Solo | Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Book: Solo

Author: Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Genre: contemporary (realistic fiction)
Age Rating: young adult (12+)

Page Count: 464 pages

Star Review: 3/5

Summary: Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he'd give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The only true light in his life is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father.

In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside of them. And songwriting is all Blade after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light. the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he's been searching for or leave him feeling even more adrift.

Memorable Quote: "Sometimes. Fate. Is. Just. That. Simple."

Okay... where should I begin? I'm just going to start by pointing out that while this book was decent, it had the most stereotypical plot line in the history of ever?? It's been done before, a million times and here is where they try to do it again, but this time it's about a musician. I can't say much more about how stereotypical it is because it's a big spoiler, but by now you probably get the gist.

Also can I just mention how AWFUL Blade's songs were? The boy needs to take a writing lesson... they weren't very good. Not saying I could do much better, but I wouldn't listen to them normally. This is kinda sad because I like books written in verse (like a poem) like this book, but this was only okay. Coulda been better, coulda been worse. Not good, not awful.

That's honestly ALL I have to say about this book... I don't know if that's a good thing or not...

Would I recommend? Nah