The Sweetest Sound

Gr 4–6—Ten-year-old Cadence Mariah Jolley is surrounded by music. She refers to Mariah Carey as her "fairy godmother" and lives in Harmony, PA, and her favorite day of the week is Sunday, when she joins her friends in the church choir. The girl inherited a beautiful voice from her mother, who left town to pursue her own dreams when Cadence was seven. Since that day, Cadence has struggled with change. Her father does his best as a single parent, but Cadence thinks he worries too much. She knows her voice is special, but she is afraid of the spotlight. When a new church choir director arrives, Cadence takes a risk and tapes what she believes is a private recording of her singing in the hope that she will be recognized for her gift. Things don't go according to plan, and soon Cadence has to decide if she can share the power of her voice—both musically and personally. She has the support of a distinctive cast of characters: her brother Junior, who helps Cadence navigate her relationship with her father and come to terms with her mother's absence; her two best friends, Zara and Faith, who represent the loyalty and jealousy that mark middle grade relationships; and her aunt Fannie, who loves and supports her throughout.