(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hayden Goodman. This engaging picture-book memoir by multiple-Grammy-winner Flack, known for such 1970s megahits as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," opens with young Roberta's early childhood. She describes it as filled with musical inspirations (her parents played harmonica and organ; she listened to classic songs on the radio) and dominated by her love of the piano and the dream of owning one. Flack's story finds its focus when her daddy brings home a piano from a junkyard ("old, beat-up, weather-worn, faded...and it stank!"), cleans it up, tunes it, and paints it green. Flack's delight in making music is at the center of the story, as she describes the joy she takes at playing her piano and her hours and hours of practice, with her success as an adult musician shown only briefly as the "­bigger dream" that her dedication made possible. That delight in making music is evident throughout in ­Goodman's gouache illustrations, which show Flack's face shining ecstatically when she plays; Goodman fills those pages with joyful green swirls, as if the essence of that beloved green piano is escaping into the air. An author's note from Flack adds more details and a list of career highlights completes the book.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Theodore, III Taylor. "Why can't he put those books down, play football or basketball?" Garvey's father wants to turn him into an athlete, like his sister Angie, but Garvey would rather get lost in a book, listen to music, or dream about galaxies. In addition to pressure at home, he faces endless taunting at school for his weight. When Garvey meets the "skim-milk boy" Manny, who has albinism, he asks how Manny stands the teasing. "I look strange. No changing that. / Is there more to me? / Sure. Kids yell 'albino boy.' / I don't turn around. / Choose the name you answer to. / No one can do that but you." Per Grimes's author's note, this graphic-novel adaptation leaves two-thirds of the original book's (Garvey's Choice, rev. 9/16) tanka poems intact, with only small changes to the rest of them. The verses are given a new visual life with excellent page designs and clever illustrations, including the closing spread showing Garvey singing into a mic and his father playing the guitar, with floating musical notes uniting them in song. An unusually effective use of the graphic-novel format to bring poetry alive.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016; May, 2023

(2) 4-6 Classmates Chloe and Maddie, both twelve, used to be best friends. Now they decidedly aren't, and they're dismayed to find themselves in the same bunk at a drama camp. Scenes of the summer (and a production of Wicked) alternate with flashbacks to the previous school year (and The Music Man), gradually revealing the embarrassing secrets each has about the other and the incident that caused the rift. The dynamic between Chloe, a professional child actor (but, lately, not child star), and Maddie, a self-described "chubby Jewish girl with thick glasses and a tendency to fall over at the worst possible moments" (she has dyspraxia), has settled into patterns that leave both feeling frustrated. They're each figuring things out about themselves, and what seems a simple case of an unbalanced friendship reveals itself to be more complex as the two eventually speak honestly about issues that have long festered between them. The book doesn't reach for tidy resolutions, but there's lighthearted fun to be had along the way, including some creativity with golem stories in a screenwriting elective and (spoiler alert) a sweet queer romantic subplot for one of the girls.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(3) K-3 Fernández Nitsche follows the life of iconic Argentinian folk singer and social activist Mercedes Sosa (1935–2009), from her humble working-class upbringing to her enduring posthumous legacy as a “voice of the voiceless.” Readers learn about Sosa’s off-the-cuff first public performance at the age of fifteen; her evolution from timorous greenhorn to world-renowned, powerhouse songstress; and her musical innovation. On spreads portraying age-appropriate scenes of protest and dictatorship, Sosa’s human rights advocacy is recognized, courageous work that led to her imprisonment, exile, and eventual status as a national and Latin American hero. Readers may be left wanting to know what enabled Sosa’s triumphant repatriation. Back matter includes a biographical timeline, a glossary of Spanish words used in the text, and a playlist of the author’s favorite Sosa songs. A fitting tribute to a cultural lodestar.