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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 star all at the same time.
This enhanced ebook edition containing a personal message from the author as well as video and audio content. Bonus content includes information on how to get started playing the guitar as well music from the band Scarce!
This enhanced ebook edition containing a personal message from the author as well as video and audio content. Bonus content includes information on how to get started playing the guitar as well music from the band Scarce!
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Raskin
11 books4 followersSinger, songwriter, and guitarist Joyce Raskin, of the popular band Scarce, provides the original music for H.A. Rey's traditional Curious George Christmas Carols.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 9, 2011
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 ninny. She spends the opening chapters whining about how unpopular is and how she doesn't have boobs and no boys like her and she doesn't even have her period yet and how she has a boy's name and how she's not pretty and how she just got her period and waaah, surprise, it sucks. Oh my god, why? Why do I have to read this?
Then, she learns to play the bass and whines somewhat less. Instead, she now finds power in whether or not she has a boyfriend. Good role model? Not so much. Even in the end, when she believes herself to be all enlightened and confident, it definitely comes off as more of a confidence because she has friends than her being confident now thus earning her friends.
To make it worse, the book manages to be extremely stereotypical. There are so many insulting comments about what guys are like and girls are like; this does not flatter either gender. For example, all guys talk about is sex and they all cheat on girls, which is why you can't be real friends with them. Oh really, book? Because I'm pretty sure I've had tons of guy friends and some of them are, shockingly enough, capable of carrying on a conversation about, you know, lots of other things. Ugh to the nth power.
Despite having absolutely no depth in terms of characters, writing, or plot, My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star does manage to be preachy. Yeah! The author clearly wants kids to be straightedge and not smoke pot. This whole message is exceedingly heavy-handed and really is not convincing, since it comes along with the idea that, if you plan an instrument, people will like you.
All of that aside, this is a really weird book, because it's aimed at teens, but it's only 88 pages long. With illustrations, which are incredibly awful btw (although that does make it possible that Alexis, not the shiniest knife in the drawer, drew them). This is shorter than a manga volume. So, in terms of length and the complexity of the writing, it would be best for children, but clearly it's not intended to be for kids. I imagine it's aimed at younger teen reluctant readers, but this would not make me want to read more books.
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 ninny. She spends the opening chapters whining about how unpopular is and how she doesn't have boobs and no boys like her and she doesn't even have her period yet and how she has a boy's name and how she's not pretty and how she just got her period and waaah, surprise, it sucks. Oh my god, why? Why do I have to read this?
Then, she learns to play the bass and whines somewhat less. Instead, she now finds power in whether or not she has a boyfriend. Good role model? Not so much. Even in the end, when she believes herself to be all enlightened and confident, it definitely comes off as more of a confidence because she has friends than her being confident now thus earning her friends.
To make it worse, the book manages to be extremely stereotypical. There are so many insulting comments about what guys are like and girls are like; this does not flatter either gender. For example, all guys talk about is sex and they all cheat on girls, which is why you can't be real friends with them. Oh really, book? Because I'm pretty sure I've had tons of guy friends and some of them are, shockingly enough, capable of carrying on a conversation about, you know, lots of other things. Ugh to the nth power.
Despite having absolutely no depth in terms of characters, writing, or plot, My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star does manage to be preachy. Yeah! The author clearly wants kids to be straightedge and not smoke pot. This whole message is exceedingly heavy-handed and really is not convincing, since it comes along with the idea that, if you plan an instrument, people will like you.
All of that aside, this is a really weird book, because it's aimed at teens, but it's only 88 pages long. With illustrations, which are incredibly awful btw (although that does make it possible that Alexis, not the shiniest knife in the drawer, drew them). This is shorter than a manga volume. So, in terms of length and the complexity of the writing, it would be best for children, but clearly it's not intended to be for kids. I imagine it's aimed at younger teen reluctant readers, but this would not make me want to read more books.
April 23, 2012
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. I never felt like I really knew her as she was constantly changing her personality to fit in with whoever she was hanging out with.
The writing style is very simplistic. A bit too simplistic for my taste. However, this may be a nice transition piece for kids reading Diary of Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries. Or one good for those who struggle with reading. I would say this one is an 8th grade or higher book considering how much they mention drinking and smoking pot.
