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Tempo Change
It’s tough enough defining your identity—imagine if your father was a rock legend.
Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.
When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?
Author Barbara Hall sensitively explores the expectations between parents and teens, as well as the value of learning about your past to make your own future.
Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.
When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?
Author Barbara Hall sensitively explores the expectations between parents and teens, as well as the value of learning about your past to make your own future.
247 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hall
83 books47 followersTo TV audiences she may be better known as a four-time Emmy-nominated writer and producer (Joan of Arcadia, Judging Amy) and the co-Executive Producer of Homeland, but to avid readers she’s a novelist with 11 published works whose imagination has been honored by numerous institutions, including the American Library Association in both their Best Books and Notable Books categories.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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October 27, 2017The book I’m reading is Tempo Change by Barbara Hall. Blanche is not the normal type of kid. To start things off, her dad left her when she was six. Then her mom started to become drawn to her room. She did get help, but not right away. Now her lead band singer Viv, has now turned up missing in the forest, Blanche has no idea now what to do.Blanche, her mom and her band, now like their new set up. Her band is now the best in her town. But back at home she is a hard school student and tries to get everything done the best she can. She always realizes that on first try things aren't going to go the way she wants them to, and she now knows that life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows, and sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. Blanche’s internal Conflict is Character vs Self the evidence is Blanche has just had almost half of her band split up. She is trying to debate whether to get her band back together and play at Coachella. Or give up and not fulfill her dream of becoming a famous guitarist. It was because on page 56 Gigi said “ If we can't have a band mate that is going to be loyal, I quit.” The External Conflict is Character vs nature I know this because Viv is one of the band members, and is taking a hike with her family in the middle of the forest on a dirt path and gets lost from her mom and dad. Just then a snow storm rolls in and the rest of the band doesn't know if she can take the weather. This happened on page 45 when Viv says “ I know you guys think I'm crazy but I'm telling you it's real.” I liked this book because it has a lot of foreshadowing about what might happen to some of the characters and it sometimes let's us off with a mystery at the end of each chapter. It also explains the feeling and emotion of each character from how they like each other one minute and then don't the next and in between it tells a lot of detail. Even though this is a fun book for all I would recommend the book to people that are 12 and older, just because of some of the language. And this is a book for all genders, because it is a girl who likes to act more like a boy.
May 26, 2009
Review: I really had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked this book up. Will it be about the road to fame? Will it be about family troubles once her father leaves? And the biggest question of them all was will it be amazing? The answer to all the questions was yes…well to the last, pretty much, but not fully.
We start from the basics—band mates. The entire process was short, one line long. How? Blanche is a writer for the school newspaper so she wrote in her column that she and her bands (insert names here) will be joining the talent show. That’s basically it. The girls confronted her about it and they were fine with it. Yeah, that was not the best part of the book…
Anyway what was nice about this book was how the author included some lyrics and old songs. Some inspirations that helped Blanche. Not full blown lyrics, just a line or two.
Blanche was well rounded. She had motives, passion, and depth. Behind the music it was a ploy to bring back her father. For him to be proud of her. For her to show what she accomplished. Too bad her father ruined it all (is keeping my lips shut about that). But I thought she might have been too perfect in some areas. Straight A’s, writing songs, rehearsing, her job, she managed to excel in everything.
This book had a bit more religion than I expected. Angels, God, and prayers seem to play a big role. You can either love, hate, or ignore this part. I just ignored it. Not a big fan of religion in books.
The ending, without a doubt, was the best part of the book. Conflict ensues. Heated words, father and daughter bonding, deeper sense of emotions from both ends, and some resolution! I felt that in some way we never meet the father. Short, terse emails do not do justice to his true nature.
Overall: Not much actually happened in the book. Pretty good read. I do not really see “…the value of learning about your past to make your own future,” from the summary.
We start from the basics—band mates. The entire process was short, one line long. How? Blanche is a writer for the school newspaper so she wrote in her column that she and her bands (insert names here) will be joining the talent show. That’s basically it. The girls confronted her about it and they were fine with it. Yeah, that was not the best part of the book…
Anyway what was nice about this book was how the author included some lyrics and old songs. Some inspirations that helped Blanche. Not full blown lyrics, just a line or two.
Blanche was well rounded. She had motives, passion, and depth. Behind the music it was a ploy to bring back her father. For him to be proud of her. For her to show what she accomplished. Too bad her father ruined it all (is keeping my lips shut about that). But I thought she might have been too perfect in some areas. Straight A’s, writing songs, rehearsing, her job, she managed to excel in everything.
This book had a bit more religion than I expected. Angels, God, and prayers seem to play a big role. You can either love, hate, or ignore this part. I just ignored it. Not a big fan of religion in books.
The ending, without a doubt, was the best part of the book. Conflict ensues. Heated words, father and daughter bonding, deeper sense of emotions from both ends, and some resolution! I felt that in some way we never meet the father. Short, terse emails do not do justice to his true nature.
Overall: Not much actually happened in the book. Pretty good read. I do not really see “…the value of learning about your past to make your own future,” from the summary.
July 5, 2009
I really liked the main character, Blanche's voice. She's spunky, sarcastic and she speaks her mind. She is what she is and she seems fine with it. She has a unique perspective.
One of my favorite things about this book was Blanche's journey to Coachella and meeting her father again. In the form of creating a band called the Fringers from girls she plucked from different parts of her life (her friend, a girl with a wonderful voice in her choir class, and a girl she works with but never really knew). She brings them together and creates what looks a really awesome band. I love the whole scene that they get thrust into and how they bond as a group and become friends and what it helps Blanche learn about herself.
My other favorite thing was Blanche's family. Her and her mother trying to cope with her father leaving when she was six, why did he leave, would he ever come back? And also Blanche trying to get used to a new man in her mother's life, one that also might have some insight to offer her.
I thought Blanche's reunion with her father was an interesting one, I found it rather honest.
About half way through the book there is a strange twist that sort of takes the attention away from Blanche. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It was interesting but at the same time I think I could have done without it and spent a little bit more time with Blanche just being Blanche. So there's that.
Overall I found this book to be pretty unique and enjoyable!
One of my favorite things about this book was Blanche's journey to Coachella and meeting her father again. In the form of creating a band called the Fringers from girls she plucked from different parts of her life (her friend, a girl with a wonderful voice in her choir class, and a girl she works with but never really knew). She brings them together and creates what looks a really awesome band. I love the whole scene that they get thrust into and how they bond as a group and become friends and what it helps Blanche learn about herself.
My other favorite thing was Blanche's family. Her and her mother trying to cope with her father leaving when she was six, why did he leave, would he ever come back? And also Blanche trying to get used to a new man in her mother's life, one that also might have some insight to offer her.
I thought Blanche's reunion with her father was an interesting one, I found it rather honest.
About half way through the book there is a strange twist that sort of takes the attention away from Blanche. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It was interesting but at the same time I think I could have done without it and spent a little bit more time with Blanche just being Blanche. So there's that.
Overall I found this book to be pretty unique and enjoyable!
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
"There was so much to say......Now I had someone to say it to."
Blanche Kelly knows good music. She knows music because of her father, Duncan Kelly. He was a musical genius, in his prime.
But most of the people at Laurel Hall Academy (fondly referred to as LaHa by its students) don't know this detail of her life. She tries to keep his influence hidden, but it's always there - the guitar he left with her mother; the music column that she writes for the school newspaper; the snippets of lyrics that Blanche begins to pen.
It all culminates with the creation of The Fringers, an all-female rock band, sprung from the mind of Blanche Kelly herself. Blanche does not necessarily want to start a band, but her over-bearing guidance counselor feels that it would be best if Blanche "stretch" herself artistically. So, The Fringers are born, and a journey begins.
Blanche learns much about herself as a musician, as a daughter, and as a person. Her journey is surreal, yet surprising and profound.
TEMPO CHANGE is an excellent novel. It reminded me a lot of the film Almost Famous. William Miller and Blanche Kelly are very similar characters. Both are thrust into the music industry and must find their way without losing any integrity. Even if you are not familiar with Almost Famous, the book still resonates.
If you are passionate about something, anything, read this.
"There was so much to say......Now I had someone to say it to."
Blanche Kelly knows good music. She knows music because of her father, Duncan Kelly. He was a musical genius, in his prime.
But most of the people at Laurel Hall Academy (fondly referred to as LaHa by its students) don't know this detail of her life. She tries to keep his influence hidden, but it's always there - the guitar he left with her mother; the music column that she writes for the school newspaper; the snippets of lyrics that Blanche begins to pen.
It all culminates with the creation of The Fringers, an all-female rock band, sprung from the mind of Blanche Kelly herself. Blanche does not necessarily want to start a band, but her over-bearing guidance counselor feels that it would be best if Blanche "stretch" herself artistically. So, The Fringers are born, and a journey begins.
Blanche learns much about herself as a musician, as a daughter, and as a person. Her journey is surreal, yet surprising and profound.
TEMPO CHANGE is an excellent novel. It reminded me a lot of the film Almost Famous. William Miller and Blanche Kelly are very similar characters. Both are thrust into the music industry and must find their way without losing any integrity. Even if you are not familiar with Almost Famous, the book still resonates.
If you are passionate about something, anything, read this.
September 29, 2017
I could not get into this book the most interesting part was when a bandmember got lost in the woods. Blanche was literally your stereotypical teenager who wants to be a musician. I only finished the book because I thought something good would happen which never did. This book was very boring and had no action to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2010
it was ok, but i didn't find it very interesting. I didn't even feel like finishing it, so i didn't. the ending could have been good, but i didn't get that far. There are way more other books to spend time on.
February 21, 2022
You were so bad I wanted to give you a zero, but that’s not possible, so gave you a 1
December 17, 2016
It was decent. Blanche's snobbery got old, especially since her tastes were so mainstream. But the story took some turns I didn't expect and her relationship with her stepfather and gradual maturing throughout the story were fun to read.
