Available:*
Format | Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Main Library | J Pyr | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
A funny, relatable tale about friendship, first crushes and...anaphylactic shock? When Nina's BFF ditches her on the first day of 7th grade, Nina is banished to the peanut-free table where she forms a band with the other allergic kids called The EpiPens. A rollicking debut from journalist Andrea Pyros, whose spot-on tween voice rings with authenticity.
If Life Was Like a Song
Nina Simmons' song would be "You Can't Always Eat What You Want." (Peanut allergies, ugh). But that's okay, because as her best friend Brianna always said, "We're All in This Together."
Until the first day of the seventh grade, when Brianna dumps her to be BFFs with the popular new girl. Left all alone, Nina is forced to socialize with "her own kind"-banished to the peanut-free table with the other allergy outcasts. As a joke, she tells her new pals they should form a rock band called EpiPens. (Get it?) Apparently, allergy sufferers don't understand sarcasm, because the next thing Nina knows she's the lead drummer.
Now Nina has to decide- adopt a picture-perfect pop personality to fit in with Bri and her new BFF or embrace her inner rocker and the spotlight. Well...
Call Me a Rock Star, Maybe.
Author Notes
ANDREA PYROS has worked as a magazine editor, celebrity interviewer, and cookie wrangler. A native of New York City, Andrea now lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and their two children, one of whom has food allergies and the other of whom refuses to eat eggs even though he can. Visit www.andreapyros.com.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-9-Nina is excited for the start of seventh grade. She is planning many adventures with her best friend, Brianna. Unfortunately, the first day of school proves to be anything but epic. Brianna has become best friends with a new girl and spends most of her time ignoring Nina. With nary a friend in sight, Nina is forced to sit at the peanut-free lunch table with peers who also have food allergies. These are the people Nina and Brianna used to mock, so it is somewhat discomfiting to be with the "outcasts" all of a sudden. As seventh grade progresses, Nina learns all about the highs and lows of making new friends as they prepare for the school talent show. Nina is an exasperated tween who doesn't want to put up with her family's coddling when it comes to her food allergies. She feels the push and pull of her relationship with Brianna and it frustrates her. Fortunately, Nina is brave and at times, pragmatic, and recognizes she deserves to be treated better. With food allergies becoming commonplace for many kids, Nina's struggles will hit the right note with readers. Pyros does not break new ground with these middle school struggles, but Nina is a likable character and her story feels authentic. A charming addition to upper elementary and middle school collections.- Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The start of seventh grade is supposed to be filled with excitement for Nina and her best friend, Brianna, but Nina suddenly finds herself adrift when Brianna ditches her for a new, more sophisticated and ultracool best friend.Feeling abandoned isn't the only challenge that Nina faces. She also has several dangerous food allergies and must be extremely careful about what she eats. Now that Brianna has moved on, Nina begins eating lunch at the "peanut-free table" with the other kids who have food allergies. As she forms new friendships, Nina is able to recognize some of Brianna's crueler traits. She comes to realize that she was living in the shadow of her former friend and begins to feel more comfortable being herself. Her new group decides to form a band, the EpiPens, to perform at the upcoming school talent show. However, music plays a very minor role in the plot, which is mostly driven by Nina's struggles with food and friendship. The narrative is quite tame in its language, humor and romance (particularly given the ages represented), making it a good choice for younger readers.Slightly bland, though valuable for its portrayal of a young person living with serious food allergies. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
It's the beginning of seventh grade, and Nina's BFF Brianna is giving her the cold shoulder in favor of a new friend. Nina also has another problem: she can't eat peanuts or eggs. Without friends at lunch, Nina plops herself down at the allergy table. There she makes new pals and ends up being the drummer in a band they're forming for the talent show. Despite that, she keeps trying to get into Brianna's good graces, and the only way, she learns, is to be snarky about other people, including her bandmates. When Nina realizes that Brianna is all about putting others down to seem cool and that she herself went along with it for years, Nina backs away. Of course, the band rocks out at the end, but that's just the icing. Nina's ability to finally stand up to the girl she always thought was her friend is the cake. A perfect read for anyone who feels BFF-challenged, and the food allergy aspect may attract kids who have such issues.--Fredriksen, Jeanne Copyright 2014 Booklist