Karen Casey's Adventures in Band, Book 1 — Derek Adams

I'm not even in band yet, but I've already figured one thing out--there is no other class like it!' This is Karen Casey's summary of the end of her fifth grade year in Karen Casey's Adventures in Band, Book 1, by author Derek Adams. She and her best friends Heidi and Alexandra (Alex) discover how fun and exciting band can be when they attend an instrument demonstration meeting held by the band directors. Their classmates Dacia and Carmella also attend the meeting, and manage to cause quite a bit of trouble for them for the rest of the year. They meet all of the middle school band directors at the meeting, but Mr. Abrams is the one Karen, Heidi, and Alex like the most from the start. The three friends try hard to get in his class for next year, and he ends up helping them out in several situations. Each instrument is briefly but accurately described, and the friends even attend a band concert put on by older students. If you are in band, or were in band when you were in school, Karen Casey's Adventures in Band, Book 1 will bring back fond memories and emotions. If you are not quite old enough to be in band, hopefully Karen and her friends will convince you to try it!