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We Built This City
Award-winning author Cat Patrick returns with a charming tale full of first crushes and new friendships, as one girl learns a little more about who she is and who she wants to be all while on the road trip of lifetime.
It’s the summer of 1985, when air guitar, jelly bracelets, and huge hair are all the rage, and twelve-year-old Stevie is finally old enough to go on her performing troupe’s annual cross-country tour. Twenty-six teen cast members will lip-synch and dance their way through more than twenty cities, and Stevie and her best friend, Wes, can’t wait—for more reasons than one!
It’s the summer of 1985, when air guitar, jelly bracelets, and huge hair are all the rage, and twelve-year-old Stevie is finally old enough to go on her performing troupe’s annual cross-country tour. Twenty-six teen cast members will lip-synch and dance their way through more than twenty cities, and Stevie and her best friend, Wes, can’t wait—for more reasons than one!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2024
4 people are currently reading
1991 people want to read
About the author
Cat Patrick
15 books1,632 followersCat Patrick is the author of middle grade books Tornado Brain and Paper Heart, as well as young adult books Forgotten, Revived, The Originals, and, with Suzanne Young, Just Like Fate.
Find her online at www.catpatrick.com.
Find her online at www.catpatrick.com.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this book even more so than the title led me to believe I would. I also love how the author portrayed a middle school male/female friendship with no romance whatsoever. Good work!
April 4, 2024
This was a super fun middle grade novel set in 1985 that sees a young singing group touring the country. There is tons of 80s nostalgia and classic rock song references in this book plus great disability rep (a side character has epilepsy and another character's parents are both deaf). Good on audio, this was just a feel-good, light-hearted read that parents will enjoy reading with their younger children.
March 19, 2024
Twelve year old Stevie is not the most confident young person in her daily life, but she steps out of her shell when she is performing onstage. It is August 1985, and Stevie is on a cross-country road trip with several other teens to perform as Synchronicity in cities all across the eastern United States. Luckily, Stevie’s best friend Wes, her brother Brandon, and her crush Joey are all on the trip too, which makes it even more memorable. Along the way, Stevie sends letters to Casey Kasem, asking him to make a long distance dedication to Joey. But as the journey continues, Stevie begins to blossom, and she discovers that she might not need Casey to broadcast her feelings, after all.
This middle grade story transports readers back to the 1980s through pop culture references, recognizable slang, and teen interactions that reflect the time in which this story is set. Though the intended audience is one that did not live through this time period themselves, their parents may have, so the novel helps connect the two generations through a relatable coming-of-age story. Short chapters, frequent dialogue, and accessible text help propel the narrative, making the book one that is accessible to a range of middle grade readers.
While there are enjoyable components of the novel, the plot itself is not tremendously clear until well into the book. This can dissuade some readers from continuing because of its initial lack of direction. Similarly, the characters themselves are not as endearing as they could be, and their challenges are minimal in the grand scheme of life. Despite these shortcomings, however, the book will connect with readers who have ties to the 1980s or to stage performances in general. It is a decent addition to library collections for middle grade readers.
This middle grade story transports readers back to the 1980s through pop culture references, recognizable slang, and teen interactions that reflect the time in which this story is set. Though the intended audience is one that did not live through this time period themselves, their parents may have, so the novel helps connect the two generations through a relatable coming-of-age story. Short chapters, frequent dialogue, and accessible text help propel the narrative, making the book one that is accessible to a range of middle grade readers.
While there are enjoyable components of the novel, the plot itself is not tremendously clear until well into the book. This can dissuade some readers from continuing because of its initial lack of direction. Similarly, the characters themselves are not as endearing as they could be, and their challenges are minimal in the grand scheme of life. Despite these shortcomings, however, the book will connect with readers who have ties to the 1980s or to stage performances in general. It is a decent addition to library collections for middle grade readers.
March 20, 2024
This book was fantastic. Set in 1985, We Built This City follows Stevie, a tween member of a teen lip sync & dance group traveling across the country over the summer. This book does a great job of capturing the spirit of the 80s. I am so jealous I was never in a traveling lip synching group as a kid. There should definitely be a playlist to accompany this book due to all of the bangers that were name dropped. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to relive my tween years or thankful I was far away from that time in my life. This book explores the trials of teenage friendship and crushes and the power of those things as well. Definitely recommend.
April 30, 2024
Closer to 3 stars but I’ll round up. You had me at the title and summer of 1985. This was a cute read with some fun nostalgia. It’s lighter than the middle grade I usually gravitate towards. I thought I might scream, though, if I had to read the word “rad” one more time. I think the author used it more in this book than I heard in my entire life, and I was an actual teenager in 1985.
