Facing the Music

by Margaret Willey

Feeling like a new person after joining the music band, Crawl Space, Lisa Franklin hopes to get over the loss of her mother but fears that the other members of the band, who wanted a different sound, may not want her indefinitely.

Genres: Young Adult

183 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

I am the author of 9 Young Adult novels, 6 picture books & more on the way in both genres. I have also published reviews, essays and poetry. My best known books are the CLEVER BEATRICE picture books, for which I received many awards and prizes, including the CCBC Charlotte Zolotow award for best writing in a picture book. Recently, I was given the Gwen Frostic Award by the Michigan Reading Association for my contributions to literacy in my home state of Michigan. I have two grown children and live in Grand Haven with my husband Richard Joanisse.

I am the author of FOUR SECRETS,a book about the aftermath of a school bullying incident with graphic novel-inspired illustrations by Bill Hauser.
I am currently promoting my new title with Carolrhoda Lab, BEETLE BOY, about a different kind of bullying, the parental kind, and one boy's long journey out of childhood to escape it. Kirkus called the book "Disturbing and riveting" in a starred review. Starred review Publishers Weekly. Cited as a book of week for Sept 1 from PW.

Reviews

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply marvelous read! Excellent characters who I instantly cared about and are so realistic I felt like I'd known them forever. Wonderful theme of a broken family trying desperately to find themselves after a devastating loss. A garage band complete with smarmy leader who uses people to gain fame...only to loose it all because of his own mistakes and lies. A beautiful young woman who not only finds herself and realizes her greatness but also whose story begs to be continued. This book has everything a good story needs, and bonus it takes place in a town very near me. I can't say enough about this wonderful YA book...buy this for your teen daughter! Do it today!!!
Read for my 2017 reading challenge: Book by a local author.

[Madi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant book about a girl who's family basically fell apart the day her mom died. She gets her life back when she joins her brothers band, much to his chagrin. Some may think the ending was a happy one, personally I wanted to cry. It was a so so book.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I crazy, or does the cover model look exactly like Ellen Pompeo? I know that's what made me pull it out. A decent read on a slow day if you like reading about teenage bands.