Band Nerd: A Graphic Novel

by Sarah Clawson Willis, Emma Cormarie (Illustrator)

Overview

A heartfelt coming-of-age story about music, family, and friendship—perfect for fans of Roller Girl and New Kid.

For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life, it’s an escape from homework and home life with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep everything in tune.

As things spiral out of control with her parents and her schoolwork, Lucy grows desperate for a win and focuses all her energy on beating snobby Tolli Claybourne for first chair flute. But just when she thinks she’s hitting all the right notes, an accident leaves Lucy unable to play, and her mother threatens to withdraw her for poor grades. Now Lucy must choose: sabotage Tolli or give up on her dream.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358447856
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/22/2025
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sarah Clawson Willis (she/her) writes fiction and nonfiction for children, teens, and occasionally adults. She can usually be found working, as she teaches Latin and writing in addition to being an author. She really, really likes books, band, ancient Rome, animals, and the serial comma. She lives in North Carolina with her family and a smallish menagerie of pets. You can find Sarah on the web at sarahclawsonwillis.com.

Emma Cormarie is a French American animation designer and illustrator originally from Bordeaux, France. While currently based in California, she works remotely with international publishers and studios. When she isn’t working, Emma can be found collecting cat pictures. Band Nerd is her first graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

An insightful and optimistic yet realistic portrayal of coping with parental addiction.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Sincere look at a student pursuing her dreams amid life’s turmoil.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2025-02-01
A graphic novel that tackles issues of alcoholism and family dysfunction.

Lucy, a seventh grade flutist, nervously enters North Carolina’s Windley School of the Arts. But before she can even leave for her first day of school, her parents descend into fighting. Thankfully, on the bus Lucy meets Malia, who becomes her first friend at Windley. Their friendship deepens—Malia also has family secrets, which allows them to bond. Over the next few months, Lucy’s father does two stints in rehab. But unbeknownst to the school and her band friends, he’s spiraling, and the fights between Lucy’s parents are escalating. Meanwhile, making first chair in the band becomes an obsession for Lucy, a way to control her chaotic home life, but her overwhelming need to be the best creates conflicts in her friendships, and her plummeting grades lead to more stress. Cormarie’s illustrations of the characters contrast their bright and expressive facial expressions when things are going well with the pain of interpersonal conflict. Willis’ treatment of Lucy’s father’s personality when sober reveals an empathetic glimpse of the genuine love he feels for his children, showing the tragic impact that alcoholism and depression can have on a family. The regular panels feature clean, minimalistic backgrounds, emphasizing the largely white-presenting characters and their feelings.

An insightful and optimistic yet realistic portrayal of coping with parental addiction.(Graphic fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews