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VIP #2
VIP: Battle of the Bands
Mackenzie "Mac" Lowell is living a dream come true on tour with her favorite boy band. Spending time on the road with Perfect Storm hasn't been what Mac expected, though-it's even BETTER!
But with screaming fans and big-time recording sessions come haters and copycats, like Thunder and Lightning, a new band on the label whose first single sounds suspiciously like the song Perfect Storm's guitarist wrote for Mac. As the two bands set out on a joint summer tour, more and more of Perfect Storm's secrets are leaked to the public.
Where's the one place all these lyrics and secrets are supposedly being kept safe? In Mac's journal, of course! Can Mac-and her comic-book alter ego, Mac Attack-stop the leaks and nab the culprit?
With black-and-white illustrations and action-packed Mac Attack comics throughout, Jen Calonita's VIP series is more exciting than a backstage pass!
But with screaming fans and big-time recording sessions come haters and copycats, like Thunder and Lightning, a new band on the label whose first single sounds suspiciously like the song Perfect Storm's guitarist wrote for Mac. As the two bands set out on a joint summer tour, more and more of Perfect Storm's secrets are leaked to the public.
Where's the one place all these lyrics and secrets are supposedly being kept safe? In Mac's journal, of course! Can Mac-and her comic-book alter ego, Mac Attack-stop the leaks and nab the culprit?
With black-and-white illustrations and action-packed Mac Attack comics throughout, Jen Calonita's VIP series is more exciting than a backstage pass!
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2016
20 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Jen Calonita
110 books3,660 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 18, 2016
So, I have to admit, I kind of love this series. It is a bit of a guilty pleasure I guess as I am definitely not in the intended age range for it...but it takes me back. It makes me feel like I am a 12 year old girl again.
I should probably point out that I was never one to be totally obsessed with boy bands like our heroine Mackenzie, but if I had been I am sure I would have been a good bit like her.
So, what is Battle of the Bands all about you ask? Well, this time there is a competing boy band in the midst! And whats worse is that this other boy band has stolen a song from Perfect Storm! Oh but it doesn't end there. The song was written in Mac's journal which means some one snooped into her private thoughts without her knowing and took them! Talk about having your privacy invaded! So now they have to find out who is stealing things written in Mac's journal and how and keep the evil other boy band from ruining Perfect Storm!
Talk about a super fun ride!
Like I stated before and in my review for the first book in the series, Jen Calonita really captures the essence of a 12 year old fangirling over a boy band and trying to figure out life. It is kept light hearted and fun, but it is still relatable and relatively real (I say relatively because really how many of us in this world get to go on tour with our favorite band?).
In this story we get to see a lot get tested: friendships, a budding preteen romance, various other relationships.
But that isn't all we get to see. We get to see and take a look at bullying. We get to see what happens to those we bully and to those that do the bullying. It really is an important thing for preteens to take a look at and learn about. And this book does a nice job of it.
I cannot wait until another installment of this series comes out. It is just so much fun! Each adventure has been an absolute blast and I need more!
This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
I should probably point out that I was never one to be totally obsessed with boy bands like our heroine Mackenzie, but if I had been I am sure I would have been a good bit like her.
So, what is Battle of the Bands all about you ask? Well, this time there is a competing boy band in the midst! And whats worse is that this other boy band has stolen a song from Perfect Storm! Oh but it doesn't end there. The song was written in Mac's journal which means some one snooped into her private thoughts without her knowing and took them! Talk about having your privacy invaded! So now they have to find out who is stealing things written in Mac's journal and how and keep the evil other boy band from ruining Perfect Storm!
Talk about a super fun ride!
Like I stated before and in my review for the first book in the series, Jen Calonita really captures the essence of a 12 year old fangirling over a boy band and trying to figure out life. It is kept light hearted and fun, but it is still relatable and relatively real (I say relatively because really how many of us in this world get to go on tour with our favorite band?).
In this story we get to see a lot get tested: friendships, a budding preteen romance, various other relationships.
But that isn't all we get to see. We get to see and take a look at bullying. We get to see what happens to those we bully and to those that do the bullying. It really is an important thing for preteens to take a look at and learn about. And this book does a nice job of it.
