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Band Nerd: A Graphic Novel
Perfect for fans of Roller Girl and New Kid comes a heartfelt coming-of-age story about music, family, and friendship wherein twelve-year-old Lucy Carver must navigate life as band nerd in a new school, all while competing for a top flute soloist spot in band. But for Lucy, facing the music means dealing with the problems at home.
Middle school is tough—thank goodness there’s band.
For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life; it’s an escape from homework and an off-key homelife with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep life in tune.
Determined to be the conductor of her own life, Lucy focuses all her energy on beating snobby Tolli Claybourne for first chair flute. As things spiral out of control with her parents and her schoolwork, Lucy grows desperate for a win. Just when she thinks she's hitting all the right notes, an accident leaves her unable to play and her mother threatens to withdraw her for poor grades. Now Lucy must sabotage Tolli or give up on her dream.
Packed with heart, Band Nerd is a poignant coming-of-age story about resilience, family, and using your voice to find harmony even during life’s most discordant moments.
Middle school is tough—thank goodness there’s band.
For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life; it’s an escape from homework and an off-key homelife with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep life in tune.
Determined to be the conductor of her own life, Lucy focuses all her energy on beating snobby Tolli Claybourne for first chair flute. As things spiral out of control with her parents and her schoolwork, Lucy grows desperate for a win. Just when she thinks she's hitting all the right notes, an accident leaves her unable to play and her mother threatens to withdraw her for poor grades. Now Lucy must sabotage Tolli or give up on her dream.
Packed with heart, Band Nerd is a poignant coming-of-age story about resilience, family, and using your voice to find harmony even during life’s most discordant moments.
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First published April 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 27, 2025
this is so niche and literally just my childhood
April 30, 2025
This was wonderfully written and illustrated, coming-of-age story, about a girl who is struggling both at home and at school.
What Lucy and her family don’t realize is how much the situation at home is affecting her and her younger siblings.
Lucy puts so much emphasis on getting first chair at the orchestra, that she neglects her already strained academics, meanwhile, she makes friends but alienates them and she can’t figure out how to make things right.
Lucy’s father, has an alcohol use disorder and that greatly impacts all aspects of their lives. I’ve never seen a MG book or GN directly address alcoholism, and I honestly think it’s great. The problem is named and represented very well.
The story tackles the problem of addiction well. Lucy finds support in her band director and her guidance counselor. They reach out to her parents, she makes amends with her friends.
While it feels like the resolution was simpler than real life, I believe books like this give kids the opportunity to learn there are tools and resources out there, that they are not alone when they have to deal with family that has problems, and that they are a lot of times beyond something they can fix by themselves. I think it’s a great tool to discuss the topic with young readers.
The authors note at the end was also important, as she shares this was inspired by real life experiences from her own childhood.
I received a digital advance copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
What Lucy and her family don’t realize is how much the situation at home is affecting her and her younger siblings.
Lucy puts so much emphasis on getting first chair at the orchestra, that she neglects her already strained academics, meanwhile, she makes friends but alienates them and she can’t figure out how to make things right.
Lucy’s father, has an alcohol use disorder and that greatly impacts all aspects of their lives. I’ve never seen a MG book or GN directly address alcoholism, and I honestly think it’s great. The problem is named and represented very well.
The story tackles the problem of addiction well. Lucy finds support in her band director and her guidance counselor. They reach out to her parents, she makes amends with her friends.
While it feels like the resolution was simpler than real life, I believe books like this give kids the opportunity to learn there are tools and resources out there, that they are not alone when they have to deal with family that has problems, and that they are a lot of times beyond something they can fix by themselves. I think it’s a great tool to discuss the topic with young readers.
The authors note at the end was also important, as she shares this was inspired by real life experiences from her own childhood.
I received a digital advance copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
September 9, 2025
I expected a charming read about high school band life; I received a grim study of life with volatile parents (an alcoholic father and enabling mother). The main character, Lucy, is a "band nerd" in that her time as first chair flute was the last time her life felt settled and remotely happy. So, attending a new arts school, Lucy's number one goal is to become first chair again, even though the competition is fierce and her other studies are more challenging.
Every attempt to obtain first chair leads Lucy further and further down a dark path, shunting aside friends and failing classes. It's a riveting read with that "can't look away" factor. Fortunately, there are a handful of lighter moments where we glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel. But Band Nerd holds few punches - this is a book you definitely shouldn't read by the cover. I enjoyed it, but more from a craftsmanship perspective than from like, joy.
Every attempt to obtain first chair leads Lucy further and further down a dark path, shunting aside friends and failing classes. It's a riveting read with that "can't look away" factor. Fortunately, there are a handful of lighter moments where we glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel. But Band Nerd holds few punches - this is a book you definitely shouldn't read by the cover. I enjoyed it, but more from a craftsmanship perspective than from like, joy.
January 23, 2025
Facing the music can be hard.
🪈
Lucy is leaving her old school behind for a school for the arts so she can play her flute in a better band. However, the classwork is harder and Lucy is no longer first chair like she was at her old school. Home life isn’t like it used to be either with her father out of work and how he spends his days and nights drinking. When an accident leaves Lucy unable to play the flute, she makes a bad decision at school that ends up putting her school career in jeopardy.
🪈
From the cover one would think this is a lighthearted MG graphic novel While it does have some sweet moments and hopeful ending, most of the #book was filled with Lucy’s strife. It being marketed in relation to Roller Girl and I don’t believe that’s an apt comparison. This is definitely upper middle grade that packs quite a punch that many students will connect with and relate to. It focuses on the topic of addiction in a way that is similar to Hey Kiddo, but not YA. I truly enjoyed this title—couldn’t put it down! I just wish HarperAlley was marketing it better.
CW: alcoholism, addiction, theft, fire, injury, divorce, domestic/family fighting, death of a parent (recounted), alcohol
🪈
Lucy is leaving her old school behind for a school for the arts so she can play her flute in a better band. However, the classwork is harder and Lucy is no longer first chair like she was at her old school. Home life isn’t like it used to be either with her father out of work and how he spends his days and nights drinking. When an accident leaves Lucy unable to play the flute, she makes a bad decision at school that ends up putting her school career in jeopardy.
🪈
From the cover one would think this is a lighthearted MG graphic novel While it does have some sweet moments and hopeful ending, most of the #book was filled with Lucy’s strife. It being marketed in relation to Roller Girl and I don’t believe that’s an apt comparison. This is definitely upper middle grade that packs quite a punch that many students will connect with and relate to. It focuses on the topic of addiction in a way that is similar to Hey Kiddo, but not YA. I truly enjoyed this title—couldn’t put it down! I just wish HarperAlley was marketing it better.
CW: alcoholism, addiction, theft, fire, injury, divorce, domestic/family fighting, death of a parent (recounted), alcohol
December 31, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & HarperAlley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel looks like it's bright and hopeful but it's mainly depressing and still slightly hopeful. The protagonist is flawed but you see her family situation and understand why she is the way she is. I didn't really like her "friend" Tolli at all though.
Side note, the art flipped flopped a lot which threw me off. Sometimes it'd be good and sometimes it just looked really rushed and hastily drawn. I especially don't like how they draw the tears, it looks like fountains pouring out of their eyes, lol.
I also recommend this for the Young Adult crowd (Gr 6-12) due to many adult themes in the book, the marketing is comparing it to Rollergirl which it really isn't all that similar in my opinion due to the alcoholism prevalent in the story. The only thing similar is both protagonists are obsessed with a particular hobby and have some questionable behavior but Band Nerd is strictly for Grades 6+ while Rollergirl works well for Grades 3+.
This graphic novel looks like it's bright and hopeful but it's mainly depressing and still slightly hopeful. The protagonist is flawed but you see her family situation and understand why she is the way she is. I didn't really like her "friend" Tolli at all though.
Side note, the art flipped flopped a lot which threw me off. Sometimes it'd be good and sometimes it just looked really rushed and hastily drawn. I especially don't like how they draw the tears, it looks like fountains pouring out of their eyes, lol.
I also recommend this for the Young Adult crowd (Gr 6-12) due to many adult themes in the book, the marketing is comparing it to Rollergirl which it really isn't all that similar in my opinion due to the alcoholism prevalent in the story. The only thing similar is both protagonists are obsessed with a particular hobby and have some questionable behavior but Band Nerd is strictly for Grades 6+ while Rollergirl works well for Grades 3+.
February 9, 2025
Lucy, a middle schooler and the eldest of three siblings, has begged her parents to allow her to enroll in a fancy performing arts school so she can excel at the one thing she’s good at: playing the flute. Navigating a new social arena, practicing the flute to best all the other kids who were the top players at other schools, and keeping her grades above failing are tough—but none of those difficulties compare to what she’s dealing with at home.
Within the first 15 pages, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a light, fluffy MG book. On one hand, I’m in! On the other, whoa, I’d be a little apprehensive throwing this on the graphic novel section of my class library without a trigger warning for kids dealing with an alcoholic, aggressive parent, and another who’s worn thin and enabling. This graphic novel didn’t shy away from difficult topics; it treated them with care and at an appropriate but honest level for MG readers. Comparing it to Rollergirl and New Kid isn’t right, in my opinion. This much more closely fits the tone of Hey, Kiddo.
The social dynamics of a middle school were realistic, and none of the backstories of the characters were over the top. Aside from Lucy, one of the girls lives with her grandmother after living through her own hard times, another misses out on hangouts because of having to watch younger siblings for working parents, and another has an overbearing, perfectionist of a mother. This felt very true to what my students go through at home that their friends probably don’t know about. It’ll help MG readers realize that they’re not alone in their troubles, and that their friends might be dealing with more than they know, too.
Cormarie’s art style fit the bill, too. The bright colors emphasized clear, expressive faces on the characters—sometimes in an almost Peanuts-esque way.
Thanks to HarperAlley for sending this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for these honest thoughts.
Within the first 15 pages, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a light, fluffy MG book. On one hand, I’m in! On the other, whoa, I’d be a little apprehensive throwing this on the graphic novel section of my class library without a trigger warning for kids dealing with an alcoholic, aggressive parent, and another who’s worn thin and enabling. This graphic novel didn’t shy away from difficult topics; it treated them with care and at an appropriate but honest level for MG readers. Comparing it to Rollergirl and New Kid isn’t right, in my opinion. This much more closely fits the tone of Hey, Kiddo.
The social dynamics of a middle school were realistic, and none of the backstories of the characters were over the top. Aside from Lucy, one of the girls lives with her grandmother after living through her own hard times, another misses out on hangouts because of having to watch younger siblings for working parents, and another has an overbearing, perfectionist of a mother. This felt very true to what my students go through at home that their friends probably don’t know about. It’ll help MG readers realize that they’re not alone in their troubles, and that their friends might be dealing with more than they know, too.
Cormarie’s art style fit the bill, too. The bright colors emphasized clear, expressive faces on the characters—sometimes in an almost Peanuts-esque way.
Thanks to HarperAlley for sending this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for these honest thoughts.
September 25, 2025
I went into Band Nerd knowing almost nothing, other than the graphic novel had been recommended by @maggietheramm
I meant to only start to read it, just dip my toe in so to speak, but was so swept up by the story that I couldn’t put it down, and read it in one large gulp when I should have been doing work of all things.
The story follow Lucy, who was a first chair flute at her old school, and gotten into a magnet school that specializes in the arts. She is so sure that she can make first chair here as well, except she is completing against Tolli who gets private lessons, and has a high class flute.
Lucy is just so sure that if she could only make first chair that everything at home will get better. Isn't that what her parents want? Don’t they want that more than anything?
I love how Lucy doesn’t have trouble making friends, which is often what most middle grade books point out about new schools. Instead, it is her putting all her energy into this one goal, while her family drama swirls around her and she tries to ignore it.
If you have read New Kid, you know how having problems at home flavors everything else. When it all came to a head, as it would, I was crying real tears. So good.
All the stars.
I meant to only start to read it, just dip my toe in so to speak, but was so swept up by the story that I couldn’t put it down, and read it in one large gulp when I should have been doing work of all things.
The story follow Lucy, who was a first chair flute at her old school, and gotten into a magnet school that specializes in the arts. She is so sure that she can make first chair here as well, except she is completing against Tolli who gets private lessons, and has a high class flute.
Lucy is just so sure that if she could only make first chair that everything at home will get better. Isn't that what her parents want? Don’t they want that more than anything?
I love how Lucy doesn’t have trouble making friends, which is often what most middle grade books point out about new schools. Instead, it is her putting all her energy into this one goal, while her family drama swirls around her and she tries to ignore it.
If you have read New Kid, you know how having problems at home flavors everything else. When it all came to a head, as it would, I was crying real tears. So good.
All the stars.
September 1, 2025
Lucy is far from perfect -- she isn't good at math or sports, and she's worried about being the new girl at a new school -- but she is good at baking and GREAT at flute. Maybe, if she can be first chair like she was at her old school, her parents will be proud of her again ... maybe they'd stop fighting. Maybe, if she had all the solos, her dad would finally stop drinking for good.
