Overview

From the acclaimed author of the delicious Idol Gossip comes a new music-themed novel with an irresistible backbeat and a thoughtful read on friendship and identity. When Lou enlists her best friend, Molly, to shave her head, it’s partly so she doesn’t have to deal with washing her hair all the time while on tour—and partly because she’s ready to be a new person. No stranger to reinventing herself, restless Lou is a Cuban-American girl who’s never left Texas, let alone the country. But the “New Lou” has deferred her first semester at Texas State to work for a celebrity musician on tour. She’s bound for China, Japan, half of Europe, and everywhere in between, though it means getting intimately acquainted with the band’s dirty laundry. Even with her road crew uncle on alert, it will be the summer of a lifetime, full of underground parties, disco spas, and gelato. When Lou falls for a tattooed guitar prodigy who makes her feel achingly alive, it doesn’t cross her mind to doubt him or—as life on the road tightens its hold—her course. Will Molly know her when she returns, if she returns? Who is the “New Lou” really? Pulsing with energy and authentic detail, this story of self-discovery ushers readers backstage on a sensational world tour.

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9781536230116

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Reviews

A thrilling, heartfelt, pitch-perfect ride through the actual reality of touring life. Every detail of the whirlwind travel, the camaraderie of the crew, the big personalities (and flirtations), and the magic of performance all come to life in this gripping book. I couldn’t put it down. —Leo Kremer, bassist with Third Eye Blind, Honeycut, and POP ETC Alexandra Leigh Young has crafted a world and a main character teeming with originality, realness, and heart. Lou will make a groupie out of you! —Stephan Lee, author of K-Pop Confidential and coauthor of the Donutella Hamachi series This really wonderful book takes me back to my first tour—scared and excited, leaving home for the first time to realize a dream, and ready to take on the world. It’s a traveling-circus mentality, with lions and everything. The book is full of colorful and weird characters, just like the crazy world of touring. The story gave me continual goose bumps as I found myself cheering Lou, the kick-ass main character, as she makes her way in the touring world. I was excited to turn each page in the adventure. A solid read I highly recommend, especially to any up-and-coming roadies. —Bobby Schneider, lifelong roadie

Chock-full of vibrant characters and well-drawn backstage tour details. . . .but the portrayals of infatuation and a toxic relationship are exemplary. A deeply resonant story of identity and growing up. —Kirkus Reviews Lou is a fun character to follow. . . . [this] fast-paced novel will be of interest to teens who enjoy romance and music. The diverse racial and ethnic cast of characters also adds to the book’s appeal. —School Library Journal Aside from its excellent examination of the slide from an ill-advised flirtation to an unhealthy and damaging situation, Lou’s story incorporates a strong and forgiving friendship and an entertaining peek behind the scenes of a major tour operation. —Booklist A thrilling, heartfelt, pitch-perfect ride through the actual reality of touring life. Every detail of the whirlwind travel, the camaraderie of the crew, the big personalities (and flirtations), and the magic of performance all come to life in this gripping book. I couldn’t put it down. —Leo Kremer, bassist with Third Eye Blind, Honeycut, and POP ETC This really wonderful book takes me back to my first tour—scared and excited, leaving home for the first time to realize a dream, and ready to take on the world. It’s a traveling-circus mentality, with lions and everything. The book is full of colorful and weird characters, just like the crazy world of touring. The story gave me continual goose bumps as I found myself cheering Lou, the kick-ass main character, as she makes her way in the touring world. I was excited to turn each page in the adventure. A solid read I highly recommend, especially to any up-and-coming roadies. —Bobby Schneider, lifelong roadie Alexandra Leigh Young has crafted a world and a main character teeming with originality, realness, and heart. Lou will make a groupie out of you! —Stephan Lee, author of K-Pop Confidential and coauthor of the Donutella Hamachi series

Author Information

Alexandra Leigh Young currently produces the New York Times podcast The Daily. She produced tours for pop bands for three years before moving to South Korea as a freelance journalist. An assignment on K-pop for NPR’s Radiolab became the basis for Idol Gossip, her first novel for young adults. Lou with the Band draws on her experiences managing a popular band in the early 2000s. Alexandra Leigh Young lives in Napa Valley, CA.

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