What do you think?
Rate this book
The Right Way to Rock
The rockin' story of two new friends, one arts fiasco and a whole lot of music.
Without music, the world is just blah. That’s my take on life, anyway.
Mum says rock is the only music worth listening to, but I think everyone should find their own beat.
When I hear that Principal Keiren plans to cut all of the arts classes at Watterson Primary, there's no way me and my new mate Flynn are gonna let that happen. We're dragging our secret Broadway appreciation society into the spotlight.
It's time for Watterson: The Musical!
Without music, the world is just blah. That’s my take on life, anyway.
Mum says rock is the only music worth listening to, but I think everyone should find their own beat.
When I hear that Principal Keiren plans to cut all of the arts classes at Watterson Primary, there's no way me and my new mate Flynn are gonna let that happen. We're dragging our secret Broadway appreciation society into the spotlight.
It's time for Watterson: The Musical!
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 9, 2022
Mac loves musicals. His mother loves live music, especially Rock. She makes sure Mac has every opportunity and a new guitar so he can be a rock star. The only problem is Mac doesn’t want to be a rock star.
Disaster strikes at school too. The music, art and drama classes are threatened with closure. Mac’s new friend Flynn is a piano player and composer who loves musicals too. What solution do the boys come up with for a non-rock concert?
I loved the format: script and prose. I loved the rich characters and the fun they had. Nat Amoore provides excellent information about Tourette’s, which is dealt with sensitively.
Recommended for 10 + year-old readers.
Disaster strikes at school too. The music, art and drama classes are threatened with closure. Mac’s new friend Flynn is a piano player and composer who loves musicals too. What solution do the boys come up with for a non-rock concert?
I loved the format: script and prose. I loved the rich characters and the fun they had. Nat Amoore provides excellent information about Tourette’s, which is dealt with sensitively.
Recommended for 10 + year-old readers.
January 14, 2022
I loved, loved, loved this book!
And if, like me, you enjoy Musical Theatre, you’ll enjoy singing along at parts in the book where Mac’s lyrics are added to the melodies of popular MT songs. If you are not sure of a specific melody, you could search for it on YouTube and then sing along (I did for some of the numbers). This book is really value-packed!
Mac, the main character, is an all round great kid, who happens to be a musical whizz, with a particular penchant for Musical Theatre (which he keeps secret from his rock music-loving mother, Nicci).
Mac is introduced to and becomes besties with Flynn, a new boy in town, a year older and at a different school. Flynn has Tourette’s Syndrome. The friendship between the boys develops as the book progresses. I loved that Mac and Flynn were equals - there was no pity from Mac about Flynn’s neuro condition, just friendly concern and a genuine desire to know more so as to be supportive. Flynn’s Tourette’s-related random phrases are interspersed amongst his ‘normal’ (intended) direct speech in lighter, grey print. The words strung together are amusing. For example, ‘dance like an octopus on a tricycle’.
This is quite a long Middle Grade Fiction book at 337 pages, but it’s definitely not too long. It’s just the right length as it packs a lot of action, and every page is necessary. The plot moves to a happy denouement. Even a character who is painted in a harsh light for most of the book is totally redeemed.
You’ll love it, trust me! As the words of the song go: “Give it up for Mac!”
And if, like me, you enjoy Musical Theatre, you’ll enjoy singing along at parts in the book where Mac’s lyrics are added to the melodies of popular MT songs. If you are not sure of a specific melody, you could search for it on YouTube and then sing along (I did for some of the numbers). This book is really value-packed!
Mac, the main character, is an all round great kid, who happens to be a musical whizz, with a particular penchant for Musical Theatre (which he keeps secret from his rock music-loving mother, Nicci).
Mac is introduced to and becomes besties with Flynn, a new boy in town, a year older and at a different school. Flynn has Tourette’s Syndrome. The friendship between the boys develops as the book progresses. I loved that Mac and Flynn were equals - there was no pity from Mac about Flynn’s neuro condition, just friendly concern and a genuine desire to know more so as to be supportive. Flynn’s Tourette’s-related random phrases are interspersed amongst his ‘normal’ (intended) direct speech in lighter, grey print. The words strung together are amusing. For example, ‘dance like an octopus on a tricycle’.
This is quite a long Middle Grade Fiction book at 337 pages, but it’s definitely not too long. It’s just the right length as it packs a lot of action, and every page is necessary. The plot moves to a happy denouement. Even a character who is painted in a harsh light for most of the book is totally redeemed.
You’ll love it, trust me! As the words of the song go: “Give it up for Mac!”
January 25, 2023
The Right Way to Rock / (also printed under the title “Secrets of a Rebel Rockstar”) is written by Sydney-based author Nat Amoore. We are introduced to Mac Fleetwood Cooper, who is in Year 6 at Watterson Primary. Mac and his younger brother Stevie were named after their Mum’s favourite band “Fleetwood Mac”. Nikki is a huge live bands fan and would love her sons to be rock stars. Unbeknown to Nikki, Mac actually loves musical theatre and after his English teacher Mr Deery invites him along to SSOBMA (you will have to read the book to find out what that is), where Mac meets Flynn. Flynn (who is a year older than Mac) has Tourette’s Syndrome and his random phrases like “dance like an octopus on a tricycle” are interspersed throughout the story, in a fine grey print. The author also provides excellent information on Tourette’s which is handled in a sensitive manner. Flynn is a prodigy pianist and composer and together with Mac’s ability to write lyrics to any music, go about saving the “Arts Fiasco”. A beautifully written story about friendship and giving it a go.
Highly recommend the audio book as the reader adds the music element into the story.
Can be read as a stand alone and is a great read for upper primary students.
Other books in the Watterson Series: “The power of positive pranking” (also printed under the title “Secret of an Undercover Activist”) and “Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire”.
Highly recommend the audio book as the reader adds the music element into the story.
Can be read as a stand alone and is a great read for upper primary students.
Other books in the Watterson Series: “The power of positive pranking” (also printed under the title “Secret of an Undercover Activist”) and “Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire”.
July 19, 2024
väga kiire ja lihtne lugemine, kestis täpselt ühe (mitte eriti pika) lennureisi jagu. hindan ülikõrgelt eelkõige sellepärast, et suutsin üle pika aja tõesti süvenenult loosse sisse minna ja kõik korraga läbi lugeda ja lõpus sain lausa pisara silma (ei pea kartma, et midagi kurba juhtuks, liigutusest lihtsalt). moraal oli üsna selgelt sõnastatud, aga täiesti asjakohane: kunstil, muusikal, üldse kultuuril on elus väga oluline osa. ja siis muidugi see ka, et igaüks peaks ise oma unistusi täitma, mitte lapsed vanemate omi.
mulle need selle sarja lood väga meeldivad ja selles austraalia linnakeses elaks ja algkoolis käiks isegi. tõesti tore hakkajate laste ja arusaajate täiskasvanute kamp, noh!
mulle need selle sarja lood väga meeldivad ja selles austraalia linnakeses elaks ja algkoolis käiks isegi. tõesti tore hakkajate laste ja arusaajate täiskasvanute kamp, noh!
October 27, 2021
Read with my 7 and 11 year old. We all loved it and now my 11 year old is reading it to her dad. A wonderful story about people who are different finding ways to express themselves. As usual Amoore strikes a good balance between heartfeels, humour and story. We have read all of her works and look forward to more.
July 4, 2022
Listened to the audio of this book with my kids. We're not much of a musical family by the kids really got into this story. They loved the character of Flynn.
What a great tale of kids uniting a community!
What a great tale of kids uniting a community!
September 7, 2022
Another great novel from Nat Amoore. She loves writing books about primary school kids taking action and doing something positive. Main character in this book has a tic and she makes it so understandable and relatable.
September 26, 2021
Ridiculously excellent.
December 23, 2021
A fun and well-paced read about finding community and being your true self.
February 10, 2022
Another super fun read from Nat Amoore! I love the way Nat’s books can be read as stand alone stories, but feature many of the characters.
April 6, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
September 27, 2022
Fun story. Highly recommend the audio book, because of the music!
September 5, 2023
We loved Flynn and Mac and all their musical numbers. Please write another Watterson book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews