Guitar Girl

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
British writer Sarra Manning turns up the volume in teen lit with this rocking novel about a girl who learns about life as her band makes a hit on the music circuit.

Molly Montgomery's band starts as a small-time thing between three friends, but soon she, Jane, and Tara have become the Hormones. When they're joined by two guys -- Dean and T -- who try to "improve" their band, the Hormones find themselves quickly sailing to the top of the charts. Sound exciting? It could be, except being in a popular teen band has its drawbacks: Everyone wants your lyrics to be ultra-grown-up (what's wrong with Hello Kitty and magic markers?), managers expect to control your every move, and the rock 'n' roll lifestyle (including sex with Dean and Jane dabbling with drugs) hits you head-on. Fortunately, Molly has a strong will and good pals, and with every move the Hormones take, she seems to keep her head on somewhat straight. In the end, it's an American tour that determines whether Molly can keep it up, and she learns that fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.

With a sure voice, Manning delivers a novel that chick-lit fans will eat up. Molly is an admirable character who can hold her own, and her struggle between girlhood and rock stardom will speak to readers wondering if Britney Spears and other teen celebs have gone through something similar. Without a doubt, Guitar Girl is one jamming read. Shana Taylor

Publishers Weekly

"This first novel may be predictable, but Molly Montgomery's compelling voice will pull in readers as she chronicles her quick rise to pop star fame with her British band, the Hormones," said PW. Ages 14-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Molly Montgomery recounts the ups and downs of her year as a teenage pop star diva in this coming-of-age novel about sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll odes to Hello Kitty and "Magic Marker Love." Molly's girl band, The Hormones, starts as a trio of disaffected British high schoolers, quickly expands to include handsome, temperamental guitarist Dean and his dread-locked sidekick T, then explodes on the U.K. music scene thanks to a ruthless London promoter who propels the group to instant stardom and an American tour. The night of Molly's eighteenth birthday he plies her with alcohol before enticing her to sign a disadvantageous contract, which ultimately leads to Molly's departure from the band. Her high-energy voice matches the Very Cherry color she dyes her hair to go on stage, and it is that sometimes plaintive, sometimes fierce voice, with its British syntax and slang intact, that carries the novel. Like her year, though, the book has its ups and downs: a series of tender moments leads to a well-drawn scene of her first experience of sex, which is a huge emotional focus of the novel; the ending is less satisfactory. But with its account of band mate Jane's drug and alcohol and excesses, and characters in their late teens and early twenties, Molly's story may be better suited for older high school readers than for the publisher's recommended age of 12 and up. 2004, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 12 up.
— J. H. Diehl

VOYA

This book does not have a happy ending. The story is painful, disillusioning, and most important, real. Although the surrounding characters tend to be two-dimensional, Manning lends Molly a voice that is believable in both the teenage sense as well as the British. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll—it's the same story told honestly. Every teen with dreams of starting a guitar-strumming-girl-revolution should take a peek at this one. VOYA Codes 3Q 2P S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Dutton, 256p., Ages 15 to 18.
—Jessica Lee, Teen Reviewer

KLIATT

What are the odds that I would be reviewing two books about teenage girls who become fabulously famous rock stars—in the same issue? (See Pop Princess, above.) Guitar Girl is set in England and Manning is a writer with a lot of experience, as an entertainment editor for J17 magazine. She seems comfortable telling a story about a successful rock band and the gossipy details—their love lives, their professional jealousy, their weaknesses for alcohol and drugs. Mollie, the lead singer and songwriter, is an interesting character, brilliant in her way, confused and immature most of the time. Miraculously, Mollie and two of her friends start playing around one day with a song Mollie puts together and voilà—soon they are a successful band, with a manager and plenty of work. Two male musicians, slightly older, join them, providing better musical arrangements and more energy and skill. Mollie is still the driving force and creative talent, but one of the new guys, Dean, is jealous. There is a lot of tension between Mollie and Dean, and eventually they become lovers—secret lovers, having a lot of sex—pretending that they hate each other when they are with the rest of the band. One really amusing subplot is based around Mollie's parents—aging hippies who adore Bob Dylan and hate the music Mollie and the band are making together. The parents are extremely protective of their daughter, of course with little effect. They wish she would quit all of the glitz and settle down by going to college. The cover features a believable Mollie, with bright red hair, just like in the story. American readers will have to struggle a bit with the British expressionsand culture. For instance, Mollie has to spend three months on A-Level revision—do you know what that is? Mollie's friend Jane has a serious drinking problem and also gets into trouble with drugs. Her other friend in the band, Tara, kisses her one night and confesses that she loves her. All this is told in a gossipy, exaggerated fashion. I like this line of Mollie's, assuming the reader knows Jane Eyre, "Except I wasn't wearing a bonnet and didn't have to eke out an existence as a governess to a brooding man with a mad wife locked away in his attic. My life was far worse than that." This all is a bit risqué for the youngest YAs, but everyone is going to enjoy listening to Mollie's woes. KLIATT Codes: S—Recommended for senior high school students. 2003, Penguin, Dutton, 217p., Ages 15 to 18.
—Claire Rosser

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Molly, 17, never planned to reach pop stardom. She just enjoyed writing songs and playing music with her friends, Jane and Tara. When they start a rock band called The Hormones, two slightly older guys, T and Dean, maneuver their way into the group, and there is no looking back. Suddenly famous, Molly takes off on tour with the band, performing in England and eventually in the United States. Despite Dean and Molly's frequent confrontations, they fall in love. They have plenty of tender and passionate sex (protection isn't mentioned), until she learns that his motivation for the relationship hasn't been totally honest. Finally determining that rock-star life is less than idyllic, Molly chooses to call it quits, despite lawsuit threats. The story's carefully developed characters and relationships, driven by tuned-in dialogue, make it realistic and compelling. Molly's first-person voice rings clear and true. Like 16-year-old Wonder in Rachel Cohn's Pop Princess (S & S, 2004), she finds herself on a roller-coaster ride through makeovers, alcohol-laden parties, sensationalist critiques, attempts to manage schoolwork, demands of a pushy manager, losing her virginity, and dealing with parents. Wryly funny, often sincere, and sometimes pressed into banshee-like behavior, Molly is endearing in her attempts to reach maturity, sort out what's important, and decide what needs to be left behind.-Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Despite an intermittently witty voice and a high interest topic, this trip through the world of pop rock never gets off the ground. Seventeen-year-old narrator Molly Montgomery finds herself living the dream of many teenagers as the lead singer in a popular band. But except for the rush of performing, she just doesn't have much fun. Her love-hate relationship with a male band member predictably becomes an anguished love affair, while her close friendships with the band's other two girls deteriorate. Readers will have to suspend their disbelief as Molly, who has no musical training, succeeds by writing songs such as "Hello Kitty Speedboat," and succumbs to her dishonest manager's blatant manipulations. Molly's comments on her ex-hippie parents, and her interactions with them, provide hilarious moments, but not enough of them to get this story rocking. (Fiction. YA)