Drum Roll, Please

Melly signs up for two weeks at Camp Rockaway, a summer music program where she'll focus on her drumming skills. Her best friend Olivia convinces her to attend, promising they'll navigate the experience together. Just before camp begins, Melly learns her parents are getting divorced. At camp, Melly joins a rock band with other young musicians and works to prepare for the final showcase performance. While dealing with her complicated feelings about her parents' news, she finds herself developing unexpected connections with her bandmates and discovering new aspects of herself. As Melly faces challenges with her music, friendships, and family changes, she learns to find her own rhythm - both behind the drum kit and in her life. The story captures the transformative nature of summer camp and the role of music in self-discovery during times of change.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of a 13-year-old discovering her identity and sexuality while at summer band camp. Many note the book handles LGBTQ+ themes in an age-appropriate way that feels natural rather than forced. Parents and teachers mention using it as a discussion starter with middle-grade students. Specific praise focuses on the realistic depiction of first crushes, friendship dynamics, and family changes. Multiple reviews highlight the accurate portrayal of learning an instrument and band camp experiences. Some readers found the pacing slow in the first third. A few mentioned wanting more development of secondary characters. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (120+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Sample reader comment: "As a former band kid who figured out she was gay at summer camp, this book got all the little details right - from the nervousness of playing solos to the confusion of sorting out new feelings." - Goodreads reviewer

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez A girl discovers her identity through music when she forms a punk rock band at her new middle school.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle A thirteen-year-old boy runs away to New York City to audition for a Broadway musical and finds his true self.

To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan, Meg Wolitzer Two girls bond at summer camp despite their differences when their single, gay dads start dating each other.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan Three stories connect through a magical harmonica that changes the lives of young musicians during challenging historical periods.

The Remarkables by Margaret Peterson Haddix A girl processes her parents' divorce through music while uncovering mysterious events in her new neighborhood.

🥁 Author Lisa Jenn Bigelow is also a youth services librarian, bringing her real-world experience with young readers to her writing. 🌲 The story takes place at Camp Rockaway, which was inspired by real-life Michigan rock and roll camps for girls and gender-expansive youth. 🎸 The main character, Melly, learns to play drums while dealing with her parents' divorce—mirroring how many young musicians use music as an emotional outlet. 🎼 The book was selected for the Rainbow List, which recognizes quality LGBTQ books for children and teens. 💫 Though Melly starts camp feeling insecure about being a beginning musician, the story shows how everyone—even experienced performers—deals with stage fright and self-doubt.