What do you think?
Rate this book
Rock On
Ori Taylor is the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the Band To Be Named Later, a garage band he started with his friends. After years of being known only as the kid brother of sports star Del, Ori is looking forward to stepping out of his older brother's shadow, learning to perform in public, and rocking the Battle of the Bands contest. Oh, and maybe finally working up the nerve to talk to a girl in person instead of just over e-mail. But when Del suddenly returns from college, he expects Ori to step back into his role of little brother, just when Ori is starting to come into his own.
With his confidence wavering, will Ori be able to overcome his stage fright and lead the band to rock glory? Will the Band To Be Named Later ever get a real name? Will their best performances remain in the garage?
Denise Vega's deft exploration of brothers, bands, friends, and crushes promises to have readers tuning in page after page, because among all the ups and downs of being a teen, one thing's for We all just want to rock on.
With his confidence wavering, will Ori be able to overcome his stage fright and lead the band to rock glory? Will the Band To Be Named Later ever get a real name? Will their best performances remain in the garage?
Denise Vega's deft exploration of brothers, bands, friends, and crushes promises to have readers tuning in page after page, because among all the ups and downs of being a teen, one thing's for We all just want to rock on.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
18 people are currently reading
1979 people want to read
About the author
Denise Vega
14 books126 followersI've been writing since I was a kid but it took awhile to get published-I had to work at improving my craft! Click Here was the sixth novel I'd written, the first to be accepted for publication. It went on to become a bestselling title for the Scholastic Book Fairs/Clubs, won the Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature, and was a 2008 Louisiana Reader’s Choice Nominee. I was excited and nervous to write Access Denied, the sequel to Click Here, because so many readers have written to tell me how much they loved it. But luckily my readers have really liked it - whew. Fact of Life #31 won the Colorado Top Hand Award and the Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature. My newest book, ROCK ON, which was so much fun to write. Other stuff about me: I'm a Co-Regional Advisor of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI and enjoy giving back in that way. I love french fries and can't stand cheese so if you want to make me dinner, leave that stuff out of it!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
October 31, 2020
Колкото и да ми се иска противното, май точно рокът далеч не е най-популярният музикален стил сред съвременните тийнейджъри. И изведнъж, попадам на съвременна Young Adult история, озаглавена „Да живее рокът. История за китари, момичета и приятели”? Еха! Реших да проверя какво ни е приготвила американската писателка Денис Вега в своя юношески роман, част от серията „Мега исТИЙНско” на изд. „Пан”. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
October 14, 2012
Books with music as their main theme are hard for me to resist. They take me back to a time when I was a teen in choir, marching band and learning to play guitar (mind you I was not good at any of these things). Also, like most people with a pulse, I like music. Rock On by Denise Vega is all about the music.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
August 4, 2013
“Rock On” is lively, energetic and it’s packed with that youthful, energetic spark. That love of music. I’m a full four decades older than the protagonist but “Rock On” took me smack back to high school and right back into the middle of trying to put a band together. “Rock On” captures that indescribable sensation of what it’s like to play live music—and all the woes and complications and emotional struggles that go with it. I liked the interspersed bits from the “Colorado Kicks” web page / fan board and found the relationship between the two brothers perfectly complicated and interesting. (Been there, too.) Ori Taylor is a three-dimensional, likable teenager. In spots, the humor is wonderful, particularly around Ori's sense of his place in the world--his dreams versus cold reality. The writing is effortless, non-flashy and moves to a nifty beat. I’m not the target audience for this tale of youth and guitars, but highly recommend for teenagers (or their parents) who dig live rock and roll. It’s clear Denise Vega has been around the music scene (or did tons of research). About the only thing I found implausible was that a high school band could cover Boston’s “More Than A Feeling,” one of the most challenging rock hits ever, but it’s all part of the fun ride in “Rock On.” Full disclosure that I know the author through Colorado writing circles but our friendship in no way influenced my review.
July 5, 2012
The more I think about Rock On, the more frustrated I get with it. I was expecting so much more than what I got. The more I read, the more annoying the characters got, and the more predictable the plot became. What I wanted was some kind on victorious retelling of a high school bands rise from preforming in their lead singer's garage to making millions and playing music in front of thousands. What I got was a bad disney-esque situation comedy about a lead singers angst to his brother and crush.
Yikes.
Rock On is filled with excerpts from the mock fan page of The Band to be Named Later, text, chat room, and e-mail conversations, and web articles about the band. These are all well and good in the beginning but get steadily more obnoxious as the book progresses. For instance, the fan page quickly to turns from a news feed for the band to a badly-scripted comment conversation about who has a girlfriend and who doesn't. The conversations do nothing for the story and often use cheesy phrases in an attempt to read like something a teenager would like.
To say the dialogue is bad would be an understatement. Keep in mind that all characters quoted here are about sixteen years old.Let me give a few examples:
"What fun is that? Holding auditions makes us look big, legit."
"That's the tragedy of dorkdom. Residents don't recognize each other."
"You're, like, a real rock star."
Rock On spent a little too much time trying to be hip with for the young folk and not enough time working on the framework of the novel.
The characters, how I hated them. Orion, like I said before, is filled with angst. Angst that no one wants to hear about. His brother is a jerk, so I hated him to. His sister is a brat who declares herself "unhateable". Orion's friends remind me of a middle school clique. Jane, Orion's love interest, has about as much of a personality as an rat's tail and her only purpose is to serve as eye candy for Orion, who lusts over her too much. All we know about the poor girl is that she likes poetry.
Was I a little harsh on Rock On? Probably, but I was very disappointed with the story I got. If your not a middle school girl, stay away.
Grade:D
Yikes.
Rock On is filled with excerpts from the mock fan page of The Band to be Named Later, text, chat room, and e-mail conversations, and web articles about the band. These are all well and good in the beginning but get steadily more obnoxious as the book progresses. For instance, the fan page quickly to turns from a news feed for the band to a badly-scripted comment conversation about who has a girlfriend and who doesn't. The conversations do nothing for the story and often use cheesy phrases in an attempt to read like something a teenager would like.
To say the dialogue is bad would be an understatement. Keep in mind that all characters quoted here are about sixteen years old.Let me give a few examples:
"What fun is that? Holding auditions makes us look big, legit."
"That's the tragedy of dorkdom. Residents don't recognize each other."
"You're, like, a real rock star."
Rock On spent a little too much time trying to be hip with for the young folk and not enough time working on the framework of the novel.
The characters, how I hated them. Orion, like I said before, is filled with angst. Angst that no one wants to hear about. His brother is a jerk, so I hated him to. His sister is a brat who declares herself "unhateable". Orion's friends remind me of a middle school clique. Jane, Orion's love interest, has about as much of a personality as an rat's tail and her only purpose is to serve as eye candy for Orion, who lusts over her too much. All we know about the poor girl is that she likes poetry.
Was I a little harsh on Rock On? Probably, but I was very disappointed with the story I got. If your not a middle school girl, stay away.
Grade:D
April 29, 2012
What comes off as a story of a high school band is really much more. It is a story of brothers trying to make their own names for themselves while struggling to stay friends. This book was sweet, definitely, and fun how it tried to be unique, but somethings I wish the author left out.
This book is narrated by the lead guitarist, Ori Taylor, which was nice. But in between some chapters there would be pages that would be as if the reader was looking at the band's blog. That was cool and different at first, but for me it kind of got annoying. The pages of comments just went off on little tangents, which I guess happens sometimes on the internet, but I didn't want to read a blog - I wanted to read the book. The comment fights were really unnecessary. Some of the comments were fun, because they became involved in the story as well, but the others (like the "bad" commenters, vs. the "good" commenters) got old fast. However, I did enjoy the pages that were like newspaper articles. I appreciated how the book was "stepping out of the box" so to say.
If I was to say "this book is about...." I'd say "brothers". Yes, there is a band, there is romance, there are friends, but the story of brothers is really the most essential plot point. Ori used to be best friends with his brother, but all of sudden it is like he is a different person. He is struggling to get along with him, heck, he's struggling just to be near him. This, lets call it the "hate your sibling stage", is very common (I may be going through that right now...) so it's sometimes nice to read that type of happy ending.
Over all, it was not the story I was expecting, but it was very sweet.
This book is narrated by the lead guitarist, Ori Taylor, which was nice. But in between some chapters there would be pages that would be as if the reader was looking at the band's blog. That was cool and different at first, but for me it kind of got annoying. The pages of comments just went off on little tangents, which I guess happens sometimes on the internet, but I didn't want to read a blog - I wanted to read the book. The comment fights were really unnecessary. Some of the comments were fun, because they became involved in the story as well, but the others (like the "bad" commenters, vs. the "good" commenters) got old fast. However, I did enjoy the pages that were like newspaper articles. I appreciated how the book was "stepping out of the box" so to say.
If I was to say "this book is about...." I'd say "brothers". Yes, there is a band, there is romance, there are friends, but the story of brothers is really the most essential plot point. Ori used to be best friends with his brother, but all of sudden it is like he is a different person. He is struggling to get along with him, heck, he's struggling just to be near him. This, lets call it the "hate your sibling stage", is very common (I may be going through that right now...) so it's sometimes nice to read that type of happy ending.
Over all, it was not the story I was expecting, but it was very sweet.
August 16, 2012
Okay, I came into this book off a high from finishing two other fantastic books. I had a bad attitude about it and when it started by featuring a website with posts about a high-school band, I must confess I almost put it down. However, it only took me about a chapter to get completely caught up in the world of Orion Taylor and his band, working hard to prepare for the Battle of the Bands in months, looking for a bass player, oh and a name for their band too. I was instantly caught up in the drama between Orion and his brother, Del, at odds for the first time in their lives, yet still committed to their younger sister, Vela. Some great music references, fun web posts and a little romance make the story even better.
I loved this story! It's a story about music for sure, but it's also a story of a family, specifically two brothers who've essentially switched roles and must come to terms with them. I liked seeing Orion develop more confidence and perhaps stop being such a "dork" as his best friend Allie calls him, around girls, especially Jane. I liked that he was a character I felt I could relate to, in that he's definitely not perfect, but he grows over the course of the book.
The plot was strong, the music references were great, and I liked seeing the website and comment board posts in the book. It added a nice touch to the story.
I loved this story! It's a story about music for sure, but it's also a story of a family, specifically two brothers who've essentially switched roles and must come to terms with them. I liked seeing Orion develop more confidence and perhaps stop being such a "dork" as his best friend Allie calls him, around girls, especially Jane. I liked that he was a character I felt I could relate to, in that he's definitely not perfect, but he grows over the course of the book.
The plot was strong, the music references were great, and I liked seeing the website and comment board posts in the book. It added a nice touch to the story.
October 12, 2013
This is a fairly slim volume with a pretty good amount of substance in it.
It's primarily told from Ori's first person POV, with bits of exchanges from the band's website and some text messaging; most of that worked very well and provided some good comedic relief. I did object to the inclusion of a couple of email and text exchanges that Ori was not privy to, but that only happened about twice, so I forgave it, kind of. Ori had a strong, believable voice, and I enjoyed both his passion for music and the trickiness of navigating relationships with girls and his brother. Some of it was a little transparent, but the ending still carried a strong emotional punch.
Recommended if you're in the mood for an enjoyable contemporary that does a good job with family and friendship without getting too heavy.
It's primarily told from Ori's first person POV, with bits of exchanges from the band's website and some text messaging; most of that worked very well and provided some good comedic relief. I did object to the inclusion of a couple of email and text exchanges that Ori was not privy to, but that only happened about twice, so I forgave it, kind of. Ori had a strong, believable voice, and I enjoyed both his passion for music and the trickiness of navigating relationships with girls and his brother. Some of it was a little transparent, but the ending still carried a strong emotional punch.
Recommended if you're in the mood for an enjoyable contemporary that does a good job with family and friendship without getting too heavy.
July 24, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author. (thank you!)
There's not really much to say. It was a light and fast paced read and I enjoyed it. (even though I haven't had much time for reading lately)
I liked the blog posts and the texts, I was always looking forward to them.
Del was a jerk, but it was nice seeing him and Ori work things out and get their relationship back.
The band was cute. I liked Ali and Nick, I don't have much to say about Troy, Gwyn was a nice addition, and Ori, well, he was the main character. (which I honestly couldn't connect with)
A lot of female authors try to write books in a male pov, and not all of them succeed at it. I think Denise Vega should probably stick to writing female ones.
The romance was pretty cute too.
3/5
There's not really much to say. It was a light and fast paced read and I enjoyed it. (even though I haven't had much time for reading lately)
I liked the blog posts and the texts, I was always looking forward to them.
Del was a jerk, but it was nice seeing him and Ori work things out and get their relationship back.
The band was cute. I liked Ali and Nick, I don't have much to say about Troy, Gwyn was a nice addition, and Ori, well, he was the main character. (which I honestly couldn't connect with)
A lot of female authors try to write books in a male pov, and not all of them succeed at it. I think Denise Vega should probably stick to writing female ones.
The romance was pretty cute too.
3/5
May 31, 2012
I won this book from Goodreads giveaway. It was cute. Definitely written for a younger (high school age?) reader though. I liked that it was written from a boy's perspective and I loved the screen shots from the band's website - it was very Myspace-ish.
April 3, 2024
,,If I tell you who I am
You might not see me anymore
Could you let go
Of the person you thought I was
Long enough
To see the person I really am?"
Ори Тейлър е музикално чудо - свири от седемгодишен, а на шестнадесет е вокалист, водещ китарист и пише песните на бандата, която е създал със своите приятели. Те са готини, талантливи и вярват, че ще спечелят Битката на рок групите, която всички тийнейджъри очакват с нетърпение.
На пръв поглед изглежда, че Ори има всичко.