April 5, 2024
wonderful nostalgia trip but also coming-of-age
What a sweet story! Full of details that both remember and had forgotten about the 80’s but with a story I have never read before. Sweet characters, emotions and story!
What a sweet story! Full of details that both remember and had forgotten about the 80’s but with a story I have never read before. Sweet characters, emotions and story!
April 3, 2024
Public library copy
It's 1985, and 13 year old Stevie is thrilled to finally be touring with her youth group, Sychronicity. Her best friend Wes' mother, Margo, leads the troupe, which travels all across the US, playing at churches, schools, and occasionally off Broadway venues. Her older brother, Brandon, has been part of the group for several years, and is also along. The show that is being performed this year is "Night at the Movies", and there are songs from a number of movies from the era, such as 9 to 5, Grease, and even Xanadu. Part of the excitement for Stevie is that her long time crush, Joey, is also on the tour. She's so smitten that she can't bring herself to even talk to him, although they are partnered in several numbers. These are, of course, the highlight of her days. Wes encourages her to talk to Joey, just as she encourages him to talk to his crush, Tuesday. At least Wes calls Tuesday's private line at her home and leaves a message on her answering machine! Sometimes Joey is sweet, like the time that Brandon has a seizure and Joey takes care of him and even promises to keep it a secret, but other times he's kind of a jerk. Stevie's big move is to send a letter every day to Casey Kasem, outlining her feelings for Joey and asking to have a song played on the Long Distance Dedication portion of the program. She goes to great lengths to delay the group on Saturday mornings so that she can hear the songs, but is crushed week after week. The group gets to see Niagra Falls, New York City (where Stevie meets Baryshnikov!), Orlando, and Dallas, Texas, staying with host families, sleeping on the floors in church basements, and even spending a semi-disastrous night in a high school! Stevie also makes friends with the other girls on the tour, including Amy, who was adopted from China, and Christy, an older girl who knows sign language because both of her parents are deaf. When Stevie sees Joey kissing Christy in the pool, she's crushed. It's even worse when her dedication is played on Kasem's show, and Joey hears it! Luckily, it's near the end of the tour, and she's able to avoid Joey for most of the trip, although the two do finally have a heart-to-heart. At the end of the summer, Stevie is glad that she got to have such adventures, but is even happier to settle back into her regular life in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Strengths: Like Holm's Sunny Makes a Splash, this is an excellent look at what should be an amazing summer. Traveling the US in a mini van? With a group of friends? Putting on performances? My goodness! Modern readers will be amazed at the idea of host families, but I know for a fact that children were frequently places with local families while traveling; my high school orchestra traveled to a music competition in Columbus, Ohio in 1981, and families in Westerville put us up... and that's a big reason why I live there now! Sleeping in a high school and getting into trouble while the chaperones go into town? Absolutely. There are plenty of good details about ordinary life in the 1980s as well; technology, fashion, and lots of music. Stevie's infatuation will hit home with many readers, and the camraderie is fun to see. Based on the author's own experience, this will make most readers wish that they could be part of a similar group!
Weaknesses: There was not much of a discernable plot, other than the development (or lack thereof) of Stevie's relationship with Joey. Even that fizzled for me, and I wanted some structure to hang all of the 1980s details on. Can't quite put my finger on why this would have helped, but I struggled a bit to feel invested in the story when it didn't seem to be going anywhere. It also would have been more fun if Stevie had had someone's shoulder to put her head on during the van rides.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to be on the road performing and have enjoyed Crowder's Mazie or Stroker's The Chance to Fly.
