Guitar Notes - by Mary Amato (Paperback)

About the Book

Tripp, who plays guitar only for himself, and Lyla, a cellist whose talent has already made her famous but not happy, form an unlikely friendship when they are forced to share a practice room at their high school.

Book Synopsis

On odd days, Tripp uses a school practice room to let loose on a borrowed guitar. Eyes closed, strumming that beat-up instrument, Tripp escapes to a world where only the music matters.

On even days, Lyla Marks uses the same practice room. To Tripp, she's trying to become even more perfect--she's already a straight-A student and an award-winning cellist. But when Lyla begins leaving notes for him in between the strings of the guitar, his life intersects with hers in a way he never expected.

What starts as a series of snippy notes quickly blossoms into the sharing of interests and secrets and dreams, and the forging of a very unlikely friendship.

Challenging each other to write songs, they begin to connect, even though circumstances threaten to tear them apart.

From beloved author Mary Amato comes a YA novel of wit and wisdom, both heartfelt and heart-breaking, about the power of music and the unexpected chords that draw us together.

Review Quotes

"[A] sweet story of two different loners finding their counterpoint." --School Library Journal

-- (10/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"Amato brings these characters to life with pitch-perfect detail and wrenching anxieties that will resonate strongly with readers." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

-- (7/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"Amato wonderfully reveals, in alternating chapters, that these two are not as one-sided as they may seem. That they suffer from similar hurts makes their growing concern for, and attraction to, each other very believable." --Library Media Connection

-- (8/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"Amato, also a Washington, D.C.-area songwriter, weaves in convincing musical detail and advice that will appeal especially to readers experimenting with an instrument themselves.
This one will resonate." --Kirkus Reviews

-- (6/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"Lyla and Tripp's chaste relationship makes this accessible for younger tweens, much in the style of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries books. Amato is able to produce both silly fiction for the juvenile crowd and poignant, realistic fiction for older readers without sacrificing humor or depth." --Booklist

-- (7/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"While the story is notably 'clean'...the characters' chemistry will have readers' hearts racing." --Publishers Weekly

-- (5/28/2012 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Mary Amato is the author of many acclaimed books for children including"Invisible Lines, "which was nominated for the California Young Readers Medal and was selected for the Missouri Truman Awards Master List. Of that book, "The Washington Post"states, you may come to learn . . . an important lesson about what really matters in life. But amid all that learning of important lessons, there will be a good bit of giggling, too.
A prolific songwriter, Mary sings, plays the guitar, and teaches songwriting. She also performs in the Washington, DC, area."Guitar Notes"is her first novel for young adult readers.
Mary lives in Maryland with her family. You can visit her online at www.maryamato.com and learn more about writing your own music and the joy of thrumming at www.thrumsociety.com."