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Elissa is a Singer, one of the few whose voice can channel the power of the goddess Caé and make miracles happen for her people. Lucio, seventeen, is her Composer, responsible for guiding her and writing sacred songs. Elissa has songs she wants to write, too, but she fears claiming more than one gift will displease the goddess. When their travels through war-torn Basso lead them to a governor and then a king who want Elissa to work for them, Lucio bends to their pressure (and to the pleasures of court life), even after the governor demands a song that accidentally kills an entire village. Elissa feels that performing miracles for the powerful isn't the will of the goddess--and when the king wants to direct her magic against the enemy, she puts her foot down. Bakewell crafts a spellbinding narrative that weaves the protagonist's guilt over the fate of her parents (convicted of heresy for trying to shield her from the church) with her motivation to write a song that brings peace, despite the impossibility of success. Readers may find their own religious convictions either strengthened or challenged by the portrayal of an absolutely loving goddess who appears in the flesh to make her wishes transparently clear to Elissa; others may gravitate toward Elissa's troubled relationship with the talented Lucio or the depiction of a devoted musical community.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Ziyue Chen. Mirabelle, a goldfinch with a sparkling personality, narrates this engaging music-focused mystery con brio. She attributes her excellent taste in music to listening through the window to a world-renowned pianist, and she's intrigued by his unappreciative, sulky new student, Michael. When Michael finally tries out the piano, she can't resist singing along with him to Chopin's Minute Waltz: "It's as if the song is singing me... m I still made of bones and skin and feathers? No. I am only song." Mirabelle's singing inspires Michael, and the two continue their duets as Michael prepares for a Chopin contest. Broach skillfully incorporates bits of bird lore and information about both Chopin (including the macabre story of his heart) and his life partner, George Sand. As in Broach's previous books Masterpiece (rev. 11/08) and Shakespeare's Secret, a historic object is missing--this time, Chopin's piano. The pace is brisk, and Mirabelle faces multiple dilemmas (beyond her secret duets), involving newly hatched siblings, a dangerous cat, and a desperately ill man. Broach gives her heroine true self-determination and emotional growth, as the little bird ponders her situation: "What's the difference between a secret and a lie? A secret probably feels like a lie to someone who loves you." A final note sorts out historical fact from fiction.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. In this Mercy Watson pictre-book spinoff, young Stella Endicott is feeling the Christmas spirit. She asks her neighbors to go caroling, but all the humans are either too busy or not interested. Eugenia Lincoln even closes the door in her face. So it's just Stella, pig Mercy Watson, cat General Washington, and horse Maybelline who raise their voices in song. "It was very loud, and very joyful, and not very musical." When the other residents hear them, they all join in--even Eugenia Lincoln. As usual, Van Dusen's humorous, sharply characterized illustrations pair well with DiCamillo's mix of down-to-earth language and transporting lyricism. "They stood together, and above their heads, above Deckawoo Drive, above the tired and hopeful earth, the stars were shining, shining, shining down."

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) YA In 1932 Berlin, orphaned eighteen-year-old Hilde is seeking work and a purpose. She finds both (perhaps with implausible ease) at Café Lila, a gay nightclub reminiscent of Cabaret's Kit Kat Club. There she is adopted into a family of queer underground entertainers; falls in love with sweet, sultry chanteuse Rosa; and finds her footing as a singer and songwriter. But even as she enjoys her newfound acceptance, Hilde can't escape the political tensions that increasingly intrude on her happiness. As the Nazis gather power, Hilde must decide if she can afford to stay loyal to her beloved Berlin or if it is time for her and Rosa, who is Jewish, to flee. Wilson's (White Rose, rev. 7/19) fluid free-verse novel aptly conveys the liberation and artistry of the time and place (Weimar Republic–era Berlin, in all its gritty, smoky glory), while also making the pages fly. Fans of Lo's Last Night at the Telegraph Club (rev. 3/21) will enjoy this similarly themed work. Back matter includes an author's note, selected sources, and a German glossary.

Reviewer: Jennifer Hubert Swan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) YA This timely and lyrical verse novel offers a heart-wrenching, unflinching look at the underbelly of the music industry and its exploitation of those who dream of making it big. Three best friends, all talented singers and girls of color who dream of a life outside of their small, mostly white Pennsylvania town, slip away to Newark and find their way into the orbit of Sean "Mercury" Ellis, the "King of R&B." Merc encourages their ambitions and takes them under his wing. His promises of fame and fortune not only fuel their dreams but also their insecurities, which Merc is able to capitalize upon as he begins to morph from a smooth, crooning mentor into a sinister, controlling abuser. Charles (Like Vanessa, rev. 3/18, and others) takes on the difficult topics of emotional manipulation, sexual exploitation, and abuse. These vulnerable young women's stories are, sadly, not uncommon [see also Tiffany D. Jackson's Grown, rev. 9/20, and Sharon G. Flake's The Life I'm In, reviewed on page 87], but their tight bond as friends continues to offer hope in the midst of sacrifice, broken promises, secrets, and lies. The writing at once urges readers to relish the verse and catapults them toward a breathless, satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021