Поне така мисли брат му Дел, който е бивша спортна звезда. След като се е провалил в колежа, той си идва вкъщи изцяло преобразен. От приятел и закрилник Дел се е превърнал в гадняр, който се опитва да отнеме всичко от своя по-малък брат. Дори и Джейн - момичето, в което Ори е влюбен!
Какво ще се случи между дваматка братя? А между Ори и Джейн? Дали бандата ще спечели Битката на рок групите?
Най-сетне стигнах и до тази книга, която имах от отдавна и си заслужаваше. Наистина се чете на един дъх, както си пише и там. Интересна и различна книга за музиката. Показва ни страна на рок музиката. Как може да развиеш като група в този жанр и пътя дотам. Как от такава възраст се бориш за мечтите. Връзката между приятели и братя. Също и как Ори се бореше до последно да си купи мечтаната китара и работеше упорито. Хареса ми, че книгата си имаше собствена песен и дори можеш да я чуеш в нета(Waiting for you - Zachary James Carabelos & Melissa Rankin). Също така, че беше включена и поезията. Хареса ми начина на писане на Джейн и също текстовете на Ори. Особено ме впечатли реакцията му и какво той направи след като прочете нещо на Джейн. Малко ме дразнеше брат му Дел почти през цялото време, но към края се разбрахме някак и ми допадна, ама съвсем мъничко, нооо като разбрах цялото му име и,че не е само Дел, се смях направо. Имаше си забавни моменти. Според мен си струва да се прочете, макар и да е от преди години.
You might not see me anymore
Could you let go
Of the person you thought I was
Long enough
To see the person I really am?"
Ори Тейлър е музикално чудо - свири от седемгодишен, а на шестнадесет е вокалист, водещ китарист и пише песните на бандата, която е създал със своите приятели. Те са готини, талантливи и вярват, че ще спечелят Битката на рок групите, която всички тийнейджъри очакват с нетърпение.
На пръв поглед изглежда, че Ори има всичко.
Поне така мисли брат му Дел, който е бивша спортна звезда. След като се е провалил в колежа, той си идва вкъщи изцяло преобразен. От приятел и закрилник Дел се е превърнал в гадняр, който се опитва да отнеме всичко от своя по-малък брат. Дори и Джейн - момичето, в което Ори е влюбен!
Какво ще се случи между дваматка братя? А между Ори и Джейн? Дали бандата ще спечели Битката на рок групите?
Най-сетне стигнах и до тази книга, която имах от отдавна и си заслужаваше. Наистина се чете на един дъх, както си пише и там. Интересна и различна книга за музиката. Показва ни страна на рок музиката. Как може да развиеш като група в този жанр и пътя дотам. Как от такава възраст се бориш за мечтите. Връзката между приятели и братя. Също и как Ори се бореше до последно да си купи мечтаната китара и работеше упорито. Хареса ми, че книгата си имаше собствена песен и дори можеш да я чуеш в нета(Waiting for you - Zachary James Carabelos & Melissa Rankin). Също така, че беше включена и поезията. Хареса ми начина на писане на Джейн и също текстовете на Ори. Особено ме впечатли реакцията му и какво той направи след като прочете нещо на Джейн. Малко ме дразнеше брат му Дел почти през цялото време, но към края се разбрахме някак и ми допадна, ама съвсем мъничко, нооо като разбрах цялото му име и,че не е само Дел, се смях направо. Имаше си забавни моменти. Според мен си струва да се прочете, макар и да е от преди години.
July 21, 2018
This book I could really relate to. The music shop with the friendly owner who let me try the instruments all the time, the sibling that makes you feel like you’re walking on eggshells when they’re home, the feeling of playing guitar in a group, sharing thoughts through email about music - brought back a lot of memories! It reminded me of how badly I wanted to be in band (well I was, but we only practiced once a year, if that) I liked the group chat at the start of each chapter and trying to figure out who they were in real life ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2019
Beginning was okay. Middle was boring, and the end was good.
It read super slow and kinds bland to me. The emails, texting, etc, were so cringe-y, but that felt pretty true to the characters and their ages. I was thinking "Man, this is probably how kids actually write/talk," and then "I guess I don't actually want to read how teens actually write/talk." Give me a highly verbal, smart, witty teenager--these "normal" ones are just bland.
It read super slow and kinds bland to me. The emails, texting, etc, were so cringe-y, but that felt pretty true to the characters and their ages. I was thinking "Man, this is probably how kids actually write/talk," and then "I guess I don't actually want to read how teens actually write/talk." Give me a highly verbal, smart, witty teenager--these "normal" ones are just bland.
June 21, 2017
This was an awesome book about a teenager named Ori and his troubles. His brother is being a jerk to him after coming back from his first semester at college, and his band isn't doing too well. This book was really exiting to read and in between each chapter there was discussion on their website blog. This book was great and really interesting.
January 3, 2018
This was a book could not put down, I read this book in two week's (But most could finish it faster). If you love music, rivals, romance, and a high school fiction this is the book for you. For me I was able to connect to some of the characters. I gave Rock On a 5/5 because it is one of the best books I have read besides The lord of The Rings sires.
January 27, 2018
Me ha encantado, me lo leí en un día, es una historia diferente porque se centra en la relación de hermanos y no tanto como de pareja, por eso mismo me gustó, por ser diferente a lo que acostumbro a leer.
April 2, 2018
Una lectura ligera, entretenida y algo divertida. Centrándose principalmente en la relación de hermanos y la confianza en uno mismo. Con pocos personajes; siendo ligeros, sin demasiadas complicaciones.
January 2, 2018
This book was a good book, and it was very relatable. If you enjoy music or play an instrument, this is book is for you. It is about a kid and his band who are going to a battle of the bands to win.
February 4, 2018
I just like how romantic love wasn't the fore runner in this book
October 5, 2018
This book´s different from what I read and I liked it, although some characters hate them for their actions during the story but in the end I loved it. A totally different story.
August 5, 2020
Не е зле! Беше доста интересна! Но... Имаше и нейните недостатъци! Хареса ми , че беше доста емоционална!
November 29, 2017
This was one of the books I read this year that I never wanted to stop reading. It was really good! The character deals with problems with his brother, and trying to win the "battle of the bands". It was really fun and if you like books about kids forming bands/playing music I definitely recommend it.
March 25, 2012
Realistic YA books are always ones I seek out. I love seeing the development between characters and observing the interactions and relationships that can blossom. That is just one of the reasons I decided to pick up "Rock On." (And the fact that it was a novel about music just made me little heart pound with excitment). This novel was definitely a fun and enjoyable read; however, it seemed like it was lacking some sort of attractive element.
There is something about YA music stories that just seems so fresh and intoxicating. Even if many of them follow the same storyline of underdog making it big or growing with music or so on, most of these novels have a distinctive quality to it that just makes it stand out and really stick with me. Sadly, I cannot say that for "Rock On."
The story follows a garage band that has amazing potential to make it big and yes, there are a few mess ups but, all in all, everyone believes them to be the next big thing. The story is broken into parts with the actual story and narration,"screenshoots" of their website with news updates and chats from a few dedicated fans and also a small amount of media articles. I do have to admit that I enjoyed the screenshots and articles, they helped add some interesting elements to the story since it's always fun to see different points of the story from different perspectives.
My thoughts on the characters mirror my thoughts about the book itself. They were nice to read about but truthfully they could all be boxed up and easily labled. Orion is the adorkable, lead singer and semi-music prodigy, whose biggest dream, a part from being a superstar, is to finally get a girl. (Underdog). His brother was a high-school star who, during his first term of college, learns that the world is not at all like the tiny enclosed community of high school. (Messed-up-his-life-but-has-a-revelation character). "The Girl" character appears and, of course, they a few meetings, incluing some embarassing accidents. "The Girl" is a bubbly ball of excitment and also clumsyness who brings, not only happiness to said underdog's life, but also confusion. Alli is the cool girl-next door who is always there for her friends. And so on and so on. The only character I actually truly truly liked was Gwyn. She is the only character that is not instantly captivated by Del's charm, but she has already been boxed into a "goth" character, an outsider in a way with a badass personality. But I definitely enjoyed reading about her the most.
I also found the poetry and song lyrics to not be as amazing as they perceive them in the book. They seemed kind of...bland. I did; however, enjoy how Ori and "The Girl," Jane, were able to connect through art. (Him with his music and her with her poetry). I found that to be sweet but their interactions towards the middle of the story pissed me off and just had me playing "Grow a Pear" by Ke$ha repeatedly in my head.
Cafe Cover Chat: I do really like the positioning of the models. I have to admit that the usage of wires to spell out "Rock Out" is pretty cool but they seem to distract from the cover's feel. It just seems like two different feelings for the top part of the cover and the "Rock Out" part. I feel like it would have been better to just have used a bold letter formating as opposed to the wires, or else, if they wanted the wires, they could use a less cluttered background picture. (B+)
All in all, yes, it was a fun read, but truly nothing too special that will stay in my memory for a long time.
Grade: B-
Wdebo :)
There is something about YA music stories that just seems so fresh and intoxicating. Even if many of them follow the same storyline of underdog making it big or growing with music or so on, most of these novels have a distinctive quality to it that just makes it stand out and really stick with me. Sadly, I cannot say that for "Rock On."
The story follows a garage band that has amazing potential to make it big and yes, there are a few mess ups but, all in all, everyone believes them to be the next big thing. The story is broken into parts with the actual story and narration,"screenshoots" of their website with news updates and chats from a few dedicated fans and also a small amount of media articles. I do have to admit that I enjoyed the screenshots and articles, they helped add some interesting elements to the story since it's always fun to see different points of the story from different perspectives.
My thoughts on the characters mirror my thoughts about the book itself. They were nice to read about but truthfully they could all be boxed up and easily labled. Orion is the adorkable, lead singer and semi-music prodigy, whose biggest dream, a part from being a superstar, is to finally get a girl. (Underdog). His brother was a high-school star who, during his first term of college, learns that the world is not at all like the tiny enclosed community of high school. (Messed-up-his-life-but-has-a-revelation character). "The Girl" character appears and, of course, they a few meetings, incluing some embarassing accidents. "The Girl" is a bubbly ball of excitment and also clumsyness who brings, not only happiness to said underdog's life, but also confusion. Alli is the cool girl-next door who is always there for her friends. And so on and so on. The only character I actually truly truly liked was Gwyn. She is the only character that is not instantly captivated by Del's charm, but she has already been boxed into a "goth" character, an outsider in a way with a badass personality. But I definitely enjoyed reading about her the most.
I also found the poetry and song lyrics to not be as amazing as they perceive them in the book. They seemed kind of...bland. I did; however, enjoy how Ori and "The Girl," Jane, were able to connect through art. (Him with his music and her with her poetry). I found that to be sweet but their interactions towards the middle of the story pissed me off and just had me playing "Grow a Pear" by Ke$ha repeatedly in my head.
Cafe Cover Chat: I do really like the positioning of the models. I have to admit that the usage of wires to spell out "Rock Out" is pretty cool but they seem to distract from the cover's feel. It just seems like two different feelings for the top part of the cover and the "Rock Out" part. I feel like it would have been better to just have used a bold letter formating as opposed to the wires, or else, if they wanted the wires, they could use a less cluttered background picture. (B+)
All in all, yes, it was a fun read, but truly nothing too special that will stay in my memory for a long time.
Grade: B-
Wdebo :)
November 12, 2013
I can't remember what it was that made goodreads suggest this book to me, but I put it on my To Read list over a year and a half ago, and really only picked it up because it was front-faced on a library shelf I walked by last week, and my stack was pretty light. Glad I did pick it up though.
I've got a soft-spot for rock band novels -- ever since The Buffalo Nickel Blues Band , which I read about 400 times in junior high. The Commitments (one of my all-time favorites), Eddie and the Cruisers , Juliet, Naked and a handful of others I can't recall at the moment. There's something about the raw emotion that the music taps into that just grabs you, makes a solid connection between the characters and the reader.
This is more than that (as the subtitle informs). Primarily, we've got the story of a high school band on their way to the High School Battle of the Bands. But that's not the emotional core of the novel, it's just the framework to hang the rest of the stories on.
Sure, Ori's a great guitarist -- practically too good to believe (but hey, it's fiction, relax). But when it comes to girls? Fuhgeddaboudit. Nervous, anxious, trembling, not-at-all-confident -- pick your synonym, and that's him. As he and his band start gaining a little notoriety in the area, he's finding himself receiving a bit more female attention (which is both great and mortifying for him). There's one girl in particular . . . well, read it yourself. It's a sweet story, well told. Nothing that'll rock your world, but it's nice.
But even that's not the core of the novel -- the fractured relationship between Ori and his older brother/former idol Del is where this book lives (or at least wants to). It takes time to get the full story, but Del goes from being the Top Dog in high school to a former jock/college drop-out during his first semester, he moves home and things between the brothers deteriorate quickly. Without this the rest of the book would barely be worth reading (as much as I liked it), watching Ori struggle to find the brother he worshiped in this current version, Del struggle with his current reality, and the brothers struggle to be civil -- that's the ultimate story being told here. And as well-done as it is -- the emotions are right (on both sides), it's utterly believable and relatable -- but there's something missing. I wish I knew what it was, but it's just not as good as it wants to be.
I don't want to overlook some of the other supporting characters -- Ori's little sister, his next-door neighbor/friend/band webmistress, and the eventual bass player are well-drawn, and I've been glad to spend more time with one/all of them -- the bassist in particular.
A nice touch to this is in between some chapters, Vega provides logs from the band's blog on a local music site -- the blog posts themselves, mostly reiterate what we already know, but the comment threads? A lot of fun to read -- and nice way to get a different perspective on events than Vega's characters or the readers have.
A fun, quick read, emotionally satisfying, and almost as good as it tries to be -- a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours.
I've got a soft-spot for rock band novels -- ever since The Buffalo Nickel Blues Band , which I read about 400 times in junior high. The Commitments (one of my all-time favorites), Eddie and the Cruisers , Juliet, Naked and a handful of others I can't recall at the moment. There's something about the raw emotion that the music taps into that just grabs you, makes a solid connection between the characters and the reader.
