This Song Will Save Your Life

Gr 9 Up—Elise Dembowski hopes that by studying how to be cool, she can put an end to the bullying that has plagued her since the fourth grade. But when the first day of sophomore year goes nothing like she planned, she almost ends her life. Months later, Elise stumbles upon an underground dance club called Start. Char, the disc jockey, recognizes Elise's musical talent and offers to teach her DJing. At Start, Elise finds the acceptance she has always wanted. She develops a friendship with a college girl named Vicky and becomes intimate with Char. Her secret DJ life gives her strength to endure the torment of school, but it isn't long before her classmates discover a blog called "Elise Dembowski's Super-Secret Diary." How does the author seem to know all of Elise's deepest, darkest thoughts? And how will Elise react when the walls between her regular life and her secret life come crumbling down? Sales, author of Past Perfect (S. & S., 2011), presents an honest portrayal of a girl who has been beaten down by life but, despite it all, remains hopeful. As narrator, Rebecca Lowman creates distinctive voices for each character and succeeds in vocalizing Elise's inner struggle. Elise's experience will be relatable to anyone who has ever battled with issues of bullying and identity.—Amanda Spino, Ocean County Library, NJ