Noteworthy has been a slow burn for me this week. What I thought would be a quick romp or just a comedy of errors has been surprisingly insightful and at times a total gut-punch. I swear I've spent more time highlighting passages and rereading them obsessively than I have actually reading forward. I hadn't ever read a book with a bisexual main character before, mostly because they don't seem to be well-publicized. I'm so happy to have read this book and know I will be recommending it many times over.

It’s the start of Jordan Sun’s junior year at the Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts. Unfortunately, she’s an Alto 2, which—in the musical theatre world—is sort of like being a vulture in the wild: She has a spot in the ecosystem, but nobody’s falling over themselves to express their appreciation. So it’s no surprise when she gets shut out of the fall musical for the third year straight.

Then the school gets a mass email: A spot has opened up in the Sharpshooters, Kensington’s elite a cappella octet. Worshipped... revered... all male. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan auditions in her most convincing drag, and it turns out that Julian Zhang, Tenor 1, is exactly what the Sharps are looking for. (via Goodreads)
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the publisher, Amulet Books, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is Pitch Perfect meets She's The Man, with Jordan Sun's hilarious voice and sincere voice, and a hefty dose of reality. The main character, Jordan/Julian, is Chinese, bisexual and poor.

I saw several people note that they thought that the main character of this book was nonbinary, and I want to be very clear that she is not, and it's discussed on the page. She does, however, crossdress and live half of her life as a man.

She also does some sincere soul searching about how she feels about crossdressing as a cisgender person, and about what her sexuality means to her. I thought all of this, and her growth, was done very naturally and well.

I really loved the way Noteworthy dealt with the Sun family's struggle with money, because it felt entirely realistic to me. Money is something my family has always struggled with, and until recently, we hadn't even had to worry about disability requirements and how to make that work with actually working. I know how it feels to be told that you can't do something because there's no way we could afford it. My parents did literally everything in their power to make it possible for me to do the things I wanted, like marching band, but there was also a point where if they felt something wasn't worth it and we weren't enjoying it, it became not worth it. I didn't eat meals out unless someone else paid until college when I was working jobs of my own, and even then it was rare.

Most of all, I love how much each of the characters loved music in their own way. You have Jon Cox, the Handel lover, Trav the arranger, Isaac the acoustic guitar player, and then you have Jordan, the musical theater major. In light of that, I made a playlist for those of you who want to do some a capella listening while you read! I made sure to add a variety of things to the playlist.



One complaint I did have with this is that we basically never saw Jordan actually do any of her classwork, or focus on the plays she needed to do for class. However, It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.

I rated this book five stars, with no question. I highly recommend it for people that want to read it. You can pick up a copy on Amazon, Indiebound or your other favorite booksellers!

Five stars

Disclaimer: All links to Indiebound and Amazon are affiliate links, which means that if you buy through those links, I will make a small amount of money off of it.

Actual rating: 3.5

Reviewed by: Cassey


Noteworthy by Riley Redgate is an original sophomore novel about Jordan Sun, an Asian scholarship student attending Kensington-Blaine Boarding School for the Performing Arts in New York. Unfortunately for Jordan she struggles to perform in any musicals in her prestigious school, due to her unique and unusual voice. Alas, an opportunity arises in form of an audition for an all-male a capella group. Of course the most obvious way to handle this situation is to cross-dress and infiltrate the club!
While Noteworthy’s plot seems ridiculous, it works. This novel is comedic, but doesn’t lack depth. It is full of reflections on society, identity, sexism, love, and prejudices. It deals with wealthy vs. poor, boy vs. girl, identity and sexuality. Jordan struggles with living in a place of luxury and privilege in New York’s exclusive boarding school, but not knowing if she can deal with the financial struggles of her parents thousands of miles away in California.
Jordan learns about herself, and the freedom she is awarded while cross-dressing as a boy and the insecurity she leaves behind as a girl. One of the best things is that Jordan is aware and concerned that she is “playing a role” but the trans community isn’t something to “play” with. She is aware of the implications of her cross-dressing and how that might have consequences on the people around her. It was really refreshing to read about a character that actually thinks and worries about her actions. Jordan mainly discovers freedom: in sexuality, identity, how she can act and be a better, more understanding person. In fact, this book’s most profound advice was “Kindness had no gender, had no race or age or category.” It really breaks ground on how society views “boys” and “girls” and how it’s all about perception. The depth that this book subtly accomplishes is really inspiring.
The only criticism that I had with this book was Jordan’s lack of fight towards the end of the book. Now every character has a flaw, if they didn’t it wouldn’t be relatable, but this was unbelievable.Jordan accepted her fate and was about to leave her dreams and goals behind without even fighting for them. Even though there was someone willing to work with her and fight with her to make changes, she was just going to give up.
In conclusion, I liked this novel a lot. The writing and plot was witty and funny and modern, without being silly, irrelevant, or hard to believe. I reread quite a few passages for the humor alone. If you are looking for a funny and interesting read, this novel is for you.

