Encore to an Empty Room

Gr 9 Up—At the end of Exile (HarperCollins, 2014), Dangerheart became the hot new band once it was revealed that lead singer Caleb is the son of famous artist Eli White—and that Eli has left clues to find his lost songs. In this sequel, the band follows the clues to find Eli's songs, all while Caleb is trying to emerge from his father's shadow. Dangerheart's manager, Catherine Summer Carlson, continues to narrate in this entry. Readers feel connected to the issues that the protagonist faces, and the story line flows easily through her wit and intellect. The narratives presents both sides of the teen's life: as Summer, she navigates rock concerts, friends, dating Caleb, and the big mystery surrounding Caleb and Eli, while as Catherine, she copes with family, homework, and possibly law school. Which path will she choose? Teens will identify with the feeling of being caught between two worlds and will recognize the difficulty of following one's passions.