(2) YA In 1959, seventeen-year-old Mazie suddenly finds herself with the funds to leave Nebraska and spend six weeks in New York City pursuing her Broadway dreams. At first she's overwhelmed and lonely, living in the big city at a boardinghouse for "theatrical young ladies" and ­learning the auditioning ropes. Repeated rejections make her question her singing and dancing talents, not to mention her appearance ("I come from...solid Nebraska stock"). Crowder's novel takes readers on an enjoyable trip back to a golden age in theater, providing an inside look at the business while name-dropping hit songs and shows and introducing readers to a little-known piece of history: industrial musicals, shows sponsored by companies to advertise their products. In her last week in the city, Mazie finally lands an understudy role in an "industrial" traveling across the Corn Belt to promote a new tractor. ­During the ­ten-show run, she winds up with the lead, gets to visit her family (and former boyfriend), and learns about herself and what really matters in life. Crowder believably weaves in complicated romance--for both the protagonist and a few queer secondary characters--but the focus is on Mazie's determination to prove to herself and others that she's got what it takes to succeed, an inspiring example for anyone with a similar dream.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) K-3 "For as long as David could remember, he'd felt like a stranger on his own planet." This fictionalized account of Bowie's childhood features a somber boy struggling to figure out where he fits in at home and at school. "He felt connected to the universe and the rhythm of the stars," and on one magical night, he hears "star chatter" in the music coming out of his radio. Gigot's imaginative illustrations move from muted grays to bright pinks and purples. There are nods to some of Bowie's most well-known songs; in one spread, young David appears as many of his personas and roles: "His imagination ran wild. He was a pirate, a duke, an astronaut, a goblin king." An author's note provides the facts of Bowie's childhood, and a bulleted list offers information about Bowie's career and accomplishments.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter

(2) K-3 Translated by David Henry Wilson. From the start of this quirky and heartfelt German import, it is clear that there is something a bit mysterious happening. Endpapers show a child peeking out from between red stage curtains; these curtains set the scene for the drama that is the life of a performer's daughter. "My mother can be lots of different people. Sometimes she's nice. And sometimes she's nasty. Sometimes she's quiet, and sometimes she's loud. You see, my mother's an opera singer." The narrator knows that her mother is just acting as she dies onstage, but as the child explains, while sitting in a large theater seat with her knees up to her shoulders and tears streaming down her face, "every time it looks real." Happily, by the time the family leaves for home, the opera star is transformed back into Mother, arm-in-arm with her partner and flanked by the narrator and her smaller sibling. Haslbauer (whose own mother was an opera singer) employs smart pacing and dramatic page-turns as the narrator explains what it's like to be related to someone who is larger than life. Illustrations use unusual angles, exaggerated sizes, and long pencil and brush strokes to emphasize Mother's outsized personality and artistic impact.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) YA After receiving feedback that her performance lacks spark, seventeen-year-old cellist Jenny Go decides to heed her uncle's advice and "live a little." Jenny, very uncharacteristically, goes on a one-night adventure at and around the L.A. Korean Festival with cute, mysterious Jaewoo, who is visiting from Korea. Soon after, she bargains to accompany her mother on her visit to Seoul to care for Jenny's grandmother, who has colon cancer; while they're there, Jenny will study at the prestigious Seoul Arts Academy. In addition to reconnecting with her roots, she finds that Jaewoo also attends the school--and is the lead singer of the famous K-pop group XOXO. Despite his packed schedule and the school's strict rules, they fall for each other. Oh treats readers to a whirlwind romance with all the hallmarks of a K-drama (forbidden romance, betrayal, illness). The author's obvious love of K-pop is contagious, and the glimpse into idol culture makes for a primarily breezy, enjoyable read. Depictions of ordinary student and family life in Korea, and the natural integration of Korean words and phrases in conversation, invite readers to explore Korean food, language, and culture.

Reviewer: Gabi K. Huesca | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 4-6 From her small-town home in Paris, Kentucky, thirteen-year-old Cline (named after Patsy) dreams of a future as a singer-songwriter. Her mother, who must work long shifts at the local diner to support the family, wants her to focus on a more practical pursuit. Her best friend, who is heavily involved with her Christian youth group (and a boy in it), discounts Cline's pursuits entirely. Still, she finds strength and support through the encouragement of her musical grandmother, the memory of her late father, and the lyrics of the songs on her favorite playlist. When her mother forbids her to apply for a Young Singer-Songwriter Workshop at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, she conspires to do so anyway. Her determination and passion see her through many challenges along the way, bringing her closer to an understanding of herself and others (including well-developed secondary characters). Cline's first-person narration is an engaging mix of naive earnestness and mature self-assurance. Her secret weekly trips to Lexington and increased awareness of her attraction to workshop partner Sylvie help her grow as a musician and person. Comparing and contrasting her own feelings with what she notices around her, the protagonist explores her understanding of family, friendship, illness, sexual identity, religion, music, and more. Her story offers readers an inspiring combination of self-awareness, bravery, and passion.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Isabel Muñoz. The opening scene in this account of a remarkable friendship puts the ugliness of segregation front and center. In 1937 in Princeton, New Jersey, African American contralto Marian Anderson was welcomed by an all-white audience (including Albert Einstein) but was refused hotel accommodations after her performance. Einstein invited Anderson to stay at his house, thus offering author Rose the opportunity to provide insight into the Jewish physicist (who fled Nazi Germany) and his commitment to racial equality. Muñoz's cartoonlike illustrations effectively convey emotion. An author's note provides more information about both subjects.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Christian Robinson. Pianist, singer, and composer Nina ­Simone was born Eunice Waymon in rural North Carolina in 1933, a child "who had music on the inside." Treated by turns as a prodigy, curiosity, and nuisance, after high school Eunice left North Carolina for NYC and Juilliard. After a series of indignities and disappointments, she began performing at a nightclub in Atlantic City; her growing fame led Eunice to change her name to Nina Simone in an attempt to hide her "unholy" music from her mother. At the same time, the momentum of the ongoing civil rights movement was a "relentless, demanding" drumbeat that proved impossible to ignore; and as Simone felt more pressure (internal and external) to speak out against racism, she decided she was done playing nice, as politeness "had gotten her people nothing." Robinson (You Matter, rev. 9/20; Milo Imagines the World, rev. 3/21) punctuates this section with flame-like cut paper and sooty smudges symbolizing the "steady, rising roar" of injustice, culminating in a double-page spread showing Nina and her band playing against a fiery backdrop. Todd ends her unflinching narrative with a perfectly placed, direct-address line: "And when she sang of Black children--you lovely, precious dreams--her voice sounded like hope." This unexpected, yet needed, outpouring of love is the perfect end to a stunning book. An author's note "About Nina Simone" and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) K-3 Little People, Big Dreams series. Illustrated by Melissa Lee Johnson. This picture-book biography focuses on the blind musical prodigy's rise to superstardom. Per the series's formula, Vegara breezes through some highlights from the musician/composer/singer's life and career, from signing with Motown at eleven to being named the United Nations' 2009 "Messenger of Peace." The cheery cartoon illustrations are a good match for the accessible text. Back matter includes four photos, a simple timeline, more biographical information, and two recommended books.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Denise tracks Moreno's rise from young Puerto Rican newcomer to New York City to Hollywood starlet and, eventually, 1962 Oscar winner (the first Puerto Rican honoree) for her iconic role in West Side Story. The engaging narrative emphasizes that Moreno's success was the result of talent, hard work, and some luck; along the way she fought against the industry's entrenched racism and sexism. Retro-style illustrations capture Moreno's exuberance, and a timeline follows her inspiring professional career through 2020. An author's note and list of selected sources are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Paola Escobar. López follows the singer's short but influential career from childhood to young adulthood, emphasizing her Mexican American family's support and her natural talent. The tone is upbeat and focuses on Selena's devotion to family, her success, and her impact on Tejano and Latino music; events surrounding her murder are mentioned only in the back matter (leaving the main text feeling somewhat unfinished). After an illustrated timeline, López provides "A Little More About..." related topics including some history of Tejano culture, Tejano music, quinceañeras, and the Texas towns where Selena grew up. Escobar's warm, stylish illustrations have a southwestern vibe. Quotations in the text are unsourced.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) 4-6 This follow-up to This Is Just a Test stars Lauren Le Yuan Horowitz, sister of the previous book's protagonist. In 1984 suburban Virginia, Lauren is starting sixth grade secure in the "Royal We" of herself and her best friend, Tara. Auditioning for the school musical, Lauren--a talented singer who nails her "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" rendition--is disappointed to be cast in the ensemble while Tara snags the lead. The show is about a 1950s "All-American Town," and according to the drama teacher, Chinese and Jewish Lauren doesn't fit the part. Casual racism and microaggressions abound through Lauren's day-to-day interactions with friends, community members, and even '80s pop culture (i.e., squirming her way through Sixteen Candles). Her growing love for country music (with an extended vignette about mistaking Patsy Cline for Jewish) helps boost her confidence, as do new friendships with her ensemble-mates. A side story about Lauren's paralegal mom contemplating law school--and our protagonist's bratty reaction--leads to support and understanding. Lauren's two peppy grandmothers, in continual competition for matriarchal domination, are back, providing generational wisdom and snappy comic relief. A button-making business, a Sun In hair mishap, a Hula-Hooping janitor--all add levity and scene-setting detail to this entertaining and thoughtful coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021