I discovered Riley Redgate's debut, Seven Ways We Lie, a little while ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Guys, this was a book with SEVEN different point of views, it was a bit crazy. But it was diverse, relatable, and overall really a great contemporary. I'm not here to talk about that one, though, but I needed to mention that first to be able to say this: Noteworthy takes the author to a whole other level, and easily and very quickly on my 'authors-to-always-look-out-for' list.

Noteworthy is Jordan's story, a Chinese-American, tall, a bit insecure and she's an Alto 2, preventing her from playing in her elite school's plays so.many.times. When the all-boys a cappella group has one place that opens up, she's desperate to prove herself worthy and talented and auditions. As a boy. And she gets in. That's when the story starts, basically, but this book is so much more than just this. As a lot of contemporaries are, it's a very character-driven story and every single character in this was realistic, relatable, which made this book so, so good.

Right from the beginning, the main character's voice shines through the pages. It's witty, relatable and mirrors perfectly some of the teenagers' confusion about the world, their self-doubts, their goals and what reality is actually like. Jordan is a character I wanted to root for from page one – if she had her own doubts, the story never got clouded by them, making this a heavy read, on the contrary. Her voice was unique, witty and filled with everything you want your characters in a contemporary to be – at least, for me. There was stunning character development in this story and so many important questions tackled as the story goes on – but more on that later on.
All of the cast surrounding Jordan is vividly shaped, making you visualize the little a cappella group so well, each with their own quirks and own issues, which I loved so much. Everything, from the beginning of friendships to the struggles it encounters, was well shaped and felt very realistic, because such as insta love, insta friendship does not happen. It takes time to grow, just as it takes Jordan some time to accustom to her new universe....And this new identity she creates herself.

Because yes, in that synopsis, you can guess that Jordan, in order to get into that all-boys a cappella group, cross dresses and pretends to be a boy. More than just trivia, the author gives out this as an argument to explore so many important issues in teenagers', and everyone's lives, really: what it means to be a boy and a girl, discovering your true identity and overall questions the whole gender identity, which is not a light subject, told here with patience and as a teenager's point of view: with lots of questions, Google searches and overall realistically just as well.
Another little something that should be noted here, is how deliciously diverse the cast of this book is. Jordan comes from a Chinese-American family, and it's deeply rooted into her identity. Her parents are poor and struggles about being able to afford her dreams and her elite school and everything are of importance in the story just as well. More than the questions of identity and gender, Noteworthy also tackles the issues of sexual identity, which Jordan questions a lot through the story. Also, we got bi characters, we got a super-cute and sweet say Sikh boy, a Japanese one, some people are small, the main character is tall, there are big, small, there is just a little bit of everything and that book clearly celebrates it as it fits naturally into the story.

Riley Redgate's writing style is easy to get into and it's simply beautiful. It's funny at times – that book got me smiling and laughing more than once, it's achingly real when it depicts Jordan's feelings about life, love, friendship and that crazy school experience she got going on in that school. Because there is romance, her way of writing these passages and of making the feelings seem so utterly both conflicted and real made my heart ache with happiness. If there's one thing I'd have to say, is that it was a bit of a slow starter, but still got me hooked.

I would clearly recommend this book to everyone – contemporary fans or not. Noteworthy is a super easy read, one that'll make you want to join an a cappella group and sing until your heart ache with happiness.

