SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

August 3, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Book Review: Guitar Notes by Mary Amato

August 3, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS   10 comments

Teen librarian true confession: I have been in a reading funk for the past 2 weeks.  Seriously, I couldn’t find anything I wanted to start and started and stopped a lot of books. I was worried.  But in doing my check out the pub catalog rounds I stumbled across a little book called Guitar Notes by Mary Amato and it was just what I needed.  And it is just what your teens need too, let me tell you why.

“lucky, lucky me” – from Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
July 2012 by EgmontUSA 9781606841242

Our story begins at the beginning of the school year where we meet Lyla and Tripp, two souls who couldn’t seem to be more different but soon find themselves thrumming (all is explained beautifully in the book.)  Lyla is a straight A, perfectionist soon to be professional cellist.  Tripp is a lost soul who finds comfort in nothing but his guitar, which his mother has taken away.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The two struggling souls sign up for a lunch time slot in the school music room to practice and end up having the same room on opposite days; she gets the even days and he gets the odd ones.  Annoyed when Tripp leaves some trash behind, Lyla leaves him a snarky note.  Tripp, of course, can only respond with his own unique brand of snark.  Soon, the two of them are leaving each other notes in the guitar case (see where the title comes from there?) and forming a unique friendship.  As the two begin to bond through their music, they take a magical journey of healing and self discovery – until life rears its ugly head and threatens to silence them both.

“Dear Odd Day Musician,
We are sharing this room. Please remove your trash from the music stand when you are done. Thanks.
– The Even Day Musician” – page 28

So let me tell you everything that is amazing about this book:

This is a beautifully written and engaging story about two teens learning, growing, and bonding over music.  It is a testament to music, self discovery, self expression, and learning how to be true to yourself.  Some of the book is written as notes, some as texts and e-mails, and some as short, traditional lay-out chapters.  It is an engaging story that is quick and easy to read, but does not sacrifice content, character development, thought or language for style or format.

“I just want to know, does playing the cello make you happy?” – page 66

Tripp and Lyla are such well thought out and admirable teen characters.  Lyla begins our story laying in bed almost paralyzed with the fear and stress that comes from having to be perfect, and she quite literally begins to blossom as she sets aside that which has been pressed upon her and embraces that which speaks to her soul.  And Tripp is a charismatic young man with deep thoughts about life and music, yet he has a fun, snarky, sarcastic wit (I love that he refers to his mother as The Termite in his head).

“Sometimes I imagine my cello exploding. And sometimes I look at myself in the mirror, and my own face looks like a mask to me.” – page 125

Tripp and Lyla develop a slow building, intimate friendship and musical partnership that may or may not eventually develop into something more, and that something more doesn’t matter.  This is just truly a beautiful friendship and musical partnership.  In ways they save each other, but they are also saving themselves by being true to themselves as they learn to be honest with one another through their music.  There is no insta love, no love triangle, no star crossed lovers – just a very organic and pure relationship that stems from mutual interests and shared experiences.

“Dear Ms. Even,
The guitar is crushed, It wants to be played. Thankfully, it has me.
– Mr. Odd” – page 49
Like the characters in The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, I love the way that Tripp and Lyla talk about music and thrumming and resonance and how souls are drawn to one another.  There are all these fun, quirky references to physics, pomegranates and a blasty carpet and how parents think they know what is best for you but never stop to ask you who you are or what you want.
“The other day, I walked out and saw the maple tree, you know, the one in front? And the leaves were so red, I had this feeling that they were actually singing.” – page 161

This book is really clean and appropriate for all ages.  It was a refreshing and uplifting read.  At the end, I felt satisfied and inspired and just . . . moved.  Guitar Notes by Mary Amato gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend that all libraries add it to their collections.  Now.  Go.  I’ll wait . . . Your fans of John Green and Sarah Dessen will eat this title up.  If you loved The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight or If I Stay, if you love books about music, if you love contemporary teen fiction that speaks to your soul, you will LOVE this book.

“Dear Mr. Odd,
You are indeed odd.
– Ms. Even” – page 61

Be sure and check out the accompanying website, thrumsociety, for samples of music from the book and information about song writing.  In the back of the book you can find chords and lyrics to all the songs written by Lyla and Tripp.

See the book trailer here.

This is the Valentine’s Day present The Mr. and Kids made for me this year.
They didn’t know about this book, but it sure does fit.
No one in this house plays the guitar, but I love this present.
They quote e e cummings on the guitar.
If I was making a Top 10 List of teen books about music (see Stephanie Wilke’s here), Guitar Notes would go on it!

Filed under: Book Reviews, Guitar Notes, Mary Amato, Music

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2013

Bring the Power of Music Into Your Library: a guest post by Guitar Notes author Mary Amato for Music in Our Schools Month (March)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

October 2014

Book Review: Get Happy by Mary Amato

by Karen Jensen, MLS

October 2013

Book Review: This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

by Karen Jensen, MLS

January 2013

Win a Signed Copy of Guitar Notes AND a Luna Guitar!!!!

by Karen Jensen, MLS

January 2023

Book Review: Play the Game by Charlene Allen

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Who’s In Rabbit’s House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Akim Aliu Dreamer | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

I Spy Something Awkward, a guest post by James Ponti

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

The Human Rainbow | Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on Antiracism

8 YA BookTubers To Watch Right Now

Pronouncing Kids’ Names Correctly Matters. Here’s How to Get it Right.

Duke MDs’ Prescription for Schools? Masks, with Enforcement, and Psychological Support for Teachers, Students.

37 Kidlit and YA Titles in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    August 3, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Aaaand I have to read this. Great review.

  2. Stephanie Ingrid Sarah Kristan says

    August 3, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    AAAAA! This sounds so fabulous. Kind of like IF I STAY meets GRAFFITI MOON. Both of which we loved loved loved! Thank you so much for telling us about this book. And we are glad that it snapped your slump. 😉

  3. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:12 pm

    I hope you love it like I did!

  4. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    August 3, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    The slump had me worried. I love If I Stay, but I haven't read Graffiti Moon – I'll have to put it on my TBR list so thanks for the rec!

  5. Monica Fumarolo says

    August 5, 2012 at 11:51 pm

    How have I not even heard of this book?! I too am a teen librarian and have experienced the reading slump you've described here. It's just one of the worst feelings. As a total lover of music related books, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this – thanks for the great review (as always!)
    -Monica

  6. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    August 6, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    Monica, if you love music books I truly believe you will love this title. And the reading slump is the worst! Thanks for reading and commenting, I hope you love the book as much as I do.

  7. Kate says

    August 6, 2012 at 2:43 pm

    This sounds so awesome! My undergrad is in Music Ed. so I always love coming across these books….

    Kate @ Ex Libris

  8. inthemiddlereading says

    November 13, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    luv the book

  9. Anonymous says

    October 26, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    i read the book, it's great

  10. anonymous says

    May 31, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    this book is fantastic!! I love music, and i couldn’t find that right book that met my interests, and was educational, but now I have, and i loved this book.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023