This is more than that (as the subtitle informs). Primarily, we've got the story of a high school band on their way to the High School Battle of the Bands. But that's not the emotional core of the novel, it's just the framework to hang the rest of the stories on.
Sure, Ori's a great guitarist -- practically too good to believe (but hey, it's fiction, relax). But when it comes to girls? Fuhgeddaboudit. Nervous, anxious, trembling, not-at-all-confident -- pick your synonym, and that's him. As he and his band start gaining a little notoriety in the area, he's finding himself receiving a bit more female attention (which is both great and mortifying for him). There's one girl in particular . . . well, read it yourself. It's a sweet story, well told. Nothing that'll rock your world, but it's nice.
But even that's not the core of the novel -- the fractured relationship between Ori and his older brother/former idol Del is where this book lives (or at least wants to). It takes time to get the full story, but Del goes from being the Top Dog in high school to a former jock/college drop-out during his first semester, he moves home and things between the brothers deteriorate quickly. Without this the rest of the book would barely be worth reading (as much as I liked it), watching Ori struggle to find the brother he worshiped in this current version, Del struggle with his current reality, and the brothers struggle to be civil -- that's the ultimate story being told here. And as well-done as it is -- the emotions are right (on both sides), it's utterly believable and relatable -- but there's something missing. I wish I knew what it was, but it's just not as good as it wants to be.
I don't want to overlook some of the other supporting characters -- Ori's little sister, his next-door neighbor/friend/band webmistress, and the eventual bass player are well-drawn, and I've been glad to spend more time with one/all of them -- the bassist in particular.
A nice touch to this is in between some chapters, Vega provides logs from the band's blog on a local music site -- the blog posts themselves, mostly reiterate what we already know, but the comment threads? A lot of fun to read -- and nice way to get a different perspective on events than Vega's characters or the readers have.
A fun, quick read, emotionally satisfying, and almost as good as it tries to be -- a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours.
July 4, 2012
I've mentioned that I love music, so I pretty much jump at the chance to read anything music-related that I can get my hands on, and in the case of Rock On, I'm extremely glad that I did! :D
One thing that I absolutely loved about Rock On was that it was from a teen boy's perspective, which I found really interesting...I also absolutely loved Ori (or Orion) and his passion for music! :D Ori was pretty much a prodigy and had been playing guitar for years. I was never a prodigy myself and only played the saxophone for a brief while, but Ori's passion totally made me wish that I could play like that...or that I had actually tried to learn to play better. :P
I also loved that Rock On didn't stick to one type of storytelling. Instead there were blog posts and updates for the band through the Battle of the Bands website, which I thought was a fantastic touch! I especially loved that you could see the comments of the people visiting their site...it made me wish that it was an interactive website that I could've actually checked out. :P There were also flashbacks, which I didn't enjoy as much as the blog, but they were alright. I found the switch to a different type of perspective a bit strange, but I did like getting to see into Ori's past and to see how his relationship with his brother, Del, was like before.
My favourite part about Rock On was Ori himself. I just loved his character. I did want to nudge him in the right direction every once in a while though. :P His relationship with his brother, Del, was probably the biggest conflict throughout the book, and like one of his best friends, Allie, I just wanted him to talk to his brother and work things out. His brother was kind of a big butthead, but being closer to Del in age, I could totally understand why he was acting out. It still didn't justify it though. I really felt for the two brothers, and I liked that the conflict between them was realistic. It added a completely different side to the story, one that I didn't really expect to be so prominent, but still thoroughly enjoyed. I also really liked the side characters, and getting to see Ori stop being so awkward with girls. It was great seeing him get out of his shell. :)
Overall, I really liked Rock On. I thought that it was an interesting perspective on music, and I liked that it was unique. I've definitely never read another story that was anything like this one. I especially enjoyed the characters. Not only was Ori a great main character, but the supporting characters were fantastic as well. Right from all of their entrances, each of the characters were so fully defined, and I thought that was fabulous. :D I'd recommend this one if you like music, and if you're into stories that cover all the bases from romance to sibling drama, to stage fright, to trying to come into yourself and out of your sibling's shadow.
One thing that I absolutely loved about Rock On was that it was from a teen boy's perspective, which I found really interesting...I also absolutely loved Ori (or Orion) and his passion for music! :D Ori was pretty much a prodigy and had been playing guitar for years. I was never a prodigy myself and only played the saxophone for a brief while, but Ori's passion totally made me wish that I could play like that...or that I had actually tried to learn to play better. :P
I also loved that Rock On didn't stick to one type of storytelling. Instead there were blog posts and updates for the band through the Battle of the Bands website, which I thought was a fantastic touch! I especially loved that you could see the comments of the people visiting their site...it made me wish that it was an interactive website that I could've actually checked out. :P There were also flashbacks, which I didn't enjoy as much as the blog, but they were alright. I found the switch to a different type of perspective a bit strange, but I did like getting to see into Ori's past and to see how his relationship with his brother, Del, was like before.
My favourite part about Rock On was Ori himself. I just loved his character. I did want to nudge him in the right direction every once in a while though. :P His relationship with his brother, Del, was probably the biggest conflict throughout the book, and like one of his best friends, Allie, I just wanted him to talk to his brother and work things out. His brother was kind of a big butthead, but being closer to Del in age, I could totally understand why he was acting out. It still didn't justify it though. I really felt for the two brothers, and I liked that the conflict between them was realistic. It added a completely different side to the story, one that I didn't really expect to be so prominent, but still thoroughly enjoyed. I also really liked the side characters, and getting to see Ori stop being so awkward with girls. It was great seeing him get out of his shell. :)
Overall, I really liked Rock On. I thought that it was an interesting perspective on music, and I liked that it was unique. I've definitely never read another story that was anything like this one. I especially enjoyed the characters. Not only was Ori a great main character, but the supporting characters were fantastic as well. Right from all of their entrances, each of the characters were so fully defined, and I thought that was fabulous. :D I'd recommend this one if you like music, and if you're into stories that cover all the bases from romance to sibling drama, to stage fright, to trying to come into yourself and out of your sibling's shadow.
December 19, 2011
Stepping into the world of high school friendships, romance, and sibling drama that Denise Vega has created is like walking into a world that you're already familiar with. The characters are very realistic and easy to relate to--they could just be another group of kids at your high school--and the story has something for everyone. Whether your in it for the romance or the rivalry, you won't walk away disappointed.
Ori always looked up to his brother going up, but after being put on academic probation and returning home from college, Del has been a different person and Ori doesn't want to live in his shadow any more--especially not when it comes to Jane. Ori is a very typical high school boy with lots of talent and big dreams I enjoyed him as the narrator quite a bit and I think he would be a difficult character NOT to like.
Del, his brother, was interesting to try to figure out. From the beginning it's obvious that Ori used to practically worship him and something has clearly changed. I felt like the mystery behind his actions made me curious about him. At the same time, there were definitely moments when I simply couldn't stand the guy. By the end, however, he did some redeeming things that made me glad I didn't give up on him entirely.
Ori's group of friends were also fun to read about and I loved the little insights that we got throughout into their characters. While they weren't as developed as some side characters are, I didn't feel like they were throwaway characters at all. Each character has a role to play in Ori's story and there would have been holes had they not been present. Alli was probably my favorite side character. I loved that she was the girl next door who'd been friends with the MC forever but she wasn't the love interest. It took away that predictable angle. The actual love interest was cute and sweet...and made me want to strangle her a little at points. I did like the unique angle of their new bassist being a girl and a little different but what makes her different seemed like a detail just thrown in there for the sake of having it there.
Rock On is a fun YA contemporary read that comes off as a very realistic story without seeming forced. Even the parts of the story that are told via blog entries and comments don't seem out of place in the story and while I initially thought I would find them annoying, I ended up liking them--they didn't interrupt the flow the way I thought they would. I think that this is another great YA entry with a realistic male narrator and a fun storyline. I guess the only thing that strikes me after reading this is that I don't find it to be an overly memorable read. The story is fun and the characters are enjoyable, but the novel as a whole didn't leave that big of an impression on me.
Ori always looked up to his brother going up, but after being put on academic probation and returning home from college, Del has been a different person and Ori doesn't want to live in his shadow any more--especially not when it comes to Jane. Ori is a very typical high school boy with lots of talent and big dreams I enjoyed him as the narrator quite a bit and I think he would be a difficult character NOT to like.
Del, his brother, was interesting to try to figure out. From the beginning it's obvious that Ori used to practically worship him and something has clearly changed. I felt like the mystery behind his actions made me curious about him. At the same time, there were definitely moments when I simply couldn't stand the guy. By the end, however, he did some redeeming things that made me glad I didn't give up on him entirely.
Ori's group of friends were also fun to read about and I loved the little insights that we got throughout into their characters. While they weren't as developed as some side characters are, I didn't feel like they were throwaway characters at all. Each character has a role to play in Ori's story and there would have been holes had they not been present. Alli was probably my favorite side character. I loved that she was the girl next door who'd been friends with the MC forever but she wasn't the love interest. It took away that predictable angle. The actual love interest was cute and sweet...and made me want to strangle her a little at points. I did like the unique angle of their new bassist being a girl and a little different but what makes her different seemed like a detail just thrown in there for the sake of having it there.
Rock On is a fun YA contemporary read that comes off as a very realistic story without seeming forced. Even the parts of the story that are told via blog entries and comments don't seem out of place in the story and while I initially thought I would find them annoying, I ended up liking them--they didn't interrupt the flow the way I thought they would. I think that this is another great YA entry with a realistic male narrator and a fun storyline. I guess the only thing that strikes me after reading this is that I don't find it to be an overly memorable read. The story is fun and the characters are enjoyable, but the novel as a whole didn't leave that big of an impression on me.
March 24, 2012
I have a problem with books written by women that are told by boys. Especially if it is told in 1st Person POV. I think the reason might be because I have a son who is a freshman in high school. I'm always comparing the literary boy with the real thing. And folks... my son doesn't have a swoony sensitive bone in his body. Sometimes I'll read passages out of these books and he just laughs at me and tells me that he would NEVER think like that.
But is it because my son isn't musical?
Nah... he has friends that are.
I personally think it is because this book was written for girls.
Why?
Because I don't think a boy would be caught dead reading a book title: Rock On: A story of guitars, gigs, girls, and a brother (not necessarily in that order)
So, why did I want to read it?
Well, duh!! Cuz I'm not a boy.
Found the cover super cute.
A rock story sounded right up my alley.
But why isn't it for boys?
Well, Ori is the lead singer/guitarist for a high school garage band. He's been playing since he was a tater tot and is saving up cash to buy a rockin' premo guitar.
Nothing wrong with this.
BUTTERS!
It's the way he thinks. And this is what irked me. He calls himself things like King of Dorks inside his head and he thinks about girl's eyelashes and what?!!???!! Makes really awesome cheese dip and super loves his brother and argyle socks.... I just couldn't imagine my son thinking this way. And this is why I think Ori sounded more like a girl and not really a bit like a boy. This is also why I think girls would dig this book way super more than boys.
In a way this book reminded me of a Disney Channel show. You know how the boys act all dorky on those things? Lately, I have watched my fair share of those because that's what my son's doctor has playing in her office. I'm always looking at him and asking, "Do you dig this?" And he rolls his eyes at me because I'm asking him a lame question and he just tells me the show is stupid and the Disney Channel is only for girls.
(note: The opinions in that paragraph do not reflect the opinions of Greta is Erikasbuddy. They are of her son and he is apparently not down with the Mouse)
Now, don't get me wrong... it's not a bad book. I did have a hard time connecting with the characters but I believe that is because I am super duper picky when the lead is a boy. Buts.... I loved loved loved how the story was also told in blogposts and texts. That was super clever and tre' modern! Love love loved that!
My prognosis?
Give Rock On: A story of guitars, gigs, girls, and a brother (not necessarily in that order) a spin... but I'm kinda doubting Little Freddy is going to want to pick it up. Freda will dig it, though!
But is it because my son isn't musical?
Nah... he has friends that are.
I personally think it is because this book was written for girls.
Why?
Because I don't think a boy would be caught dead reading a book title: Rock On: A story of guitars, gigs, girls, and a brother (not necessarily in that order)
So, why did I want to read it?
Well, duh!! Cuz I'm not a boy.
Found the cover super cute.
A rock story sounded right up my alley.
But why isn't it for boys?
Well, Ori is the lead singer/guitarist for a high school garage band. He's been playing since he was a tater tot and is saving up cash to buy a rockin' premo guitar.
Nothing wrong with this.
BUTTERS!
It's the way he thinks. And this is what irked me. He calls himself things like King of Dorks inside his head and he thinks about girl's eyelashes and what?!!???!! Makes really awesome cheese dip and super loves his brother and argyle socks.... I just couldn't imagine my son thinking this way. And this is why I think Ori sounded more like a girl and not really a bit like a boy. This is also why I think girls would dig this book way super more than boys.
In a way this book reminded me of a Disney Channel show. You know how the boys act all dorky on those things? Lately, I have watched my fair share of those because that's what my son's doctor has playing in her office. I'm always looking at him and asking, "Do you dig this?" And he rolls his eyes at me because I'm asking him a lame question and he just tells me the show is stupid and the Disney Channel is only for girls.
(note: The opinions in that paragraph do not reflect the opinions of Greta is Erikasbuddy. They are of her son and he is apparently not down with the Mouse)
Now, don't get me wrong... it's not a bad book. I did have a hard time connecting with the characters but I believe that is because I am super duper picky when the lead is a boy. Buts.... I loved loved loved how the story was also told in blogposts and texts. That was super clever and tre' modern! Love love loved that!
My prognosis?
Give Rock On: A story of guitars, gigs, girls, and a brother (not necessarily in that order) a spin... but I'm kinda doubting Little Freddy is going to want to pick it up. Freda will dig it, though!
February 3, 2012
Rock On by Denise Vega is a very natural story. It's one of those "moment in time" stories that I love because of the realism and character study. While I love watching how the characters grow, develop, and change (oh, and make mistakes...lots and lots of mistakes), Rock On is also a fun contemporary read even if you don't like contemplating character development.
The full title of Rock On is Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls, and a Brother (Not Necessarily in that Order). That pretty much sums it up. It captures the easygoing nature of Ori and accounts for all the major stuff that goes on in the book. Basically, it's one teenage boy's life as he's on the cusp of creating a good band, getting a girlfriend, and working through a rocky patch with his brother.
I enjoyed reading Rock On because of the realism. Yes, there was a plot and it did move forward. If you take the band aspect (which is the most prominent, plot wise), Ori's newly formed band is trying to prepare for a Battle of the Bands. If they win, they'll get more exposure and possibly be put in touch with "the right people." While it's accurate to say not every teenager is talented enough to put together a successful band, it's also not out of the realm of possibility. This isn't some I'll-go-from-nothing-to-something-with-a-big-record-deal-that-will-launch-our-career-and-make-us-millions-of-dollars type of scheme. It's a realistic Battle of the Bands with realistic prizes. This keeps the book grounded and fits in all the other aspects (gigs, girls, & brother) in check.
While I'm a sucker for music, I'm having a hard time deciding whether my favorite storyline was the music aspect or the brother (SHOCK: It wasn't the Girls/romance!). Del and Ori's relationship is fairly typical, but they are definitely having a hard time with each other right now. Both Del and Ori are at different points in their lives and they both have a lot of changes occurring. That's hard to adjust to by yourself, let alone figuring out how everything fits in with other relationships. I really enjoyed reading about their relationship and how it shifted throughout the story. As a person with many siblings, this aspect felt particularly close to my heart.
Overall, Rock On is a cool, fun read for anyone who enjoys any of the things listed in the title (guitars, gigs, girls, and brother). It's definitely a boy friendly read and I'd say it'd probably be good for some reluctant readers too as long as they're interested in those topics.
Final thoughts: Borrow. It's worth the read.
The full title of Rock On is Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls, and a Brother (Not Necessarily in that Order). That pretty much sums it up. It captures the easygoing nature of Ori and accounts for all the major stuff that goes on in the book. Basically, it's one teenage boy's life as he's on the cusp of creating a good band, getting a girlfriend, and working through a rocky patch with his brother.
I enjoyed reading Rock On because of the realism. Yes, there was a plot and it did move forward. If you take the band aspect (which is the most prominent, plot wise), Ori's newly formed band is trying to prepare for a Battle of the Bands. If they win, they'll get more exposure and possibly be put in touch with "the right people." While it's accurate to say not every teenager is talented enough to put together a successful band, it's also not out of the realm of possibility. This isn't some I'll-go-from-nothing-to-something-with-a-big-record-deal-that-will-launch-our-career-and-make-us-millions-of-dollars type of scheme. It's a realistic Battle of the Bands with realistic prizes. This keeps the book grounded and fits in all the other aspects (gigs, girls, & brother) in check.
While I'm a sucker for music, I'm having a hard time deciding whether my favorite storyline was the music aspect or the brother (SHOCK: It wasn't the Girls/romance!). Del and Ori's relationship is fairly typical, but they are definitely having a hard time with each other right now. Both Del and Ori are at different points in their lives and they both have a lot of changes occurring. That's hard to adjust to by yourself, let alone figuring out how everything fits in with other relationships. I really enjoyed reading about their relationship and how it shifted throughout the story. As a person with many siblings, this aspect felt particularly close to my heart.
Overall, Rock On is a cool, fun read for anyone who enjoys any of the things listed in the title (guitars, gigs, girls, and brother). It's definitely a boy friendly read and I'd say it'd probably be good for some reluctant readers too as long as they're interested in those topics.
Final thoughts: Borrow. It's worth the read.
March 23, 2012
This was a fun book and a very realistic story. 16 year old Ori and his friends have a band, and they have a dream of making it big. Their first major goal is to come up with a name for the band as they work towards getting ready to compete in the High School Battle of the Bands. Ori is musically gifted and loves to write songs, and what is going on in his life is reflected in his lyrics.
I really enjoyed all of Ori's friends and band mates. They were all unique characters, and even though none of them were well developed, they all played a part in the story. I especially liked Ori's friend Alli. She had a refreshing voice as she subtly steered the band and it's members towards their ultimate goal.
When Ori's older brother, Del, unexpectedly returns home from college, he is so moody and volatile that Ori never knows what to expect from one minute to the next. They tiptoe around each other and Ori starts to resent Del's presence. This part of the story was hard to read - knowing that the 2 brothers used to be so close and were now like strangers. I was glad that Del finally got around to admitting to Ori why he was acting the way he was. While I knew what the problem was all along, I think Ori was too close to the situation and couldn't see what was right in front of him. I really like that Ori got the chance to grow and be his own person without always being in the shadow of his older brother.
The beginning of chapters had excerpts from the band's website and snippets from their message board. You could follow along with their quest for the perfect band name, keep up to date on the countdown to Ori buying his new Les Paul guitar, and meet some of the band's crazy fans. These items really put the teen vibe into the book. This is one YA book that I would actually recommend to teenagers.
I really like that this book is so realistic in depicting the ways that Ori has to balance school, work, and playing his guitar. Both parents are present and active in Ori's life. His older brother is a pain, but Ori really likes his younger sister. I thought it was cute that Ori liked when she brought her friends to rehearsals and shows - they were his biggest cheerleaders and really helped him feel more at ease while onstage.
Rock On is all about Ori finding himself and where he fits in the world. Throughout the story we see Ori deal with his struggles - from being the insecure younger brother of a well liked all-star, to having to overcome his fears of being the front man of a rock band, and learning how to deal with girls. Overall, this was a really good book, especially if you are a fan of music.
I really enjoyed all of Ori's friends and band mates. They were all unique characters, and even though none of them were well developed, they all played a part in the story. I especially liked Ori's friend Alli. She had a refreshing voice as she subtly steered the band and it's members towards their ultimate goal.
When Ori's older brother, Del, unexpectedly returns home from college, he is so moody and volatile that Ori never knows what to expect from one minute to the next. They tiptoe around each other and Ori starts to resent Del's presence. This part of the story was hard to read - knowing that the 2 brothers used to be so close and were now like strangers. I was glad that Del finally got around to admitting to Ori why he was acting the way he was. While I knew what the problem was all along, I think Ori was too close to the situation and couldn't see what was right in front of him. I really like that Ori got the chance to grow and be his own person without always being in the shadow of his older brother.
The beginning of chapters had excerpts from the band's website and snippets from their message board. You could follow along with their quest for the perfect band name, keep up to date on the countdown to Ori buying his new Les Paul guitar, and meet some of the band's crazy fans. These items really put the teen vibe into the book. This is one YA book that I would actually recommend to teenagers.