The writing style is very simplistic. A bit too simplistic for my taste. However, this may be a nice transition piece for kids reading Diary of Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries. Or one good for those who struggle with reading. I would say this one is an 8th grade or higher book considering how much they mention drinking and smoking pot.
July 27, 2011
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 outline of a more interesting story, but it wasn't fleshed out enough. I also thought she "learned" things far too quickly. How long did she play the Bass before she was playing on stage? I don't know, but it felt like it was in 3 pages, which just didn't fly. I also thought she got over some things too fast, and her "well, my parents know best so even though I was annoyed with them at the time, I can see things from their point of view now" adage was a forced and unnatural at times.
I also didn't really believe some of the prejudices against a girl playing guitar. I don't think the stereotype is that bad today, and I thought it was annoying how many times Alex ranted about people treating her differently because she was a girl. It was also hard for me to believe that all of these things happened while she was still fourteen! It seemed like a long jump with character/plot development and not enough pages describing how or why it happened. The ending was a bit of a let down. I didn't realize it was the ending until I flipped the page and there was no more story. That was weird. I can kind of see what the author was trying to do, but I would have liked more closure.
There were some aspects of the book that I did like. I appreciated that the main character steered clear of drugs and drinking. She was fairly young and hung out with other people who did those kinds of things but she never let them talk her into doing that behavior. She had principles and she stuck to them. I also liked her friend Sal and the positive image she portrayed.
I did feel like elements of the book might be considered "preachy." I feel like other readers might find these annoying, and there were a couple of parts I found irritating. While I thought there were some positive messages in this book, I still felt like this story only barely touched the surface of Alex and her rock star life and I can't say that I'd recommend it to others.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...
This book needed more depth. It seemed like an outline of a more interesting story, but it wasn't fleshed out enough. I also thought she "learned" things far too quickly. How long did she play the Bass before she was playing on stage? I don't know, but it felt like it was in 3 pages, which just didn't fly. I also thought she got over some things too fast, and her "well, my parents know best so even though I was annoyed with them at the time, I can see things from their point of view now" adage was a forced and unnatural at times.
I also didn't really believe some of the prejudices against a girl playing guitar. I don't think the stereotype is that bad today, and I thought it was annoying how many times Alex ranted about people treating her differently because she was a girl. It was also hard for me to believe that all of these things happened while she was still fourteen! It seemed like a long jump with character/plot development and not enough pages describing how or why it happened. The ending was a bit of a let down. I didn't realize it was the ending until I flipped the page and there was no more story. That was weird. I can kind of see what the author was trying to do, but I would have liked more closure.
There were some aspects of the book that I did like. I appreciated that the main character steered clear of drugs and drinking. She was fairly young and hung out with other people who did those kinds of things but she never let them talk her into doing that behavior. She had principles and she stuck to them. I also liked her friend Sal and the positive image she portrayed.
I did feel like elements of the book might be considered "preachy." I feel like other readers might find these annoying, and there were a couple of parts I found irritating. While I thought there were some positive messages in this book, I still felt like this story only barely touched the surface of Alex and her rock star life and I can't say that I'd recommend it to others.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...
February 19, 2017
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 Alex even more personality. It’s nice to be able to recognize who she really is when she’s still figuring that out for herself. That kind of writing is the type of thing that has its place, and that place is in this book.
When the book begins, Alex doesn’t really have friends and she’s incredibly insecure. She compares herself to the girls in the magazines she reads and worries that she’ll never be cool. That is, until her brother convinces her to play bass in his best friend’s band. That’s when the skater boys start to notice her, then the guys in her band start to notice her. But she learns quickly that guys aren’t everything and sometime they can be downright frustrating. Once she becomes friends with an older girl, whose strong personality rubs off on Alex, she begins to find herself. She starts to learn how to make herself happy, rather than depending on playing in a band, having a boyfriend, or being cool.
I think this one is kind of unique. It has a middle grade feel, but Alex is fourteen and there’s some material in there that I wouldn’t recommend for anyone under 13. Perhaps it’s the illustrations that make it feel younger to me. Either way, it’s a lot of fun and you’ll love Alex.
