Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star
Rock ’n’ roll isn’t just about sex and drugs. It’s about self-expression, lasting friendships, and self-empowerment. That’s what Alex learns after she starts playing bass for a rock band in this almost true story. Joyce Raskin, author and musician, culls from her memories to create this funny, touching, and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager, a girl, and a rock...more
Paperback, 112 pages
Published
June 13th 2011
by Graphia
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
218)
This book is about a young girl named Alex who doesn't quite fit in at school or with her peers. She finds her niche, though, when her brother and his friends invite her to play bass in their rock n roll band. Alex works hard, learning to play the bass, and soon finds that people notice her new look and her new confidence and attitude. Her rock n roll adventures lead her to play for several different bands, hwere she meets new friends and even gets a couple boyfriends. The last band she plays fo...more
Alexis has a big crush on her brother's friend Tod, so when he asks her to learn to play bass, she agrees. At first, all she can make are farting sounds, but she gets pretty good after a while. Alexis gains confidence and makes friends through the bass, going from loser to enviable rock chick.
Or, at least, that's supposed to be what you get from this brief novella, but I'm not so sure. I hated Alexis from page one. I've thought about it and the best word to describer her is ninny. Alexis is a ni...more
Or, at least, that's supposed to be what you get from this brief novella, but I'm not so sure. I hated Alexis from page one. I've thought about it and the best word to describer her is ninny. Alexis is a ni...more
This book was just okay. It's a short book, which was nice, but the main character never clicked for me. I also had some minor issues with how things are portrayed. For example, the whole ignored in a music store thing? I've never once felt that way. Or even how all the boys are basically shown as pothead losers who cheat and play around. I suppose because I've never grown up in that environment I don't understand how it is the only guys she encounters. Alex as a main character felt quite flat....more
Original Post: http://thoughtsofamadhatter.blogspot....
I got this from netgalley just after reading Audrey Wait thinking it would be sort of the same. However, it wasn't. It was very very short and I read it in just a few hours. So this is just going to be a short review
The story follows young Alex, a fourteen year old girl who doesn't fit in anywhere until she learns to play the bass guitar but her older brother. It sees her deal with boys, drugs and other series issues. It really was like read...more
I got this from netgalley just after reading Audrey Wait thinking it would be sort of the same. However, it wasn't. It was very very short and I read it in just a few hours. So this is just going to be a short review
The story follows young Alex, a fourteen year old girl who doesn't fit in anywhere until she learns to play the bass guitar but her older brother. It sees her deal with boys, drugs and other series issues. It really was like read...more
I read it off NetGalley sometime last week. It was a really short and simple story- 14 year old Alex is the typical teen with image issues ,insecurity and crushes. Her story is a short one- her brother asks her to join a band as a bass player.And she does out of daze and confusion. It turns out to be a lot more fun than she anticipates. And the story as the title suggests is about her adventure as one or should i say "misadventures". The plot and writing was very plain, it was more informative t...more
Though this book is marketed as a young adult novel, I often felt like the voice of the main character, Alex, was a little immature sounding. In the beginning, I thought Alex sounded a lot younger based on how she talked and her emotions. Parts of the book seemed random and under-developed. I didn't see how Alex could take things so easily. Sure, she cries for several weeks, but then she's over it - and this happens in the space of about 2 pages.
This book needed more depth. It seemed like an out...more
This book needed more depth. It seemed like an out...more
Highly recommended for all girls aged 11-15. This positive little volume encourages girl power, rock and roll, skateboarding, a healthy attitude toward boys, colorful hair and saying no to drugs and alcohol - yet always seems more like girl talk than preachiness. Joyce Raskin tells how a bass guitar helped her stop feeling like a high school loser and gave her the confidence to be herself. The book comes complete with guitar and lyric-writing lessons, blank space to jot down lyrics and adorable...more
This book is about a girl who is not confident and has a very very very low self esteem and I mean very low. She hates herself because of how she looks and wants to be "cool". As I kept reading, the girl starts to realize about who she is and becomes more confident about herself. Most of this happened because she learned how to play bass.
Honestly, I would have been very annoyed at the girl because of how unconfident she is about herself and hating herself because of the way she looked. She keep...more
Honestly, I would have been very annoyed at the girl because of how unconfident she is about herself and hating herself because of the way she looked. She keep...more
At the start of the story Alex is a fourteen year old “nobody” (according to her)…no friends, no boyfriend and not really noticed by others. Her older brother persuades her to learn to play the bass and join his friend’s punk rock band. Being in a band changes everything for her. She feels like she fits in now but with this new persona comes new temptations. Alex never wavered and even though she is surrounded by people who do drugs, she knows that that’s not the life she wants to lead.
This was...more
This was...more
Bad. Really bad.
Telling, not showing. Incredibly stilted and unrealistic dialogue. Weird, trite, preachy BS about girl power (apparently pink hair helps!) and the straight-edge culture. And one of the least interesting and most grating main characters I've encountered in a while.
The writing style reminded me of some of the early readers I've been reading for the Book Shop, only this is a young adult book. For teenagers. Who are probably looking for prose that doesn't have much in common with t...more
Telling, not showing. Incredibly stilted and unrealistic dialogue. Weird, trite, preachy BS about girl power (apparently pink hair helps!) and the straight-edge culture. And one of the least interesting and most grating main characters I've encountered in a while.
The writing style reminded me of some of the early readers I've been reading for the Book Shop, only this is a young adult book. For teenagers. Who are probably looking for prose that doesn't have much in common with t...more
Drawing on the Raskin’s own experiences as an author and musician, readers learn that rock’n’roll is not only about sex and drugs, but also friendship and self-empowerment. The premise is interesting, but poorly executed.
Fourteen-year-old Alex looks like she’s ten, with a bad case of acne. Unpopular, shy, and awkward, Alex is an unlikely choice for her brother’s rock band. She can’t even play an instrument. But joining the band puts Alex closer to her crush, Tod, so she doggedly practices the ba...more
Fourteen-year-old Alex looks like she’s ten, with a bad case of acne. Unpopular, shy, and awkward, Alex is an unlikely choice for her brother’s rock band. She can’t even play an instrument. But joining the band puts Alex closer to her crush, Tod, so she doggedly practices the ba...more
Read my review at Imaginary Reads!
Alex is a fourteen-year-old girl with a great sense of humor. Sure, she's a rock star, but she hasn't always been as self-confident as she is by the time she decides to tell her story. She's gone through a couple boyfriends, dealt with druggie peers, and got a bunch of blisters learning to play the guitar. Tweens will be able to relate to Alex's desire for independence, her concerns for her outside appearance, and her need to express herself as an individual.
Thi...more
Alex is a fourteen-year-old girl with a great sense of humor. Sure, she's a rock star, but she hasn't always been as self-confident as she is by the time she decides to tell her story. She's gone through a couple boyfriends, dealt with druggie peers, and got a bunch of blisters learning to play the guitar. Tweens will be able to relate to Alex's desire for independence, her concerns for her outside appearance, and her need to express herself as an individual.
Thi...more
I'm going to be brutally honest, I did not find any part of this book to be either entertaining or worth recommending. It's not a title I would have picked up on my own if I didn't run the children's/teen department in my store.
According to the blurb on the back; Alexis is a small, pasty, shy, greasy-haired kid who gains confidence and makes friends through the bass, going from loser to enviable rock chick. If only...
The writing is trite, and bland. Alexis is a whiny ninny, who's constantly comp...more
According to the blurb on the back; Alexis is a small, pasty, shy, greasy-haired kid who gains confidence and makes friends through the bass, going from loser to enviable rock chick. If only...
The writing is trite, and bland. Alexis is a whiny ninny, who's constantly comp...more
This story is about a fourteen year old girl named Alex who band hops until she finds the right fit and then lives her life as a teenage rock star. Right from the beginning of this book, Alex screamed early teen. The stuff she thought about, the things she did and the things that were important to her totally took me back to when I was fourteen and those same things mattered so much to me.
Looking good, being popular, having a boyfriend. All of those things were much more important than the thing...more
Looking good, being popular, having a boyfriend. All of those things were much more important than the thing...more
Apr 16, 2011
Jessica Secret
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
the middle grade crowd, young girls who are interested in music,
Shelves:
2011-debut
From shutupimreading.blogspot.com
While not without it's share of flaws, My Misadventures as a Teenage RockStar was a fast, fun read that I ended up enjoying quite a bit.
Our main character, Alex, starts playing bass for all the wrong reasons: she wants to be cool, she wants a boyfriend, etc. But as she gets more into the music, she realizes that music's about so much more than "being cool", and that you don't need a boyfriend to be happy, etc. Needless to say, she grows up. A lot. It was so cool...more
While not without it's share of flaws, My Misadventures as a Teenage RockStar was a fast, fun read that I ended up enjoying quite a bit.
Our main character, Alex, starts playing bass for all the wrong reasons: she wants to be cool, she wants a boyfriend, etc. But as she gets more into the music, she realizes that music's about so much more than "being cool", and that you don't need a boyfriend to be happy, etc. Needless to say, she grows up. A lot. It was so cool...more
This great new tween novel from Joyce Raskin is a refreshing YA debut for all the girls out there who would rather rock along than passively listen. (Or maybe also for the girls who want to read about the rock life, the punk life, the straight edge life. Those girls would like this book, too.)
MY MISADVENTURES AS A TEENAGE ROCK STAR is written by a woman who knows rock-n-roll. Joyce has been in bands, has rocked along with the boys, and even includes a section at the back of the book on learning...more
MY MISADVENTURES AS A TEENAGE ROCK STAR is written by a woman who knows rock-n-roll. Joyce has been in bands, has rocked along with the boys, and even includes a section at the back of the book on learning...more
Review posted 9/14/2011 at Owl Tell You About It.
Alex is awesome and she will rock your socks off! She grows from an insecure young teenager into a strong, kickass girl in less than one hundred pages and it was so much fun to read her stories.
The mix of test and illustration really worked for this book. The illustrations have the feel of notebook doodles that perhaps Alex herself would draw to compliment her stories. I also enjoyed the straight forward, conversational tone of the book. It gives...more
Alex is awesome and she will rock your socks off! She grows from an insecure young teenager into a strong, kickass girl in less than one hundred pages and it was so much fun to read her stories.
The mix of test and illustration really worked for this book. The illustrations have the feel of notebook doodles that perhaps Alex herself would draw to compliment her stories. I also enjoyed the straight forward, conversational tone of the book. It gives...more
Alexis (who'd prefer you call her Alex, thanks) is in the depths of the darkest teenage angst when her brother invites her to play bass in his band. Although it's slow going at first, eventually Alex becomes a pretty good bass player and gets attention from a cute boy at school. Some drug use is featured, although Alex herself chooses to be "straight edge." The story is written in a diary-like format. Chu's sketchy doodle-like illustrations are featured prominently and add to the feel of a teena...more
Alex, a fourteen year old, has self esteem issues that most girls this age share: she thinks she is ugly, not very smart and she daydreams about boys all of the time. Her brother suggests she take up the bass to be in a rock band and through music she finds her true self. She learns that she has to keep her nails short, deal with groupies, hours of practice and acquires her own unique style. A majority of the book deals with saying "no" to the temptations that kids this age fall prey to such as...more
I don’t know what I think of this short story. I liked it, but in the other way I kind of didn’t. I’ve got some mixed emotions about it.
I didn’t fall in love with the writing. It didn’t made me warm up for the main character, Alex and her passion of doing something ‘wild’, just to stand out from the crowd. It felt like I was reading a self help book, for kids. And it felt like it was a story more for middle graders then for young adults.
I liked Alex in a way. I understood she wanted something...more
I didn’t fall in love with the writing. It didn’t made me warm up for the main character, Alex and her passion of doing something ‘wild’, just to stand out from the crowd. It felt like I was reading a self help book, for kids. And it felt like it was a story more for middle graders then for young adults.
I liked Alex in a way. I understood she wanted something...more
This book is good but not fantastic. I think I read it in half an hour it was so short. The story of Alex is very simple and very clichéd, but it is enjoyable.You follow her from just before she learns to play bass when she's shy and uncomfortable around people (like most 14 year olds) and then when her bands really kick off.
Read the rest of the review at ComaCalm's Corner!
Read the rest of the review at ComaCalm's Corner!
Alex takes up playing the bass and being in a band as a way to become cool. She succeeds to some extent, but what really happens is she learns to accept herself as she is and makes some friends and learns some hard lessons along the way.
Written very simply with illustrations ala Wimpy Kid. Good read for struggling/reluctant girl readers.
Written very simply with illustrations ala Wimpy Kid. Good read for struggling/reluctant girl readers.
This was a quick read, but because of it's short length it's more sketches than a fully fleshed story. The outward transformation at the beginning is pretty abrupt, but the mental transformation from loser geek to self-assured musician is more gradual. I gather this is based on some of the author's actual experiences and if it weren't for that I'd peg the book as completely unrealistic wish-fulfillment for musicians. I liked the backmatter that encouraged girls to actually get involved in learni...more
A light summer read for teens who love music and bands. One day Alex decides to play in a rock band and her life is transformed. The author who has a facebook page actually plays in a band. The novel is about empowerment for girls and taking risks in life.
Cute premise, would usually be right up my alley. However, this was really short, and rather disappointing. I would have liked to hand this to a reluctant reader, but it is only mildly entertaining. We won't be purchasing this one.
I like the idea - girl learns that being a rock star and skate girl herself is better than just watching it. But ouch, it was very simplistic and clumsily written. And short!
Poorly written, full of caricatures, and a bit confusing, despite having a plot where not too much happens. We will not be ordering this one.
Read this as a ARC for School Library Journal. Would not have picked this up on my own, and by reading it, I confirmed those sentiments.
Good storyline, but it sounded like it was written for little kids. I liked the tips in the back though!
*ARC received from NetGalley.*
This book is a great alternative for girls who don't want to read about the same old themes, or who want to read about them from a different perspective. Its quick pace and short chapters will make it a great pick for reluctant readers, but I think kids who love to read will love it just as well.
Read my full review on my blog: http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2011/...
This book is a great alternative for girls who don't want to read about the same old themes, or who want to read about them from a different perspective. Its quick pace and short chapters will make it a great pick for reluctant readers, but I think kids who love to read will love it just as well.
Read my full review on my blog: http://sharingsoda.blogspot.com/2011/...
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Joyce Raskin, of the popular band Scarce, provides the original music for H.A. Rey's traditional Curious George Christmas Carols.
More about Joyce Raskin...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
