First, the good thing I have to say: If you were in marching band in high school, you really should read "Band Geek Love," it will remind you of all the good things about being a band geek :)
This sequel was not as good as Bloss' novel "Band Geek Love." In this story, Ellie is trying to decide between going to a large State school, continuing marching band and planning on being a band director, or a small private all-female college set in a rural town and the future being a big blank. Should she continue on with the life she's been leading, or try something completely new and maybe learn something new about herself?
During her visit to Covington (the private school), she meets a "cool" girl named Alex, and Ellie realizes that a part of her would love to BE Alex, and maybe going to Covington would make that happen. Troubles with boyfriend Conner, whom she was planning on continuing to date if she went to State, further make the decision about which college to choose almost impossible to make.
This wasn't a bad novel, it just is not as good as her first story about Ellie. Most of this book Ellie just runs around not doing anything. The "backbone" she seemed to find in the first book is already gone in this one.
It also bugs me that the 3 people Ellie meets at Covington are all either in a lesbian relationship or "bi-curious." That's a stereotype of all-female schools that is completely ridiculous. There are MANY benefits to all-female colleges, and becoming a lesbian is not one of them. Also, the QUALITY of her education, at either school, was never a factor in her decision. It seems to me that each type of school has benefits, but all Ellie sees is "marching band" vs "learning to be cool."
If you read the first book and enjoyed all the characters, don't bother with this one. The only young adults I could see benefiting from this book are the ones who are gay and in the closet or who are bi-curious; it may comfort them to know they are not alone in their feelings.
I hate to be so harsh, but I'm really disappointed in this one.
This sequel was not as good as Bloss' novel "Band Geek Love." In this story, Ellie is trying to decide between going to a large State school, continuing marching band and planning on being a band director, or a small private all-female college set in a rural town and the future being a big blank. Should she continue on with the life she's been leading, or try something completely new and maybe learn something new about herself?
During her visit to Covington (the private school), she meets a "cool" girl named Alex, and Ellie realizes that a part of her would love to BE Alex, and maybe going to Covington would make that happen. Troubles with boyfriend Conner, whom she was planning on continuing to date if she went to State, further make the decision about which college to choose almost impossible to make.
This wasn't a bad novel, it just is not as good as her first story about Ellie. Most of this book Ellie just runs around not doing anything. The "backbone" she seemed to find in the first book is already gone in this one.
It also bugs me that the 3 people Ellie meets at Covington are all either in a lesbian relationship or "bi-curious." That's a stereotype of all-female schools that is completely ridiculous. There are MANY benefits to all-female colleges, and becoming a lesbian is not one of them. Also, the QUALITY of her education, at either school, was never a factor in her decision. It seems to me that each type of school has benefits, but all Ellie sees is "marching band" vs "learning to be cool."
If you read the first book and enjoyed all the characters, don't bother with this one. The only young adults I could see benefiting from this book are the ones who are gay and in the closet or who are bi-curious; it may comfort them to know they are not alone in their feelings.
I hate to be so harsh, but I'm really disappointed in this one.
