After the Wallpaper Music

Gr 5-7–Eighth-grader Flora lives for playing her violin. She and her friends have even formed a quartet that plays classical music at local events and has a following. When a Battle of the Bands is announced, it is a given that they will enter. But when a new student, Simon, moves to town, he brings with him an idea that Flora does not just have to play classical music—her violin can also play some of the great rock songs! With Battle of the Bands on the horizon and the pressure to play with not one, but two bands, Flora is not sure where her future lies in music. Can she be everything to her friends while staying true to herself? With the focus fully on Flora, readers will get a chance to see the inner workings of her family and community. The middle school dynamics also ring true. But the problem starts with a cover that will not have readers jumping to read it. The second problem is that emotion feels surface level, the issues somewhat skimmed over even though Flora seems to have a lot going on.