Overview
Seventeen-year-old Ana Santos has ambitions to make it big in music. When she signs a contract with the owner of a music café, she has no idea there are sexual strings attached. This book looks at the darker side of the music industry, including sexual harassment, lyrics that degrade and demean women, and social media trolling as backlash for speaking up. Ana is a strong, realistic main character who overcomes her feelings of shame to find a voice for herself and her music. The #MeToo movement has revealed the prevalence of sexual assault in society, and an issue that also affects the lives of teen girls. Distributed in the U.S by Lerner Publishing Group
Full Product Details
Author: Jennifer Manuel
Publisher: Lorimer Children & Teens
Imprint: Lorimer Children & Teens
Dimensions:
Width: 14.00cm
, Height: 1.30cm
, Length: 21.30cm
Weight: 0.299kg
ISBN: 9781459415904
ISBN 10: 1459415906
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 01 August 2021
Recommended Age: From 8 to 9 years
Audience:
Young adult
,
Teenage / Young adult
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
An absorbing #MeToo story that will increase awareness. -- Kirkus Reviews The heaviness of the #metoo theme is paired well with the lighter side of a teenage band that is working to find and create its own sound. -- CM: Canadian Review of Materials The story is accessible and would be a useful introduction into understanding the #metoo movement and the importance of speaking out. -- CM: Canadian Review of Materials Though the story is engaging for reluctant readers, the way red flags and warning signs of predatory behavior are woven through the narrative is its greatest strength. -- Kirkus Reviews
Ana is an aspiring teen musician dreaming of stardom with her band. When Gill, a club owner with important connections, begins paying her special attention, she is initially excited for the career opportunity. Amid whispers of past inappropriate behavior and a growing web of secrets, Ana begins to realize that he has been sexually grooming her. After a disturbing incident where she is nearly assaulted, Ana speaks with a reporter whose article helps expose Gill's pattern of abuse and manipulation toward young women. The book also tackles themes of misogyny and disbelief of victims with the examples of Ana's bandmates, who believe that women make up accusations for attention. The text is written at a second grade reading level, and features short sentences and quick, readable chapters. While on the longer side for a hi-lo book, the engaging, fast-paced plot dealing with gritty, real-world issues will appeal to striving high school readers. Highlighting the important and under-discussed issue of grooming against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, this novel deftly deals with a difficult and timely topic. Highly recommended for high school hi-lo collections. --starred, School Library Journal -- Journal (8/23/2021 12:00:00 AM) Guitarist Ana 'Shadow' Santos dreams of a music career, but when an amazing opportunity presents itself, how far will she be willing to go to achieve her goal of stardom? To 17-year-old Ana, music is everything. She has an innovative style, a strong message, and the drive to see her dreams come true. When Gill Daring, a local club owner and mover and shaker, takes her under his wing, she is thrilled with the opportunities it brings. She and her band play regular live shows every Friday night and have a growing fan following. Gill seems truly fond of her and eager to help her get her big break, but he pulls her away from her friends and band mates and even out of school. He also encourages her to keep secrets about their time together. Meanwhile, others try to warn her that Gill may not be the good guy he presents himself to be but rather a master manipulator, grooming Ana for more than her shot at stardom. Though the story is engaging for reluctant readers, the way red flags and warning signs of predatory behavior are woven through the narrative is its greatest strength. The subjects presented will educate and inform many readers on an important topic; it's a shame no resources are included for those seeking support or information. Ana is cued as Mexican Canadian; other main characters read as White. An absorbing #MeToo story that will increase awareness. --Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (5/27/2021 12:00:00 AM)
Author Information
JENNIFER MANUEL was the 2017 winner of the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and was named A Writer to Watch by the CBC in 2016. Jennifer has been a college, elementary and high-school teacher, plays goalie on a men's hockey team and also plays drums and produces music. Jennifer is author of Dressed to Play and Head to Head in the Lorimer Sports Stories series. This is her first YA novel. Jennifer lives in Duncan, British Columbia.
