with a band made of opposites, taking risks, and finding love - he is discovering that life is messy and complicated, but it's also full of promise and potential.

In this tale of love, loss, and discovery, Sammy's adolescent voice rings true and honest. Complete with insecurities, doubt, and the awkwardness that comes with the territory of growing up. But never once does he cross that line into whiny, self-absorbed angst. And the other characters are just as easy to love. Jen5 (called such because all the other Jennifer nicknames were taken) is a fun, competent girl who provides Sammy with the solidity that his life is lacking and challenges him to break out if his shell. Jon Skovron really put authenticity and a well-versed sense of reality into his writing. Never once does he skirt the heavier issues of growing up, instead embraces it while adding that extra dose of humor that creates a very cool read.(less)

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Jan 28, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, signed-books, books-i-own

After reading non-stop paranormal, this book was a huge shift for me. I was afraid I’d get antsy, but luckily that was not the case. Struts & Frets was humorous and extremely entertaining.

My brother plays guitar. Every boyfriend I’ve ever had has played guitar. And my dad wishes he could play guitar. So needless to say, even though the only guitar I can play is for a videogame, this book felt really familiar to me. I’m definitely not saying that you have to have those kinds of connections to...more

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Jul 05, 2009 Vania rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, my-shelf, to-review

Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron tells the coming of age story of Samuel Bojar a high school rock and roll member of a garage band. Skovron explores the rollercoaster moments of growing up, the moments of inspiration and the moments in life when things click. Sammy is a songwriter and musician who is struggling to find his place not only in his band but also in life. In a time span of two weeks Sammy struggles with friends, band mates, and worst of all with family all while trying to get ready fo...more Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron tells the coming of age story of Samuel Bojar a high school rock and roll member of a garage band. Skovron explores the rollercoaster moments of growing up, the moments of inspiration and the moments in life when things click. Sammy is a songwriter and musician who is struggling to find his place not only in his band but also in life. In a time span of two weeks Sammy struggles with friends, band mates, and worst of all with family all while trying to get ready for Battle of the Bands and hopefully making his dream a reality. Through it all his music moves him and is an underlying motivator in his decisions.

What I appreciated most as an artist and music lover was the artistic and inspirational drive of the story. Sammy shows that being an artist is possible and whether it is music or art of other sorts you can be yourself and be happy doing what you love even though it is not the easiest path in life. Sammy throughout the story is trying to find himself and despite the hurdles life throws at him. Skovron does well to show the true power of music. The Music and lyrics quoted in this book function like a soundtrack seamlessly blending the real life circumstance with the inspiriting words of the song in that moment. Think of a movie: how a character is at pivotal point in the plot arc and the song seems to fit the mood of the moment.

Skovron’s book is multifaceted with multiple plot arcs –Sammy’s friends, band, mother and grandfather –while still sticking closely to the story of the music almost as if it is its own character. For a male’s point of view Skovron successfully draws us in emotionally and I easily related to Sammy and his struggles. Though there was no big bang in the story line I was still interested in learning how Sammy’s band, girlfriend and grandfather issues will play out. It is realistic and true and a good easy read for any music lover or artist. But I won’t stop there…I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys music; the songs are not solely of the rocker variety but are as varied as the characters and it’s an overall pleasure to read.
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May 14, 2010 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I don't know about you but I love it when books are inspiring in a way that makes you have the impulse to chase after your own dreams as soon as possible. If you haven't guess already, Struts & Frets was exactly that- and more!

If I were asked to quickly sum up Struts & Frets in a few words, a lot would come to mind. One being inspirational, obviously, along with moving and poignant. Since in all honesty that's just how Sammy's coming of age tale was.

Sammy is a character who has a lot o...more I don't know about you but I love it when books are inspiring in a way that makes you have the impulse to chase after your own dreams as soon as possible. If you haven't guess already, Struts & Frets was exactly that- and more!

If I were asked to quickly sum up Struts & Frets in a few words, a lot would come to mind. One being inspirational, obviously, along with moving and poignant. Since in all honesty that's just how Sammy's coming of age tale was.

Sammy is a character who has a lot on his plate. For one, his band, the one thing that means the most to him, is on the verge of splitting because of one pompous lead singer; his grandad is going literally crazy; and he may or may not have feelings for his long-time best friend Jen5, another struggling artist in her own right.

Sammy is boy that not only is unique but whose struggle to be who he wants often hit a chord in me that related to his desire and need to be someone who not only he liked but who others could appreciate as well. I also enjoyed seeing his relationships with other main characters be a big part of the novel. My favorite out of the bunch would be the one with his grandfather. Since it was so perfectly done and often made me think of that one adult among many in my life who always will support me and offer advice in the way that Sammy's grandad did with him. Becaus of this all, it was often heartbreaking to see Sammy dealing with the fact that this one major influence in his life was simply slipping away from him. Lastly, I liked how his relationship Jen5 showed how special yet frustrating young love can be.

While the plot of this was exciting and always tried to keep the novel moving, it often did not prove to be un-put-a-down-able, a fact that has overall brought my enjoyment of this novel down. Though I did enjoy the parts with the band and Sammy and his friends. I just feel that it could have been simply fantastic if upped up just a bit. Also, while I can see promise in Jon Skovron, one that may include in maybe, just maybe, becoming the next John Green, I felt that the writing was sometimes bland and his plot turns were, at times, predictable.

Though, in all, the fact of how inspiring this novel was, as well as the main characters, redeemed Struts & Frets, and leaves me to suggest this to all teen boys out there, as well as all you dreamers out there dreaming of something bigger and brighter; since this is the book for you!

Grade: B (less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 30, 2009 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, young-adult, own

Can't Stop This Music

I freaking loved this book. Any book that can make Jane's Addiction and Shakespeare come together to create a beautiful story has my full support. And it didn't hurt that the writing style has a rawness and openness about it that nearly broke my heart and kept me laughing all at once.

Sammy Bojar is going to be the next big thing--or will be after the current next big thing gets out of his way. All he has to do is figure out how to keep his indie/punk/emo band together, turn...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Aaron Rhaney rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed Struts & Frets, it was a great coming of age story. Sammy is your everyday teen who loves music, girls, and hanging out with his friends. Its not all sunshine and rainbows for Sam though, he has to deal with a struggling band with a lead singer who is a jerk, the awkwardness that comes out of having your best friend become your girlfriend, and dealing with his grandfather's deteriorating mental state. All of these tribulations make Sammy a stronger person in the end.

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About Jon Skovron

Jon Skovron has been an actor, musician, lifeguard, Broadway theater ticket seller, warehouse grunt, technical writer, and web developer. Now he is a father and the author of Young Adult novels Struts & Frets, Misfit and the forthcoming Man Made Boy (Fall, 2013), as well as many short stories and essays. He generally likes stories that are dark, strange, and occasionally funny.

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A Visitor's Guide to Mystic Falls: Your Favorite Authors on The Vampire Diaries

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Quotes from Struts & Frets

“I've heard people say that they lose themselves in a kiss. But in that moment, it was the opposite for me. I felt like I found myself. Not how I wished I was, or who I was afraid I was becoming, but who I really was.” — 34 people liked it

“Because sometimes I was tired of feeling so much and I just wanted to shut down and not feel anything. But I guess I wasn't wired that way. All I could do was write about it. Get it out of my head and onto something like paper that I could manage easier.” — 17 people liked it

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Struts & Frets

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