SCOUT IS NOT A BAND KID

Eighth grader Scout is desperate to meet her favorite author, who will be appearing at a festival in another town.

The only way she can think of to get there is to join the school band, which will be performing at the festival. Trouble is, Scout doesn’t play an instrument. So she lies and says she plays the trombone. The other trombone player, Merrin, a serious music student who has a lot at stake from the band’s success, is excited to welcome her, but when she discovers that Scout can’t play, she is actually upset. Thinking Scout is just rusty, their teacher assigns Merrin to tutor Scout, telling the girls they will both be kicked out if they don’t get along better. Scout, meanwhile, shows little inclination to practice. Eventually, the two find common ground—a not unexpected development, but the twists and turns of the plot while getting there contain many lively and amusing moments. As a character, Scout is so flawed it’s intriguing: Her self-centered behavior and lack of conscience about lying and using band participation to get what she wants are presented not as a growth opportunity but simply not a big deal, which makes her eventual success feel unearned, creating a less-than-impactful ending. Scout and Merrin present as White, and the book refreshingly portrays a school inhabited by kids and teachers diverse in ethnicity and gender identity and expression who accept one another.

A perky and mostly fun story.