Name: Scout is Not a Band Kid
ISBN: 9780593176221

Jade Armstrong

Scout joins her middle school's band in order to go on the band's annual trip and meet her favorite author, but she's forced to face the music when the trombone section leader realizes Scout doesn't know how to play.

Scout is Not a Band Kid

Ashley Wendt

This was such a relatable middle grade graphic novel. Working in a Middle School, I found Scout's struggle to fit in with her friends while hiding who she really is to be such an honest view of this age. The relationship building between Scout and Merrin was a joy to read. The art style Scout is Not A Band Kid will absolutely resonate with the teens who pick this up. So many kids will see themselves in these pages! I can't wait to recommend this one for our school library!

[Read an ARC through NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.]

Steph L 

Characters 

The characters in this novel were absolutely fantastic, and I loved them. These characters and their love for the band, and music took me back to my high school days of being in choirs. Fandom also played another role in the characters’ lives specifically, a book and video game fandom, and I loved their passion so much. As a lover of books and video games, I loved seeing two things I love as plot points in the book. Band kids and students involved in the arts tend to stick together and find their group of friends when they join a creative extracurricular. They showed this in the novel when Scout joined the band and found new friends there. Also, the way Scout and Merrin had a rocky start and then became friends, was so sweet. Character profiles with stats were a fun and creative addition to the story and their personalities. 

Plot

The plot in this novel is one that was very fun to follow. Scout joins the band to meet her favorite author at a fest the band performs at, and I loved following the journey in the story. Through her time in the band, Scout goes on a journey of self-discovery and growth, which was fun to go along for the ride on. Although Scout started off joining the band for the wrong reasons, she made friends with common interests, and this was exactly what she needed. Another part of the story was about Scout and her online friend Lou, and their friendship was so sweet. As someone who has several online friends as well, I loved reading their scenes. 

Writing 

The writing of this novel was fantastic. Jade Armstrong uses tone in a fun and unique way, keeping the reader interested in how the scene will go. Most of Scout is Not A Band Kid is filled with a light and fun tone, which I loved because most of the time, that was Scout’s personality. There are so heavier scenes in the novel, and these had a heavier tone. These scenes also had more honest conversations, which I enjoyed. 

Art

The art in this novel was fantastic, and I loved the art style so much. Scout is Not A Band Kid is a modern story, and the art style feels modern. Sometimes when you read Graphic Novels, the art can take away from the story, and this is not the case here. The art works in tandem with the writing to help tell the story. 

Enjoyment/ recommend for 

I recommend this novel to those that want a cute Middle-Grade Contemporary Graphic Novel. Scout Is Not A Band Kid is a love letter to the creative kids, and I loved that so much. I’m going to keep recommending this to both kids and adults for years to come.

Scout is Not a Band Kid

Reviews

Highlights