The Band Never Dances

From its opening sentence, this novel (by the author of Joey and the Girls ) never misses a single, driving beat. Landis captures the essence of rock 'n' roll life and music while telling a moving tale of a 16-year-old's growth to maturity and self-knowledge. After graduating from high school, aspiring drummer Judy Valentine sets out in search of a band to play in. She joins up with enigmatic Strobe and together they comb New York City for like-minded musicians and find a bass player, a keyboardist and guitarist, Mark The Music. The five members of Wedding Night move into Strobe's loft to make music and then take their act to every rock dive in the metropolitan area. A record company executive offers the band a contract and Wedding Night is ready to go on tour, a talented group on its way up. Or is it? But by tour's end, Wedding Night is a national phenomenon, with Judy the reluctant star and idol of teen girls across America. The exciting and satisfying climax pairs Wedding Night's triumphant homecoming concert in Madison Square Garden with Judy's bittersweet task of accepting herself, her parents and the haunting suicide of her older brother. Ages 11-14. (Apr . )