I cannot wait until another installment of this series comes out. It is just so much fun! Each adventure has been an absolute blast and I need more!
This review is based on an ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
May 17, 2017
A new book in the VIP series, and I am so delighted, I love this series.
Though I did enjoy this one a bit less than the previous one. Sorry, I am not really that big of a fan of the things that happen in here. I hated those Thunder/Lightning (copycat boyband) guys. Lola was annoying again (though I did love the portion of karma she got at the end). There wasn't that much Kyle x Sam, and I am shipping these two like crazy. Plus I hated how 2 of the 3 guys in the band were just pretty much being rude towards Sam because what happens in this book.
I mean really, you guys think that she would just sell your secrets? Or give away your lyrics? Can't you guys think for one moment? Can't you guys just activate your brains. This is your #1 fan, this is the girl who did all those things for you in the previous book. She would do anything for you in this one as well. Yet, you are distrustful and at times quite mean.
Now before I go back to various other things that made me go RAGHHHHH, I want to talk about the good things.
We are touring again! Though this time there is less focus on that, but still, I was happy that Sam and her mom were going to all those places with the band again. We see much more of backstage, and we even see a recording session. It just made the band so much better.
Mac faces her fears! I love it when a character in a book does something brave. Faces their fears, or stands up against someone, oh, well you get the idea. :P
There is a ton of Jilly, and also enough Scarlet and Iris (either they are around or Mac/Jilly is talking to them on her phone). I really love these girls, they are so sweet and fun to be around.
Mac Attack/the comics. I just adored those in the previous book, and we get a whole bunch again in this one. I really wouldn't mind a whole book dedicated to this character. *puppy eyes*Please?
Even though it didn't have a lot of Kyle x Sam (or well, not as much as I had hoped), it did have some moments, and I was just squeeing and cheering. Mac was adorable. I know the feeling of melting in a puddle at the thought of the one you love/like. I also like how she is still daydreaming about Paris. I hope that the next book will have much more Mac and Kyle (maybe they can get together, aww please?).
There was a whole prank-war going. And while I found it going to far at times, I did had a laugh at what both bands did. From toothpaste in oreos to putting alarm clocks all over the hotel.
The ending was just perfect, and I was doing a fist-punch in happiness. Go Sam!
The mystery (or how did things get leaked even though Mac has a guard to watch her diary + who is the Kitty) was a delight, though it was quite easy to see who it was. Still I quite enjoyed it, and it was also fun to see the characters slowly figure things out.
The illustrations! Next to the comic there is a ton of illustrations and they make the book even more awesome to read. Sometimes I just laughed so hard at what happened in the illustrations.
Now for some stuff I didn't like (next to the one I already mentioned).
I hated Lightning/Thunder. Really, so your favourite band (Perfect Storm), the one you look up to, doesn't have time for you RIGHT THIS MINUTE, because oh hey, maybe they have been working for 10+ hours and they want to do something else for once, they have made plans? Yeah, of course that means that they hate their fans, and that they are bad guys. Really, why do you even think that? Why is that the first thing that comes into your mind. Why can't you understand that maybe, after 10+ hours, the last thing they want is do more stuff. I was just rolling my eyes at that stupidity.
And then there is Lola. I already despised her, but she didn't make it better in this one. That girl needs to learn how a fan needs to act. You can CLEARLY see your favourite band doesn't want you around because you are so obnoxious, you worm your way in their FREE TIME, you force yourself on them and their plans, and you offend people they care about. Maybe you need to just step back and do something else instead of obsess so much. Thanks. Bye.
So, those were my bad points.
One last thing: I did feel sorry for Kyle for what happened to his song, and how the record label reacted to it. Poor Kyle. :(
All in all though I did enjoy this book, and I flew through it. Before I knew it the book was over. I hope that there will be many more VIP books in the future, because there is still enough I want to see.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Though I did enjoy this one a bit less than the previous one. Sorry, I am not really that big of a fan of the things that happen in here. I hated those Thunder/Lightning (copycat boyband) guys. Lola was annoying again (though I did love the portion of karma she got at the end). There wasn't that much Kyle x Sam, and I am shipping these two like crazy. Plus I hated how 2 of the 3 guys in the band were just pretty much being rude towards Sam because what happens in this book.
