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Violet and the Velvets #1
The Case of the Missing Stuff: Violet and the Velvets Book 1
Violet Grumble, twelve-year-old rock star in the making, forms a band with a ragtag group of friends. Against all odds, can they win a chance to compete at BandChamps?
Meet Violet a music-loving, guitar-toting tween whose dream is to compete at BandChamps.
The problem is that none of her friends can play an instrument. Violet won't let that stop her!
But things get tougher when the band's gear starts to go missing - what's going on?
Can Violet solve the mystery and harness her ADHD powers? Can she help the Velvets overcome stage fright AND beat The Alphas at the final showdown?
After all, you only need three chords to play a song ... how hard can it be?
Meet Violet a music-loving, guitar-toting tween whose dream is to compete at BandChamps.
The problem is that none of her friends can play an instrument. Violet won't let that stop her!
But things get tougher when the band's gear starts to go missing - what's going on?
Can Violet solve the mystery and harness her ADHD powers? Can she help the Velvets overcome stage fright AND beat The Alphas at the final showdown?
After all, you only need three chords to play a song ... how hard can it be?
Mass Market Paperback
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Rachael King
8 books95 followersRachael King is a writer, book reviewer, and former literary festival director from Aotearoa New Zealand. When she was young, she played bass guitar in rock bands, rode horses bareback along a beach, and voraciously read fantasy books. She is the author of two middlegrade fantasy novels based on Scottish mythology in a New Zealand setting – Red Rocks (republished in 2025 as Secrets at Red Rocks to coincide with a television adaptation) and The Grimmelings; a junior fiction series Violet and the Velvets, and a YA folk horror fantasy due in 2026, Song of the Saltings. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the Victoria University Wellington, and has also written two books for adults, The Sound of Butterflies and Magpie Hall. In 2023 she was named Best Reviewer at Voyager New Zealand Media Awards for her book reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 18, 2025
I really loved this — and can’t wait to see what Violet and her band get up to next!
April 8, 2025
Violet Grumble loves music. She has grown up with it all around her and her mum has told her stories about her travels as a bass player in bands. Now Violet is a bass player herself and is excited to audition for the school band.
There are many auditioning, and Violet doesn’t like to say, but some are much better than others. But her teacher says they’re all in. What? That means three guitars and too many singers. That won’t work!
Violet has a solution. She gets her friends together and gives them her idea. They start their own band. At first, they don’t believe her. They can’t even play any instruments! But Violet is determined. Especially since she watched a Band Competition the year before, with mostly boys with instruments, and boys winning all the prizes. This is their chance to shine.
The start is rocky with so much to teach and learn among the band. Violet refuses to give up, encouraging her friends to keep practising. This suddenly becomes impossible as important equipment begins to go missing. What is happening? Will they find out before the competition date arrives?
Violet and her band mates discover the answers to this terrible conundrum, which brings other problems. All they want to do is play, and have a chance to compete after all their hard work. Was it all for nothing?
Violet and the Velvets is a fun, musical, middle grade novel. Violet Grumble is the star of the book with her can-do attitude, fun personality and authentic challenges. ADHD is in the mix, as Violet explains how it affects her day to day – with strengths and things that don’t quite go as well as they should. Her easy to like authentic personality shares all the trials and tribulations of starting, encouraging and being in a band.
The villain of the story is also authentic and dastardly as she carries out her plans – but not all evil, as the reader will discover.
Violet’s description of her mum might just be a little like the author of this first book in this new New Zealand series. The well spaced large font, doodles and illustrations throughout and friendship dynamics between Violet and her besties will capture readers hearts.
Go Violet and the Velvets!
Age – 9+
There are many auditioning, and Violet doesn’t like to say, but some are much better than others. But her teacher says they’re all in. What? That means three guitars and too many singers. That won’t work!
Violet has a solution. She gets her friends together and gives them her idea. They start their own band. At first, they don’t believe her. They can’t even play any instruments! But Violet is determined. Especially since she watched a Band Competition the year before, with mostly boys with instruments, and boys winning all the prizes. This is their chance to shine.
The start is rocky with so much to teach and learn among the band. Violet refuses to give up, encouraging her friends to keep practising. This suddenly becomes impossible as important equipment begins to go missing. What is happening? Will they find out before the competition date arrives?
Violet and her band mates discover the answers to this terrible conundrum, which brings other problems. All they want to do is play, and have a chance to compete after all their hard work. Was it all for nothing?
Violet and the Velvets is a fun, musical, middle grade novel. Violet Grumble is the star of the book with her can-do attitude, fun personality and authentic challenges. ADHD is in the mix, as Violet explains how it affects her day to day – with strengths and things that don’t quite go as well as they should. Her easy to like authentic personality shares all the trials and tribulations of starting, encouraging and being in a band.
The villain of the story is also authentic and dastardly as she carries out her plans – but not all evil, as the reader will discover.
Violet’s description of her mum might just be a little like the author of this first book in this new New Zealand series. The well spaced large font, doodles and illustrations throughout and friendship dynamics between Violet and her besties will capture readers hearts.
Go Violet and the Velvets!
Age – 9+
June 11, 2025
My nine year old kid read it in one go! Here is a few quotes she said along the way:
"I like how it's just 'missing stuff' like the author couldn't be bothered writing it properly."
"I think the entire first chapter is just about her life with ADHD. I can relate to that." (she read just about the whole chapter aloud to me with a mixture of glee and recognition in her eye)
"I like how there's a they person in the book."
"I think I know who did it and I don't think they're actually a bad guy, just like someone who wants to win really bad."
We only bought the book a week ago but she has re-read it at least 3 times since then. She's also tried to start a band with her friends (none of them play instruments).
As a grown-up, I can appreciate the story being not too intense or suspenseful for our sensitive wee souls, but still engaging and fun. It's modern, inclusive, and I'm guessing by the way my kid speaks about the antagonist,in the end it doesn't pit the children against each other which I love.
Can't wait for the next one!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I like how it's just 'missing stuff' like the author couldn't be bothered writing it properly."
"I think the entire first chapter is just about her life with ADHD. I can relate to that." (she read just about the whole chapter aloud to me with a mixture of glee and recognition in her eye)
"I like how there's a they person in the book."
"I think I know who did it and I don't think they're actually a bad guy, just like someone who wants to win really bad."
We only bought the book a week ago but she has re-read it at least 3 times since then. She's also tried to start a band with her friends (none of them play instruments).
As a grown-up, I can appreciate the story being not too intense or suspenseful for our sensitive wee souls, but still engaging and fun. It's modern, inclusive, and I'm guessing by the way my kid speaks about the antagonist,in the end it doesn't pit the children against each other which I love.
Can't wait for the next one!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 4, 2025
Violet and the Velvets is exactly the kind of book the market needs - representation freaking matters, and Rachael King delivers it brilliantly. Violet Grumble is a twelve-year-old guitar-toting rock star in the making, full of heart, humour, and unstoppable determination.
The story is fun, fast-paced, and full of music, mystery, and friendship. Violet’s ADHD is woven into the story in a way that feels real and empowering, and watching her navigate forming a band with her ragtag friends is both hilarious and inspiring. With stolen gear, stage fright, and a showdown at BandChamps, the story keeps you on your toes from start to finish.
A must-read for young readers who love music, mystery, and characters who dare to dream big - even when the odds are stacked against them. I can’t wait for more adventures with Violet and the Velvets!
The story is fun, fast-paced, and full of music, mystery, and friendship. Violet’s ADHD is woven into the story in a way that feels real and empowering, and watching her navigate forming a band with her ragtag friends is both hilarious and inspiring. With stolen gear, stage fright, and a showdown at BandChamps, the story keeps you on your toes from start to finish.
A must-read for young readers who love music, mystery, and characters who dare to dream big - even when the odds are stacked against them. I can’t wait for more adventures with Violet and the Velvets!
August 8, 2025
Saw the author at a lunchtime event, read the book by tea time!
Cute, easy read with a diverse cast of characters, lots of music references, and some girl power thrown in.
I anticipate fights on Monday morning.
Cute, easy read with a diverse cast of characters, lots of music references, and some girl power thrown in.
I anticipate fights on Monday morning.
September 20, 2025
I felt it was a wonderful read, one that took me back to my tween self. At the same time, it's contemporary in its diversity, which has been woven seamlessly into the story through Rachel King’s brilliant writing style. Would definitely recommend!
September 8, 2025
Lots of fun.
September 30, 2025
An easy-to-read book with diverse characters, girl power, and a love of music that shines through.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews