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Offbeat
Fourteen-year-old Rose is sure she's going to become a folk-music sensation, with her best friend, Shilo, at her side. But first she needs to convince her mom to keep paying for her expensive violin lessons. Her mom wants her to join the youth symphony and focus on classical music, in preparation for a music degree at university. When Rose enters a fiddle competition with a unique prize for the winner, she hopes to show her mom she can really can make it as a folk musician.
- GenresYoung Adult
144 pages, Paperback
Published August 28, 2018
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 17, 2018
Offbeat was a good read. I liked how it felt like a realistic story and wasn't too silly. The musical aspect was fun and the ending was not what I expected. It was a short read, but wasn't boring. I enjoyed the book and recommend it if you like YA reads.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
August 31, 2018
Loved that Rose loves playing Irish/folk music and the festival she got to play in sounded fun. The ending was not what I was expecting, but I liked the way it all unfolded.
June 11, 2021
Another Hi-Lo book read with a 7th grade female student. She absolutely loved it. What I loved was its setting: a folk music festival. This is my thing, and my student hasn't been to even a county fair or listened to folk music of any kind, so this provided a window into a different world for her.
Rose is an aspiring fiddle player whose mother wants her to study classical violin only. To provide background knowledge and to help the student really visualize what was happening, we looked up each Celtic tune Rose and Liam played or heard at the festival on youtube, and my student was able to see what a Celtic jam session looked like, what Falcon Ridge Folk Festival looks like, the difference between fiddle and classic violin music, clogging, yurts, falafel, etc. So this became a multimedia read, and I enjoyed that so much, and so did she. She said that she'd give it "30 stars out of 5."
Rose is an aspiring fiddle player whose mother wants her to study classical violin only. To provide background knowledge and to help the student really visualize what was happening, we looked up each Celtic tune Rose and Liam played or heard at the festival on youtube, and my student was able to see what a Celtic jam session looked like, what Falcon Ridge Folk Festival looks like, the difference between fiddle and classic violin music, clogging, yurts, falafel, etc. So this became a multimedia read, and I enjoyed that so much, and so did she. She said that she'd give it "30 stars out of 5."
August 22, 2018
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I had a high hopes for this book because the synopsis was so intriguing but unfortunately it did not live up to it's intrigue.
When I started the book I thought it had a good pace to it. I thought the fast pace was a way to draw in the reader. However, this very fast pace carried on throughout the whole book, which I believe caused a lot of detachment from the story and the characters.
The main character or Rose was likeable. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about her character. She's a young girl trying to pursue her passion, however, I thought that her being 14 was quite unbelievable. Perhaps she was mature for her age but I unfortunately didn't buy into that. She was already talking about University and hanging out with boys and festivals, which doesn't seem realistic to me for a 14 year old.
The tension between her and her mom was kind of brushed aside. It was supposed to be a big part of the plot but was only really present at the beginning and at the end of the book. we had a 1.5 page chat with her mom at the beginning and then we learn some stuff about her mom in the end. But the end with her mom just seemed so random and so unrealistic because her mom came and saw her perform at the festival. Since this is Rose's life, has her mom not seen her perform at all previously? It's hard to believe that one brief performance changed her mom's whole perspective and opinion.
The overall story was very rushed. I didn't like that we jumped from place to place without the environment being set. It was: we're here, now we're going here, now this conversation is happening, but now let's do this, now it's the next day, now we're at this workshop, now it's this performance. It was so random and abrupt a lot of the time that it was hard to get invested emotionally with the character or the story.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book for all the reasons I listed above.
I had a high hopes for this book because the synopsis was so intriguing but unfortunately it did not live up to it's intrigue.
When I started the book I thought it had a good pace to it. I thought the fast pace was a way to draw in the reader. However, this very fast pace carried on throughout the whole book, which I believe caused a lot of detachment from the story and the characters.
The main character or Rose was likeable. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about her character. She's a young girl trying to pursue her passion, however, I thought that her being 14 was quite unbelievable. Perhaps she was mature for her age but I unfortunately didn't buy into that. She was already talking about University and hanging out with boys and festivals, which doesn't seem realistic to me for a 14 year old.
The tension between her and her mom was kind of brushed aside. It was supposed to be a big part of the plot but was only really present at the beginning and at the end of the book. we had a 1.5 page chat with her mom at the beginning and then we learn some stuff about her mom in the end. But the end with her mom just seemed so random and so unrealistic because her mom came and saw her perform at the festival. Since this is Rose's life, has her mom not seen her perform at all previously? It's hard to believe that one brief performance changed her mom's whole perspective and opinion.
The overall story was very rushed. I didn't like that we jumped from place to place without the environment being set. It was: we're here, now we're going here, now this conversation is happening, but now let's do this, now it's the next day, now we're at this workshop, now it's this performance. It was so random and abrupt a lot of the time that it was hard to get invested emotionally with the character or the story.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book for all the reasons I listed above.
August 6, 2018
**Thanks Net Galley for this free copy**
This is a cute story about Rose, a fourteen year old who’s going to folk festival with her fiddle group. While there, she’s in a competition where the winner gets to play with Lunar, her favorite band. For Rose, the competition means even more because her mother gave her an ultimatum before leaving…get serious about classical music or lose her music lessons. Maybe if she wins to competition, she can show her mother that performing is her true passion.
This book has a few conflicts: best friend drama, a potential crush, a broken violin…but they all seemed to be resolved quickly and with minimal fuss. There wasn’t anything wrong with this book, but there wasn’t anything that made it stand out as special. The best part of the book was the setting of the festival, which was quirky and fun.
This book is a fine upper elementary/middle school book, but I can see older kids getting a little bored with it.
This is a cute story about Rose, a fourteen year old who’s going to folk festival with her fiddle group. While there, she’s in a competition where the winner gets to play with Lunar, her favorite band. For Rose, the competition means even more because her mother gave her an ultimatum before leaving…get serious about classical music or lose her music lessons. Maybe if she wins to competition, she can show her mother that performing is her true passion.
This book has a few conflicts: best friend drama, a potential crush, a broken violin…but they all seemed to be resolved quickly and with minimal fuss. There wasn’t anything wrong with this book, but there wasn’t anything that made it stand out as special. The best part of the book was the setting of the festival, which was quirky and fun.
This book is a fine upper elementary/middle school book, but I can see older kids getting a little bored with it.
October 12, 2018
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The moment this story downloaded on my kindle I dove right in and found myself finishing it in under 2 hours. While I liked this story I can't say that I really loved it because of some elements in the storyline. This was a super fast paced read, which can sometimes work but I just felt that the story was too rush in some areas and I even struggled to connect with the characters. I also thought that some of the "conflicts" within the story got resolved fairly quickly with little to no effort really shown.
Although I didn't necessarily like everything in the story, I did enjoy some aspects. I would totally recommend it to young teens.
The moment this story downloaded on my kindle I dove right in and found myself finishing it in under 2 hours. While I liked this story I can't say that I really loved it because of some elements in the storyline. This was a super fast paced read, which can sometimes work but I just felt that the story was too rush in some areas and I even struggled to connect with the characters. I also thought that some of the "conflicts" within the story got resolved fairly quickly with little to no effort really shown.
Although I didn't necessarily like everything in the story, I did enjoy some aspects. I would totally recommend it to young teens.
July 31, 2018
Offbeat
by Megan Clendenan
Orca Book Publishers
Children's Fiction , Teens & YA
Pub Date 28 Aug 2018
I am reviewing OffBeat through Orca House Publishers and Netgalley:
Rose is fourteen year olds and with her best friend Shilo by her side she believes she can become a folk music sensation, the problem is convincing her Mom to continue to pay for her expensive violin lessons.
Rose’s Mothet wants her to focus on classical music in preparation for college. She wants her to join the youth choir.
Rose decides to enter a fiddle competition and win the unique surprise in hopes that her Mom will see that she can make it as a folk musician.
I give OffBeat five or of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this story about teen friendships, family and personal passion. In this case Rose’s passion for fiddle music is in conflict with her mother’s wishes for Rose to follow a classical music education. Their relationship -and all the other relationships in the book - is sensitively explored and developed.
The setting of a music camp was new to me and the descriptions of people and place made me feel I was right there; hearing the music, feeling the joys and fears of the students and even smelling the foods!
It made me remember what being fourteen felt like.
I readily recommend!
The setting of a music camp was new to me and the descriptions of people and place made me feel I was right there; hearing the music, feeling the joys and fears of the students and even smelling the foods!
It made me remember what being fourteen felt like.
I readily recommend!
August 11, 2018
This is a story about a girl who loves music and her violin, but there's one thing in her way, her mom. Rose doesn't understand why her mom won't let her play the kind of music she wants, especially when it's the kind of music her father used to play. Rose just wants her mom to see how much she loves folk music and how hard she's willing to work for it.
I really liked reading this book because you could feel Rose's passion for folk music and how bad she wanted her mom to understand. The author did a good job of highlighting all of Rose's emotions and feelings. I didn't really like the relationship between Rose and her mom. I felt like they should have been closer than they were considering (you'll have to read it to understand what I mean). Other than that this was a great book. I would definitely like to read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Books Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked reading this book because you could feel Rose's passion for folk music and how bad she wanted her mom to understand. The author did a good job of highlighting all of Rose's emotions and feelings. I didn't really like the relationship between Rose and her mom. I felt like they should have been closer than they were considering (you'll have to read it to understand what I mean). Other than that this was a great book. I would definitely like to read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Orca Books Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2018
This is a really cute Young Adult novel! A teenage fiddler fights to pursue her talent against her mother who wants her to study classical violin.
Rose Callaghan wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and study folk music and fiddling in college. When her music group travels to a folk festival, Rose finds music beyond her dreams, disaster and her deep calling to be a fiddler. If only her mother could see it.
Rose Callaghan wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and study folk music and fiddling in college. When her music group travels to a folk festival, Rose finds music beyond her dreams, disaster and her deep calling to be a fiddler. If only her mother could see it.
August 2, 2018
A well written book about a Teen who wants to prove to her mom that shes serious about playing music. Trying to prove herself in a festival while also having a crush on a guy and through the normal incidents that always seem to happen during music competitions. A well paced fast read, I would recommend this to any musician who wants a lighthearted book to read.
September 27, 2018
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A cute story about a 14 year old that wants to be a singer. I really enjoyed this story. I liked that she wanted to play Irish music and not be a popstar. The writing was fun. This was a cute story about going after your dreams. 3.5 stars.
A cute story about a 14 year old that wants to be a singer. I really enjoyed this story. I liked that she wanted to play Irish music and not be a popstar. The writing was fun. This was a cute story about going after your dreams. 3.5 stars.
August 4, 2019
Rose is a fiddle player. Her mom wants her to go the more classical route but Rose really likes folk music and wants to compete, with her friend Shilo beside her. They go to a festival where Rose hopes to win and prove to her mom that she has what it takes to win in the folk arena.
A serviceable hi-lo; good for those who like music.
A serviceable hi-lo; good for those who like music.
July 30, 2018
Thank you to Orca Books and Netgalley for offering me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Very, very, short and easily divisible into 2 parts: the beginning, where everything goes wrong, and the end, where everything gets fixed.
Very, very, short and easily divisible into 2 parts: the beginning, where everything goes wrong, and the end, where everything gets fixed.
July 30, 2022
This did not hit right at all. Don't know if I'm just tired of books about young people who don't know the difference between idiocy and ambition...
Want to read
August 10, 2018**I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Before Thoughts:
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Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
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Before Thoughts:
Review:
Read On:
To Be Published on:
Plot:
Characters:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
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December 20, 2018Having been somewhat of a rebellious teen, I always enjoy reading about other folks who perused their own dreams in spite of nonsupport from the responsible grownups around them! I've never bought into "we know best", "it's for your own good" tripe grownups used to dole out. Follow your dreams kids! Great YA story.
Received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews