Spin

Gr 7 Up–Sixteen-year-old Dizzy Doucette lives with her father and older brother above their used record store. Her father is a musician who once toured with the internationally known singer Georgia Waters. Georgia is the mother who Dizzy has met only once since she walked out on the family years earlier to pursue her career. Dizzy’s main hobby is learning how to be a DJ and spin records to form new music. Her mother is usually far from Dizzy’s mind until signs start going up advertising that Georgia will be performing in their town. Will Georgia visit the family? Does Dizzy want to see her mother? The story is told from various family members’ points of view. Nelson’s characters ring true with the adults depicted as ancillary to the plot, and each one is fully fleshed out along with Dizzy, her best friend Maya, her brother Lou, and his best friend Jeremy. Music is a major theme, but this is ultimately a story about what makes a family.