I'm Glad I Did

Gr 7 Up—It's the summer of 1963 in New York City. JJ Green has a spot at Columbia in the fall, but all she can think about is getting a job at Good Music Publishing. Her parents want her to follow their footsteps and become a lawyer and go nowhere near the music industry, but JJ's always been the black sheep of the family, secretly writing songs and thinking about being a "spinner of dreams." When she lands the gig at Good Music, the teen has to make a deal with her parents before she signs her contract: get one of her songs recorded before the summer's over or give up songwriting. Although it's a big risk, JJ's willing to take it just to know if her songs really have a chance. Legendary songwriter and debut author Weil knows firsthand the electric excitement and activity the teen would have encountered at her job in the famous Brill Building. In her first novel, Weil is ambitious: attempting to capture the feeling of that historic summer and the flavor of the music industry. The topical references—from Medgar Evers to payola scandals to Bob Dylan—often feel forced into the already full narrative, which includes JJ's coming-of-age, a romance, and a murder mystery. Descriptions of the songwriting and producing process are more successful, if a little dry. The heartbeat of this story though is JJ Green, an emotionally vulnerable but determined protagonist with an authentic voice. Her desire to succeed and create something beautiful will connect with readers who also have a creative spark.—Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York City