After the story, the author includes a short guitar playing lesson, lyric writing advice, and some awesome biographical info. She sounds pretty awesome, and I think I might have to go listen to her band Scarce, and see if I like them.
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 Alex even more personality. It’s nice to be able to recognize who she really is when she’s still figuring that out for herself. That kind of writing is the type of thing that has its place, and that place is in this book.
When the book begins, Alex doesn’t really have friends and she’s incredibly insecure. She compares herself to the girls in the magazines she reads and worries that she’ll never be cool. That is, until her brother convinces her to play bass in his best friend’s band. That’s when the skater boys start to notice her, then the guys in her band start to notice her. But she learns quickly that guys aren’t everything and sometime they can be downright frustrating. Once she becomes friends with an older girl, whose strong personality rubs off on Alex, she begins to find herself. She starts to learn how to make herself happy, rather than depending on playing in a band, having a boyfriend, or being cool.
I think this one is kind of unique. It has a middle grade feel, but Alex is fourteen and there’s some material in there that I wouldn’t recommend for anyone under 13. Perhaps it’s the illustrations that make it feel younger to me. Either way, it’s a lot of fun and you’ll love Alex.
After the story, the author includes a short guitar playing lesson, lyric writing advice, and some awesome biographical info. She sounds pretty awesome, and I think I might have to go listen to her band Scarce, and see if I like them.
December 19, 2016
This fast-paced YA read for young teens is the story of how fourteen-year-old Alex went from a self conscious nobody to a talented bass guitar player. The book is divided into chapters or "stories", each telling of a step Alex takes on the road to stardom. We see her humble beginnings as her brother teaches her to play bass, her heartbreaking relationships with a couple of two-timing musicians, the excitement of playing her first show, and the thrill of finding a close female friend who shares her passion for music. We also see the way a dream can come crashing down when her parents eventually pull the plug on her growing celebrity.
The emotional turbulence of any teen novel is clearly present here, but it's channeled into the unique world of music, skating, and straight-edge culture. Alex's self-deprecating sense of humor, and her different brand of femininity made me really interested in her story, even if the subject matter was foreign to me. Some of the supporting characters felt somewhat cartoonish, but Alex was very real, and her story, though unlikely for most teens, felt plausible.
Author Joyce Raskin is herself a musician who writes songs and performs with a band called Scarce, and this book was inspired by many of her own experiences. The book includes some really wonderful author's notes in the back that level with aspiring girl guitarists and explain what's required to learn guitar, and to begin writing and performing songs. Though I don't know much about playing guitar myself, the information seems really useful, and it's presented in a clear but conversational tone that will definitely appeal to its audience.
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.
The emotional turbulence of any teen novel is clearly present here, but it's channeled into the unique world of music, skating, and straight-edge culture. Alex's self-deprecating sense of humor, and her different brand of femininity made me really interested in her story, even if the subject matter was foreign to me. Some of the supporting characters felt somewhat cartoonish, but Alex was very real, and her story, though unlikely for most teens, felt plausible.
Author Joyce Raskin is herself a musician who writes songs and performs with a band called Scarce, and this book was inspired by many of her own experiences. The book includes some really wonderful author's notes in the back that level with aspiring girl guitarists and explain what's required to learn guitar, and to begin writing and performing songs. Though I don't know much about playing guitar myself, the information seems really useful, and it's presented in a clear but conversational tone that will definitely appeal to its audience.
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.
May 18, 2011
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 drugs and sex. The books deals honestly with these issues and more. While playing in one band, a member is cornered in a bathroom and sexually assaulted. The assault is not graphically detailed but the aftermath is dealt with honesty and tenderness. I loved the ongoing discussion about the subculture of "straight edge" where kids adopt a lifestyle of no drugs.
This book is such a strong, positive story for younger teens. My niece (15 and a reluctant reader) read a few chapters of it and declared it "real, this is how real kids my age talk". She really wanted a copy of her own when it is released. Alex is truly the perfect character to portray the hopes and dreams of young teens everywhere. She is smart, funny and doubts herself all at the same time. The author did a wonderful job of making this book appeal exactly to the audience that needs to be reached the most: young teens and tweens who are just about to make life choices and need to have a positive role model. The end of the book also has a primer on how to play guitar and start your own band.
