Enly and the Buskin' Blues
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.
Format | Your Price | Add |
---|---|---|
978-1-7284-2456-9
|
$14.99 | |
978-1-7284-7938-5
|
$24.99 |
Interest Level | Grade 4 - Grade 7 |
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Reading Level | Grade 5 |
Category | Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Class, Diversity, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
Copyright | 2023 |
Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
Imprint | Carolrhoda Books ® |
Language | English |
Number of Pages | 208 |
Publication Date | 2023-02-07 |
Author: Jennie Liu
Jennie Liu is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She has been fascinated by the attitudes, social policies, and changes in China each time she visits. Her young adult novels have won honors including a Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention and an In the Margins: Best Books for Teens award. She lives in North Carolina with her family.
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Enly and the Buskin' Blues
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… View available downloads →
Enly and the Buskin’ Blues: An Interview with Author Jennie Liu
Meet Enly Wu Lewis, aspiring musician. He’s determined to go to band camp, but with his mother working two jobs and saving every penny for his older brother’s college tuition, he’s going to have to earn enough money himself. Enly decides to earn money busking on the streets of Altamont,… View →
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Reviews
Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)
“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
School Library Journal
“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
Kirkus Reviews
“A quick-paced coming-of-age story exploring music and family expectations.”—Kirkus Reviews
Rebecca Petruck
“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
Alan Gratz
“A fast-paced, quirky caper with an authentic middle-grade voice.”—Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author
Bobbie Pyron
“Witty and wise.”—Bobbie Pyron, author of Lucky Strike