Enly and the Buskin' Blues - by Jennie Liu (Hardcover)

About the Book

Hoping to earn money for band camp tuition, twelve-year-old Enly Wu Lewis starts busking, but his mission quickly turns into a series of misadventures that change how he sees his family, his dreams, and himself.

Book Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Enly Wu Lewis needs to go to band camp this summer.

It'll help him follow in the footsteps of his dad, a musician who died when Enly was too young to even remember him. Enly isn't sure if he has his dad's talent, but he wants to find out.

There's just one hitch: The camp is too expensive, and Enly's mom is saving every penny for his older brother's college tuition. So Enly sets out to earn the money for camp on his own by busking--playing music on the sidewalk in the touristy part of town. What could go wrong?

For one thing, the only instrument he can afford is a melodica, a cross between a harmonica and a keyboard, which he can only kind of play. And for another thing, it's harder than Enly expected to make serious money busking.

When someone drops a winning scratch-off lottery ticket into his tip box, Enly thinks it's the answer to all his problems. But he'll still have to face teenage thieves, his disgruntled best friend, a rogue pet pig, and his own family if he wants to achieve his dreams.

Review Quotes

"Encourages readers who need to be seen as well as those who need to see . . . I tip my hat to Liu--and put a tip in the hat for Enly!"--Rebecca Petruck, author of Boy Bites Bug and Steering Toward Normal

-- (6/14/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"A heart-warming story with many lessons about taking responsibility for attaining what you most desire, even in the face of setbacks. Reviewer Rating: 5" --Children's Literature

-- (5/12/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"A quick-paced coming-of-age story exploring music and family expectations."--Kirkus Reviews

-- (12/1/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"This fast and furious plot will have readers alternately cringing and cheering at Enly's impulsiveness, fully invested in this protagonist's success. While the tone is light, some serious issues are gently explored: gentrification, grief, wealth and lack of it, family ties, and friendship."--School Library Journal

-- (2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

"Witty and wise."--Bobbie Pyron, author of Lucky Strike

-- (5/9/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"A fast-paced, quirky caper with an authentic middle-grade voice."--Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author

-- (5/23/2022 12:00:00 AM)