I mean really, you guys think that she would just sell your secrets? Or give away your lyrics? Can't you guys think for one moment? Can't you guys just activate your brains. This is your #1 fan, this is the girl who did all those things for you in the previous book. She would do anything for you in this one as well. Yet, you are distrustful and at times quite mean.
Now before I go back to various other things that made me go RAGHHHHH, I want to talk about the good things.
We are touring again! Though this time there is less focus on that, but still, I was happy that Sam and her mom were going to all those places with the band again. We see much more of backstage, and we even see a recording session. It just made the band so much better.
Mac faces her fears! I love it when a character in a book does something brave. Faces their fears, or stands up against someone, oh, well you get the idea. :P
There is a ton of Jilly, and also enough Scarlet and Iris (either they are around or Mac/Jilly is talking to them on her phone). I really love these girls, they are so sweet and fun to be around.
Mac Attack/the comics. I just adored those in the previous book, and we get a whole bunch again in this one. I really wouldn't mind a whole book dedicated to this character. *puppy eyes*Please?
Even though it didn't have a lot of Kyle x Sam (or well, not as much as I had hoped), it did have some moments, and I was just squeeing and cheering. Mac was adorable. I know the feeling of melting in a puddle at the thought of the one you love/like. I also like how she is still daydreaming about Paris. I hope that the next book will have much more Mac and Kyle (maybe they can get together, aww please?).
There was a whole prank-war going. And while I found it going to far at times, I did had a laugh at what both bands did. From toothpaste in oreos to putting alarm clocks all over the hotel.
The ending was just perfect, and I was doing a fist-punch in happiness. Go Sam!
The mystery (or how did things get leaked even though Mac has a guard to watch her diary + who is the Kitty) was a delight, though it was quite easy to see who it was. Still I quite enjoyed it, and it was also fun to see the characters slowly figure things out.
The illustrations! Next to the comic there is a ton of illustrations and they make the book even more awesome to read. Sometimes I just laughed so hard at what happened in the illustrations.
Now for some stuff I didn't like (next to the one I already mentioned).
I hated Lightning/Thunder. Really, so your favourite band (Perfect Storm), the one you look up to, doesn't have time for you RIGHT THIS MINUTE, because oh hey, maybe they have been working for 10+ hours and they want to do something else for once, they have made plans? Yeah, of course that means that they hate their fans, and that they are bad guys. Really, why do you even think that? Why is that the first thing that comes into your mind. Why can't you understand that maybe, after 10+ hours, the last thing they want is do more stuff. I was just rolling my eyes at that stupidity.
And then there is Lola. I already despised her, but she didn't make it better in this one. That girl needs to learn how a fan needs to act. You can CLEARLY see your favourite band doesn't want you around because you are so obnoxious, you worm your way in their FREE TIME, you force yourself on them and their plans, and you offend people they care about. Maybe you need to just step back and do something else instead of obsess so much. Thanks. Bye.
So, those were my bad points.
One last thing: I did feel sorry for Kyle for what happened to his song, and how the record label reacted to it. Poor Kyle. :(
All in all though I did enjoy this book, and I flew through it. Before I knew it the book was over. I hope that there will be many more VIP books in the future, because there is still enough I want to see.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 8, 2016
I enjoyed the first volume of this series, and the second volume is also good, albeit maybe a little more unrealistic and boy-band-fantasy-oriented (which I suppose is the point). Lessons about trust and honesty abound here, and it's a nice companion to the other volume on a whole, but, like the first, hardly essential. Also closer to a 3.5.
January 26, 2017
Can't wait for the third book!
November 9, 2019
Kid rating: 4 stars
Adult rating: 2 stars
Apparently, I'm on the fringe with this one. I found it to be somewhat dull. Maybe if I had read book 1 first, I would feel differently.
Mackenzie's mom is the tour manager for the boy band "Perfect Storm," so she and her friends have total access to them. In fact, Mackenzie and Kyle have a sort of crush going on. He even wrote a song for her that the band hopes to record. Unfortunately, Mac leaves her journal lying around and the next thing she knows, a new boy duo is singing her song. They're totally trying to copy and overtake "Perfect Storm." Even their band name, "Thunder and Lightning," feels stolen. But somehow a vlogger is getting all the hidden scoop on the band members and is using it against them. The competition between the bands is heating up and Mac fears she will be implicated as the leaker.
It's a good book for tweens who aren't looking for master storytelling, deep characters, or profound wisdom. The plot is fairly basic, but there are far too many extraneous characters for me to keep up with. Adult band managers and their kids. Couldn't keep them straight. Partly because they are introduced, then given little development, so there's nothing to grab onto.
Good book for the less literary, realistic-loving crowd.
Adult rating: 2 stars
Apparently, I'm on the fringe with this one. I found it to be somewhat dull. Maybe if I had read book 1 first, I would feel differently.
Mackenzie's mom is the tour manager for the boy band "Perfect Storm," so she and her friends have total access to them. In fact, Mackenzie and Kyle have a sort of crush going on. He even wrote a song for her that the band hopes to record. Unfortunately, Mac leaves her journal lying around and the next thing she knows, a new boy duo is singing her song. They're totally trying to copy and overtake "Perfect Storm." Even their band name, "Thunder and Lightning," feels stolen. But somehow a vlogger is getting all the hidden scoop on the band members and is using it against them. The competition between the bands is heating up and Mac fears she will be implicated as the leaker.
It's a good book for tweens who aren't looking for master storytelling, deep characters, or profound wisdom. The plot is fairly basic, but there are far too many extraneous characters for me to keep up with. Adult band managers and their kids. Couldn't keep them straight. Partly because they are introduced, then given little development, so there's nothing to grab onto.
Good book for the less literary, realistic-loving crowd.
September 7, 2024
lots of pranks
Predictable but not awful. We knew bad kitty was Lola from the beginning. It’s pretty sad that the boys were able to steal someone else’s song that quickly and didn’t question where it was from. The Raven guy knew it was PS’s. How could he have let them record it without saying anything??
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the music business but that seems like a breech of contract. He had said he didn’t think it would be their single but allows another duo to sing the same exact song and let it be released as a single?
The boys are all young and immature and stay immature through most of the story.
Predictable but not awful. We knew bad kitty was Lola from the beginning. It’s pretty sad that the boys were able to steal someone else’s song that quickly and didn’t question where it was from. The Raven guy knew it was PS’s. How could he have let them record it without saying anything??
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the music business but that seems like a breech of contract. He had said he didn’t think it would be their single but allows another duo to sing the same exact song and let it be released as a single?
The boys are all young and immature and stay immature through most of the story.
June 1, 2017
I recently purchased this book and I found it very enjoyable. Of course, sequels are never as great as the original(with the exception of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins), but there was nothing wrong with this book. Although I wish I could've seen more of Mac and Kyle, the plot and artistry were adorable. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick, entertaining read.
June 4, 2020
Absolutely loved this book! Like, the girl gets to go with her dream band? Yes she dies! Awesome! Also, this is not a spoiler, you find this out in the first few pages, and when you read the back of the book, so don't worry. I definitely recommend reading this book and reading the other books in this series!
January 20, 2018
Great read!!! Tell me there are MORE!!!!! (-: !!!
September 4, 2018
I LOVED the two books in this series, but can someone please write something similar in YA? I need romance 😍😂
June 22, 2022
Best book series I have read so far this summer. Loved every bit of it.
September 19, 2022
Don't entirety remember this book and I'll update this review if I reread it.
July 20, 2016
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
What an achievement it is to say that I finished this series in a day. I actually read the two VIP books in a matter of hours because they were oh-so-good and so entertaining. Parents of girls who are not really interested in reading (and you want them to be), Jen Calonita's VIP series is the series that will satisfy your kids and have them commence reading like maniacs. I wish that this series existed when I was a kid, because I swear that I would've enjoyed it so much. I would have been so satisfied, so excited, obsessed with the characters and most especially, obsessed with Perfect Storm, a trio of cute guys that fangirls need to be real. Anyway, I'm getting too ahead of myself, because obviously these guys don't exist. Battle of the Bands is a lovely sequel that touches base with the previous book, reaching the same level and still being really good and enjoyable.
This sequel kicks off a few months after Mac's Spring Fling, and things get right into the action. Perfect Storm is still successful, causing teenage girls to awe and ooh over everything they do, which means that Mac and her mom are still able to tour with them as long as they are successful. Drama begins off right away, especially because as the title states, there is a battle between bands, and Perfect Storm is caught in it. We readers are introduced to Thunder and Lightning, a rip-off band of Perfect Storm who are signed with the same label. PS soon discovers that Thunder and Lightning has stolen a song that Kyle has written for Mac, and it goes viral. Next thing we know, a vlogger gets in the way, gossiping and creating a false, negative image of Perfect Storm.
I liked how Jen Calonita created this novel. The first book was about the introduction to the characters, to the show business, to tours, and especially to Perfect Storm and its members. Now, since we readers know the characters well and what they're up to, the real drama begins. I loved the catfights, how tough Mac became, and everything in between. We don't really see a broad character development for anyone (which I would have loved)—that would be a flaw for me. Mac deserved that extra push since she does have an Alter Ego for herself, this comic book character called Mac Attack. Comics are included in the book, but I wasn't really entertained by them since they didn't mean/add anything to the plot.
That's why I have occasional issues with books. Authors like to add, add and add more, but in the end, the reason they added something in is senseless because it doesn't help with development, details or anything in particular. I loved Mac, as I did in the first book, but nothing changed about her. She was tough, but not confident to the extent that she wanted to see herself as.
There certainly was development with friendships. I love Jilly and Mac's friendship, and how from the first book to this sequel, they have gotten tighter and closer. NOTHING NEW WITH KYLE AND MAC. Like yeah, this is middle-grade, but there's nothing cute. *cries* We also see a nice relationship between Mac and her mother—one that is rarely featured in middle-grade fiction. Occasionally in the past, I have even read books where there is no parent present, but Mac and her mom are just great in this book, just how some mothers and daughters realistically are.
I really liked the Bad Kitty addition. It's fun for kids to wait and guess who a mysterious person could be from one of the characters that they know. It was predictable for me, but from what my sister told me when she read this, it wasn't for her. I guess younger kids would love the ending, ten times more than I did. That's a definite good sign.
VIP: Battle of the Bands is exactly the kind of sequel I have been looking for in a middle grade series. In fact, it has been a while since I've read a middle-grade series, and I thank Jen Calonita for teleporting me back. There are so many young girls in the world who would appreciate this humorous, lively series filled with characters who you just cannot get out of your head. Go grab the two books now and fall in love!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
What an achievement it is to say that I finished this series in a day. I actually read the two VIP books in a matter of hours because they were oh-so-good and so entertaining. Parents of girls who are not really interested in reading (and you want them to be), Jen Calonita's VIP series is the series that will satisfy your kids and have them commence reading like maniacs. I wish that this series existed when I was a kid, because I swear that I would've enjoyed it so much. I would have been so satisfied, so excited, obsessed with the characters and most especially, obsessed with Perfect Storm, a trio of cute guys that fangirls need to be real. Anyway, I'm getting too ahead of myself, because obviously these guys don't exist. Battle of the Bands is a lovely sequel that touches base with the previous book, reaching the same level and still being really good and enjoyable.
This sequel kicks off a few months after Mac's Spring Fling, and things get right into the action. Perfect Storm is still successful, causing teenage girls to awe and ooh over everything they do, which means that Mac and her mom are still able to tour with them as long as they are successful. Drama begins off right away, especially because as the title states, there is a battle between bands, and Perfect Storm is caught in it. We readers are introduced to Thunder and Lightning, a rip-off band of Perfect Storm who are signed with the same label. PS soon discovers that Thunder and Lightning has stolen a song that Kyle has written for Mac, and it goes viral. Next thing we know, a vlogger gets in the way, gossiping and creating a false, negative image of Perfect Storm.
I liked how Jen Calonita created this novel. The first book was about the introduction to the characters, to the show business, to tours, and especially to Perfect Storm and its members. Now, since we readers know the characters well and what they're up to, the real drama begins. I loved the catfights, how tough Mac became, and everything in between. We don't really see a broad character development for anyone (which I would have loved)—that would be a flaw for me. Mac deserved that extra push since she does have an Alter Ego for herself, this comic book character called Mac Attack. Comics are included in the book, but I wasn't really entertained by them since they didn't mean/add anything to the plot.