This graphic novel was about so much more than the typical middle school story. I liked how the author tackled a big topic -- alcoholism -- and showed how Lucy's dad's struggle seeped into every aspect of Lucy's life: her grades and her friendships suffered, and she wrestled with the shame of having a dad with addiction problems. Things got worse before they got better (and the ending was realistic instead of picture-perfect). I appreciated seeing all the good adults in Lucy's life: her band director, her friend's grandma, the school guidance counselor. I also liked seeing hints of complicated home life issues in Lucy's friends.
The illustrations in this one are SO well done!
This graphic novel was about so much more than the typical middle school story. I liked how the author tackled a big topic -- alcoholism -- and showed how Lucy's dad's struggle seeped into every aspect of Lucy's life: her grades and her friendships suffered, and she wrestled with the shame of having a dad with addiction problems. Things got worse before they got better (and the ending was realistic instead of picture-perfect). I appreciated seeing all the good adults in Lucy's life: her band director, her friend's grandma, the school guidance counselor. I also liked seeing hints of complicated home life issues in Lucy's friends.
The illustrations in this one are SO well done!
February 9, 2025
Middle school can be tough. Add on top of that a dysfunctional family life and you have a Lucy: a determined, yet sad middle school girl trying to live out her dreams of being first chair.
You could tell throughout the book how much she wanted first chair, going above and beyond, and even stealing in one of the chapters.
This book is a great example of how having a loving family affects you and what counseling can do for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
You could tell throughout the book how much she wanted first chair, going above and beyond, and even stealing in one of the chapters.
This book is a great example of how having a loving family affects you and what counseling can do for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
June 22, 2025
Graphic novels aren't usually my thing, middle grade isn't really ever my thing, but this was so good!
It's darker than I thought was allowed for middle grade, but was a great story and really flew by.
Can't wait to see if there's another one 😊
It's darker than I thought was allowed for middle grade, but was a great story and really flew by.
Can't wait to see if there's another one 😊
May 22, 2025
Lucy Carver is affectionately known as a band nerd and is not embarrassed to be called that. She loves playing the flute so much that she auditioned and was accepted into the elite Windley School located way across town. She is not as great in math as her younger, smarter and more athletic sister who is doing math at Lucy’s grade level. However, being on the school’s band track, Lucy’s dream is to become flute first chair during one of the Friday challenges since she loved being first chair all year in 6th grade. Her dream is melting away when her nemesis Tolli takes the coveted spot again and again. Lucy feels the pressure of trying to attain that first chair spot and bring up her mediocre grades which continue to drop. Everything came so easily at her previous school but it’s much more challenging at Windley. To add to her mounting pressures, her parents are constantly fighting because her father is an angry, unemployed alcoholic. Now Lucy is on the outs with her BFF Malia who is cheerleader and a year ahead due to a misunderstanding. Luckily, Lucy’s mom realizes that she could use the assistance of the school counselor where Lucy reveals her ongoing stresses at home and school.
It took me a while to write my review because this story just broke my heart. It is just too much for young Lucy to endure with the never-ending pressures at her new school, the constant tension and fights at home, and struggles with her friends at school. Because this story really touched my heart, it will stick with me for a while, which is a good thing. I love the illustrations, the colors and the fonts. They were all simply done but absolutely conveyed the emotions of the story. There are graphic novels that tend to be overbearing in detail and will detract from the story.
I recommend this book especially to any young reader who may be going through struggles in their life or who even has a great passion for music or another fine art. They will know that they are not alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
It took me a while to write my review because this story just broke my heart. It is just too much for young Lucy to endure with the never-ending pressures at her new school, the constant tension and fights at home, and struggles with her friends at school. Because this story really touched my heart, it will stick with me for a while, which is a good thing. I love the illustrations, the colors and the fonts. They were all simply done but absolutely conveyed the emotions of the story. There are graphic novels that tend to be overbearing in detail and will detract from the story.
I recommend this book especially to any young reader who may be going through struggles in their life or who even has a great passion for music or another fine art. They will know that they are not alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
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January 26, 2025I wouldn't have guessed it from the cover, but this is a good readalike for Hey Kiddo (for a slightly younger audience). Dad is an alcoholic and this really explores how that affects Lucy's life.
January 12, 2025
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Lucy is starting a new school in Windley, North Carolina in this graphic novel. It's a school for the arts, and she's hoping to be the first chair flautist, just like she was at her previous school. Even though it's nerve wracking to leave a comfortable environment, it's better than being at home with younger siblings Elizabeth and Liam when their mother, a busy nurse, and their father, an out of work lawyer, are constantly fighting over money and household responsibilities. Luckily, Malia, an 8th grader, is super nice on the bus and helps her get her bearings at school. The other flute players, like Neela, are nice, but Tolli is odd. Her mother is a former opera singer who is very pushy, and expects Tolli to be first chair. The school expects Lucy to have her own flute, which is a hardship for the family, because $400 would go a long way towards food and rent. Even though money is tight, a lot of money is spent on beer for the father, who, as we learn, once had to go to the hospital because he was so intoxicated. Lucy is very embarrassed by his actions, and missed the father he used to be. When Tolli makes first chair, Lucy is devastated, but she takes comfort in hanging out with Malia and her grandmother, who likes to bake. When they take Lucy home one day, Lucy's father is passed out and can't be woken up. Malia's grandmother stays with the kids, and is very understanding, since Malia's mother died of a drug overdose, and is very supportive of Lucy's mom. Lucy does talk to the school counselor, since the academic demands of the school are higher than her old school. When her father is supposed to be watching the children, Lucy sustains an injury, and this is enough to propel her mother to move into the hotel with the children and start divorce proceedings. This is hard on Lucy, and who steals Tolli's music before a challenge. She's discovered and has to go to a meeting with her parents at school, but manages to get the help she needs to cope as her family goes forward.
Strengths: I played oboe in middle and high school and spent an inordinate amount of time practicing. The two other oboe players and I were always going back and forth, and being first chair is just a huge thing at that age, even in a regular school. I can't imagine the pressure in a performing arts school. It was very nice to see Lucy connect to Malia and her grandmother, and have some support. Lucy's home life is difficult, and the author's own experiences (mentioned in an afterword) add to the slice-of-life feel of this. It was interesting to see her joke with her friends about her father getting drunk; I can't imagine sharing this kind of information, but it is certainly one way to cope with a difficult situation. The father does go into rehab twice, and the family is going forward in a more positive direction by the end of the book.
Weaknesses: There is a wide array of graphic novels about problems, but very few about children in sports, so I do wish that we would see a little more variety in the graphic novels that are published. Also, there was something uncomfortable about the father being drawn in only boxer shorts without a shirt, although I am sure this reflects real life.
What I really think: There are very few books about band, (exceptions include Walter's The Club, Grosso's I Am Drums, Dionne's Notes From an Accidental Band Geek, and Herbach's Gabe Johnson Takes Over, aka Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders) and I know that music was a big part of my middle school career. There are even fewer books about parents who are alcoholics, other than Deuker's 2024 Shadowed, Hautmann's 2024 Answers to Dog, Petro-Roy's 2021 Life in the Balance, Vrabel's 2018 Bringing Me Back, and Sonnenblick's The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.
Lucy is starting a new school in Windley, North Carolina in this graphic novel. It's a school for the arts, and she's hoping to be the first chair flautist, just like she was at her previous school. Even though it's nerve wracking to leave a comfortable environment, it's better than being at home with younger siblings Elizabeth and Liam when their mother, a busy nurse, and their father, an out of work lawyer, are constantly fighting over money and household responsibilities. Luckily, Malia, an 8th grader, is super nice on the bus and helps her get her bearings at school. The other flute players, like Neela, are nice, but Tolli is odd. Her mother is a former opera singer who is very pushy, and expects Tolli to be first chair. The school expects Lucy to have her own flute, which is a hardship for the family, because $400 would go a long way towards food and rent. Even though money is tight, a lot of money is spent on beer for the father, who, as we learn, once had to go to the hospital because he was so intoxicated. Lucy is very embarrassed by his actions, and missed the father he used to be. When Tolli makes first chair, Lucy is devastated, but she takes comfort in hanging out with Malia and her grandmother, who likes to bake. When they take Lucy home one day, Lucy's father is passed out and can't be woken up. Malia's grandmother stays with the kids, and is very understanding, since Malia's mother died of a drug overdose, and is very supportive of Lucy's mom. Lucy does talk to the school counselor, since the academic demands of the school are higher than her old school. When her father is supposed to be watching the children, Lucy sustains an injury, and this is enough to propel her mother to move into the hotel with the children and start divorce proceedings. This is hard on Lucy, and who steals Tolli's music before a challenge. She's discovered and has to go to a meeting with her parents at school, but manages to get the help she needs to cope as her family goes forward.
Strengths: I played oboe in middle and high school and spent an inordinate amount of time practicing. The two other oboe players and I were always going back and forth, and being first chair is just a huge thing at that age, even in a regular school. I can't imagine the pressure in a performing arts school. It was very nice to see Lucy connect to Malia and her grandmother, and have some support. Lucy's home life is difficult, and the author's own experiences (mentioned in an afterword) add to the slice-of-life feel of this. It was interesting to see her joke with her friends about her father getting drunk; I can't imagine sharing this kind of information, but it is certainly one way to cope with a difficult situation. The father does go into rehab twice, and the family is going forward in a more positive direction by the end of the book.
Weaknesses: There is a wide array of graphic novels about problems, but very few about children in sports, so I do wish that we would see a little more variety in the graphic novels that are published. Also, there was something uncomfortable about the father being drawn in only boxer shorts without a shirt, although I am sure this reflects real life.
What I really think: There are very few books about band, (exceptions include Walter's The Club, Grosso's I Am Drums, Dionne's Notes From an Accidental Band Geek, and Herbach's Gabe Johnson Takes Over, aka Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders) and I know that music was a big part of my middle school career. There are even fewer books about parents who are alcoholics, other than Deuker's 2024 Shadowed, Hautmann's 2024 Answers to Dog, Petro-Roy's 2021 Life in the Balance, Vrabel's 2018 Bringing Me Back, and Sonnenblick's The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.
May 9, 2025
Reading this book triggered a lot of emotions for me, especially seeing the way Lucy’s father acted and the way Tolli treated Lucy throughout the entire school year. Definitely well-written for me to feel such deep emotions haha!
Seventh grade is a year of many challenges with Lucy facing almost an identity crisis where she obsessed so much with wanting, NEEDING I should say, to be first chair. When she was in her previous school at East, she had everything; first chair, good grades, and a lot more freedom to practice. Here at Windley, a competitive art school, she was almost deemed average compared to her peers. Tolli was her nemesis, who also happens to be close friends with Malia, a girl Lucy met during her first few days of school. However, Tolli was not a very nice person to be around; in fact, Tolli was pretty harsh and salty with Lucy because Tolli felt like Lucy would steal Malia away from her. It really angered me the way Tolli spoke with Lucy and how she tried to keep her out of things. But this happening is definitely something that happens at adolescence.
With trying to keep up with her classes, practicing her flute, and having a life with friends, things back at home were not so great either. Her father had a drinking addiction, to the point where it is childish when he gets drunk; Lucy became the adult figure who had to be the “bigger person”. Her mother was the one who held the family together while her father “tried” to get his act together. Truthfully, I think her mother also had an issue as she often tells Lucy to do chores whereas Lucy’s not-so-young siblings get a pass. I get that with balancing work, dealing with a 4th child (the father), putting food on the table because her own husband can’t even feed the kids since he’s so immersed in himself, and being a mother, it can be stressful to handle basically everything on your own; but it doesn’t excuse the fact that responsibilities should be divided evenly regardless of age. It is already stressful enough in the house; the best thing she could have done was to have her children work together with her.
This book is quite complicated to read as it depicts a very rare experience of seventh grade. Overall at the end, Lucy was able to find some sort of closure with her academics, hobbies, and her relationship with her father.
Seventh grade is a year of many challenges with Lucy facing almost an identity crisis where she obsessed so much with wanting, NEEDING I should say, to be first chair. When she was in her previous school at East, she had everything; first chair, good grades, and a lot more freedom to practice. Here at Windley, a competitive art school, she was almost deemed average compared to her peers. Tolli was her nemesis, who also happens to be close friends with Malia, a girl Lucy met during her first few days of school. However, Tolli was not a very nice person to be around; in fact, Tolli was pretty harsh and salty with Lucy because Tolli felt like Lucy would steal Malia away from her. It really angered me the way Tolli spoke with Lucy and how she tried to keep her out of things. But this happening is definitely something that happens at adolescence.
With trying to keep up with her classes, practicing her flute, and having a life with friends, things back at home were not so great either. Her father had a drinking addiction, to the point where it is childish when he gets drunk; Lucy became the adult figure who had to be the “bigger person”. Her mother was the one who held the family together while her father “tried” to get his act together. Truthfully, I think her mother also had an issue as she often tells Lucy to do chores whereas Lucy’s not-so-young siblings get a pass. I get that with balancing work, dealing with a 4th child (the father), putting food on the table because her own husband can’t even feed the kids since he’s so immersed in himself, and being a mother, it can be stressful to handle basically everything on your own; but it doesn’t excuse the fact that responsibilities should be divided evenly regardless of age. It is already stressful enough in the house; the best thing she could have done was to have her children work together with her.
This book is quite complicated to read as it depicts a very rare experience of seventh grade. Overall at the end, Lucy was able to find some sort of closure with her academics, hobbies, and her relationship with her father.
July 14, 2025
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!
What started as a graphic memoir came an excellent look into the lives of children who have a parent (or parents) battling addiction and how families--especially the children--can come out of it with the proper support needed. Band Nerd is a window, a sliding door, and probably a mirror to those who pick it up to read it.
Our main character, Lucy, is a young girl whose father is an alcoholic and verbally abusive (mostly to her mother). Lucy, her brother, and her sister are always walking on egg shells and in a volatile environment of constant yelling and blaming and neglect, though when their father is sober and their mother isn't preoccupied being the sole breadwinner and leader of the family, they genuinely aren't short in love. Both parents are supportive of the three, especially Lucy, but when Lucy starts a prestigious school of the arts to be a band major, they're constantly telling her she should go back to her previous school where it'd be easier for her (and cheaper for them). This along with trying to find and keep friends at school (with a litany of its own drama and bullying) pushes Lucy to her breaking point and this is where the story becomes a message to young readers that your voice and your feelings matter.
Willis wrote this with the hopes of telling her own children what happened to her when she was a child and how best to come out of it healthily. Things aren't perfect by the end, but they're significantly better and they're reflective of a realistic life. I was moved by how raw some of the scenes were in this and I have absolutely no doubt that there will be kids who find solace in Lucy and use her story to move toward a better life for themselves. It's sadly a very necessary story to tell and it's one that I'll be recommending for sure. Plus, the art is great!
What started as a graphic memoir came an excellent look into the lives of children who have a parent (or parents) battling addiction and how families--especially the children--can come out of it with the proper support needed. Band Nerd is a window, a sliding door, and probably a mirror to those who pick it up to read it.
Our main character, Lucy, is a young girl whose father is an alcoholic and verbally abusive (mostly to her mother). Lucy, her brother, and her sister are always walking on egg shells and in a volatile environment of constant yelling and blaming and neglect, though when their father is sober and their mother isn't preoccupied being the sole breadwinner and leader of the family, they genuinely aren't short in love. Both parents are supportive of the three, especially Lucy, but when Lucy starts a prestigious school of the arts to be a band major, they're constantly telling her she should go back to her previous school where it'd be easier for her (and cheaper for them). This along with trying to find and keep friends at school (with a litany of its own drama and bullying) pushes Lucy to her breaking point and this is where the story becomes a message to young readers that your voice and your feelings matter.
Willis wrote this with the hopes of telling her own children what happened to her when she was a child and how best to come out of it healthily. Things aren't perfect by the end, but they're significantly better and they're reflective of a realistic life. I was moved by how raw some of the scenes were in this and I have absolutely no doubt that there will be kids who find solace in Lucy and use her story to move toward a better life for themselves. It's sadly a very necessary story to tell and it's one that I'll be recommending for sure. Plus, the art is great!
June 2, 2025
I read this in one sitting, and enjoyed many elements of it, particularly the depiction of a single-focused protagonist who wants nothing more than to be first chair flutist in her new Arts-oriented middle school. Her various friendships and frenemy-ship largely felt real. Her difficult home life was realistic and I appreciated how the cloud over her family affected Lucy in the way it did, in a general way, rather than one particular incident that "changed everything". That felt true to life.
However...
* The illustrations were somewhat inconsistent. Occasionally they felt underdeveloped and a little too computer generated, even if they were not.
* Lucy's siblings barely registered. I don't know that they needed much of a storyline, but they seemed oddly irrelevant to the story. Her relationship with her mother also felt undeveloped for how critical it could have been.
* Her father's alcoholism and his broad range of emotions felt real. What didn't was how often he was illustrated sitting or laying around shirtless. I don't know why that bothered me, but it just seemed over-the-top for how a father of three would frequently (un)dress, no matter how wasted he was. Walking into the sleepover in his underwear felt a lot more likely to me than the general state of being half-dressed.
* This is a bit of a nitpick, but the instrument chair numbering felt off to me. Does a band teacher really need to identify each student's individual ranking within the flute section from first to tenth? Or after first and second chair, aren't there usually groupings? That seemed unnecessarily cruel and not how I've ever seen it done.
Despite these misgivings, 3.25 stars rounded down to 3.
However...
* The illustrations were somewhat inconsistent. Occasionally they felt underdeveloped and a little too computer generated, even if they were not.
* Lucy's siblings barely registered. I don't know that they needed much of a storyline, but they seemed oddly irrelevant to the story. Her relationship with her mother also felt undeveloped for how critical it could have been.
* Her father's alcoholism and his broad range of emotions felt real. What didn't was how often he was illustrated sitting or laying around shirtless. I don't know why that bothered me, but it just seemed over-the-top for how a father of three would frequently (un)dress, no matter how wasted he was. Walking into the sleepover in his underwear felt a lot more likely to me than the general state of being half-dressed.
* This is a bit of a nitpick, but the instrument chair numbering felt off to me. Does a band teacher really need to identify each student's individual ranking within the flute section from first to tenth? Or after first and second chair, aren't there usually groupings? That seemed unnecessarily cruel and not how I've ever seen it done.
Despite these misgivings, 3.25 stars rounded down to 3.
March 4, 2025
7th grader Lucy is a talented enough flute player to earn a spot at Windley School of the Arts but her family is falling apart. Dad is jobless and abusing alcohol and all her parents seem to do is fight. But surely if she earns the first chair flute spot, that will make everything better, right?
Family dysfunction is the heart of the conflict in Band Nerd, but it is 7th grade and Lucy is dealing with more than any kid should have to so more goes wrong-her grades are plummeting, she doesn’t handle some of the social aspects with her new friends well, and even resorts to trying to sabotage another band students’ chair test in order to achieve her goal. In the end, that sabotage is the catalyst for a band director to recognize the act of more than simply hyper competitiveness and a meeting with a good school counselor, the band director and her parents brings everything to light. Dad adds family counseling to his previously failed rehab attempts and, coupled with finding a job, may finally be on the road to recovery. With guidance from the school counselor, Lucy reaches out to her friends making amends with letters and thoughtful baking, begins math tutoring and the whole family attends counseling.
Graphic panels by illustrator Emma Cormarie are outstanding and using skillfully tuned dialogue, author Sarah Willis develops well nuanced characters and the anxiety felt by not only Lucy, but two of her friends with their own family difficulties, is palatable. Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Representation: alcoholism, a student living with a grandparent, one with a high pressure parent.
Highly recommended for grades 5-8.
Family dysfunction is the heart of the conflict in Band Nerd, but it is 7th grade and Lucy is dealing with more than any kid should have to so more goes wrong-her grades are plummeting, she doesn’t handle some of the social aspects with her new friends well, and even resorts to trying to sabotage another band students’ chair test in order to achieve her goal. In the end, that sabotage is the catalyst for a band director to recognize the act of more than simply hyper competitiveness and a meeting with a good school counselor, the band director and her parents brings everything to light. Dad adds family counseling to his previously failed rehab attempts and, coupled with finding a job, may finally be on the road to recovery. With guidance from the school counselor, Lucy reaches out to her friends making amends with letters and thoughtful baking, begins math tutoring and the whole family attends counseling.
Graphic panels by illustrator Emma Cormarie are outstanding and using skillfully tuned dialogue, author Sarah Willis develops well nuanced characters and the anxiety felt by not only Lucy, but two of her friends with their own family difficulties, is palatable. Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Representation: alcoholism, a student living with a grandparent, one with a high pressure parent.
Highly recommended for grades 5-8.
September 17, 2025
This was so different than what I had anticipated!
Lucy loves to play her flute. That and baking are her two passions. Entering 7th grade, she is accepted into the local Arts school. She is very excited but also worried because she knows that academically the school will be more difficult - and she is not great at math. And if going to a new school is not stressful enough? Her dad is an alcoholic. He has already been in rehab once, lost his job, and had his drivers license taken away. But he is still drinking and arguing with her mom and everyone else. Her home life is a pressure cooker for sure.
On her first day, she makes a new friend on the bus. And then at school, she also makes friends. She does very well in band -- but just can't quite play well enough to make first chair. And she desperately wants to make first chair. In fact, she will do just about anything. Her friends don't understand her obsession but as the book unfolds, readers should pick up on why it is so important to her.
As her dad's drinking increases, Lucy's life crumbles at home and at school.
Fortunately - she has teachers and counselors that really care about her. And once her parents realize what they have been doing, they also become supportive.
Be sure to read the note at the end -- the story is not strictly autobiographical but does contain memoir elements. The author discusses the fact that when you live with an alcoholic parent, the story so often revolves around them. So on her first attempt, it became clear that the story was about her dad and not about her. So she created Lucy. The story is well drawn and illustrates just how complicated the lives of students can be.
Lucy loves to play her flute. That and baking are her two passions. Entering 7th grade, she is accepted into the local Arts school. She is very excited but also worried because she knows that academically the school will be more difficult - and she is not great at math. And if going to a new school is not stressful enough? Her dad is an alcoholic. He has already been in rehab once, lost his job, and had his drivers license taken away. But he is still drinking and arguing with her mom and everyone else. Her home life is a pressure cooker for sure.
On her first day, she makes a new friend on the bus. And then at school, she also makes friends. She does very well in band -- but just can't quite play well enough to make first chair. And she desperately wants to make first chair. In fact, she will do just about anything. Her friends don't understand her obsession but as the book unfolds, readers should pick up on why it is so important to her.
As her dad's drinking increases, Lucy's life crumbles at home and at school.
Fortunately - she has teachers and counselors that really care about her. And once her parents realize what they have been doing, they also become supportive.
Be sure to read the note at the end -- the story is not strictly autobiographical but does contain memoir elements. The author discusses the fact that when you live with an alcoholic parent, the story so often revolves around them. So on her first attempt, it became clear that the story was about her dad and not about her. So she created Lucy. The story is well drawn and illustrates just how complicated the lives of students can be.
September 14, 2025
I bought this for G because she started band this year (5th grade!) and she chose the flute. Other than that, there aren't a lot of similarities, but my kiddo loves a graphic novel so I try to keep her well supplied. I don't read everything she reads, but I love when I can talk to her about a book so I read this one before I gave it to her. (She read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret last week and we've been chanting "we must, we must, we must increase our busts" ever since, we're watching the movie tonight.)
This book is a coming-of-age story about a flutist in her first year at a new school that focuses on the arts. In 6th grade, she was first chair so she wants to keep that up in 7th grade, but she has serious competition. Plus her home life isn't great with parents always arguing and trying to convince her that this new school is "too hard". On top of THAT, her dad has lost his job and has developed a love of beer and whiskey, requiring trips to the hospital and rehab. At one point he gets out of rehab and then comes home WITH MORE BEER -- WHAT THE HELL KIND OF PARENTS ARE THESE? DID THEY NOT LEARN ANYTHING IN REHAB? DIDN'T THEY DISCUSS THAT YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DRINK AT ALL WHEN YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC?
That is just an example of what G and I have been yelling about after reading this.
The illustrations aren't my favorite, but I liked that it used the little heads to tell me who was talking.
This book is a coming-of-age story about a flutist in her first year at a new school that focuses on the arts. In 6th grade, she was first chair so she wants to keep that up in 7th grade, but she has serious competition. Plus her home life isn't great with parents always arguing and trying to convince her that this new school is "too hard". On top of THAT, her dad has lost his job and has developed a love of beer and whiskey, requiring trips to the hospital and rehab. At one point he gets out of rehab and then comes home WITH MORE BEER -- WHAT THE HELL KIND OF PARENTS ARE THESE? DID THEY NOT LEARN ANYTHING IN REHAB? DIDN'T THEY DISCUSS THAT YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DRINK AT ALL WHEN YOU ARE AN ALCOHOLIC?
That is just an example of what G and I have been yelling about after reading this.
The illustrations aren't my favorite, but I liked that it used the little heads to tell me who was talking.
March 29, 2025
4 stars
Little Lucy Carver is busy collecting her Adverse Childhood Experiences, and her example is going to make a lot of kids feel really seen (unfortunately).
Lucy is a preteen who is starting her newest chapter as a band nerd at a new performing arts school. At her previous school, Lucy was first chair and her life was just generally simpler. While she's adjusting well to her new environment in some ways, there are also some real struggles, and they aren't all Lucy's fault.
There are some tough subjects in here, including but not limited to Lucy's dad's alcoholism. There are frequent references to this, and while they are done in a way that is mindful of the target audience, I do think some folks - especially in today's gross climate - will not be thrilled to let the target audience read about, well, REALITY. For me, this is a really exciting read for this exact reason. It's not often that a middle grade work has such a realistic view of a challenging circumstance like this, and I think it's great to have a book like this on hand for those moments when a window or a mirror will make all the difference.
There's a lot to confront here, but if a 12-year-old self-proclaimed band nerd can do it, you can (and should), too.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Little Lucy Carver is busy collecting her Adverse Childhood Experiences, and her example is going to make a lot of kids feel really seen (unfortunately).
Lucy is a preteen who is starting her newest chapter as a band nerd at a new performing arts school. At her previous school, Lucy was first chair and her life was just generally simpler. While she's adjusting well to her new environment in some ways, there are also some real struggles, and they aren't all Lucy's fault.
