The Trouble with Destiny

Gr 8 Up—A campy romantic adventure for fans of Stephanie Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss (Dutton, 2010), the TV show Glee, and the film Mean Girls. Lisa loves the camaraderie and overall fun of being part of Holland High School's Style Marchers. Then she overhears that her beloved band will be defunded next year to make room for a bigger athletic program and, of all things, a new student parking lot. Lisa knows she will do anything to keep her friends playing their beloved instruments and by luck, she finds the perfect plan to make everything all okay—a talent show on a cruise ship with a first place prize that can save the music program. As drum major, she is confident winning will be a breeze and she will never have to tell any band members about the Style Marchers' very possible imminent demise. However, with multiple competitors and the unexpected arrival of a crush from her past, Lisa struggles to keep her focus on the competition and hopes her chances at winning don't go down like a sinking ship. Readers looking for a light, romantic adventure will eat up Morrill's fast-paced plot and fun writing style. While character development remains shallow, the protagonists' over-the-top nature and high jinks will keep teens interested. Minor plot twists will keep pages turning despite the predictable narrative, but brief mentions of drinking and some steamy scenes may alienate some readers.