Frenemy is by far one of the best newly coined words of this century. I instinctively knew the meaning the first time I heard it. I think we all did, probably because so many of us have had to deal with one.
This is definitely the case for Yasmin, protagonist of Anna Meriano's It Sounds Like This. She and Sofia are band geeks and supposedly best friends. But even before the incident there's something about their relationship with Sofia getting in a dig whenever she can and Yasmin rationalizing it.
Yasmin doesn't go to the party right before the beginning of the school year. But when she sees a video of Andy, Sofia's boyfriend, harassing a first year student, she does the right thing and reports him. He's suspended from school for two weeks and from marching band for the whole season. Unfortunately since the video also shows underage drinking almost all the band's low brass section meets the same fate...
...And you can't have a competitive marching without a low brass section...
...Yasmin is a team player. Second only to Sofia in the flute section, she relinqishes the spot to take up the sousaphone she nicknames the Dragon. Only learning a new instrument and carrying thirty extra pounds in marching formations are not the only challenges she faces. Her just assembled section has to become a cohesive unit...
Meanwhile Sofia is ramping up the meanness and taking it to social media. And Yasmin is still in forgive and move on mode.
It Sounds Like This is the rare book that works issues we don't discuss enough into a narrative with a strong plot line and believable characters. I strongly recommend it for school and public libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, it's Christmas. In a few minutes Eugene and I will unwrap gifts 🎁 with the kids and then go to his family's party.
A great big shout out goes out to our wonderful kids!
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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