This book is such a strong, positive story for younger teens. My niece (15 and a reluctant reader) read a few chapters of it and declared it "real, this is how real kids my age talk". She really wanted a copy of her own when it is released. Alex is truly the perfect character to portray the hopes and dreams of young teens everywhere. She is smart, funny and doubts herself all at the same time. The author did a wonderful job of making this book appeal exactly to the audience that needs to be reached the most: young teens and tweens who are just about to make life choices and need to have a positive role model. The end of the book also has a primer on how to play guitar and start your own band.
May 13, 2022
A quick read best suited for middle school students rather than high schoolers. The story was interesting enough, and fast paced... but very underdeveloped. The story is 87 pages long, with very wide margins due to the interspersed illustrations.
Everything that happened was surface level. We never really get a good look at the inner workings of Alex's mind, which shouldn't be a difficult thing to do, given that this is written in first person. However, Raskin manages to somehow voice a character that the reader never really gets to relate to, or actually care about. Even when seriously unfair and bad things happen, Alex glosses over them, over the healing process. A few weeks pass (all on one or two pages), she maybe skates or takes karate lessons, and somehow everything is perfect again in Alex-ville.
Honestly, Alex is a Mary Sue, and I felt like I was reading self-insert fan fiction. However, I am an adult, so not the demographic this book is looking to reach. What do I know?
Also, it was kind of weird that the author, who I guess is in a band, added a tutorial part at the end to teach girls how to play guitar (you'll have to cut your nails, but you can still paint them pretty colors!) and write songs (here are a bunch of songs I've written, enjoy!)... I just. I can't.
Seriously though, it isn't absolutely awful, just not very intellectually or emotionally stimulating. If it had been fleshed out (and Alex had been less of a Mary Sue), it could have been pretty good. But alas, 'tis not the case.
Everything that happened was surface level. We never really get a good look at the inner workings of Alex's mind, which shouldn't be a difficult thing to do, given that this is written in first person. However, Raskin manages to somehow voice a character that the reader never really gets to relate to, or actually care about. Even when seriously unfair and bad things happen, Alex glosses over them, over the healing process. A few weeks pass (all on one or two pages), she maybe skates or takes karate lessons, and somehow everything is perfect again in Alex-ville.
Honestly, Alex is a Mary Sue, and I felt like I was reading self-insert fan fiction. However, I am an adult, so not the demographic this book is looking to reach. What do I know?
Also, it was kind of weird that the author, who I guess is in a band, added a tutorial part at the end to teach girls how to play guitar (you'll have to cut your nails, but you can still paint them pretty colors!) and write songs (here are a bunch of songs I've written, enjoy!)... I just. I can't.
Seriously though, it isn't absolutely awful, just not very intellectually or emotionally stimulating. If it had been fleshed out (and Alex had been less of a Mary Sue), it could have been pretty good. But alas, 'tis not the case.
December 4, 2024
If ever a Rock Star were going to give your teenage daughter advice, this is the advice you'd want her to give. Joyce Raskin, bass guitarist for Scarce, writes what she knows - 14-year old Alex, perpetually uncool and unhappy, learns to play bass guitar and joins a rock band. Soon she's cool and happy, but it's not all sunshine and roses. She's a teenage girl, dealing with other teenage girls and boys, not to mention parents, authority figures, and creeps looking to take advantage, so there are ups and downs.
The story is good, but the advice is even better. It's given to the reader as a part of the story, not in some preachy way, but here's the gist in a list: Stay in school but follow your dreams. Learn to be independent but respect your parents. Don't be afraid to try new things but know sometimes you might fail. It's ok to like guys but don't make that your identity. Stay true to your friends. Know that friends can come from unlikely sources.
The author is so encouraging and uplifting to teenagers, particularly girls, with her story. After the story ends, there are also a very practical guide to how to learn to play the guitar and write songs, with some of the author's own lyrics included. I love that this wraps up the book, an actual guidebook that can inspire another young person to pursue their dream of playing/creating music.