I really like that this book is so realistic in depicting the ways that Ori has to balance school, work, and playing his guitar. Both parents are present and active in Ori's life. His older brother is a pain, but Ori really likes his younger sister. I thought it was cute that Ori liked when she brought her friends to rehearsals and shows - they were his biggest cheerleaders and really helped him feel more at ease while onstage.
Rock On is all about Ori finding himself and where he fits in the world. Throughout the story we see Ori deal with his struggles - from being the insecure younger brother of a well liked all-star, to having to overcome his fears of being the front man of a rock band, and learning how to deal with girls. Overall, this was a really good book, especially if you are a fan of music.
July 5, 2019
This book was a lot of fun. It definitely contained a conflict, but it was one of those books I knew would turn out fine. What's so great about it is that there's some nice character development and it's perfectly suitable for younger teens. So if you're one of those parents who stays very conscious of what your child reads, this one is perfect. There's a few curses and that's it.
Orion is serious about music. It's his passion, but he also hides behind it. That's something he has to work out in the book. I thought it was a great direction for this book to go. He's pretty insecure when he's around his brother, Del. Del's always been the "cool" one, the smooth talker. Music is sort of the only thing Ori has that's all his own. Things are rough between Ori and Del at the start of this book. Del has somehow screwed things up at college. Ori and his band are really starting to take off. These two things create some animosity between the brothers. I'd say that's the main plot line of the book. There are a couple of side plots that are somewhat related to Ori and Del's problems. Ori meets a pretty cool girl, but he doesn't have much experience in that department. There's also a little band rivalry going on as they gear up for a Battle of Bands competition.
There are some stellar supporting characters. Alli, Ori's childhood friend, is definitely the smartest one of the group. I'm going to credit that to the fact that she's a girl, and girls mature faster than boys. She sees a lot that the boys don't and she tries to give Ori a lot of guidence. Now, if only he would listen. Gwyn was a big favorite of mine, mainly because she was a deaf bass player. How cool is that? She loves to rock because the music is actually loud enough for her to hear/feel. It's pretty cool. Jane was a good one too. Though, she was a little bit of a mystery. I also thought she made some questionable choices for someone who seems so intelligent. Either way, she seemed pretty cool, the kind of girl I could hang out with.
Okay, so the plot isn't exactly gripping or anything. It's not even original, but it was well done. It's meant to be a fun book with a littl bit of a message and it accomplishes that. The main characters grow up and learn something. That's all you could really ask from a book like this. It's also kind of refreshing to read a teen book that I would actually recommend for a teen. Those are pretty rare these days. Well done, Denise Vega.
Orion is serious about music. It's his passion, but he also hides behind it. That's something he has to work out in the book. I thought it was a great direction for this book to go. He's pretty insecure when he's around his brother, Del. Del's always been the "cool" one, the smooth talker. Music is sort of the only thing Ori has that's all his own. Things are rough between Ori and Del at the start of this book. Del has somehow screwed things up at college. Ori and his band are really starting to take off. These two things create some animosity between the brothers. I'd say that's the main plot line of the book. There are a couple of side plots that are somewhat related to Ori and Del's problems. Ori meets a pretty cool girl, but he doesn't have much experience in that department. There's also a little band rivalry going on as they gear up for a Battle of Bands competition.
There are some stellar supporting characters. Alli, Ori's childhood friend, is definitely the smartest one of the group. I'm going to credit that to the fact that she's a girl, and girls mature faster than boys. She sees a lot that the boys don't and she tries to give Ori a lot of guidence. Now, if only he would listen. Gwyn was a big favorite of mine, mainly because she was a deaf bass player. How cool is that? She loves to rock because the music is actually loud enough for her to hear/feel. It's pretty cool. Jane was a good one too. Though, she was a little bit of a mystery. I also thought she made some questionable choices for someone who seems so intelligent. Either way, she seemed pretty cool, the kind of girl I could hang out with.
Okay, so the plot isn't exactly gripping or anything. It's not even original, but it was well done. It's meant to be a fun book with a littl bit of a message and it accomplishes that. The main characters grow up and learn something. That's all you could really ask from a book like this. It's also kind of refreshing to read a teen book that I would actually recommend for a teen. Those are pretty rare these days. Well done, Denise Vega.
March 7, 2012
Orion, "Ori," Taylor lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Band to Be Named Later (that's not their named, they don't actually have a name yet), has always been Del Taylor's little brother. The big-star's ignored little brother. That was supposed to change now that Del was in college. Sure people would still ignore him, but at least he'd be able to concentrate on his band and their music.
Just as Ori's starting to listen to his friend that maybe he's not the dorky, ugly, rightfully-overlooked brother of Del Taylor, Del returns from college with no explanation as to his sudden appearance. Is Ori going to be able to focus on his band and get it together with Del back in the picture?
If there had been more explanation as to why Del was home, sooner, or more exploration of the relationships, I think I would have enjoyed Rock On more. I kept waiting for just a little bit more about why Del was back. Even more so when another relationship was affected and we didn't get much explanation there, either.
While, in retrospect, I do think the lack of examination and talking things out really did fit with Ori and Del (teenage guys aren't usually going search out the chance to talk things out and find out what's going on with each other), as a reader it was slightly frustrating to have that part of the story left unknown.
I did really appreciate the story being outside of the norm, though. Not only is it about a high school band -it's also about Ori's attempts to deal with his all-star brother suddenly home from college without reason. As much as we learn about the band progressing toward Battle of the Bands (and finding a band name), we also learn about Ori trying to find where he fits. He's not the big athlete his brother was and now with that brother back and making things unbelievable difficult he's just trying to make his band work and make the music he loves.
The ending of Rock On was great and I love the way things came together for the different characters and wrapped things up.
egalley provided by the publisher and NetGalley, thank you :)
Just as Ori's starting to listen to his friend that maybe he's not the dorky, ugly, rightfully-overlooked brother of Del Taylor, Del returns from college with no explanation as to his sudden appearance. Is Ori going to be able to focus on his band and get it together with Del back in the picture?
If there had been more explanation as to why Del was home, sooner, or more exploration of the relationships, I think I would have enjoyed Rock On more. I kept waiting for just a little bit more about why Del was back. Even more so when another relationship was affected and we didn't get much explanation there, either.
While, in retrospect, I do think the lack of examination and talking things out really did fit with Ori and Del (teenage guys aren't usually going search out the chance to talk things out and find out what's going on with each other), as a reader it was slightly frustrating to have that part of the story left unknown.
I did really appreciate the story being outside of the norm, though. Not only is it about a high school band -it's also about Ori's attempts to deal with his all-star brother suddenly home from college without reason. As much as we learn about the band progressing toward Battle of the Bands (and finding a band name), we also learn about Ori trying to find where he fits. He's not the big athlete his brother was and now with that brother back and making things unbelievable difficult he's just trying to make his band work and make the music he loves.
The ending of Rock On was great and I love the way things came together for the different characters and wrapped things up.
egalley provided by the publisher and NetGalley, thank you :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews