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Harmonic Feedback

by Tara Kelly (Goodreads Author)

4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 · rating details · 1,306 ratings · 226 reviews

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a ban...more

Hardcover, 278 pages

Published May 25th 2010 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (first published May 19th 2010)

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The Tenners! Debut YA & MG novels of 2010

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Jun 17, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, 2012, contemporary

3.5
I honestly think I damaged a few brain cells trying to decide how to rate this book, and I'm still not sure my choice is correct. But whatever, I can't waste any more time wondering what to do about these books that are really really good for the first three quarters and then just lose it towards the end. It seems like every book I've read is like that lately, some were good enough to keep a high rating regardless (The House of the Scorpion), and others weren't quite as successful (Slated).

I...more

29 likes · like · see review

Jul 11, 2010 Alexa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, own, favorites, 2010-reads

My review can also be found on my blog Collections.

Sometimes there are books that end up being very different than what I first imagined from reading the book's summary. This book is definitely one of them. I love when that happens because usually it ends up being even better than I imagined. :)

I loved Drea, Justin, and Naomi. They were awesome and good people. I may not have exactly their problems, but I do have my own, and I could easily relate to their characters. When I read the book's summa...more

9 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2011 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, music, contemporary, on-my-shelf, romance, read-in-2011, made-me-cry, available-for-swapping, let-me-down, nothing-special

I really had trouble rating this book. I did enjoy it, the ending even made me cry and I finished it in a few hours last night. I couldn’t stop reading and was totally caught up in the story, but now, after sleeping on it, I don’t feel quite so strongly about it anymore. Yesterday, I would have rated Harmonic Feedback four stars. But when I think about it now, I don’t really see myself going back to re-read it. While the story was well done and the ending touched me, it obviously didn’t leave a...more I really had trouble rating this book. I did enjoy it, the ending even made me cry and I finished it in a few hours last night. I couldn’t stop reading and was totally caught up in the story, but now, after sleeping on it, I don’t feel quite so strongly about it anymore. Yesterday, I would have rated Harmonic Feedback four stars. But when I think about it now, I don’t really see myself going back to re-read it. While the story was well done and the ending touched me, it obviously didn’t leave a huge impact on me.

What bothered me: Drea loves music, and her greatest talent lies in producing and mixing sounds together. Okay, I don’t know anything about producing and the author lost me quickly when Drea was talking about it with her friends. They used so many terms I had never heard of before, referring to programs I didn’t even know existed … and I believe that probably about 80% (very random guess here) of the people who read this book don’t really know that much about producing either. Well, I found myself skimming paragraphs (it weren’t that many, though) because I wasn’t in the mood to look anything up. I found it a bit sad that this important aspect of Drea’s life, her favourite thing to do, wasn’t explained more in depth. I felt like missing out on a huge part of her life.
And, I couldn’t relate to Naomi at all. She infuriated me with her carelessness and way of dealing with her problems. I know that she didn’t have an easy life and was just looking for someone who loved her, but maintaining a relationship with a cheating, violent drug dealer and popping pills is just not something I can understand.

On the other hand, I found it very easy to relate to Drea. She is diagnosed with a mild form of Asperger’s and ADHD. She has diffuclties understanding why people don't always say or do what they mean, because she wants to be honest with others, speaks her mind freely and doesn’t feel like pretending just because it is more polite. Her struggles to fit in, to not be labelled and judged were portrayed realistically.
Also, thumbs up for the first love interest named Justin that actually was any good! (Memories of other good Justins from books read before 2010 might have been wiped out by not so fond memories of Justin Enos from Infinite Days who had as much personality as a blank sheet of paper and my special friend Justin forgot-his-last-name from Awaken who was majorly annoying with his preachy ways.) He might have been almost a little too perfect, but who cares, it’s fiction – and he had nice tattoos and piercings. The development of the relationship between him and Drea was really well done and they had a great chemistry.

In the end, I think I’m settling for three stars here.
Recommended if you are into contemporary novels that are a bit more on the edgier and darker side but feature a level-headed and strong protagonist. The book reminded me a little of Freefall, so if you liked that I think you might like this one, too.
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Jul 05, 2010 Ash rated it 3 of 5 stars

With only 3 stars it may seem like I didn't like it very much, but that's not really the case. There were things that I just really didn't like. Or maybe the better word is that I didn't get.

Quick Overview: Drea and her mom have just moved from San Francisco to Bellingham, Washington to move in with her hard to please grandmother. Their first day there, a purple haired girl named Naomi from across the street talks to Drea and surprisingly seems to like her, despite the way she acts and her obse...more With only 3 stars it may seem like I didn't like it very much, but that's not really the case. There were things that I just really didn't like. Or maybe the better word is that I didn't get.

Quick Overview: Drea and her mom have just moved from San Francisco to Bellingham, Washington to move in with her hard to please grandmother. Their first day there, a purple haired girl named Naomi from across the street talks to Drea and surprisingly seems to like her, despite the way she acts and her obsession with music and sound design. Drea has mild Apserger's and ADHD and because of that she doesn't have any friends. This is uncharted territory, as is the new guy Justin who thinks she's "interesting", and whom she does not understand. Drea is surprised to find that she not only has a friend, but two. But both Justin and Naomi aren't all that they seem.

Like I said there were certain aspects of the books that I liked. Like the music, but I guess I was expecting something different from this. The band doesn't play as big a role as I'd thought and neither does the Asperger's. Sometimes I didn't even remember that Drea had anything because she acts and thinks so normal. Just blunt and rude, and really who hasn't met someone like that? Justin is really sweet, although maybe a bit too good to be true, even with the "secret". Hopefully this isn't spoiling anything, but the relationship was a bit weird. It doesn't make sense that Drea has never even been kissed then all of a sudden she is in a serious relationship. Just too big of a jump. Plus, because of the way she acts sometimes I imagine her being younger, which makes it even stranger. Naomi was nice and funny (sometimes) but she still made me want to pound her head in. First off she's always doing things and saying pervy jokes to try and embarrass Drea. Maybe I'm being a prude but I got enough of the sex jokes riding the bus all through middle school AND high school. I've paid my dues. It could also be the fact that Naomi reminded me of someone I used to know, and just like then I'm totally frustrated, angry, and confused by her decisions.

Despite all that though I thought the writing was done well. Drea's voice was authentic and easy to read. Even though she has Asperger's you can really relate to a lot of the things that confuse her about how people act. I also thought it was pretty cool that I actually knew what a didgeridoo was and that I knew some of the bands she mentioned. Although I'm not sure how much credit I should give myself since I'm pretty sure everyone and their dog knows Snow Patrol and Bjork, but moving on. Although the characters are admittedly a bit stereotyped, they are given good dimension throughout most of the book. The grandmother although having a huge stick up her butt, was also funny and strangely lovable.

So like I said, I thought the writing was done well although I think the description of the book is a bit misleading since the band isn't given much attention and the Asperger's sometimes gets lost in the story. It seems more a story about friendship and acceptance than anything else. Okay, I'm going to be motherly for just a second here, but I should warn unsuspecting readers that there is sexual content, drug use, and some cussing. If that doesn't bother you and it still sounds interesting than I think it's definitely worth giving a shot. This just isn’t what I typically read.(less)

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Nov 06, 2010 Nomes rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, love-the-premise

What an amazing book.

It's refreshing and honest and not at all awkward (which I was initially apprehensive about).

At its heart, it's a love story, and a story of friendship and mothers and daughters.

Despite Drea's Aspergers, she's incredibly easy to relate to, to love and to cheer on. It's funny and precious and inspiring.

It's a little heartbreaking, a whole lot eye-opening and completely captivating. Also, Justin, swoon :)

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Oct 26, 2010 Edna Lyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, young-adult, contemporary

Harmonic Feedback easily became one of the best YAs I've ever read. It's a beautifully written and heartfelt story of a girl dealing with those social and self-perception issues that comes with the territory of being a teenager. How to act? What to say? We get to see Drea, who happens to have ADHD and a touch of Asperger's, go through the trials of having friends which she's never really had before and the struggles to fit in socially.

