Sixteen‑year‑old drummer Judy Valentine keeps faith with her late brother’s rule—the band never dances—while chasing a real musical family. When enigmatic singer Strobe posts a cryptic ad, Judy answers and helps assemble a fiercely talented lineup: Irwin, a classical prodigy; Maddox, a jazz bassist; and guitar savant Mark The Music. Christened Wedding Night, the band rockets from downtown dives to a record deal, magazine covers, and a Madison Square Garden homecoming.
Fame, though, amplifies everything. Jeffrey’s ashes ride inside Judy’s clear tom‑tom; stage lights expose every tremor of doubt; and a volatile triangle flares between Judy, Mark, and megastar Nick Praetorious. To keep control of her sound—and her heart—she has to decide whether to stay behind the kit or step into the spotlight. Threaded with authentic nods to ’80s rock haunts, this is an arena‑size spectacle wrapped around an intimate coming‑of‑age.
- “From its opening sentence, this novel never misses a single, driving beat… a moving tale of a 16-year-old’s growth to maturity and self-knowledge.” — Publishers Weekly
- “A moving story of love and growth.” — School Library Journal
- “Has a hip authenticity.” — The Washington Post