The Vinyl Princess

Prinz (the Clare series) is the cofounder of the independent music store chain Amoeba Music, and her latest novel has all the props of the trade. School’s out and 16-year-old Allie, aka the Vinyl Princess, is working at Bob & Bob’s Records in Berkeley, Calif., for the summer—a quintessentially dingy haven for music geeks, anti-downloaders, and street freaks. Over the span of three months, she attracts the attention of a roguish mystery boy she calls “M,” witnesses a robbery, shepherds her divorced mom through the perils of online dating, finds her soul mate, and starts a vinyl listeners–only blog/fanzine (“Corporate rock still sucks; downloading is harmful to music and other living organisms. Music is love”). While Allie’s personal dramas are entertaining, what makes the book stand out is her encyclopedic, cross-genre knowledge of bands, songs, and albums, beyond the usual suspects. References to the old-fashioned but still cherished mix-giving ritual will be appreciated by music connoisseurs and novices alike. Allie’s song lists are an education in themselves—they’re worth a listen and this is worth a read. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)