The greatest thing about this book: the characters and their...more

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Jun 24, 2010 Jaclyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoy serious (but not overly heavy) realistic teen fiction, you should definitely pick up this book, which is an absolutely shining example of its genre. Drea has Asperger's, but if you've ever had trouble making friends or felt like an odd one out, you should ABSOLUTELY definitely pick this up. I identify with Drea now, and man, at 17 I would have identified even more. A lot of teens who are feeling outsiderish will find a little comfort here. All the characters are relatable and the wr...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Ah mine'l-aŞk rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

bu kitabıda okuyalı çok oldu...
okuduktan sonra yaptığım yorumu aynen kopy yapıyorum:)
bide yanlış anlamayın..bu yorumları üye arkadaşlara sitem şeklinde başlayarak yapmıştım::)

öncelikle beni uyarmadınızya size fena halde küstüm
tamam hepinize olmasada okuyupta beni uyarmayanlara küstüm...
insan uyarmaz mı mendili yanından eksik etme...onu geçtim toplu
taşıma araçlarında bu kitap okunmaz diye...
hayır hadi arabada ağladım..en azından yanımdaki koltuk boş olsaydı da
yaşlı teyzeden yarım saat boyunca "bi...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Danielle Nguyen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-mg, own

I won Harmonic Feedback in a Goodreads giveaway, and honestly, I probably wouldn’t have read it otherwise. It would’ve been a shame though, because I loved this book. Tara Kelly’s debut is utterly honest and refreshing. In ways, it reminded me a little of John Green's Looking for Alaska. Harmonic Feedback took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Quite a bit of it made me laugh, but it also made me cry. Drea is one of the most interesting characters I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I don’t know th...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: readsfrom2012, loved

Harmonic Feedback was so amazing. By the third chapter I was imagining myself placing this on my favorites book-shelf. It will leave you laughing, crying and wishing you could have a friend like Drea. She's brutally honest, highly intelligent and does not have time for common denominator people, people seeming as copies of other people. She makes her own clothes, writes her own music and isn't scared to tell people exactly how she feels. The doctors have been trying to figure out, for years, how...more

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Jun 01, 2010 Pixie/PageTurners(Amber) C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

From the moment I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. I was, extremely surprised at how a simple book, about a girls first friends could ignite so many emotions. I cant really give you a better synopsis of the book, then the one on goodreads - so I am just going to tell you what I loved about this book.

The character development was wonderful. I felt like I was just another part of Drea.

Drea, is a very realistic character. I wondered, how well a narrator with...more

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May 04, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, so this book didn't exactly pan out like I thought it would. I was expecting something a bit lighter, but I tell you, I was crying pretty good by the end of this book.
I think we all feel like we are misunderstood at some point in our lives, and while the main character, Drea, has some medical labels assigned to her that complicate things, I think that was the main point here. Holy run on sentence, Batman! Anyways. Drea seems to have a mild form of Asperger's Syndrom, so she has difficulty...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Wafiyah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Readers looking for sweet fluff but inspirational tragedy as well

Recommended to Wafiyah by: "The Survival Kit" on Goodreads

Shelves: anticlimactic, contemporary-romance, tear-inducing, family, great-protagonist, interesting, romance, tragic

This book is extremely deep. It wasn't quite what I'd expected; I totally did not understand Naomi's character. I agree with her former best friend, Kari - Naomi would say something extremely rude and then change to someone sweet. It was a bit disturbing at first how she would shift back and forth; I wouldn't want a friend who's so used to stealing, having sex, and taking drugs as if it's like breathing. I wasn't quite shocked with the ending, but it still kind of hit me hard, that although Naom...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Harmony rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites

Sometimes there's a book that you know you're going to love before you even start it. For me, Harmonic Feedback was one of those books. I'd seen nothing but good things about, my favorite author Stephanie Kuehnert had recommended it, and music played a big role. Unfortunately, when I'm super-excited for a book before I read it, I often put off getting a copy because I'm afraid it won't live up to my expectations, which is why I'm reviewing this long after the release date has passed.

And I must s...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars

I know the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an archetype I am supposed to despise. And, truly, I do see the problem with portraying anyone (of any gender, girl or boy) as a Manic Pixie Anything instead of as a three-dimensional person. But good lord (and may the feminist powers that be strike me down where for typing this) I love me some Manic Pixie Dream Girls (and Boys). Everything about this book reads like a Manic Pixie Dream, all musty basement bands and sleepovers and street racing and mysterious...more I know the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an archetype I am supposed to despise. And, truly, I do see the problem with portraying anyone (of any gender, girl or boy) as a Manic Pixie Anything instead of as a three-dimensional person. But good lord (and may the feminist powers that be strike me down where for typing this) I love me some Manic Pixie Dream Girls (and Boys). Everything about this book reads like a Manic Pixie Dream, all musty basement bands and sleepovers and street racing and mysterious pasts. And that should sell you right there, right?

Well...maybe wrong, because it did get a little too heavy-handed, and the ending was make-my-teeth-hurt-saccharine-painful. Does that go with the debut territory? Absolutely. Does it spoil what is otherwise a terrific read? Definitely not.

Perhaps what captured me most about it was the author's bravery in taking a protagonist "with a touch of Asperger's" - who should, by publishing industry rights, belong in straight issue book territory - and making her, in the immortal words of Weetzie Bat, slinkster cool. I occasionally wanted to sit down for a nice chat with Drea and explain the facts of friendship and boys to her. But mostly, I just wanted to be her. Authors who want to write diverse characters in YA could do much, much worse than to take a leaf out of Kelly's book.

Of course, what made Drea so awesome was undoubtedly her love of music. Kelly's rendering of a bunch of kids hanging out in a basement making music is pitch-perfect (pun fully intended), and Drea and Justin's constant musical bickering was one of my favorite parts of the book. Music geek that I am, I'm now doubly excited for Kelly's next release, Amplified (to Goodreads), which looks like it follows a similar vein.

Finally, Drea's best friend Naomi. Where do I even begin? She's the one who made me think Manic Pixie Dream Girl in the first place (though the whole book had an oh-so-Zooey-Deschanel vibe from the start), and while she's far from perfectly drawn, she's also heartbreaking. I've known far too many Naomis in my life to deny that I cried at the end, despite the earnestness of it all. If watching Drea grow is the bones of the book, Naomi is its heart.

This book caught me completely and happily off guard, and while it wasn't perfect, I can't wait to see where Tara Kelly takes us next. Yay for contemporary YA!(less)

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Sep 28, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-autism, teen-family, teen-friends, teen-girl, teen-family-issues, teen-music, teen-romance

Sixteen-year-old Drea is used to moving every few months, blending into the background, and surviving in her self-constructed world of sound engineering. What she doesn't expect when she and her mother land in the tiny town of Bellingham is to have two classmates really, truly like her. Like most teens, Drea struggles through the hallways of social norms and unspoken rules that make up high school, but, as her mother always reminds her, it's a little different for her because of her "issues." It...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Courtney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Aw, this is a sweet book. The cover summary made me curious enough to pick it up, but I was never really up to reading it. However, Drea's narration captured me instantly.

She has a form of Asperger's that makes her a little bit confused on society norms. Sarcasm, white lies and innuendos often escape her and she is honest, occasionally brutally so. However, she isn't difficult to relate to. Anyone who has ever felt a little bit out of the loop, or akward or lonely can relate to her and her clev...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having moved from place to place frequently with her mother, Drea is used to not making or having friends. She doesn’t need friends; they wouldn’t understand how different she is anyway. Anyway, she has her music, and that’s all that really matters. Or is it? With her latest move, Drea finds herself forming two unlikely friendships with other outsiders, Naomi and Justin. And even though she’s become accustomed to being alone, Drea is starting to really enjoy her time with her new friends, especi...more Having moved from place to place frequently with her mother, Drea is used to not making or having friends. She doesn’t need friends; they wouldn’t understand how different she is anyway. Anyway, she has her music, and that’s all that really matters. Or is it? With her latest move, Drea finds herself forming two unlikely friendships with other outsiders, Naomi and Justin. And even though she’s become accustomed to being alone, Drea is starting to really enjoy her time with her new friends, especially after they decide to form a band together. There’s more to Drea’s life now, and she’s starting to like it. But what can she do when the happiness of her new life is threatened? Can she hide behind the music again, or will she have the strength to find solace elsewhere?

Harmonic Feedback was one of those books I originally thought I’d read only if I had the time. Having now read it, I’m glad I found the time, because this novel is such a well written and moving story. Novels with strong connections to music have always been special to me because of my own love of music. I did not understand even half of the highly technical musical terms that Drea uses, but this did not stop me from enjoying the story since Drea’s passion for music is so clear. Kelly has done a remarkably good job of establishing her characters, especially including Drea, Naomi, and Justin. Their flaws, their fears, and most of all, their true passions are so vividly drawn to the extent that they feel entirely realistic even though we don’t see that much of some of them. This is an exceptional debut that manages to combine friendship, love, dysfunction, and loss so beautifully. I look forward to see where Kelly’s writing will take readers in her upcoming, also musically inspired book, Amplified.

Harmonic Feedback will be enjoyed by fans of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert, Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, and Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 05, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Darned book made me cry! Maybe it was because I was up into the wee hours of the morning finishing this book or maybe it was because I was so invested in these characters, but I cried--and I so rarely do that with books. (Or...it could be that I have to go back to school in a couple of days that made me weepy...)

Drea is an absolutely marvelous character--I totally rooted for her every step of the way. She's struggled all her life with labels (AS, ADHD), and a mom who tries to make life easier fo...more Darned book made me cry! Maybe it was because I was up into the wee hours of the morning finishing this book or maybe it was because I was so invested in these characters, but I cried--and I so rarely do that with books. (Or...it could be that I have to go back to school in a couple of days that made me weepy...)

Drea is an absolutely marvelous character--I totally rooted for her every step of the way. She's struggled all her life with labels (AS, ADHD), and a mom who tries to make life easier for her by telling everyone about Drea's "issues". Of course, this just ends up making Drea's life more difficult. And, because of her challenges, she has a lot of trouble relating to people and vice versa. They don't appreciate her straightforward honesty (she doesn't understand lying) or her abrupt manner until Nicole and Justin come along. Both musicians, they connect with Drea and become her first real friends (and boyfriend! Great love story!), making beautiful music together (sorry, couldn't help myself).

I can't say enough about this book. I love the connections between the characters, how they all interact with one another. The dialogue is well-paced and totally believable. Author Tara Kelly's treatment of Drea's Asperger's syndrome is done with a delicate and understanding hand, integrating Drea's daily struggles with social interaction seamlessly into her overall character.

Kelly develops deep backstories for each of her characters, adding to the richness of the story. For example, Justin isn't just a cute boy with a past, he has a past that he's trying to redeem himself from, a past that allows him to relate to both wild-child Nicole who loves boys and drugs (and who made me want to slap some sense into her!), and Drea, who'd rather bury herself in the basement with her instruments and her computer. Even Nicole's slimy boyfriend and minor character, Scott, is developed, rather than just a cardboard placeholder as is the case with many bit players.

HARMONIC FEEDBACK definitely goes on my "To Read Again" pile (*much* smaller than my TBR pile). One of my top pics for 2010.
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Nov 08, 2010 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns, ya

I picked up HARMONIC FEEDBACK based on the strength of Trisha's review over at The YA YA YAs. This is not an unusual thing for me to do, as you probably know. Trisha has impeccable taste and a knack for tempting me with her reviews in such a way that what was non-committal longing suddenly turns into I must have it now! Trisha asked why more people aren't talking about this book and called it "a noteworthy debut." After reading it, I frankly have to agree with her. It was hard to track down in t...more I picked up HARMONIC FEEDBACK based on the strength of Trisha's review over at The YA YA YAs. This is not an unusual thing for me to do, as you probably know. Trisha has impeccable taste and a knack for tempting me with her reviews in such a way that what was non-committal longing suddenly turns into I must have it now! Trisha asked why more people aren't talking about this book and called it "a noteworthy debut." After reading it, I frankly have to agree with her. It was hard to track down in the first place, which was frustrating, and I haven't talked to all that many people who've read it. Yet it's a lovely story of growth and grief and what it means to exist outside the box. I think it possesses wide appeal for young adult readers who appreciate sensitive and thoughtful characters engaged in the search for connection and meaning in their lives.

Drea and her mom are on their own and they have been for as long as Drea can remember. Her first sixteen years have been one long string of moves and men. Her mother can never seem to keep a job long enough for Drea to finish that year of school. And she goes through men like they're a dime a dozen. Eternally nonplussed, Drea really does have enough on her plate without having to deal with her mother's fickle behavior. Diagnosed with ADHD and a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, it's hard for Drea to relate to her peers. They continually act irrationally, in ways that make no sense to practical, methodical Drea. Her mother is forever explaining "normal" people's behavior to her in the hopes that she will catch on and not stick out like a sore thumb. But Drea's not interested in changing herself to fit an inexplicable mold and, when they're forced to move in with her rigid and disapproving grandmother, it becomes even more difficult to get through each day. Then next door neighbor Naomi barges in, with her purple hair and her lust for life, and a nice boy named Justin starts talking to her at school, and Drea begins to wonder if some of that "normal" life she's observed for so long might just be a little more interesting than she thought.

HARMONIC FEEDBACK was a pleasure from start to finish. I've been in a somewhat odd reading place lately, bouncing back and forth between new books I've been wanting to read and old favorites I seem to need to reread. But this one had me from page one. And most of that was Drea herself and her unvarnished way of looking at the world and at herself. She was so uncompromisingly herself and I just felt for her as she wound her way through the twisty maze that is high school and teenage friendships and relationships to someone whose brain works a little differently. She certainly made mistakes along the way, but none of them were due to a lack of intelligence or conscience. I always admired her. And like Naomi and Justin, I was drawn to her because she spoke her mind, she lived for music, and she was just plain good people. Her relationship with her mother is also sympathetic and compelling as they seem to butt heads so often, yet they clearly love each other very much. Drea tries for her mother, when she doesn't for anyone else. And her mother just wants her to be happy, even when she sometimes overprotects her in the wrong ways. I will also just go ahead and say that I loved everything that went down between Drea and Justin. Justin has got to be one of my favorite nice guys in YA fiction--and how often do I say that? I was caught up in the depth and texture of the two of them, in that wonderful tug and pull between two smart individuals who are very different, who have issues, but who are nevertheless drawn to each other. I did feel as if the end of the book trod a bit too far into the melodramatic, as though it was working a little too hard to make me as the reader really feel what happened, when I was doing just fine on my own. But that quibble aside, I thoroughly enjoyed HARMONIC FEEDBACK and look forward to Tara Kelly's next offering with much anticipation.(less)

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Jul 21, 2010 K. Bird rated it 5 of 5 stars

A love and friendship story from a slightly Autistic female character's POV, coupled with indie music sensibilities and high school politics, along with added rumination about how unique people fare in a world of conformists.

Awesome.

Drea is starting over (yet again) at a new high school. Only this time her ne'er do well and overprotective Mother is moving them into the basement of her no-nonsense, critical Grandmother with whom Drea does not get along.

Her music will become a bridge between Drea...more A love and friendship story from a slightly Autistic female character's POV, coupled with indie music sensibilities and high school politics, along with added rumination about how unique people fare in a world of conformists.

Awesome.

Drea is starting over (yet again) at a new high school. Only this time her ne'er do well and overprotective Mother is moving them into the basement of her no-nonsense, critical Grandmother with whom Drea does not get along.

Her music will become a bridge between Drea and two other students, Justin, who isn't as square as he first seems, and Naomi, a wild, purple-haired neighbor who isn't turned off by Drea's bluntness.

These are three souls who feel very, very alone, all for their own reasons. All three don't quite experience life the same way as many others at high school, and while together they can make beautiful music, one of them will end up not being saved by it.

Fascinating, convincing, inner details of the way Drea experiences NT's (nuerotypicals) as well as her struggle between "wanting to be normal" and feeling her way of experiencing the world isn't abnormal or wrong.

Pathos and drama galore in the tentative ways Justin and Drea get together, the way they interact with self-destructive Naomi, the way Drea's Mother has to deal both with letting go of her overprotective ways of trying to take care of Drea and never providing a stable environment.

Some things I liked especially about this book was the edge of danger, Drea's frustration with reading people and situations does lead her into situations where you aren't quite sure if she'll emerge unscathed. Also, the character of her Grandma rocked. Grandma is blunt in a way that probably shows she had some level of Asperger's herself, but blends in more with society, making one question along with Drea whether her own characteristics should be damped down. And of course, the music talk. Not only indie music references, but the gorgeous writing of Drea's synesthestic experience of music and color.

Love, love, love this book.

This Book's Food Designation Rating: a chocolate cupcake with pudding filling for smooth prose, addictive characters, and details about Autism spectrum, with the bitter-chocolate buttercream frosting of the dark aspects of addiction and high school depression, with a chocolate covered espresso bean on top for crowning the whole book with a satisfying romance.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, music, my-weakness, contemporary, read-in-en, change-my-life

Po jej dočítaní som sedela 5 minút po tichu, pozerala na stenu predo mnou a plakala s úsmevom na perách. Hej, táto kniha mi dala zabrať. Často som sa nevedela stotožniť ani s jedným z hlavným hrdinov. Napriek tomu sa mi tieto postavy zdali najrealistickejšími zo všetkých kníh aké som doteraz čítala. Trochu si tu odporujem, ale čo... nemôžem si pomôcť.

"1.It’s not smiling when you don’t mean it.
2. It’s not little white lies. A lie is still just that. A LIE.
3. It’s not small talk. If you don’t ca...more

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Jun 20, 2010 Shirley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Probably the most underrated book I've read this year! I saw on the author's twitter that she's having issues with bookstores picking it up. This breaks my heart as it is a beautiful story with a unique protagonist and incredible secondary characters. Teens would love this, very authentic voice and dialogue. Another review mentioned the characters being one-dimensional. This is simply NOT TRUE. I fell in love with every character in this book and Kelly keeps you guessing about them, particularly...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Danielle Larca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I had no intention of liking this book. The cover didn’t grab me and the jacket made me think this was going to be an “issues” book. It’s one of my required readings for the GSTBA ballot and I actually tried to pawn it off on someone else! But I picked it up and started reading and discovered that it’s ok to be wrong sometimes because this was one great book.

Sixteen-year-old Drea has bounced around from place to place, home to home, while her mother chased boyfriends who never seemed to stick ar...more

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Dec 11, 2009 Laura Manivong rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ok, admittedly, I've gotten a little burnt out on realistic teen fiction lately, but Tara Kelly hit it outta the park with this one. Such amazing characters, fantastic dialogue, and passion on every page. Love, love, love Harmonic Feedback!

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Jan 10, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly is one of those books I heard buzz about in 2010 when it was released but was eclipsed by other book releases. However, with its recent Cybils nomination, this is a book I had to get my hands on. It proved to be an immensely engaging and genuine story, one of my favorite kinds to read.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn’t have friends. She has, as she’s often reminded, issues. Drea’s mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have...more Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly is one of those books I heard buzz about in 2010 when it was released but was eclipsed by other book releases. However, with its recent Cybils nomination, this is a book I had to get my hands on. It proved to be an immensely engaging and genuine story, one of my favorite kinds to read.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn’t have friends. She has, as she’s often reminded, issues. Drea’s mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on “a touch of Asperger’s.”Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea’s preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.
It’s obvious that Drea can’t hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she’s found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

Drea has been essentially friendless all her life. She has also moved around most of her life and it has hardly been a stable existence. That being said, Drea and her mom have a pretty good relationship and Drea knows how to make any place her home with the help of the lunchbox she carries with her everywhere. Drea loves music, mixing sound, and learning more and more about sound. She is incredibly knowledgable and it shows on every page. And, oh yeah, she may have a touch of Aspergers, but that is not at all the sum of her character.

Moving to Bellingham, Washington, and living with her grandmother is a shock. But perhaps even more shocking is that Drea is making friends. She isn't quite sure how to behave around the wild and impetuous Naomi but she finds her zest for life irresistible. New guy Justin causes feelings other than friendship but if Drea is awkward at friendship, well her interactions with guys are even more limited. But she cannot stop what she feels and it is honest and tactile in a way only she experiences emotions. Unfortunately, there are problems under the surface that are about to show Drea that being "normal," the existence she is striving for, is far, far from perfect.

Drea is the perfect voice to tell this story because she sees the world with a clarity and honesty that most people do not, or perhaps, are unwilling to. Drea tells it like it is and it's not because of her Aspergers, it is because she despises lies, half-truths, and the things people hide behind to mask their true feelings. I identified easily with her feelings of isolation and loneliness, about her social faux pas. Again, this is not an Aspergers thing this is a high school thing totally. Though many teens can make it look easy, many teens do have to plan what they are going to say in the hopes of not being teased or humiliated. High school is a place filled with social landmines just waiting to explode and Drea does a fabulous job of showing why this happens.
This also plays out perfectly in Drea's evolving friendship with Justin, who makes her squirmy inside in the best way possible.

That being said, the relationship that held my attention more than anything was the friendship between Drea and Naomi. It is obvious that Naomi has some very serious problems but Drea really has no idea how to help her. No teen would frankly. She is just happy to have a friend and wants to see her friend happy, even as increasingly destructive behaviors occur. I like how these two characters were juxtaposed in the story. Drea, the girl every doctor said had various problems, and Naomi, a "normal" girl who has obvious problems in her life that are being ignored by those around her, except Drea. This is the strongest part of the story for me, seeing their friendship change.

Drugs and sex are part of this story, so it is for older teen readers, or at least more mature readers. But it is a good fit for a lot of teens because Drea's issues are very universal. Harmonic Feedback had me enthralled, crying, and in pain for these characters. It's not a hopeless story though and I'll let you explore just why I feel that way. You won't be letdown reading Harmonic Feedback.
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Sep 13, 2011 Sage Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved the characters and the relationships. Although I tend to feel that characters (especially side-characters) using drugs or with abusive boyfriends falls into the category of the author going, "Look at how edgy I can be," I didn't really feel that with this book. Sometimes I need more plot than contemporary YA gives me, but in this case, I was very involved with the simple conflict of whether Drea could make and keep these relationships.

The reason I only gave four stars instead of five, howe...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Arianna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: music

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 25, 2010 K rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I get squirmy when other people are in embarrassing situations and Drea kept walking into them. I didn’t give up, though, so when I adjusted my perspective I could appreciate that embarrassing situations are what Drea struggles with constantly. The book takes note of casual touch and weird looks. Facial expressions are described literally and without interpretation. If there’s no making sense of these “little” things, sometimes situations are going to get uncomfortable. The AS in the book is jus...more

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Aug 10, 2010 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-authors

Final Grade: 99/A+
YA Contemporary
Rated PG-15: drug use, sex, some language

REVIEW: Darned book made me cry! Maybe it was because I was up into the wee hours of the morning finishing this book or maybe it was because I was so invested in these characters, but I cried--and I so rarely do that with books. (Or...it could be that I have to go back to school in a couple of days that made me weepy...)

Drea is an absolutely marvelous character--I totally rooted for her every step of the way. She's strugg...more Final Grade: 99/A+
YA Contemporary
Rated PG-15: drug use, sex, some language

REVIEW: Darned book made me cry! Maybe it was because I was up into the wee hours of the morning finishing this book or maybe it was because I was so invested in these characters, but I cried--and I so rarely do that with books. (Or...it could be that I have to go back to school in a couple of days that made me weepy...)

Drea is an absolutely marvelous character--I totally rooted for her every step of the way. She's struggled all her life with labels (AS, ADHD), and a mom who tries to make life easier for her by telling everyone about Drea's "issues". Of course, this just ends up making Drea's life more difficult. And, because of her challenges, she has a lot of trouble relating to people and vice versa. They don't appreciate her straightforward honesty (she doesn't understand lying) or her abrupt manner until Nicole and Justin come along. Both musicians, they connect with Drea and become her first real friends (and boyfriend! Great love story!), making beautiful music together (sorry, couldn't help myself).

I can't say enough about this book. I love the connections between the characters, how they all interact with one another. The dialogue is well-paced and totally believable. Author Tara Kelly's treatment of Drea's Asperger's syndrome is done with a delicate and understanding hand, integrating Drea's daily struggles with social interaction seamlessly into her overall character.

Kelly develops deep backstories for each of her characters, adding to the richness of the story. For example, Justin isn't just a cute boy with a past, he has a past that he's trying to redeem himself from, a past that allows him to relate to both wild-child Nicole who loves boys and drugs (and who made me want to slap some sense into her!), and Drea, who'd rather bury herself in the basement with her instruments and her computer. Even Nicole's slimy boyfriend and minor character, Scott, is developed, rather than just a cardboard placeholder as is the case with many bit players.

HARMONIC FEEDBACK definitely goes on my "To Read Again" pile (*much* smaller than my TBR pile). One of my top pics for 2010.

I absolutely cannot wait for her next book, C-SIDE TALES, which comes out in 2011. (less)

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About Tara Kelly

Tara Kelly is a Jill of all trades--a YA author, one-girl band, web/graphic designer, video editor and photographer. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her ten guitars, supercool bf, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.

Ratings: I give honest ratings, even if I like you. I'm also extremely picky with quirky tastes and many books (even well written books) are just 'okay' to me. Anything 3 stars and abov...more

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Quotes from Harmonic Feedback

“All I know is I make sense to me- it's other people who seem complicated.” — 100 people liked it

“Normal is an ideal. But it’s not reality. Reality is brutal, it’s beautiful, it’s every shade between black and white, and it’s magical. Yes, magical. Because every now and then, it turns nothing into something.” — 52 people liked it

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