Rock Star Superstar
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4.3 • 9 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
A sixteen-year-old bassist gets the chance to live his music dreams, but authenticity clashes with real-world pressures in this captivating coming-of-age novel.
“Nelson gives an entertaining and realistic insider’s view.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A mesmerizing road to increasing fame and glory as the Tiny Masters’ energy and emotion grab fans despite their somewhat inept musicianship.”—Kirkus Reviews
Music is Pete’s life. He’s happiest playing his guitar, a Fender P-Bass. Pete doesn’t care about prestige or getting girls; it’s the quality of the music that matters.
Then he meets the Carlisle brothers. They can’t sing and they can barely play their instruments, but somehow they have a following. And they desperately need a bass player. Pete can play circles around these amateurs, but there’s a raw power to their sound that’s surprisingly appealing. He can’t resist and joins The Tiny Masters of Today.
When the band gets a chance at real superstardom, Pete wonders if he’s ready for the big leagues. He knows the quality of the music should come first . . . but who knew selling out could be so much fun?
Blake Nelson’s riveting novel shows the realities of life in a band, and all the temptations that come with it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this year's best offering on the rock band life, Nelson (The New Rules of High School) gives an entertaining and realistic insider's view, through the eyes of Pete, the son of musicians, living in the Pacific Northwest. The 17-year-old narrator plays bass in a cover band for school dances and parties. But when Pete agrees to join The Tiny Masters of Today (whose members he originally called "amateurs"), he gets caught up in the group's chaotic energy and original style. The former jazz band "geek" gets a taste of rock star life, working clubs, meeting girls even fighting with the erratic guitar player. But Pete's a regular teen, too: he has sparse conversations with his new girlfriend (" 'Do you want to break up?' she said./ 'No. Do you?'/ 'No' ") and while they grow to love each other, the author makes clear that they are on different paths. At home, Pete jams with his widower dad in the basement, but his father goes out a lot and drinks heavily. In one heartbreaking moment, Pete recalls when he was nine and heard a tape his father made of one of his mom's concerts ("At the sound of my mother's voice I had burst into tears"). Nelson paints Pete as endearingly clueless, yet the teen proves his loyalty throughout the book to his girlfriend, to his dad and ultimately to his music. Readers will likely lap up this look at what it's like for a band trying to make it, from the slick industry people, to the energy that comes when everything is in synch. Ages 12-up.
Customer Reviews
Wow
Amazing book. Must read for music lovers!!!
Just Awesome
This is the best music book i've ever read so far....pretty funny too.