A Sense of Doubt blog post #2370 - When the Beat Drops - a YA Novel book review

A Sense of Doubt blog post #2370 - When the Beat Drops - a YA Novel book review

I confess. I never would have purchased let alone read Anna Hecker's When The Beat Drops if I had not enrolled in her YA and Middle Grade novel writing workshop via Sackett Street Writers in Brooklyn, NY, which due to the pandemic is online and available remotely to people like me on the west coast. Not that I wouldn't have chosen it off a bookshelf, but simply, I would not have known of it without the introduction via the workshop. And I am so glad I chose to read my teacher's book! 

When the Beat Drops is a real page-turner with vivid realistic characters, strong pacing, smart writing, vibrant dialogue, and deeper messages that elevate the book from the candy fluff of many YA books to something with deeper roots.

Seventeen-year-old Mira Alden loves music, which the reader learns from the opening pages when she and her music nerd friends play her original jazz composition for peers on the last day of school. The scene reveals the regard Mira's peers have for her as sad band geek with no life.

Her goal is to audition at the end of the summer for a prestigious NYC jazz conservatory where she hopes to study music after graduating from high school. Last year, she honed her musical talents at a special music camp, where she also had her first relationship with a boy. But this year her parents could not afford the camp tuition, and Mira is stuck at home, helping out at the family's struggling gym, and composing and practicing music.

When Mira's sister returns from college in LA, California, Mira once again sees that Brittany is the Alden family MVP soccer star and golden child, and Mira is not. Still, Mira hopes to rekindle her relationship with her sister, which is why she joins her at a "warehouse party" (aka a rave), and her life heads in a new direction: the world of DJing.

Though Mira learns DJing from new friend Shay and starts having her own DJ gigs due to new boyfriend Derek, sort of a promoter in the rave world, complications set in as she learns of Britt's drug use -- Ecstasy may be therapeutic for mental health issues? -- and then, really bad things happen... no SPOILERS here.

As I see from reviews at GOOD READS and AMAZON, When the Beat Drops almost universally enjoyed high marks from reviewers, and it should. The writing is deft and fluid without being overwrought. In fact, one of Hecker's strengths as a writer is nailing tone, such as the start of chapter two: "I inherited Grandpa Lou's car when he died. It's a 1990 Buick LaSabre in a two-tone brown that Nicky [Mira's close friend and band mate] refers to as "fecal chic," its exhaust smells like toxic death and the seats give you automatic swamp-ass" (10).

It's writing like this that gives the book's characters their vivid realism grounded in the now of teenage experience as Mira deals with lack of support from her parents (her mother shuts off her jazz music in the car on the way to pick up her sister at the airport), whether she really wants her conservatory-music future or the exciting new world of DJ culture, typical teenage questions of whether to lose her virginity with her first boyfriend, and even whether she should try Molly [ecstasy] and see if it really helps curb depression.

In just under 300 pages. Hecker constructs the perfect summer read, a strong propellant that will keep a reader turning pages while relaxing in the hammock on the deck or in umbrella shade on the beach. Hecker's eye for detail makes the story even stronger as the world around the characters is painted in clarity and precision without over-writing.

Though I wouldn't say I have explored the category in depth, I have read a lot of YA books, and this one ranks among my favorites. Hecker's gripping tale of friendship, sisterhood, and first love woven through a skein of disappointments, tragedies, exhilarations, and MUSIC had me flipping pages faster than my usual speed and yet savoring each morsel. I may have finished it all in one sitting if not for work and life and exhaustion.

I give this book my highest recommendation!!


Review data for When The Beat Drops from GOOD READS:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35217468-when-the-beat-drops

Jun 23, 2018Jessica rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition

Shelves: teen-novels

I received this book for free as part of BookSparks’ YA Summer Reading Challenge.

Going into this book, I didn’t have very high expectations. I thought it was just going to be an average contemporary YA summer read. Instead, this book blew me away.

The way the author describes music is incredible. From the very beginning you could just feel the passion that the main character, Mira, has for jazz music, and then later on for DJing. Prior to reading this book, I never thought of DJing as being that beautiful. But after reading this, I’m never going to look at it the same way. I have a newfound respect for it.

I liked that this book didn’t shy away from the drug aspect of rave culture. That was a huge part of the story and it highlighted the reality of it very well.



I also enjoyed Mira and Britt’s sisterly relationship and the journey they went through together. A large chunk of the book is focused on them going to these music festivals and how they cope with the devastating tragedy that happens at one of them.

Character-wise, I loved Shay! She was hands down my favorite character. I was actually shipping her and Mira after they first met, even though I knew (based on the blurb) that was probably not going to happen.

Another aspect of this book that I loved was the secrets that some of the characters had. They were all revealed at the right time and it just made the story click.

Overall, this is an impressive novel that was realistic and hit all the right notes! (less)

Cora Tea Party Princess rated it it was amazing

5 Words: Music, family, love, secrets, hope.

Well boy, that was a ride. And one I wasn't expecting.

I requested this on impulse on NetGalley based on the cover because music is like catnip in books for me. If I'd read the synopsis I'd probably have hesitated. Which is such a shame as I raced through this book and I absolutely loved it.

I was expecting something light, and probably fluffy, with a musical backdrop.

What I read was something far darker than I could have imagined, where the music came to life on the pages. And I could not stop reading. It's almost like there's a beat behind the story itself. Music is everywhere for Mira, it's part of her very character, and it was everywhere in this book. I could almost hear it.

I was absolutely blown away by the story. The pace was steadily rising, with various small story-lines all weaving together into one hell of an ending. And the story was more complex than I had prepared myself for, with more strands and deeper meaning. And trigger warnings for substance abuse and grief most definitely apply. As heavy as the story is at times, any issues are handled sensitively (even if I wanted to cry at times) and I felt it was done in a very responsible and non-preachy way.

This is not a light, fluffy, summer read. But it is excellent and you should absolutely read it. (less)

https://candidcover.net/when-the-beat-drops-anna-hecker/

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN THE BEAT DROPS BY ANNA HECKER

May 10, 2018

Title: When the Beat Drops
Author: Anna Hecker
Publisher: Sky Pony Press/Thomas Allen & Son (Canada)
Genres: Contemporary
Publication Date: May 15, 2018
Rating: 

Summary (from Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Mira has always danced to her own beat. A music prodigy in a family of athletes, she'd rather play trumpet than party -- and with her audition to a prestigious jazz conservatory just around the corner (and her two best friends at music camp without her), she plans to spend the summer focused on jazz and nothing else.

She only goes to the warehouse party in a last-ditch effort to bond with her older sister. Instead, she falls in love with dance music, DJing... and Derek, a gorgeous promoter who thinks he can make her a star. Suddenly trumpet practice and old friendships are taking a backseat to the packed dance floors, sun-soaked music festivals, outsized personalities, and endless beats of the EDM scene.

But when a devastating tragedy plunges her golden summer into darkness, Mira discovers just how little she knows about her new boyfriend, her old friends, and even her own sister. Music is what brought them together... but will it also tear them apart?

 

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN THE BEAT DROPS BY ANNA HECKER

When the Beat Drops by Anna Hecker is a book that is all about DJing and music, which I have never read before. The main character is clever and the writing is so descriptive, which added to my enjoyment. After reading this story, I would love to see more of its kind.

PERFECT FOR MUSIC LOVERS

This book tells the story of a girl who goes from trumpeter to DJ and is swept up in a whole new world of music. It is definitely a more serious read, since it deals with topics like drugs and death, but there are some light moments. I really enjoyed the unique combination of jazz and EDM in the story, as I have never seen this before. DJing is also a topic that really interests me. As well, there is a prominent theme of family in the novel, which I always like to see. When the Beat Drops is a heartfelt story that is perfect for music lovers.

TALENTED MAIN CHARACTER

Mira is such an amazing main character. She is so talented and is able to catch on to DJing quickly. She struggles a lot throughout the story with not being able to go to camp and reconnecting with her sister, but she doesn’t complain. Mira must choose whether or not she wants to continue as a jazz player or launch a career as a DJ, and she handles this perfectly. What I especially enjoyed about her character is the fact that she stays true to herself and keeps her values despite peer pressure. Mira is smart, and she is the ideal voice for a story like this one.

LOTS OF SUSPENSE

I really enjoyed the writing in When the Beat Drops. There is a fair amount of suspense as the reader tries to guess what the tragedy is, among other aspects that I won’t spoil. The various descriptions of music and what Mira feels when she DJs are breathtaking, and they really immersed me in the story.  As well, just enough is explained about DJing for the reader to understand what is going on, but not to the point where it becomes frustrating. This is something that is especially important for books about music, and Anna Hecker executes it perfectly.

When the Beat Drops by Anna Hecker is a heavy story about music and loss. I loved the DJing aspects and the talented main character. The way the story is written is beautiful, and I would definitely recommend this one for an older YA audience.

ABOUT ANNA HECKER

Anna Hecker grew up at the dead end of a dirt road in Vermont. She holds an MFA from The New School and spent a decade writing ad copy and chasing beats before returning to fiction, her first love. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son, and fluffy bundle of glamor, Cat Benatar.

AMAZON REVIEWS:

AMAZON - WHEN THE BEAT DROPS

tpolen

 

3.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Music Lovers

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2018

As a music lover and former band geek, I was immediately drawn to this book. Mira's obsession with music, ambitious goals, and close relationship with her family make her instantly likable. Despite that close relationship, she feels as if her parents always put her sister's needs and interests ahead of her own, and she's very accommodating and understanding for her age. I admired her determination to work on her goals, try new experiences, and meet new people instead of sitting around sulking after missing music camp. The dynamics between Mira and her best friends are genuine and relatable, and getting an insider's view of DJing made this tech-lover very happy.

The first 70% of this book was enjoyable read for me, but soon after, things seemed to go off the rails. I'll try to put this in general terms to avoid spoilers. I found it difficult to believe that parents would be oblivious to such a profound change in their child's appearance and actions. Mira and her family are dealing with, as well as avoiding, several problems, but the blame comes across as misplaced. By eliminating a certain aspect from their lives, everything is resolved, which is an unrealistic expectation. Questions are left unanswered, I was ultimately disappointed at certain choices that didn't ring true for the character, and the ending felt rushed.

My issues are personal, and I'd still recommend this book to music lovers, because it's rare to find books exploring that world - they're few and far between, and I'd love to see more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

 https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anna-hecker/when-the-beat-drops/

WHEN THE BEAT DROPS

BY ANNA HECKER ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 15, 2018

elf-professed teenage jazz nerd Mira Alden spins into the edgy electronic dance music scene, full of bright lights, booming speakers, dancing crowds…and risky decisions.

When Mira first experiences EDM at a warehouse party in Brooklyn with her older sister, Britt, she is deeply moved; not expecting to like electronic music, she is surprised by her intense, visceral response. But the morals in this warehouse don’t match her family’s fighting-for-middle-class upbringing in suburban Connecticut. Mira has always believed star soccer player Britt to be the favorite within their biracial (white mom, black dad), athletic family. In the shadows, Mira has followed her grandfather’s jazz legacy, aspiring with her best friends to attend an esteemed jazz conservatory in Harlem. When money troubles prevent Mira from attending summer music camp, she embraces the slippery world of EDM, drawing close to her new DJ friend Shay, who is Puerto Rican, and succumbing to the sly charms of the promoter, Derek, who is white. Easy access to drugs in this party scene leads to tragic circumstances. Will Mira be able to maintain her jazz dreams and keep up with this fast-paced culture? It’s sure to be a long summer dance.

Not shying away from the pressures inherent in today’s youth-driven underground music culture, this book stands as a testament to how music within community allows one to discover purpose and possibility against a backdrop of tragedy and tribulation. (Fiction. 14-18)

Pub Date: May 15, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5107-3333-6

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Review Posted Online: April 10, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2018

Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.