The Major Eights 1: Battle of the Bands

by Melody Reed, Émilie Pépin (Illustrator)

Overview

Jasmine, Maggie, Becca, and Scarlet love jamming together, but are they ready to perform in front of a real audience in a Battle of the Bands competition? Find out in the first book of this early chapter book series!

Jasmine, Maggie, Becca, and Scarlet love jamming together in Jasmine's basement. Maggie bangs on the drums, Becca strums her guitar, Jasmine plunks the keys of her keyboard, and Scarlet wails into her hairbrush mic. Even though they may not have the best equipment, or an audience, they have fun making music to their own beat. But when Jasmine's brother tells her about an upcoming Battle of the Bands competition, Jasmine thinks this could be their chance to prove they're a real band. Now she just has to convince the other girls. . . .

With each book told from a different girl's perspective, this series is all about girl power, diversity, and marching to the beat of your own drum!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499805642
Publisher:	little bee books
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Series:	The Major Eights , #1
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Melody Reed is a chapter book, middle grade, and YA author. She loves creating strong female characters and writing about outer space and Mars. She lives in Silicon Valley with her family.

Émilie Pépin is a passionate illustrator whose love for picture books led her to become an illustrator and designer. After completing her studies at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, Émilie worked for many years in the children's video games industry as a 2-D artist and art director before becoming a freelancer. She lives in the green region of the Laurentians in Québec.

Editorial Reviews

10/30/2017
A quartet of culturally diverse third-grade girls gears up to compete in a battle of the bands competition in this cheerful opening title in the Major Eights series, narrated by keyboard player Jasmine. There are some expected bumps: Jasmine commits the group to performing before checking with them, and she picks out a love song for them to play that doesn’t suit anyone. But these and other troubles are tidily resolved as the girls recognize that having fun is more important than winning. There’s little doubt that the Major Eights will surmount their obstacles, but Reed (a pseudonym of Rie Neal) creates real emotional tension along the way. Final art not seen by PW. Simultaneously available: Scarlet’s Big Break. Ages 6–8. Author’s agent: Carrie Pestritto, Prospect Agency. Illustrator’s agency: Bright Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

01/01/2018
Gr 2–4—An entertaining new series for beginning chapter book sections. Jasmine, Becca, Maggie, and Scarlet are four friends who love jamming out in Jasmine's basement. When Jasmine's brother challenges her to prove the group's worth in the Battle of the Bands, trouble starts. The girls argue and the pressure to win begins to create tension. The protagonists, especially Jasmine, learn the value of friendship and working together. They also learn that being yourself is the most rewarding choice to make. The characters in the story are from an array of diverse backgrounds. There are illustrations on every page. VERDICT Students will enjoy this short and upbeat book with its rockin' cast of characters. A solid purchase.—V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

School Library Journal