Boy Seeking Band

by Steve Brezenoff

Terence Kato is a prodigy bass player, but he's determined to finish middle school on a high note. Life has other plans. In eighth grade, he's forced to transfer from a private arts school to a public school, where the kids seemingly speak a different language. Luckily, Terence knows a universal one: music. He sets out to build a rock band and, in the process, make a few friends. However, great music and great friendships aren't always in harmony.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Music, Contemporary

96 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Steve Brezenoff is the author of the young adult novels The Absolute Value of -1 and Brooklyn, Burning, and his third, Guy In Real Life, will be released in 2014. He has also written dozens of chapter books for younger readers. Though Steve grew up in a suburb on Long Island, he now lives with his wife and their son in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting a new school, Terrence meets Eddie, an alternative styled girl who also secretly sings in the school basement after school. Her brother who is a well built sax player and her twin acts like he doesn't like Terence and he feels intimidated easily by him.

At his new school they have a jazz band in which anyone joins if they play an instrument and Terence plays bass guitar already which is why he went to his old school, a private music and art school first. Unfortunately, his mum died from illness leaving his dad depressed hardly leaving the house and his bed at all.

Yet as Terence forms his own band at his new school and they enter into a competition battle of the bands style, he has to face his old band from his last school.

We see Terence's struggle to get emotionally attached to people after losing his mum suddenly. The lessons in the book's storyline's show friendship and standing up for each other as well as how fitting in with others you judge wrongly at first isn't always a bad thing.

[Lisa Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for a fresh take on a familiar tune. Adults may read it as the"same old song": the new boy at school, bullies in the hallways, learning to make new friends, and a troubled father-son relationship. Pre-Teen readers, however, will be swift to welcome this dedicated music-themed story that boasts authentic sounds of Middle School Life: the classroom culture, the cafeteria, the handbook, the school band in the basement, and most of all -- the dialogue and diversity of the characters. A "G-rated" story costumed in a "cool YA" cover, this book is a "must have" for school libraries and would serve as a great classroom read-aloud for teachers. Well done, Steve Brezenoff! ARC copy via Netgalley.com ~ Lisa Brennan, Middle School Librarian @noveltalk

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terence Kato the new kid at school and he's looking to start a band - one just as good as the band he played bass in at his old private school before his mom died. But finding bandmates can be tougher (and more surprising) than Terence ever thought it would be. He might even find some friends along the way.
This was an ADORABLE middle grade book about some kids starting a jazz band that ultimately becomes more trip-hop and way hipper than any of them assumed it would be. The characters were unique and believable, the plotline was fun, and the ultimate message of friendship was perfect for a middle grade book.
Also, it's full of 14-year-olds who know more about music than most adults, so that was fun.
Highly recommended for young music lovers and for those who love heart-warming stories.

[Marisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing controversial about this young middle grade book-or that interesting.
8th grade boy lost his mother last year, his dad is depressed, he has to leave his too expensive music middle school, move, and make all new friends.
Except he’s very clear he doesn’t want to make friends, he wants to make a band.
Clunky, uninspired, and predictable story. Eddie’s voice can only be described as ‘cool’ so many times. The not romance was awkward and he shows he liked her by not talking to her, being rude, and not taking the bus with her even though it was winter and cold.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher of eighth grade students, I have never run into students who act like they do in this book. This is of course an issue I run into often with middle grade novels. These characters read more like high school students and works better if I just ignore the middle school aspect and treat them as high schoolers. Other than that, I enjoyed this. The character, if thought of as a high schooler, is relatable, and I enjoyed is story arch connected with the rest of his band.

[Sean A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the greatest books I've ever read! Meet Terrence, an eighth grader who is now transferring from a private school, to a public school. Along the way, he wants to start a band, like what he did in his old school. I loved the part when they performed in front of everybody in the mall. I'd recommend this book if you're into music, and fiction.

[Jackson G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was good. I thought it was a good book because it was kind of like a comeback book. I say this because the book stared out with a boy who moved to this new town and doesn't know anyone. It is also like a comeback book because it was set right after his mom died and it showed how you can start with nothing and end up with everything

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and quick read about middle school students bonding over music. Give this one to fans of "Guitar Notes" and musical readers who understand the bond that musicians have with each other over the shared language of music. Enjoyable.

[Zachary Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tis was a ok book. I liked most parts were he compared his old schools band to his new schools band but in some places in the book I just got confused and had to read things over again. Over all this book was worth it.

[Manintheboat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subtracted a star for a Dead Parent theme.

[C. L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*sigh* I wanted to like this more than I did. But the main character had a Gary Stu problem (*why* is everyone so determined to be his friend? What has he done to earn that kind of effort to overcome his prickliness?) as well as a female protagonist who leans a little too Manic Pixie Dream Girl for my tastes. Also, maybe I've just read a rough set of books lately, but I'm tired of stories that rag on public schools. That being said, the writing itself is engaging and enjoyable, and the plot moves smoothly (though it felt more like a YA than an MG.) I'd give it 2.5 stars, but I rounded up out of fondness for Midwestern settings. No particular recommendation one way or the other. (Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.)

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Capstone Publishers for the ARC, provided via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Jazzy stars!

This was an enjoyable book. Boy Seeking Band has all the elements of a great coming-of-age novel. It has bullies, changing circumstances, loss, friendship and a kickass band.

I liked the group dynamic of the band. I got a lot of Lemonade Mouth feelings. I liked the different styles of each band member and how the band dynamic progressed in a graceful way from chapter to chapter.

I really liked the book; however I still had a few issues with it. Terrence was sometimes too arrogant for someone his age in my opinion. He was rude and inconsiderate to most of the characters, especially to his father’s circumstances. I know that he is just a kid, but his blasé attitude kinda irked me at times.

I also felt that he could have been a bit more friendlier and approachable as a character, as his obsession with his talent and himself kind of overshadowed the story.
I also want to convey that the ages of the characters felt a bit weird at times. They gave me an impression of 16/17 year olds and not 13/14 year olds. But hey, that can just be me, I don’t know, maybe I am getting old! Ha!

Overall, Boy Seeking Band is a enjoyable coming-of-age story that readers will enjoy.

I recommend this book to readers, whether young or old, who enjoy middle grade and YA genres. If you enjoy band stories where bands come together despite differences, in order to kick some ass and make a splash, then this is the book for you.

Kindly check out my review on my blog, which is full of gifs and other details!

https://thebookwormreader.wordpress.c...

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book. Very creative and intrerging. I liked it a lot

[Brendan Creaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty goood book.