A memoir about starting a rock band in the middle of a war zone. Drafted into the Vietnam War, Kohler served in a small port town, enforcing the law as part of his military service. Under orders from his commanding officer, the young MP formed “Electrical Banana” with a few fellow draftees and enjoyed a wildly popular run of gigs, including a performance on the front lines, before returning home to restart his music career. With its focus on overcoming adversity and creating positive situations, the narrative could devolve into a blathering self-help book, but Kohler and co-author VanHecke avoid that trap entirely. Reluctant readers will find plenty of action and suspense in the war scenes, while those who are musically inclined will appreciate the trials of starting a band, no matter what the circumstances. Brief sidelines regarding both the motivations for and the difficulties of the war emerge, but it does not overtake the plot, and Kohler avoids getting bogged down in the politics. Humorous and light, with a hint of despair, the narrative depicts life continuing beyond conflict. (Memoir. YA)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-124255-7
Page Count: 288
Publisher: HarperTeen
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2009
A promising premise subverted by the execution.
A restless AcroYoga influencer pursues love and money on reality TV.
Twenty-three-year-old Orielle Lennox’s post-college life has stalled out. Unhappy in a lackluster relationship and fueled by her older sister’s criticisms that she’s passive and codependent, Orie tries to jump-start her future by answering a casting call for the reality TV show Survivor. Discovering her father’s gambling problem and being dumped by her boyfriend shortly before leaving for Fiji to film make Orie all the more eager to dive headlong into the competition as an escape from her problems. Upon arrival, Orie (who’s cued white) and the nine other contestants—a racially diverse group of young, fit older teens and 20-somethings—find out that they’re actually on a new reality spinoff called Attached at the Hip. Furthermore, each participant has been carefully selected as a possible love or friendship match for several other competitors. Orie quickly allies with Remy, an Italian American gym bro who also happens to be her unrequited high school crush. But as the days of sun and starvation wear on and new connections form, Orie starts to question Remy’s motives and wonders who, if anyone, she can trust. Unfortunately, Orie comes across as frustratingly impulsive and immature rather than quirky and lovably offbeat. And, although moments of situational hilarity keep the story light, readers may get bogged down in the inane dialogue and the abundance of pop-culture references.
A promising premise subverted by the execution. (Fiction. 15-18)Pub Date: May 21, 2024
ISBN: 9781250760098
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A rock-star romance that’s filled with emotional growth.
High school senior Indigo Mitchell-Jamiolkowski is over having a famous actor for a sister.
But when Violet offers Indie $500 to come to New York Comic Con as her personal assistant, Indie can’t say no. In addition to being an aspiring concert violinist who’s preparing to apply for Juilliard, Indie is a huge fan of special effects makeup artist Melody Nguyen, who’s appearing on a panel at the convention. The trip goes awry, and the sisters begin fighting. Indie meets Xander Jones, lead guitarist for the boy band the Heartbreakers, and they spend the day together—he even introduces her to Melody. And though Indie has a hard time believing Xander would be interested in her, he continues to seek her out. As their relationship grows, Indie struggles with family conflicts, and Xander works to step into the spotlight often occupied by his bandmates. This third entry in the series is a charming stand-alone love story in which both leads experience real growth as they lean on each other. Readers will enjoy watching the emotional connection between Indie and Xander strengthen, and they’ll root for Indie and Violet to work on their sibling bond, even as their relationship fractures under the weight of fame and their parents’ divorce. Indie’s exploration of her post–high school options is well developed. Xander and the Mitchell-Jamiolkowski family read white, and Indie’s best friend is cued Mexican American.
A rock-star romance that’s filled with emotional growth. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781492652441
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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