The story is good, but the advice is even better. It's given to the reader as a part of the story, not in some preachy way, but here's the gist in a list: Stay in school but follow your dreams. Learn to be independent but respect your parents. Don't be afraid to try new things but know sometimes you might fail. It's ok to like guys but don't make that your identity. Stay true to your friends. Know that friends can come from unlikely sources.
The author is so encouraging and uplifting to teenagers, particularly girls, with her story. After the story ends, there are also a very practical guide to how to learn to play the guitar and write songs, with some of the author's own lyrics included. I love that this wraps up the book, an actual guidebook that can inspire another young person to pursue their dream of playing/creating music.
April 16, 2011
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 to watch this girl go from writing "I'm ugly ugly ugly" in her diary to being a confident bass player, all through the power of music.
But I did have some problems with this one. I found the illustrations to be completely unnecessary and not really fitting towards the audience the book seemed to be marketed for.
Also, I had some issues with the writing. Time doesn't really seem to exist. We're not told how much time passes from chapter to chapter, and it made everything seem way too fast and easy for Alex. I mean, as a whole, the writing was rather choppy. And Alex got kind of repetitive. I loved her character, but I think she exceeded the limit of times on can say "girl power!", "rock-n-roll power!", and "x power!" in one book.
BUT. I still found myself to be immersed in the story and Alex's character, despite my problems. And the author's note at the end included some helpful notes about writing songs, playing the guitar and/or bass, and even some basic chords. This one is the perfect read for young girls who are interested in learning how to play guitar and maybe join a band. It was a lot of fun.
Book Report:
Plot: Easy to get lost in (though admittedly unrealistic).
Characters: Good. Alex grew a lot, and her friend Sal seemed pretty cool.
Writing: Could've been better.
Ending: Worked perfectly.
Kid friendly? Pretty. There's some pot-smoking, drinking, and an attempted rape. (Though Alex decides to become straight-edge, so that's always good.)
Should I read it? If you're interested in music and can spare a few hours, give it a try.
Overall: 3 and a half stars
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 to watch this girl go from writing "I'm ugly ugly ugly" in her diary to being a confident bass player, all through the power of music.
But I did have some problems with this one. I found the illustrations to be completely unnecessary and not really fitting towards the audience the book seemed to be marketed for.
Also, I had some issues with the writing. Time doesn't really seem to exist. We're not told how much time passes from chapter to chapter, and it made everything seem way too fast and easy for Alex. I mean, as a whole, the writing was rather choppy. And Alex got kind of repetitive. I loved her character, but I think she exceeded the limit of times on can say "girl power!", "rock-n-roll power!", and "x power!" in one book.
BUT. I still found myself to be immersed in the story and Alex's character, despite my problems. And the author's note at the end included some helpful notes about writing songs, playing the guitar and/or bass, and even some basic chords. This one is the perfect read for young girls who are interested in learning how to play guitar and maybe join a band. It was a lot of fun.
Book Report:
Plot: Easy to get lost in (though admittedly unrealistic).
Characters: Good. Alex grew a lot, and her friend Sal seemed pretty cool.
Writing: Could've been better.
Ending: Worked perfectly.
Kid friendly? Pretty. There's some pot-smoking, drinking, and an attempted rape. (Though Alex decides to become straight-edge, so that's always good.)
Should I read it? If you're interested in music and can spare a few hours, give it a try.
Overall: 3 and a half stars
November 9, 2011
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 to play guitar and writing lyrics.
But, more importantly, MISADVENTURES s the story of Alex, a girl who doesn’t fit in, who isn’t cool, and who more than anything just wants to kiss her crush. That is, until her brother’s friend asks her if she wants to learn bass and be in his band. Turns out, Alex is a natural, and it’s not long before she’s light her local scene on fire with her seriously rockin’ skills. Told in a series of vignettes, we follow Alex as she learns about having to rock twice as hard as the boys, as she adopts the straight edge (no drugs, no alcohol) lifestyle, as she both falls for and dumps her first boyfriend, and as she makes the friends she never really had at her school. We also see her rise to success — success that she finds just by being who she is and working her butt off.
While you will probably find this book shelved in your teen section, I think plenty of tweens (11-13) will enjoy it as well, and in fact are its target audience. Yes, the book references swears, sex, and drugs — but its voice is quite young (Alex is barely 14 for most of the book) and it is full of positive messages for young girls. The sparse text and fun illustrations make also make MISADVENTURES a perfect book for reluctant readers.
Joyce Raskin‘s girl power debut is definitely one I’d like to see in classrooms and on school library shelves, as well as in the bedrooms of soon-to-be rocker girls nation- (and, well, world-) wide. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Ms. Raskin cooks up next!
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 to play guitar and writing lyrics.
But, more importantly, MISADVENTURES s the story of Alex, a girl who doesn’t fit in, who isn’t cool, and who more than anything just wants to kiss her crush. That is, until her brother’s friend asks her if she wants to learn bass and be in his band. Turns out, Alex is a natural, and it’s not long before she’s light her local scene on fire with her seriously rockin’ skills. Told in a series of vignettes, we follow Alex as she learns about having to rock twice as hard as the boys, as she adopts the straight edge (no drugs, no alcohol) lifestyle, as she both falls for and dumps her first boyfriend, and as she makes the friends she never really had at her school. We also see her rise to success — success that she finds just by being who she is and working her butt off.
While you will probably find this book shelved in your teen section, I think plenty of tweens (11-13) will enjoy it as well, and in fact are its target audience. Yes, the book references swears, sex, and drugs — but its voice is quite young (Alex is barely 14 for most of the book) and it is full of positive messages for young girls. The sparse text and fun illustrations make also make MISADVENTURES a perfect book for reluctant readers.
Joyce Raskin‘s girl power debut is definitely one I’d like to see in classrooms and on school library shelves, as well as in the bedrooms of soon-to-be rocker girls nation- (and, well, world-) wide. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Ms. Raskin cooks up next!
May 7, 2011
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 reading a guide. A Girls Guide to being a young Rock Star.
Alex is a young girl I think alot of young girls could relate to. She is a nobody in school. So when when she starts in a band people can to reconise her. I'm on the fence if I liked her or not. I can understand why other may like her, she is fun and interesting at time. However, most of the times she is just annoying. All she cares about is herself, boys and her music. Although there is one part in the story that I did like her when one of her friends get into an incident that is just horrific and Alex really is quite mature about they whole thing.
Reading the book it didn't really flow that well. Instead of normal chapters there was stories. Now some stories continued from a previous story but most jumped from one thing to another and there was quite big time gaps in events that I didn't really like. However, the author, Joyce does a great job and describing the music scene for a young girl, the good and the bad.
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 reading a guide. A Girls Guide to being a young Rock Star.
Alex is a young girl I think alot of young girls could relate to. She is a nobody in school. So when when she starts in a band people can to reconise her. I'm on the fence if I liked her or not. I can understand why other may like her, she is fun and interesting at time. However, most of the times she is just annoying. All she cares about is herself, boys and her music. Although there is one part in the story that I did like her when one of her friends get into an incident that is just horrific and Alex really is quite mature about they whole thing.
Reading the book it didn't really flow that well. Instead of normal chapters there was stories. Now some stories continued from a previous story but most jumped from one thing to another and there was quite big time gaps in events that I didn't really like. However, the author, Joyce does a great job and describing the music scene for a young girl, the good and the bad.
December 5, 2010
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 teenager's notebook. Raskin, a member of the band Scarce and rocker in her right, is able to infuse the text with authenticity despite her pedestrian writing talent. I suspect teens, especially those interested in starting a band, will be more interested in the appendices than the novel itself. After the story's conclusion Raskin provides tips about learning to play the guitar (how to strum, the parts of a guitar, and basic chord shapes) and how to write a song. An author's note provides encouragement for future rock stars. Recommended as an additional selection, except where a large interest in rock music and/or rock bands exists. Possibly a good gift choice for a teen interested in rock music, although it's likely a "how to play guitar" book of superior quality exists. It's puzzling that Raskin chose to write a narrative and didn't focus completely on advice because that's the book's only strength.
February 22, 2011
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 than story telling which put me off. I still finished the book but i didn't like it too much.
It talks about Alex and her boyfriend, fame, touring, drugs, boys and other such issues. I guess its like a good general guide on this theme-teen rock star-ness.
It was funny how the book spoke of teen mishaps and crisis such as boys, drugs,fame etc like mundane things of life. That is very unlike other teen novels, which make either one of this a huge deal. This wasn't a bad thing just funny observation!
The characters were nice, they engaged me; i don't have a favorite though-not even the protagonist.
I would give it a 2 on 5 for its cute illustration and nice characters.
Something you should read if you need to entertain yourself while waiting somewhere or if you need more books on your DAC list..hehe...
It talks about Alex and her boyfriend, fame, touring, drugs, boys and other such issues. I guess its like a good general guide on this theme-teen rock star-ness.
It was funny how the book spoke of teen mishaps and crisis such as boys, drugs,fame etc like mundane things of life. That is very unlike other teen novels, which make either one of this a huge deal. This wasn't a bad thing just funny observation!
The characters were nice, they engaged me; i don't have a favorite though-not even the protagonist.
I would give it a 2 on 5 for its cute illustration and nice characters.
Something you should read if you need to entertain yourself while waiting somewhere or if you need more books on your DAC list..hehe...
July 20, 2011
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.
Things I liked about the book: The title is catchy as is the cover image. I loved the chapter titles. The doodles are cute and fit in with the diary-tone underlying the novel. Pictures that we can assume come from Alex's diary (spread out over the course of the novel) and a series of lessons on how to play the guitar (in the back of the book) add some fun elements to the book. Best of all, there are poems, which tie into Alex's rock-star character.
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star explores peer pressure and self-acceptance. I enjoyed watching Alex grow from a self-conscious girl to a self-assured teenager. If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted read filled with teen angst and a bunch of laughs, this is a great book to check out!
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.
Things I liked about the book: The title is catchy as is the cover image. I loved the chapter titles. The doodles are cute and fit in with the diary-tone underlying the novel. Pictures that we can assume come from Alex's diary (spread out over the course of the novel) and a series of lessons on how to play the guitar (in the back of the book) add some fun elements to the book. Best of all, there are poems, which tie into Alex's rock-star character.
My Misadventures as a Teenage Rock Star explores peer pressure and self-acceptance. I enjoyed watching Alex grow from a self-conscious girl to a self-assured teenager. If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted read filled with teen angst and a bunch of laughs, this is a great book to check out!
November 14, 2011
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 bass and eventually becomes a competent musician.
Most characters, male and female, are portrayed unflatteringly. Alex experiments with drugs and sex (there is an attempted rape scene), and makes other poor decisions along the way. The message that drugs are bad is obvious and heavy handed. The guys’ primary topic of conversation is sex; they all cheat on girls. The characters are shallow and flat.
While the slim volume (only 88 pages) may be written with reluctant readers in mind, the age of the intended audience is uncertain. Teens will find the narrative choppy and immature. The childish doodles (attributed to Alex) add nothing to the story. The content makes it unsuitable for children.
Included are instructions on basic guitar chords and songwriting advice.
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 bass and eventually becomes a competent musician.
Most characters, male and female, are portrayed unflatteringly. Alex experiments with drugs and sex (there is an attempted rape scene), and makes other poor decisions along the way. The message that drugs are bad is obvious and heavy handed. The guys’ primary topic of conversation is sex; they all cheat on girls. The characters are shallow and flat.
While the slim volume (only 88 pages) may be written with reluctant readers in mind, the age of the intended audience is uncertain. Teens will find the narrative choppy and immature. The childish doodles (attributed to Alex) add nothing to the story. The content makes it unsuitable for children.
Included are instructions on basic guitar chords and songwriting advice.
July 8, 2011
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 a quick read with the actual story itself is just under 100 pages. In the back the author also provides some tips on playing the guitar and writing your own song lyrics. I wanted the writing to go into more detail with the characters and the story. What I got was a story that is written in a way that would be more suitable for a middle grade audience. There were illustrations throughout that don’t add anything to the story and that I don’t think teen readers would appreciate as much.
I did like the message the story sends to teen girls as it’s a pretty empowering read with lots of girl power throughout.
This was a quick read with the actual story itself is just under 100 pages. In the back the author also provides some tips on playing the guitar and writing your own song lyrics. I wanted the writing to go into more detail with the characters and the story. What I got was a story that is written in a way that would be more suitable for a middle grade audience. There were illustrations throughout that don’t add anything to the story and that I don’t think teen readers would appreciate as much.
I did like the message the story sends to teen girls as it’s a pretty empowering read with lots of girl power throughout.
April 9, 2013
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 for ends up doing very well and is invited to go on tour. But, Alex only being 14 is forced to decline and find other ways to express herself in the rock n roll world. This book is taken from the author's own adventures as a young teenage rockstar.
I began reading this book, not because I was interested in the content at all, but because I had to read 25 books for my YA class. Because I am not a young girl or into rock and roll, I did not really enjoy it. It seemed a bit rough for me because the main character, Alex, chooses to do some weird things. I do apreciate the book, though, for a younger audience--an audience full of young rockstars, struggling to find their own niche.
I began reading this book, not because I was interested in the content at all, but because I had to read 25 books for my YA class. Because I am not a young girl or into rock and roll, I did not really enjoy it. It seemed a bit rough for me because the main character, Alex, chooses to do some weird things. I do apreciate the book, though, for a younger audience--an audience full of young rockstars, struggling to find their own niche.
June 13, 2011
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 different for herself and not be the Geek Girl anymore. What’s wrong with being a geek? Like, serious. She didn’t need to change herself, she just needed to find her inners self. And by completely changing yourself into this rocker chick is not going to help.
The plot is okay. Like I already said, It just didn’t do anything to me. I liked the last pages where the author gives us tips and more to play guitar. How fun is that! But all in all I didn’t quite loved it, but it was for sure enjoyable.
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 different for herself and not be the Geek Girl anymore. What’s wrong with being a geek? Like, serious. She didn’t need to change herself, she just needed to find her inners self. And by completely changing yourself into this rocker chick is not going to help.
The plot is okay. Like I already said, It just didn’t do anything to me. I liked the last pages where the author gives us tips and more to play guitar. How fun is that! But all in all I didn’t quite loved it, but it was for sure enjoyable.
July 7, 2011
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 punk-girlie illustrations by Carol Chu. I'll be passing this one along to my nieces.
If you enjoy this book, you might also like
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If you enjoy this book, you might also like
.January 21, 2013
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 keeps wanting to be "cool". She does become a lot stronger and more independent later on in the book because of her experiences. Not only that but because she starts to realize that she should stop thinking about what other people think of her.
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 keeps wanting to be "cool". She does become a lot stronger and more independent later on in the book because of her experiences. Not only that but because she starts to realize that she should stop thinking about what other people think of her.
June 9, 2011
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 the Magic Tree House series.
Seriously. This book is awful.
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 the Magic Tree House series.
Seriously. This book is awful.
September 1, 2011
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 learning to be musicians but this is definitely a title with niche appeal.
August 27, 2014
I liked the intended inspirational message, and if it inspires any girls, great. But all the characters are flat and the messages can get pretty preachy sometimes. Too much telling, too little showing. Too much black-and-white boys-are-like-this/girls-are-like-this/OTHER-girls-are-like-that.
I might have been more convinced if I were still ten years old. Maybe eleven. Twelve is pushing it. I'm kind of disappointed in HMH.
Also, I was curious why basic guitar chords were included in the back instead of bass, when the entire book is about a girl playing bass, not guitar.
I might have been more convinced if I were still ten years old. Maybe eleven. Twelve is pushing it. I'm kind of disappointed in HMH.
Also, I was curious why basic guitar chords were included in the back instead of bass, when the entire book is about a girl playing bass, not guitar.
July 11, 2011
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.
July 10, 2011
I'm very disappointed. I had high expectations. It was a quick book with not-so-great writing, and no resolution.
It's based on a true story, and it's relatively entertaining, on the plus side.
2 stars on Goodreads rating="It was okay"
It's based on a true story, and it's relatively entertaining, on the plus side.
2 stars on Goodreads rating="It was okay"
May 12, 2011
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.
June 23, 2022
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.
July 7, 2011
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.
November 21, 2010
Good storyline, but it sounded like it was written for little kids. I liked the tips in the back though!
June 15, 2011
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.
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