Rock On

February 6, 2012
Ori used to idolize his older brother, Del, but Del has dropped out of college and is back at home making Ori’s sophomore year hell. Now Ori never knows when his brother will turn on him, mocking his dreams of becoming a rock star. Those dreams are off to a good start: Ori’s band has found a talented bass player, they are entering a Battle of the Bands competition, and Ori is hitting it off with Jane, a friend of the band’s new bassist. But when Del sets his sights on Jane, and a rival band starts a feud with Ori’s still-unnamed band, things begin to fall apart. There are few surprises in this coming-of-age story from Vega (Fact of Life #31), but Ori’s honest voice will have readers caring about the outcome, neat though it is. Blog entries from the band’s Web site are interspersed, giving an amusing glimpse of the drama among the band’s budding groupies, while third-person flashbacks to Ori’s younger days take readers behind the music—and behind Ori and Del’s strained relationship. Ages 12–up. Agent: Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency.

February 1, 2012
Self-conscious Orion "Ori" Taylor is the front man for a promising, but nameless band in this teen drama. Encouraged by some good local press, The Band to Be Named Later enters itself in a Battle of the Bands and subsequently auditions bass players while Ori works at strengthening his nerves. Confounding this process is the presence of his older brother, Del, who was once Ori's idol--until Del failed to keep up his grades while on a lacrosse scholarship at college. Humiliated to be back at home, Del takes his frustrations out on Ori. When a girl Ori is crushing on seems to throw him over for his brother, tensions run even higher. Vega has imbued her tale with well-developed characters--Ori's first-person voice is sympathetic, especially coming to life when he's singing and playing guitar. For all that, the tone seems unusually sweet, given that the novel's focus is a high-school rock band: How many 16-year-old boys confine themselves using phrases like, "What the heck..." in a peer-only environment? Moreover, as the strife between the brothers draws out, its protraction may lead readers to expect a twist or a more of a revelation than what actually manifests. Nevertheless, readers will appreciate Ori's gently self-deprecating humor and the lively Web postings and texts woven throughout that help tell the story. (Fiction. 12-16)

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March 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Orion Taylor is a pretty awesome musician. He and his friends Nick and Troy have formed a band to be named later. As Ori saves for his dream guitar, a Les Paul, and rehearses like a madman for the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest, he must also contend with his somber and antagonistic older brother. After being put on academic probation and leaving college early, Del is lashing out at everyone: his parents, his younger sister, and especially Orion. The band still can't agree on a name, but eventually settles on a rocking bass player named Gwyn, a deaf girl who can literally play by feeling the musical vibrations in her feet. She joins the group, and Orion falls for her best friend, Jane. When Del begins showing an interest in her and Jane seems as if she might be interested back, the real war between the brothers ignites. In this thoughtful tale, sibling rivalry is taken to the next level. Both Ori and Del prove to be likable characters in their own respective ways, and jealousy between brothers is hardly unheard of. A true strength of this title proves to be supporting character Gwyn, who is seamlessly integrated into the story without making her deafness debilitating.-Ryan Donovan, New York Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Grades 8-12 Sixteen-year-old talented singer-songwriter-guitarist Orion Ori Taylor misses the relationship he and his older brother, Del, once had. But since dropping out of college and returning home, Del is no longer supportive. He is moody, even callous, and hangs out with girls Ori likes and, worse, ridicules Ori's musical dreams, which include winning the upcoming high-school Battle of the Bands. Things look up when the band starts drawing crowds, positive press, and even groupies. Then Ori meets Jane, a poet, who becomes a friend, creative collaborator, and more. Issues intensify when Del puts the moves on Jane, bringing difficult confrontations. Ori is a three-dimensional, relatable protagonist whose first-person narrative conveys, with humor and heart, his hopes and insecurities, as well as his journey to find confidence and realize what matters, both onstage and off. Interspersed webpage posts, e-mails, and backstory episodes add depth as do diversely drawn supporting teen characters, especially former high-school lacrosse star and girl-magnet Del. Despite some story predictabilities, this is a smart, absorbing read about music, relationship complexities, and reconciliation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2012
Orion's up-and-coming (but unnamed) band is preparing to enter the local Battle of the High School Bands. But to succeed he must overcome his nervousness, a rival band, girl problems, and a suddenly acrimonious relationship with his older brother. Between chapters, screenshots from the band's blog and the corresponding user comments help develop the plot in a fresh way.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)