Hey everyone, the Smilin Librarian here! I know, I know, it has been a long time since we have written anything. We are giving this blog thing another go and hopefully it will be fun for everyone. I have just finished reading Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess and loved it! This book was so different from anything I have ever read in the Young Adult section. Both authors are poets, so guess what? This book was written in verse! It took me awhile to get used to reading the story in verse, but then it clicked and just flowed.

The book is about a musically talented young man, Blade, who has it all. He lives in a mansion with his rock star dad and sister. He is graduating high school as the salutatorian and just has been asked to give the commencement speech, tomorrow! He is dating and in love with the most beautiful girl in his class, Chapel.

Blade's life is about to change. He steps onto the stage with his guitar on his back ready to sing his commencement song. When out of nowhere his dad, Rutherford, comes swerving down the aisle on his motorcycle and crashes into the stage below Blade. From this moment on things start to spiral out of control. Secrets have been kept from him that threaten his future with Chapel and his relationship with his father. Will Blade unearth the truth, begin to trust again and finally find his way home?

A bonus to this book was there are tracks of music listed throughout the book. I had fun looking up the music on YouTube, then listening to the music before I continued to read on in the book. It made this book unique and introduced me to some new music I had not heard before. I would highly recommend this book for Young Adults and Adults.

As it says on the front cover, "When the heart gets lost, let the music find you."