Exile

Emerson (the Atlanteans series) wields his chops as a musician in this series opener about a Los Angeles arts high school rock band trying to make it big. Senior Caleb Daniels’s new band, Dangerheart, has all the components of the next big thing—a dreamy singer (in Caleb), a brooding female bassist, and lyrics that make girls swoon. There’s only one problem: Caleb doesn’t want to owe his fame to his biological father, a rock legend who drowned years earlier, and whose connection to Caleb has only recently been revealed. When Summer Carlson—Dangerheart’s manager, Caleb’s girlfriend, and the novel’s narrator—sets up the band’s breakout tour to San Francisco, the circumstances surrounding Caleb’s legacy grow murkier, including rumors of his father’s three missing songs and a record label demanding answers that no one seems to have. Emerson’s seasoned music references and deep knowledge of the business (including its slimy side) will draw readers in, but it’s the emerging conspiracy theories that give the book its edge—and provide the perfect setup for the sequel. Ages 14–up. Agent: George Nicholson, Sterling Lord Literistic. (May)