There are some tough subjects in here, including but not limited to Lucy's dad's alcoholism. There are frequent references to this, and while they are done in a way that is mindful of the target audience, I do think some folks - especially in today's gross climate - will not be thrilled to let the target audience read about, well, REALITY. For me, this is a really exciting read for this exact reason. It's not often that a middle grade work has such a realistic view of a challenging circumstance like this, and I think it's great to have a book like this on hand for those moments when a window or a mirror will make all the difference.
There's a lot to confront here, but if a 12-year-old self-proclaimed band nerd can do it, you can (and should), too.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 23, 2025
I really liked this, but this is a heavy read that you should definitely be aware of the content before handing it to a kiddo. The book is about Lucy. She is starting 7th grade at an arts school that is new to her. She loves playing flute and has always been first chair at her public middle school, but now this school has stronger academic standards as well as more competitive musicians. She makes friends with a choir girl who lives with her grandma. She becomes frenemies with a girl named Tolli who is also desperate for first chair flute. Every kid in this book is trying to meet their parents expectations and what that looks like. Lucy's dad is a raging alcoholic and that gets intense in this book. As the child of an alcoholic, this hit home a little too hard. Her best friend is dealing with the pressure to keep her grandma happy by doing cheerleading (which she doesn't like and isn't good at). Tolli is trying to meet her professional musician mom's standards. Reading this from the child's perspective, I could definitely relate to trying to do everything perfect in order to have some semblance of control over your life. Reading this as a parent, it was such a good reminder to just celebrate our children's successes and support them in all things. Life is so hard and messy and these kids are all carrying loads that aren't theirs to hold. This is a very rambly review, but I really enjoyed it for a heavy read.
January 7, 2025
Band Nerd follows seventh grader Lucy Carver as she navigates her first year at an Arts school alongside the tensions that are happening in her home life. Lucy copes by hyper focusing on getting to First Chair Flute like she was at her old school in hopes that it would help return the rest of her life to balance.
This book covered some very real and difficult topics, like alcoholism and divorce. The dad's drinking problems were much more on-page than I had anticipated from the description. I was glad to see Lucy have supportive teachers bringing her together at the end with her parents in counseling to talk through what was happening, and her parents taking accountability for the areas they should have supported Lucy along the way. My heart broke for the weight Lucy was carrying both at home and at school in trying to fit in. The story also touched on ways her peers were also trying to please their caregivers by choosing certain paths and interests.
I did find the artwork a bit inconsistent in detail level throughout the book. I couldn't tell a pattern on whether it was going in-and-out of focus alongside the emotional swings of Lucy's experience, but it did distract from the story page-over-page.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an ARC for my review.
3.5/5 stars
Content Warnings: Alcoholism
This book covered some very real and difficult topics, like alcoholism and divorce. The dad's drinking problems were much more on-page than I had anticipated from the description. I was glad to see Lucy have supportive teachers bringing her together at the end with her parents in counseling to talk through what was happening, and her parents taking accountability for the areas they should have supported Lucy along the way. My heart broke for the weight Lucy was carrying both at home and at school in trying to fit in. The story also touched on ways her peers were also trying to please their caregivers by choosing certain paths and interests.
I did find the artwork a bit inconsistent in detail level throughout the book. I couldn't tell a pattern on whether it was going in-and-out of focus alongside the emotional swings of Lucy's experience, but it did distract from the story page-over-page.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an ARC for my review.
3.5/5 stars
Content Warnings: Alcoholism
May 17, 2025
Review from my little sister Laly (12yo):
Lucy loves playing the flute and is quite skilled at it. Last year, she held the first chair position in her band class, but things began to change when she transferred to Windley Middle School. Now, Lucy is no longer the best player; she is second chair, behind her ex-friend, Tolli. Additionally, Lucy is struggling in many of her classes, particularly math, and she faces many difficulties at home. Her dad drinks frequently, and her parents are often fighting. Lucy believes that if she can become a strong flute player and regain the first chair position, her life will return to normal.
This book was so good that it almost made me cry. Every time there was a mention of her dad, I felt sad. I appreciated the band competition aspect, as it added a significant element to the story. I’m part of my school band (I play the clarinet), but unlike in this book, we don’t have chair positions. The characters were fantastic; I really liked Lucy because of her competitive nature. I also liked Tolli, although she gave me the impression that she was afraid of her mom, who constantly pushes her to excel in band.
Overall, this book was excellent, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @netgalley & @harperalley for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lucy loves playing the flute and is quite skilled at it. Last year, she held the first chair position in her band class, but things began to change when she transferred to Windley Middle School. Now, Lucy is no longer the best player; she is second chair, behind her ex-friend, Tolli. Additionally, Lucy is struggling in many of her classes, particularly math, and she faces many difficulties at home. Her dad drinks frequently, and her parents are often fighting. Lucy believes that if she can become a strong flute player and regain the first chair position, her life will return to normal.
This book was so good that it almost made me cry. Every time there was a mention of her dad, I felt sad. I appreciated the band competition aspect, as it added a significant element to the story. I’m part of my school band (I play the clarinet), but unlike in this book, we don’t have chair positions. The characters were fantastic; I really liked Lucy because of her competitive nature. I also liked Tolli, although she gave me the impression that she was afraid of her mom, who constantly pushes her to excel in band.
Overall, this book was excellent, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.
Happy Reading, Laly ❤️ 📚
Thank you, @netgalley & @harperalley for the complimentary ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 30, 2025
Seventh grade is shaping up to be a big year for Lucy Carver. She has just enrolled at Windley School of the Arts, where she has her sights set on first chair flute. But Windley is a lot more academically demanding than Lucy’s old school, and she struggles to balance schoolwork with flute practice. No matter how much she practices, Lucy feels like she will never beat out Tolli Claybourne for first chair (Tolli's mom is a professional singer who pushes her daughter hard to excel in band). Meanwhile, Lucy’s grades are slipping and her home life is a constant source of stress. Her mom is supporting the family while her alcoholic dad is out of work. Feeling the pressure, Lucy commits an act of betrayal that she thinks will give her the edge she needs to win first chair, but when her actions come to light she must face the consequences. Sarah Clawson Willis writes in her Acknowledgements that “difficult memories” from her own childhood inspired Band Nerd, her debut graphic novel, which is colorfully illustrated by Emma Cormarie. The text and artwork pair perfectly to depict both the internal and external pressures that Lucy faces. Readers will root for Lucy even in her regrettable moments, and hope that she accepts help when it’s offered. Band Nerd will appeal to readers of graphic novels that contain gentle life lessons, such as Maria Scrivan’s Nat Enough series.
June 6, 2025
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Seventh grader Lucy Carver is starting her new school year at the Windley School for the Arts, a specialized art school with a focus on music. As she makes friends, her homework load becomes too much, especially math. However, she spends all her time practicing the flute at home, where the atmosphere isn’t the best, considering that her parents fight every day. But, more than anything ,Lucy wants to be first chair in the flute section, and will do anything to achieve that. What happens when home life and school life collide? Can Lucy survive amongst all the mess and stress?
Being in the band is a lot for Lucy Carver, but being in an art school is even harder. From an alcoholic dad and a schoolmate who always wants to compete against her in the flute section, Lucy’s got her hands full. Band Nerd is raw in its emotions and honest in its storytelling. This graphic novel illustrates the challenges of attending a specialized art school, highlighting how consistently striving for excellence can lead to anxiety in any situation. Sometimes realistic and sometimes heartwarming, this comic will draw readers into the world of music.
Seventh grader Lucy Carver is starting her new school year at the Windley School for the Arts, a specialized art school with a focus on music. As she makes friends, her homework load becomes too much, especially math. However, she spends all her time practicing the flute at home, where the atmosphere isn’t the best, considering that her parents fight every day. But, more than anything ,Lucy wants to be first chair in the flute section, and will do anything to achieve that. What happens when home life and school life collide? Can Lucy survive amongst all the mess and stress?
Being in the band is a lot for Lucy Carver, but being in an art school is even harder. From an alcoholic dad and a schoolmate who always wants to compete against her in the flute section, Lucy’s got her hands full. Band Nerd is raw in its emotions and honest in its storytelling. This graphic novel illustrates the challenges of attending a specialized art school, highlighting how consistently striving for excellence can lead to anxiety in any situation. Sometimes realistic and sometimes heartwarming, this comic will draw readers into the world of music.
June 19, 2025
This was great from beginning to end. The story gets how kids worry about things, mostly things out of their control: middle school drama, parents, finances, a parent with addiction issues and (subtly) depression, home life problems, etc.
Band Nerd shows a messy portrayal of the family dynamic here, coupled with middle school drama, but it’s realistic. Her mother works long hours as a nurse, and her father is okay when he’s sober but unpredictable when he’s not, which is most of the time. Lucy is also the typical oldest daughter, saddled with responsibility that isn't heaped upon her younger siblings.
She's constantly thinking about other people and others' feelings, so she wants to be first chair at her new performing arts school.
Although unfinished-looking at times, the art style is cozy and charming. I think it was expressive, too.
I enjoyed reading this and was eager to turn the page. The characters weren't flat. ENDING SPOILER:
Band Nerd shows a messy portrayal of the family dynamic here, coupled with middle school drama, but it’s realistic. Her mother works long hours as a nurse, and her father is okay when he’s sober but unpredictable when he’s not, which is most of the time. Lucy is also the typical oldest daughter, saddled with responsibility that isn't heaped upon her younger siblings.
She's constantly thinking about other people and others' feelings, so she wants to be first chair at her new performing arts school.
Although unfinished-looking at times, the art style is cozy and charming. I think it was expressive, too.
I enjoyed reading this and was eager to turn the page. The characters weren't flat. ENDING SPOILER:
June 1, 2025
This “band nerd” loved this book! Growing up is always hard, but Lucy believes her flute will help get her through. Especially when her parents are fighting and her dad is having drinking problems. Sometimes flute and school are the only things that keep her going. Lucy gets to start at a new school for the arts and she’s super excited. She’s not very good at math or science, but who cares when she’s got band, right? Plus, if she keeps getting first chair in flute like she did last year, maybe everything will go back to normal with her family. Maybe dad won’t drink anymore. And maybe she’ll be able to concentrate on being a kid just like her brother and sister do. Plus, in band and at school, she’s meeting new friends.
But what if Lucy never makes first chair flute? And her grades are slipping. What if Mom and Dad make her quit the new school? Lucy is not about to let that happen.
This book is about the choices we make and the people we love. Sometimes those choices hurt people we love. And sometimes, we need the courage to ask for help when we need it most.
#Addiction #Perfection #Siblings
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Days 76, 77, 81 and 82
But what if Lucy never makes first chair flute? And her grades are slipping. What if Mom and Dad make her quit the new school? Lucy is not about to let that happen.
This book is about the choices we make and the people we love. Sometimes those choices hurt people we love. And sometimes, we need the courage to ask for help when we need it most.
#Addiction #Perfection #Siblings
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Days 76, 77, 81 and 82
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July 19, 2025Seventh grader Lucy Carver has fallen in love with playing the flute. At her old school last year, she played first chair all year. Now she is attending a school for the arts and everything is harder. She practices constantly hoping to land in first chair again. All the practicing hasn't been successful though. She's stuck in second chair.
All her practicing is taking a toll on her grades and even her friendships. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to study, hang out with her friends, and take care of her responsibilities at home. It would be easier if things at home were going smoother. Her father lost his job because of a drinking problem that has landed him in rehab multiple times. His up and down moods aren't helping Lucy keep up with what it takes to succeed in her new school, and she begins making bad choices.
This graphic novel by Sarah Clawson Willis, illustrated by Emma Cormarie, is perfect for anyone who is or has been a "band nerd." Full of family drama, school pressure, and life expectations, BAND NERD needs to be in every classroom and library collection.
All her practicing is taking a toll on her grades and even her friendships. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to study, hang out with her friends, and take care of her responsibilities at home. It would be easier if things at home were going smoother. Her father lost his job because of a drinking problem that has landed him in rehab multiple times. His up and down moods aren't helping Lucy keep up with what it takes to succeed in her new school, and she begins making bad choices.
This graphic novel by Sarah Clawson Willis, illustrated by Emma Cormarie, is perfect for anyone who is or has been a "band nerd." Full of family drama, school pressure, and life expectations, BAND NERD needs to be in every classroom and library collection.
August 1, 2025
Lucy is starting 7th grade at an elite arts school and is so very excited about the chance to be in a big music program. Her parents are a bit worried as they know the classes will be rigorous and may be too much for Lucy. What is actually too much for Lucy is her father's recurring use of alcohol and trips to the ER and rehab facilities. He is not holding down a job, so money is tight and her Mom needs her to help around the house despite the amount of time her homework from her new school requires. Lucy is making friends and realizing all of them have their own family issues to deal with and all she can focus on is how much she wants to be first chair flute. Lucy's love for baking is both an escape and her way to warm up to her new friends. This book packs a lot into the story of Lucy, band nerd. The family drama is a lot, but is handled very well and the author puts a note at the end that specifies how much she hopes her story about addiction will resonate with her readers. I will recommend it to colleagues in middle schools as this is a great book for that age with Lucy and her friends in seventh grade will connect well with middle schoolers.
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