That's why I have occasional issues with books. Authors like to add, add and add more, but in the end, the reason they added something in is senseless because it doesn't help with development, details or anything in particular. I loved Mac, as I did in the first book, but nothing changed about her. She was tough, but not confident to the extent that she wanted to see herself as.
There certainly was development with friendships. I love Jilly and Mac's friendship, and how from the first book to this sequel, they have gotten tighter and closer. NOTHING NEW WITH KYLE AND MAC. Like yeah, this is middle-grade, but there's nothing cute. *cries* We also see a nice relationship between Mac and her mother—one that is rarely featured in middle-grade fiction. Occasionally in the past, I have even read books where there is no parent present, but Mac and her mom are just great in this book, just how some mothers and daughters realistically are.
I really liked the Bad Kitty addition. It's fun for kids to wait and guess who a mysterious person could be from one of the characters that they know. It was predictable for me, but from what my sister told me when she read this, it wasn't for her. I guess younger kids would love the ending, ten times more than I did. That's a definite good sign.
VIP: Battle of the Bands is exactly the kind of sequel I have been looking for in a middle grade series. In fact, it has been a while since I've read a middle-grade series, and I thank Jen Calonita for teleporting me back. There are so many young girls in the world who would appreciate this humorous, lively series filled with characters who you just cannot get out of your head. Go grab the two books now and fall in love!
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
October 16, 2019
I really commend this book to everybody. There are some comics. The summary is that Mac and her favorite band Perfect Storm went to tour. But there is a problem. Someone called Bad Kitty was saying bad things about them! Also, another boy band group named Lightning and Thunder stoled PS's song! Are they going to fix this problem?
March 20, 2017
I thought it was a very self inspired book.
October 1, 2016
I'd had VIP: I'm With the Band on my to-read list for a while but hadn't realised there was a second book, so it was just good luck that I'm visiting my parents and my mum happened to be going to one of the big library branches, and this was very conveniently there.
The series remains both cute and too young for me. In Battle of the Bands, Mac's beloved boy band is threatened by the rise of another boy band—one willing to stoop to stealing unreleased songs and breaking into the tour bus. To be fair, the stakes for these kids are legitimately pretty high (if the band doesn't take off, there's no guarantee that they'll ever have the same chances in the music industry again), but, uh, I am maybe too old to be especially amused by a bunch of kids getting in very public spats with the competition? You'd think it would be enough to sour public opinion.
At its base, though, this is simple pre-teen wish fulfillment: girl gets to become besties with [insert favourite band here]; whichever ones do not provide romantic potential are like the cool (and nice, and playful) older brothers she never knew she wanted. As a bonus, Mac seems like one of those kids who is normally somewhere in the middle, neither the picked-upon dork nor the super-pretty Queen of the Populars; it gives her more room to be an interesting character without falling into a very standard type. I imagine the series going over like gangbusters in middle schools.
The series remains both cute and too young for me. In Battle of the Bands, Mac's beloved boy band is threatened by the rise of another boy band—one willing to stoop to stealing unreleased songs and breaking into the tour bus. To be fair, the stakes for these kids are legitimately pretty high (if the band doesn't take off, there's no guarantee that they'll ever have the same chances in the music industry again), but, uh, I am maybe too old to be especially amused by a bunch of kids getting in very public spats with the competition? You'd think it would be enough to sour public opinion.
At its base, though, this is simple pre-teen wish fulfillment: girl gets to become besties with [insert favourite band here]; whichever ones do not provide romantic potential are like the cool (and nice, and playful) older brothers she never knew she wanted. As a bonus, Mac seems like one of those kids who is normally somewhere in the middle, neither the picked-upon dork nor the super-pretty Queen of the Populars; it gives her more room to be an interesting character without falling into a very standard type. I imagine the series going over like gangbusters in middle schools.
November 10, 2016
Okay, so this is for middle schoolers, and some of that showed - I could tell who the "villain" was long before the characters did - but you know what? It was so cute, I loved it anyway. There's that first-crush going on, and the coolness of seeing the behind-the-scenes of fame. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
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August 26, 2016Jen Calonita's books are so fun.
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