Publishers Weekly Review
| When 13-year-old Cline Alden, a white aspiring singer named after Patsy Cline and obsessed with women country vocalists, learns about a singer-songwriter workshop only 40 minutes away from her small Kentucky town, she's determined to attend, despite the prohibitive $300 fee, her single diner-waitress mother's firm no, and worry over her grandmother's advancing Alzheimer's. But landing a childcare job at a local church and securing a ride from her mother's coworker, Cline secretly begins to attend the weekly workshop, where she's paired up with Sylvie Sharpe, a 13-year-old rock fan of Mexican descent. As the two collaborate on an original song, their close, supportive friendship leads to Cline's eventual first crush and helps her find the words to tell others in her life who she is and step into her full, unapologetic self as a musician and a queer person. Ormsbee (The Sullivan Sisters) renders Cline's coming out to friends and family with honesty and care, balancing some characters' hurtful reactions, such as that of Cline's religious best friend, with others' affirming and reassuring responses, including those of family members, friends, and an acquaintance within the church. Cline's growing understanding of her mother's choices to eschew music to provide for Cline and her grandmother add another layer of moving realism to this warm and hopeful story. Ages 8--12. Agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt and Zacker Literary. (Nov.) |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 5 Up--Middle schooler Cline Alden's life revolves around music, specifically country. Named after Patsy Cline, she uses playlists as pep talks, watches an old music variety show with her Gram every Monday evening, and teaches herself to play guitar with YouTube videos. Cline's mother works at a café, and when her coworker Delia tells Cline about a young singer-songwriters workshop in Lexington, a few towns over from their small Kentucky town of Paris, she knows she has to apply. Her mother isn't the biggest supporter of her musical dreams, so Cline has to go behind her back to raise the money, and get to and from classes. Once accepted to the program, Cline has a negative interaction with another workshop member, Sylvie, who is later assigned as her partner. Through Sylvie, Cline learns that first impressions aren't always what they seem and sometimes people build walls to protect themselves, and her feelings for Sylvie shift. Ormsbee's writing feels lyrical and full of country twang. Cline is an authentically relatable tween protagonist who, like her friends, shows only pieces of herself depending on who she's with. As the story unfolds, she shows readers what it takes to live authentically and be true to yourself. This coming-of-age story tackles a myriad of topics in an approachable manner. Cline is cued as white. VERDICT First purchase. A sweet tale of coming into one's own and an affirming queer love story, too.--Alicia Kalan, The Northwest Sch., Seattle |
Booklist Review
| For 13-year-old Cline, music is her life, and her dream is to become a professional country music star, a dream that is anathema to her practical, single-parent mother who stridently discourages Cline. And so, when an opportunity presents itself to participate in a young singer-songwriter workshop, Cline secretly attends. There she meets Sylvie; though at first antagonists, the two girls become friends and, for Cline, who is secretly gay, hopefully something more. In the meantime, Cline has come out to her best friend, Hollie, who betrays her by essentially outing her, which marks an end to the girls' lifelong friendship. As if this weren't enough, Cline's beloved grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. To complicate things even further, Cline and Sylvie have been invited to try out for a slot on the upcoming Daylight Savings Bluegrass Festival. Can they keep this a secret, too? Though Ormsbee doesn't break any new ground with her LGBTQ+ content, she handles the material well; her characters are empathic, and the appealing story ends on a harmonious note. |
Horn Book Review
| From her small-town home in Paris, Kentucky, thirteen-year-old Cline (named after Patsy) dreams of a future as a singer-songwriter. Her mother, who must work long shifts at the local diner to support the family, wants her to focus on a more practical pursuit. Her best friend, who is heavily involved with her Christian youth group (and a boy in it), discounts Cline's pursuits entirely. Still, she finds strength and support through the encouragement of her musical grandmother, the memory of her late father, and the lyrics of the songs on her favorite playlist. When her mother forbids her to apply for a Young Singer-Songwriter Workshop at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, she conspires to do so anyway. Her determination and passion see her through many challenges along the way, bringing her closer to an understanding of herself and others (including well-developed secondary characters). Cline's first-person narration is an engaging mix of naive earnestness and mature self-assurance. Her secret weekly trips to Lexington and increased awareness of her attraction to workshop partner Sylvie help her grow as a musician and person. Comparing and contrasting her own feelings with what she notices around her, the protagonist explores her understanding of family, friendship, illness, sexual identity, religion, music, and more. Her story offers readers an inspiring combination of self-awareness, bravery, and passion. Julie Roach January/February 2022 p.118(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Kirkus Review
| A 13-year-old queer girl dreams of being a musician in this coming-of-age story. Cline Louise Alden, who was named after Patsy Cline, lives in Paris, Kentucky, with her waitress Mama, who believes in practicality, and Gram, who encourages her love of music, particularly older songs from women country singers. When Cline learns of an upcoming singer/songwriter workshop in Lexington, she's determined to go even if she has to keep it a secret from Mama and find a way to come up with the $300 fee. The workshop is both inspiring and intimidating, while Sylvie, Cline's assigned partner who prefers rock music, gives Cline all sorts of nervous and excited feelings. The story skillfully tackles varying Christian beliefs about sexuality, Gram's Alzheimer's, the family's financial struggles, and shifting friendships. While the plot is propelled by Cline's musical journey, it's the captivating character of Cline herself that makes the book shine, although many secondary characters are notable in their own rights. Cline's confident, candid, and immensely endearing narrative forms the heartbeat of the book as she learns to be both vulnerable and strong. Readers with passion and big dreams will be able to relate. It's refreshing that Cline has no internal struggle about her sexuality; her concerns are about how and when to share her identity with others. Cline is White; Sylvie's mom is from Mexico and her father is White and American, and side characters bring additional diversity to the story. Destined for the spotlight. (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
