2000s YA Books About Bands and Music
What’s better than a YA book about a musician? My list of 2000s YA Books About Bands and Music will bring you back to some great Y2K music!
If I could magically give myself a talent, it would be musical ability. I used to watch Partridge Family re-runs growing up. If I were born into the Partridge family, they’d stick me way in the back, playing tambourine like Laurie. No one in their right mind would let me near a real instrument or a microphone.
So of course, I’m fascinated with books about bands. In college, I even did a very short band road trip with my best friend, her sort-of boyfriend and his band.
Here are some of my favorite 2000s YA books featuring bands and music:
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour.
I loved this book SO much! First, a quick 125 word mini-review. Can I do it?
My summary: Colby has his post-graduation plans all mapped out. He’s road-tripping it from San Francisco to Portland with the Disenchantments, a girl band, then heading to Europe with lead singer/best friend Bev, whom he secretly loves. As they pile into the VW van, Bev drops a bombshell. She’s not going to Europe. She’s going to college. She applied, got in, and never told him.
My take: This book was amazing. It made me laugh, it made me sad, it annoyed me, it broke my heart — just like life! What else do I have to say to convince you? Okay, this book has the following: girl band, road trip, unrequited love, graffiti artist, beer compatibility quiz, and tattoo quest.
This book is about a country rock band in Texas, and also about hope and love and heartbreak. (Maybe because so many songs are about heartbreak, books about bands need to have tons of heartbreak too!) Read my review.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
This book is just sheer page-turning fun. I need to read it again!
Did anyone see the movie? I was afraid to, because I loved the book so much.
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Loved this book, which is the follow up to If I Stay. While that book is about a shattering loss, Where She Went is more like a relationship autopsy. They’re both so great, and so different.
I’ve read this book and also listened to the audiobook, which is fantastic!
Audrey Wait by Robin Benway
What happens when a girl ‘s ex-boyfriend writes a break-up song about her, then the song goes viral and he becomes famous? You’ll have to read this book to find out.
Help me with my list! Have you read any great YA about bands??
EDITED:
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Arianne reminded me that I forgot the Shade/Shift/Shine Trilogy — duh! Of course Logan’s band, The Keeley Brothers, plays a huge role in that story! Jeri Smith-Ready even has a “Music of Shade” playlist you can check out.
You can read my review of the series here.
Tee @ Dreaming Dreams No Mortal Ever Dared has suggested the following:
Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Girls, Gigs and A Brother (Not Necessarily in that order) by Denise Vega
Breathe and Because of Low by Abbi Glines
A comment from Heather @ Flyleaf Review made me smack myself upside the head.
How, how, how did I miss…
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Dexter and Remy might be one of my favorite YA couples. The Truth Squad is Dexter’s band, and they have this song called The Potato Song, and they hate Spinnerbait and …. just read this book!!!
Or read my review of Just Listen!
I actually haven't read any of these books, but they all sound really good. I really want to read The Disenchantments. Great post chick!!
You seem like you could have been in a band. Or maybe you are right now!!
Fun list. I might have to check out The Disenchantments. 🙂
I haven't read any of these and need to. I read Five Flavors of Dumb, which is also about a band. It was good, but not a re-read for me. Thanks for the list!
I really enjoyed all of them! They're all a little different, but all good!
I'm not into books about bands… Unless you count the brief moment in Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
OMG — I meant to add that book to my post. I mean, the book isn't all about the band, but it plays a big part!
haha you're welcome 🙂
You need to read Rock On..by Denise Vega..I loved it..Actually I will read any book that has some sort of music tie to it! And Abbi Glines book Breathe and Because of Low..oh my I have a list….if you need more..
I knew there had to be someone out there who could help me out..
I've heard great things about Rock On — it's on my TBR, as is Abbi Glines in general.
Thanks!!
I love this post!! And I can't wait to read The Disenchantments and Audrey, Wait! Nick and Norah is one of my favorite music themed books, EVAH. And no, I haven't seen the movie for the exact same reason as you. I can't even write a review because there are so many quotes and excerpts that I would, you know, HAVE to include, the review would be like a small novel in and of itself. I'm trying to think of other music themed/ band type books. Maybe This Lullaby (another favorite) by Sarah Dessen. The love interest Dexter is in a band, and he is awesome, a mix of the hot nerdy guy and the hot rocker guy all rolled in one:) Yay, loved this post!!
How could I forget Dexter? How??????
Truth Squad?
Hate Spinnerbait!
The Potato Song?
I am not only tone deaf but also rhythm deaf, according to a an online test I took for a university in the UK for a study. It runs in my family…trust me. My husband, who has perfect pitch, has corroborated on these results. So, I really enjoy reading books about bands and performers, etc. so I can pretend that maybe, just maybe, it could be me! I really want to read the Disenchantments (love the cover) and Nick and Nora. For now I will sing in the car…
When I sing, my family is like, "Please. Just …. don't."
The sad thing is that I know more 80s lyrics than they can even believe.
So that's wasted on me!!!
Me too! All that knowledge of Heart, wasted on me…
OMG — then you have to read Disenchantments. There's a minor Heart subplot!!!!!!
Whoa. This is obviously a match made in book heaven! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven't read any of these! But The Disenchantments is on my TBR list, and If I Stay and Where She Went are on my shelf, waiting to be picked up! And Just Listen was a possible option for next month for my book club, but Delirium was chosen instead. So… I need to get to reading all these! Great post!
You can't go wrong with any of those books!!!
I've added to my reading list. I need to catch up my band reading it seems.
PS: they would not even let me on stage, let alone near a tambourine.
Marybelle, I bet you could handle a tambourine!