There's a lot that I appreciate about this book -- it's fast paced, the characters are believable and engaging (especially Sam and her classmates and her wierdo neighborhood drum teacher). It tells a story I love to see -- about a young person figuring out their passion and working hard for it. It also doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties and fear involved in living in a household where one parent is spiraling out of control. In this case, due to the devastation of job loss and marital tensions -- which is a real thing, and a common one -- and I loved that even though there was a lot of excuses (he's a good person, just really stressed) there was also a limit, and there were allies -- Sam's mom, her teachers. And even when things get better, it's not really a happy situation -- it's the next step on a journey, and that's realistic, too. I also loved the moment when Sam decided to look up great women drummers and suddenly realized that she wasn't alone. This is a book that can speak to kids, with all its heart, and with as much truth as they can handle. ( )

But drums sound all the time in Sam’s head, and she’d do just about anything to play them out loud—even lie to her family if she has to. Will the cost of chasing her dream be too high?

All Sam wants to do is play the drums. She plays the drums in her school’s band but her parents can’t afford to buy her a drum kit to practice on at home since her dad lost his job. She made a make-shift one out of books and magazines in her room but it’s not the same at all. Plus, she needs private lessons – another thing her parents can’t afford.

Sam is one determined girl and decides to mow lawns in order to earn money for lessons and a drum kit. There’s one problem – her dad tells her she can’t use his lawn mower because he doesn’t want it to get worn out. So Sam decides to secretly mow lawns anyway.

This book has a few aspects that middle-graders may be able to relate to. First, Sam is a girl who has a passion for an instrument that is typically played by males so she is a great role model. However, this is not a “girl” book. Boys will enjoy reading it as well. Secondly, Sam’s parents do not have a happy marriage so kids in the same situation may find that comforting to know that they are not alone. Another feature of this book is that it has quite a bit of technical information about how to play drums woven into the story. Since the author is a drummer, I’m assuming it’s accurate. Kids who are drummers or want to be drummers themselves will like this I’m sure. I would recommend this book for any middle-grader. ( )