It's 1985, and 13 year old Stevie is thrilled to finally be touring with her youth group, Sychronicity. Her best friend Wes' mother, Margo, leads the troupe, which travels all across the US, playing at churches, schools, and occasionally off Broadway venues. Her older brother, Brandon, has been part of the group for several years, and is also along. The show that is being performed this year is "Night at the Movies", and there are songs from a number of movies from the era, such as 9 to 5, Grease, and even Xanadu. Part of the excitement for Stevie is that her long time crush, Joey, is also on the tour. She's so smitten that she can't bring herself to even talk to him, although they are partnered in several numbers. These are, of course, the highlight of her days. Wes encourages her to talk to Joey, just as she encourages him to talk to his crush, Tuesday. At least Wes calls Tuesday's private line at her home and leaves a message on her answering machine! Sometimes Joey is sweet, like the time that Brandon has a seizure and Joey takes care of him and even promises to keep it a secret, but other times he's kind of a jerk. Stevie's big move is to send a letter every day to Casey Kasem, outlining her feelings for Joey and asking to have a song played on the Long Distance Dedication portion of the program. She goes to great lengths to delay the group on Saturday mornings so that she can hear the songs, but is crushed week after week. The group gets to see Niagra Falls, New York City (where Stevie meets Baryshnikov!), Orlando, and Dallas, Texas, staying with host families, sleeping on the floors in church basements, and even spending a semi-disastrous night in a high school! Stevie also makes friends with the other girls on the tour, including Amy, who was adopted from China, and Christy, an older girl who knows sign language because both of her parents are deaf. When Stevie sees Joey kissing Christy in the pool, she's crushed. It's even worse when her dedication is played on Kasem's show, and Joey hears it! Luckily, it's near the end of the tour, and she's able to avoid Joey for most of the trip, although the two do finally have a heart-to-heart. At the end of the summer, Stevie is glad that she got to have such adventures, but is even happier to settle back into her regular life in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Strengths: Like Holm's Sunny Makes a Splash, this is an excellent look at what should be an amazing summer. Traveling the US in a mini van? With a group of friends? Putting on performances? My goodness! Modern readers will be amazed at the idea of host families, but I know for a fact that children were frequently places with local families while traveling; my high school orchestra traveled to a music competition in Columbus, Ohio in 1981, and families in Westerville put us up... and that's a big reason why I live there now! Sleeping in a high school and getting into trouble while the chaperones go into town? Absolutely. There are plenty of good details about ordinary life in the 1980s as well; technology, fashion, and lots of music. Stevie's infatuation will hit home with many readers, and the camraderie is fun to see. Based on the author's own experience, this will make most readers wish that they could be part of a similar group!
Weaknesses: There was not much of a discernable plot, other than the development (or lack thereof) of Stevie's relationship with Joey. Even that fizzled for me, and I wanted some structure to hang all of the 1980s details on. Can't quite put my finger on why this would have helped, but I struggled a bit to feel invested in the story when it didn't seem to be going anywhere. It also would have been more fun if Stevie had had someone's shoulder to put her head on during the van rides.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to be on the road performing and have enjoyed Crowder's Mazie or Stroker's The Chance to Fly.
August 27, 2024
It's 1985, and Stevie (12) finally gets to go on the month-long tour with her lip sync group, Synchroncity. The 80's vibes are in full force with the clothes styles, the high hair, and the music, which all find their way to the stage with the group performs. Stevie is determined to get Kasey Kasem in the top 40 to play a song dedicated to her crush, Joey, so she sends letters with a new song from every stop they make on the tour. While waiting, she spends as much time as she can with her best friend, Wes, and the other members of the crew and tries to get closer to Joey. She starts to notice he may not be who she thinks he is and her brother Brandon's epilepsy might be getting wrose after he has a seizure on tour. Making new friends, learning new things about herself, Stevie has a coming of age story that despite the time period would still ring true with modern readers. Though I found Stevie, Wes, and some of the other side characters to be interseting, others were just set dressing that fell flat, like Joey who didn't really stand out. The historical aspects of the novel was there, but to me it didn't feel like it would connect with a tween audience.
January 19, 2026
It's the 80s, and Stevie is finally old enough to go on tour with her lip-synching group, Synchronicity. During the month-long tour, she makes new friends, deals with a crush, and becomes more confident than she ever has been before. Stevie might just come back from the tour a different person.
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did, but it really was a great read. Lighthearted and sweet with some good messages about growing up and change thrown in. I also think that Cat Patrick nailed the 80s setting. It made me feel nostalgic despite not growing up in the 80s. Very well written with great characterization and a fun, fastumoving plot. Highly recommend to any kid who wants a light, fun read.
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did, but it really was a great read. Lighthearted and sweet with some good messages about growing up and change thrown in. I also think that Cat Patrick nailed the 80s setting. It made me feel nostalgic despite not growing up in the 80s. Very well written with great characterization and a fun, fastumoving plot. Highly recommend to any kid who wants a light, fun read.
August 28, 2024
What a totally tubular book about a teen touring performance group in 1985 and all of their adventures. Stevie is almost 13 and ready to confess her crush to the boy she likes by writing a dedication request to Casey Casem. Wes, her best friend, also wants to tell his crush how he feels. Their friendship is lovely as is the friendships that Stevie gains on the tour. There are funny parts, sweet parts and teen angsty parts. Just a super fun read that brought back so many memories of childhood in the 80’s. I hope my middle grade kids enjoy the story as much as I did. No swears, no romance (besides a kiss on the cheek) and no violence. 6th grade and up.
April 20, 2025
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
Of course the song which inspired the title went through my head most of the time while I read. That's the most I can say about this narrative that I just did not engage with. It's set in the year of my birth and from all that I can tell reads as authentic to the decade. Perhaps the 80s just do not work for me. The ages of all the characters in this traveling performing group felt more than a bit nebulous as well resulting in confusing interactions between various characters. The book overall is fine but it did not work for me.
Of course the song which inspired the title went through my head most of the time while I read. That's the most I can say about this narrative that I just did not engage with. It's set in the year of my birth and from all that I can tell reads as authentic to the decade. Perhaps the 80s just do not work for me. The ages of all the characters in this traveling performing group felt more than a bit nebulous as well resulting in confusing interactions between various characters. The book overall is fine but it did not work for me.
July 22, 2024
Stevie is traveling with a lip-syncing/dancing troop around the country and just wants her crush to notice her. She writes to disc jockey Kasey Casem each week and requests a long-distance dedication on his American Top 40 show. Set to a 90s soundtrack, people of a certain age might enjoy this as much as middle-grade readers.
dnf-did-not-finish
July 22, 2024DNF at 16%. This book may be fine for middle schoolers, but I have not been in that demographic since the early 80s. I was reading this for the nostalgia since I was teen and tween in the 80s. I have loved some middle grade books, but this probably would be better read by middle grade students. I am returning this to my library, so this can find a home with the right age group.
August 14, 2024
This is cute. I grabbed it from the library thinking my daughter and I would read it together, but she wasn't interested. It had some nice throwbacks for me, though I must've read "rad" and "copacetic" 100 times each. It's YA, and you know what's coming as soon as the main character sets the stage in Chapter 2, but it's still cute and a quick read.
September 4, 2024
As an adult, I was ready to give at a three because the crush business wore me out. As an adult who loves 80s music and was an avid listener of Casey Kasem, I am willing to give it a four. The story and relationships developed better as it went on.
I am disappointed in the adults going out dancing while the kids were bunking in a school.
I am disappointed in the adults going out dancing while the kids were bunking in a school.
March 3, 2025
We Built This City takes readers back to 1985, where twelve-year-old Stevie is spending the summer touring the country with her dance troupe, which includes her brother, best friend, and a lot of other zany kids. A fun, light, cross-country trip with plenty of drama and pop culture throwbacks!
April 21, 2025
The librarian at my local library saw me wearing my “made in the 80’s” shirt and had just finished this book. She literally hunted it down and put it in my hands. A cute, nostalgic story about a girl Stevie who tours the country with a traveling lip sync group. She comes into her own as the book progresses and the 80s nostalgia is a character in itself. Cute, fun, light.
July 10, 2024
We Built This City: DNF. The 1985 setting and the concept of Stevie's traveling performing troupe were fun, but there was barely any conflict to move the book along and the large cast of characters felt under-developed.
Note there is a depiction of incorrect first aid for a seizure.
Note there is a depiction of incorrect first aid for a seizure.
October 11, 2025
This was cute for middle schoolers, and the 1980s setting was fun, although I am not sure how necessary it was for this story to be set in the 80s. Still, it was cute and has good messages about friendship and sticking up for yourself.
Want to read
March 8, 2024i’ve been obsessed with cat patrick since i was 11 years old i am SO. EXCITED.
May 7, 2024
A totally rad road trip through 1985, following a youth lip sync group as they tour the US over the summer.
Want to read
July 11, 2024i’ve been obsessed with cat patrick since i was 11 years old i am SO. EXCITED.
September 7, 2024
52 Book Club Reading Challenge #35: Title Matches Lyrics from a Song
November 14, 2024
If you love all things 80’s, especially the music, this middle school book is for you.
June 30, 2025
4 stars for the actual book
5 stars for the nostalgia brought back to me while reading this book!
5 stars for the nostalgia brought back to me while reading this book!
Want to read
October 26, 2021From Publisher's Weekly:
The middle grade novel is about a 13-year-old girl on tour of the East Coast in August 1985 with the Signing Stars performing sign-language group, driven by a mission to reveal her secret crush as a Long-Distance Dedication on Casey Kasem's American Top 40 Countdown before the tour ends and eighth grade begins.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews