Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls and a Brother (Not Necessarily in That Order)

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. (Mar.)