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"While the themes are serious, the lively first person narrative by the iconoclastic Stella (piercings, fire-engine red hair, different fake tattoos every week) makes this a dynamic and funny novel."
CM Magazine
"The dialogue is authentic, and the vocabulary is varied, interesting and appropriate for the intended audience. Characters are realistic, and the plot is believable. The theme of performing and finding a voice is well explored in this novel...The Frail Days would appeal to a variety of readers, including readers of music, relationships and realistic fiction...Highly Recommended."
Booklist Online
"A pleasing choice for high/low readers with an interest in the music biz."
LibraryThing Early Reviewer Stephanie Q.
"A timely read for kids looking at chasing dreams of their own."
Kirkus Reviews
2015-02-03
Stella, a Chinese-Canadian rock drummer, yearns for success for her band.Sixteen-year-old Stella needs a lead singer and finds a major talent in Tamara when rival band Fantalicious dumps her because she's not skinny enough. Tamara believes she can never project the right image for a popular singer, but when she sings, she loses herself completely in her music, making a solid impression on Stella. Tamara agrees to join Stella's hard-edged rock band but fears that their style will keep them out of the upcoming festival. She's sure that the cutesy, pop-oriented Fantalicious will wind up headlining, and Tamara wants to beat them. The two girls become fast friends, and the group starts to create some outstanding original songs, but divergent artistic goals threaten a schism. Meanwhile the band begins to attract attention around their small town, especially that of a key tastemaker. Prendergast displays excellent insight into what makes young artists tick in this short novella. Characterization is deftly done: Stella has an attractively rebellious edge to her personality, and Tamara's character grows naturally in confidence. Punchy, insightful and great for music lovers. (Fiction. 11-18)
