Getting the Brush Off

by Mere Joyce

Two years ago, sixteen-year-old Sydney Hart was kicked out of the prestigious Burke Academy when her mother could no longer afford the tuition. She lost a promising future in the arts, as well as her best friend, who didn't want to be seen with an art-academy reject. But now, without Burke's rigid structure, Sydney has found her true passion in performance painting and is busking on Halifax's boardwalk to earn enough money to go to art camp. After the police shut her down, Sydney learns her old school is hosting a -brush-off- speed-painting contest with a cash prize. Entering would mean facing her painful past, not to mention her former friend, who's also competing.

120 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2017

About the author

Mere Joyce is an autistic, Canadian author of more than a dozen books for middle grade, young adult, and adult audiences. She writes across genres but holds a particular fondness for darker tales. A librarian by trade, Mere holds a Master of Library and Information Science, and when she's not writing, she can be found teaching library studies or spending time with her family in Nova Scotia.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is for ages 11-14, and I think is perfect for that. It deals with dancing, art, self-expression, joy, and just about everything that goes on in the whirlwind of high school. Very straightforward and satisfying.
Set in Halifax, too, which is nice!

[Michelle Van Dyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prob a 3.5
Simple, quick read
Nothing annoying
Likable characters
Good msg about being true to yourself