March 6, 2013
Tempo Change begins with Blanche Kelly receiving a phone call from someone at whatever music magazine it is that isn’t Rolling Stone but is still kind of a big deal. That person wants to talk to her about what happened at Coachella. Blanche hopes that it’ll be about her band’s performance, but knows it won’t and is utterly unsurprised when the caller says, “About your dad and what happened there with him.” The magazine figures Blanche would have a unique perspective and asks her to write something about it. Blanche can’t just write a short piece. She writes Tempo Change.
Blanche starts out with what it’s like to grow up with a rock star dad. At first, you don’t really know that other kids don’t live the way you do, and you just assume that everybody is famous, not just your dad. And then you meet the real world and dad leaves and mom is a drunk and life is hard and then you’re a scholarship kid at a crappy private school working part-time at a crappy pizza joint. The thing about kids of people who had been really famous and aren’t famous any longer is that they’ve experienced the dark side of fame and art and talent like most people haven’t. Blanche is afraid of being too musical because her dad was a slave to his music. He fell into despair when he wasn’t creating, and was an obsessive disappearing act when he was.
But Blanche can’t avoid music. She’s been secretly writing songs, and gets the idea to form a band with some schoolmates. Next thing you know, her band is winning competitions, each of which provides the band with a bigger and better opportunity to perform at a bigger forum. Obviously culminating in Coachella, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Creating a band is hard work, especially when you’re keeping it from your mom because you don’t want her to worry that you’re turning into your father. To a point, it’s impossible NOT to turn into her father, because the music moves in Blanche and she has to write and she has to play and she has to create. But she isn’t her dad. She’s well-grounded in life. She gets (and, more importantly, TAKES) good advice from both her parents, and manages to get stuff done.
Eventually you figure out what happened at Coachella and why the magazine wants to hear about it. I won’t tell you that part. It was a decent book, quick read, and fun. But there wasn’t much to it. Oh, and the book was far too long to get into the magazine, obviously. That’s why it’s a book. I won’t read it again or probably ever think about the characters again, but it has some great thoughts on music and if you like music it has some great history stuff built in that’s worth hearing about.
Blanche starts out with what it’s like to grow up with a rock star dad. At first, you don’t really know that other kids don’t live the way you do, and you just assume that everybody is famous, not just your dad. And then you meet the real world and dad leaves and mom is a drunk and life is hard and then you’re a scholarship kid at a crappy private school working part-time at a crappy pizza joint. The thing about kids of people who had been really famous and aren’t famous any longer is that they’ve experienced the dark side of fame and art and talent like most people haven’t. Blanche is afraid of being too musical because her dad was a slave to his music. He fell into despair when he wasn’t creating, and was an obsessive disappearing act when he was.
But Blanche can’t avoid music. She’s been secretly writing songs, and gets the idea to form a band with some schoolmates. Next thing you know, her band is winning competitions, each of which provides the band with a bigger and better opportunity to perform at a bigger forum. Obviously culminating in Coachella, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Creating a band is hard work, especially when you’re keeping it from your mom because you don’t want her to worry that you’re turning into your father. To a point, it’s impossible NOT to turn into her father, because the music moves in Blanche and she has to write and she has to play and she has to create. But she isn’t her dad. She’s well-grounded in life. She gets (and, more importantly, TAKES) good advice from both her parents, and manages to get stuff done.
Eventually you figure out what happened at Coachella and why the magazine wants to hear about it. I won’t tell you that part. It was a decent book, quick read, and fun. But there wasn’t much to it. Oh, and the book was far too long to get into the magazine, obviously. That’s why it’s a book. I won’t read it again or probably ever think about the characters again, but it has some great thoughts on music and if you like music it has some great history stuff built in that’s worth hearing about.
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October 8, 2012This was a great coming of age and understanding story. A great, realistic view of the world of art and music.
Blanche it's the daughter of Assn ex-famous musician who left when she was 6. Now in high school, she is faced with the feelings and realities of her life and the artist in her.
Very enjoyable read.
Blanche it's the daughter of Assn ex-famous musician who left when she was 6. Now in high school, she is faced with the feelings and realities of her life and the artist in her.
Very enjoyable read.
March 28, 2020
I think the main girl had pretty good character development, but I would have loved to see her dad’s story line go a little farther. They should have had more time to decide on things instead of being put on the spot and rushed right out of the story line. I did like how it handles religion!
March 16, 2010
This book was really good. the part were the girl was in her room sitting down on her bed and thinking about the things like her mom was the most good part of the whole book
June 9, 2010
A YA book with a musical background. I enjoyed the book, although there was some teenage angst.
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September 14, 2011Really good book:) I hope everybody on the Saber Cats will read this book:)
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November 17, 2011so far its good i havnt gotten that far into it thought right now but im hoping that ill really like it.!!!!!!!! :]
July 21, 2018
Nice enough character, but I expected better from the creator of my beloved Joan of Arcadia. High school bands that are not the cool instrumental kind = blah.
April 24, 2013
The plot wasn't overly detailed in this story but it was quite thought provoking at times.
Not a bad little read.
Not a bad little read.
January 9, 2014
Good book but I wouldn't say that it was for older people. It's more for teen girls
August 6, 2014
Wasn't really attention grabbing. I even put it down for about a week at one point. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, it was a decent read. It was just boring.
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June 7, 2014good
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