I have to admit, I kind of feel stupid now. Because when this author's debut was released, it had a lot of positive buzz, and it still does, but I never picked it up. For some reason. Which right now completely escapes me. Because honestly, I should have read it already. No doubt, upon finishing Noteworthy, I am certain I will push it up on my endless TBR and try to actually fix that mistake by the end of the year. Because Noteworthy was an extremely enjoyable and wonderfully diverse read that left me with a big, satisfied smile on my face. I hear that's a positive reaction to a book.

Noteworthy is about Jordan Sun, who's at the start of her junior year at Kensington Blain Boarding School for Performing Arts. As an Alto 2, she struggles to get parts in plays. Voices like hers aren't very popular in the musical theatre world so she's not very surprised when she's not chosen for the fall musical for the third year in a row. Then a spot opens up in the school's most worshiped, revered... and all-male a cappella group the Sharpshooters. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan transforms herself into a boy and auditions for them, not really imagining how much her life will change once she actually gets in.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. Not just because of the music theme and the a cappella stuff, but also because of the diversity. Jordan's self-discovery and the exploration of gender are handled with such care and respect in this book and it's executed beautifully. I feel like I should mention that right off the bat because it's one of the best things in this book and it's worth reading just for that. But obviously there's a lot more to enjoy than just that. I just wanted to get that out of the way first.

The writing was also really my style. It was very easy and quick to read but still had lots of depth to it. And banter! So much lovely banter. The characters really make this book so much more wonderful and I loved the friendship between the Sharpshooters. Though I would've loved to get to know some of them better? I feel like we only got to know some of them a bit better and the others just enough to make them somewhat developed. Don't get me wrong, none of them were flat pancakes. I just wanted to get to know them better because all the characters were all so unique and likable that I wanted more of them. I want each of them to have their own book, even. Because I loved Trav, Nihal, Isaac, Mama, Jon Cox, Eric and Marcus. All of them. I also loved our MC Jordan. I found myself relating to her sometimes too. Which is always nice, of course.

So why am I not giving it 5 stars? Well... It's hard to pinpoint an exact reason? Except maybe that towards the end I found it... wrapping up a bit too easily? To say it without spoilers. I just can't get myself to say more than that "I really enjoyed it". I wish I could say I loved the pants off this book, but I just didn't. I just... really enjoyed it a lot. Though I wish I loved it.

All in all, Noteworthy is a beautifully diverse book about friendship, self-discovery and music. I highly recommend it if you're a YA Contemporary fan but also if you like movies like Pitch Perfect. Obviously. You know that comparison was coming. Now go forth and read.

Noteworthy is entirely infectious. Redgate’s writing is humorous, genuine, and hits you right in the feels. Jordan’s character comes alive, whether it be dealing with her family problems, or exploring her bisexuality. Noteworthy is full of delirious high notes and a smattering of lows, all giving the entire book a crescendo of a finish.
We have Jordan, who is a fantastic character in her own rights: striking a perfect balance between depth, humor, and wit, who is also surrounded by a cast of really detailed characters. Speaking of her peers, all the members of the Sharps have their own distinct personality. No matter how many lines they get, each voice and personality has its own timbre (but my favorite has to be Nihail).

Finally, one of my favorite parts of Jordan’s character was her awareness about her own race, questions of sexuality, and gender constructions. This has got to be influenced by Redgate’s own interest in feminist theory and the careful consideration is apparent.

I cannot sing my praises of Noteworthy loud enough. Being somewhat of a singing goof myself, and acapella lover, this book hit all the right spots.

You know how sometimes you go into a book expecting a lot of fun, heart eyes and fluff but you're surprised, completely swiped off your feet because in addition to that, you get a story of self-growth that has a settle way of dealing with important social issues, creating discussion around important topics through conversations, thoughts and reflections. I buddy-read this one with one of dearest blogging friends, Puput @ Sparkling Letters and we expected to love it but I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that Noteworthy exceeded our expectations and it is safe to say now that will be one of my favorite reads of the year.
The writing is gorgeous while still being easy to follow. I absolutely loved Riley Redgate's style which takes turns being serious and funny depending on what the scene at hand demanded which can seem simple but is delicate when you want the book to flow nicely without any glitches or weird changes in the pace. The narration is from Jordan's point of view and she has such a genuine, witty voice that I couldn't help falling in love with her.
The story is one of a girl who finds herself by loosing it in a character that she makes up named Julian. In order to join the A-cappella group, Jordan had to cross-dress as a boy named Julian and to be completely honest I was very apprehensive going in because when not in the context of trans (which in this case can't be called crossdressing -correct me if I'm wrong) or drag, crossdressing can be handled either very badly or be handled well. And I think that the author did a great job in addressing the fact that it isn't something that should be taken lightly, dedicating a small section of the book to Jordan doing research about the implications of what she was doing.
Back to the self-discovery. I felt like this book at its heart is a beautiful coming of age story. Jordan, who never felt very comfortable in her own skin, how she dressed and presented herself found a happy middle when after being Julian for the majority of her time, she discovered that in him she set free parts of her that were vital and that she kept repressed because she thought they clashed with who she needed to be. And that is such an important story to tell.
As I said, I loved Jordan's character. She's a Chinese-America, bisexual girl and was in more ways than one relatable to me, to the lost teenager I once was and I'm sure a lot of people will relate even more to her and realize that it's okay to not know who you are. She's very sarcastic and quick-witted which spoke to my soul, her humor was right up my alley and I found myself laughing in multiple occasions. She also grew up poor, her parents always struggling to meet ends each month which is something so important to acknowledge in books, especially YA, because not every kid has the means to have a car, go to fancy schools or have fancy clothes but it also showed how she wasn't miserable and she managed to make it work. I'm grateful for that.
When she joined the Sharpshooters, Jordan found herself in a little family, an amazing group of boys who were there for each other, stood up for each other even while having their own disagreements. Seeing the competition and rivalry with the other groups made my life, because it kept me on my toes and made the book read like a movie. Which makes me think: Can someone make a *good* movie adaptation of this? Please, and thank you!
The boys' friendships were ADORABLE. The group is friendship goals. An other thing I loved about them is how amazingly and deeply diverse they were, there was so much work put into the side-characters to make them whole and not just stereotypes of what they're identities are perceived to be. Isaac who is the second most important character is a Japanese-American boy with whom she creates an amazing tight bond that is so genuine and endearing, it gave me ALL the feels. There's also Nihal who is a Sikh gay kid and through him she discussed how it can be tricky for religious kids to find a happy balance between their religion and their sexuality. Jordan finds a bestfriend in him, he confides in her and she in him. There are other characters, but these two stood out the most to me.
In addition to the topics mentioned above, the author discusses through her characters' experiences a hip of other subjects like equality, feminism and what it means to be an ally. Which makes this book such an incredibly important read that I think everyone -whether you like A-capella or not- should read because at the end of the day it's about the things that really matter.

I really enjoyed this book - I am a singer myself (with the same voice as the protagonist) and really loved the detail with which the author described the show/a capella choir circuit - choirs can be VERY competitive! The characters were really well-developed and I thought the relationships were believable and beautifully written. A wonderful book that I'm definitely going to recommend!

First things first: I loved Noteworthy. It wasn’t even on my TBR until someone told me that it features a POC bisexual protagonist. And then I was SOLD.

I honestly loved Noteworthy from the moment I started it. Jordan’s voice is super engaging, and realistic, and sarcastic. I felt like she was such a real character, and she really set the tone for her story, as well. I loved her voice A LOT, and it’s actually quite rare for me to fall in love with a voice so much but here I am. If authentic voice is something that you love then Noteworthy fits the bill perfectly, I promise.

I was kind of worried about the music elements of this book because I have ZERO music knowledge whatsoever, and I always kind of hate it when a book assumes that a reader will have knowledge on something. Noteworthy did not fall into this trap. Sure, I wasn’t like OMG I LOVE THESE MUSIC BITS HURRAH. But I also wasn’t like omg wtf is going on here, either. So it was a nice balance. I imagine people who do have music knowledge would like the music bits more than I did.

Now, the bits I loved best about Noteworthy were the bits about the characters and their relationships. I adored seeing Jordan interact with people because she’s awkward and super self aware (oh, hi, me). But it was also great seeing her begin to relax around people as she became more sure of herself and who she wanted to be. Her character growth throughout the book was actually pretty great, really. She started off as someone who was still reeling from a break-up, not talking to anyone, and generally feeling pretty miserable. And by the end she had friends and a boyfriend, and was just happy. I loved this.

Okay, I’m going to take some time to talk about two things that were… not necessarily wrong, but not necessarily great, either.

The first thing concerns Jordan’s bisexuality, in a way. YAY for on page bisexual labelling. That is VERY important, and in no way is my subsequent discussion taking away from this at all. However. In Noteworthy, Jordan cross-dresses as a boy to get into the prestigious a cappella group because she’s tired of not getting roles in the musicals and also just ‘because’. One night at a school dance a girl kisses Jordan and then Jordan has this whole head canon about how adorable they would be together. Once the girl finds out that Jordan is actually a girl, too, then all interest flings itself out of existence. Hmm, okay. You are attracted to this person and you like this person but once you find out they identify differently then you thought they’re immediately friend zoned because there’s no way you could be anything but straight.

Jordan, on the same night, makes a declaration to Isaac about how nice he smells. Cue a case of ‘gay panic’ because Isaac retreats from his friendship with Jordan, and also tells everyone in the a cappella group that Jordan is gay (which is 100% not okay. Jordan never said she was gay, and don’t. out. people. FFS.). Cue instant “no homo” from Isaac. BUT THEN. Isaac finds out that Jordan has been cross-dressing the whole time and then Isaac suddenly has feelings for her. Once you find out that someone confirms your hetero identity then it’s okay to like them, even though you panicked at the thought of them liking you when you thought they were a guy.

Both of these things are just so heteronormative. I know that neither of them take away from Jordan’s bisexual identity, and I’m not saying that. But it was still really disappointing that both of Jordan’s romantic encounters were with people who were so staunch in their heterosexuality that they either dismissed attraction or suddenly gained attraction based on whether or not they were affirmed of that heterosexuality.

The second that that was really missing, and which was detrimental to my enjoyment of the book was the discourse regarding gender. Now, there was a scene where Jordan thought about how what she was doing was kind of shitty because trans people have to actually go stealth in school and in public, and being outed would be a lot worse for them than for Jordan who could laugh it off and say she was cross-dressing as an experiment (side eye).

BUT. The whole time I read this book it just felt… off. It felt off reading about the struggles of a cis girl pretending to be a guy. It felt off that there were no trans characters in this book at all. It felt off that Jordan 100% identifies as a girl and yet that’s the POV we’re seeing in this story. There was no discourse regarding gender identity, and it almost felt like Jordan and her experiences were almost making light of the shit that trans kids have to go through. I know that not everyone might feel that way but no one can deny that she was doing this just because she wanted to see if she could. Not because it’s the way she wants to live, because it’s the way she identifies, because it’s who she is.

This complete lack of trans rep and gender discussion really hampered by enjoyment of a book that I otherwise loved a lot. Having a cis girl being the only character who thought about gender identity was very lacking. There should have been trans characters, especially a trans boy, who could have called Jordan out, and gotten into why what she did was problematic and hurtful, and talk about what it’s like to experience some of the things that Jordan did because it’s who you are not because you didn’t get a role in the musical.

To be honest, I would still recommend Noteworthy because I did really love it. But the heteronormativity and lack of inclusive gender discussion were two big downfalls of this book.

© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

When Jordan isn't given the opportunity that she has dreamed of, not to mention the dream that is currently creating financial problems back at home, she is heartbroken. Her heartbreak quickly turns into something else when she learns the all male a cappella group needs another member. Bound and determined to get that spot, Jordan will do whatever it takes....including dressing/acting as a boy to finally live out her dream.
This book was great! Jordan was someone that I could relate to; she is constantly trying to fit in but she doesn't see herself as someone that can do it. Riley Redgate has a new lifelong fan!

This story, peopled with sharply drawn characters and full of surprises, is a pleasure from first page to last. What a delight to discover a YA novel featuring not a single cliché-ridden personality.

Based on the synopsis, you would suppose that this is about a singing competition, and you would be partly right. It's about a secret cat among the pigeons, teenagers fumbling their way through high school and first kisses (although there's no actual sex - sorry), the viciousness of competition, painful parent/child relationships, and perhaps least of all, it's about an a capella group.

What a fun and meaningful book!

Jordan can't land any role in the musicals at her school, and she's getting desperate. To the point she'll audition to an all-male a capella group—in disguise, obviously. And for the first time, she gets it!

This book was surprisingly entertaining. I almost cried in the beginning while Jordan described her situation at school, so, as crazy as her idea to dress as a man and audition to a group may sound, even I was like "You have to try it!". So I can't say this book is not engaging.

What I didn't expect was it acquiring depth. As Jordan struggles to hide her identity, she faces multiple challenges and makes you wonder about how gender roles are formed. Even though she only wanted others to think she was a he, her male persona Julian turns out to feel ironically freer than she ever was.

Also this was a book that knew how to integrate diversity in a subtle way. I won't go into details but if you like checking a successful attempt, go ahead. We have not only race and sexuality on debate, the author also managed to discuss social classes and the struggles of a student on scholarship—and again, I couldn't help but identify, for I was also in the middle of paradoxes caused by how lacking scholarships can be.

The book will certainly become food for thought, which is ideal for a book club. Although it is an YA, I'm sure it can be enjoyed by older readers.

The writing is not perfect, of course. I found some scenes needed editing, for example, the competition, around which the whole book revolves, turned out to be underwhelming. I really liked the romance and at the the same time I wish we had seen a little more there. And... just a personal note, Jordan dressing up as a guy and researching about it led her to transitioning pages but it would have also been cooler if they mentioned the musical theater all-female troupe that exists in Japan, in which girls will take male roles—after all, this has everything to do with her. I confess I was so sure they would mention this I felt disappointed when they didn't.

Still, this was a book I loved reading so much I wish there it were even longer. If you like reflecting about gender, prejudice and the like, this is surely the book for you. I don't recommend it to those who don't. Even though most of it is subtle, I think you would still feel bothered. You don't have an opinion? Then go ahead, you'll like this.

Final note, I'm tagging romance because there is one for those like me who live for romances but this was more of a gen book.

I DNFed this book after a solid month of trying to finish it. I would definitely suggest checking out this thread on twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorCCallahan/status/854031496423845890

My first thought while reading Noteworthy was that it connected with both Pitch Perfect and She's the Man. As I love both of these films, I knew then that I would love this book.

I loved the discussion about being feminine that Jordan has in her head. I feel like it's a really important point for women and especially young girls. Not being feminine does not mean you're bad at being a woman. Also, Jordan did not revert back to her old self at the end of the book. I loved that as a character she grew a lot and changed for the better.

Redgate also wrote the friendships between characters really well. Each of the eight members of the Sharps in particular. Each of them had different friendships with one another, and they all had their own personalities. Obviously some had more exploration depending on how much Jordan was with them. But they definitely were full characters and not just stereotypes or ghost-like secondary people. The characters were so diverse so writing non-stereotypical characters was like a sigh of relief.

The only issue I had, which is completely personal to me, is the music references I did not get. This book is packed full of musical terms, which is fine. You dont lose anything from the book if you dont understand. But I did keep skipping sentences because they were 'technical' about it. But again, just to reiterate, this book is amazing even if you dont understand the music aspect. I loved it and I would definitely recommend reading it.

The one thing that made me want to read Noteworthy was because of the Pitch Perfect vibe that it has. But, Noteworthy is not just about acapella, there are a lot more issues involved that are relevant in today's time. Diversity is in so much work on this book and a lot more.

One thing I like about Noteworthy is that it covers a lot of topics that you won't see in most YA novel. From exploring Jordan's sexuality, the disabled parent, diverse characters and even poverty. I like how Jordan, while playing Julian, was able to reconcile with her sexuality, without any reservation, she welcomes the realization with open arms. In those times that she's pretending to be a guy, there were moments that I forgot that she is really just pretending. She makes Julian so believable that people can't see Jordan anymore. Or maybe they just see what they want to see.

I admit I don't have high hopes for this one. I underestimated it and was not expecting anything amazing. I expected this one to be more about music and acapella but like I've said, there is more to this book than that. Am I disappointed? Not at all. In fact, I really love it. The plot, as well as the characters, are great. Jordan alone is an interesting main character especially when he's dealing with things as Julian. I also like how her being poor is not much as a focus of the story, much less ashamed of it. Her not having friends and looking for a place where she belongs is something a lot of people can relate to. There are times that you will not agree with her decisions but character flaw is what endear her to me as well as the side characters. The Sharpshooters are a whole bunch of interesting and engaging characters, even those who are not highlighted much in the story. It is not easy dealing with seven unique guys with different personalities and it is just one of the things to look forward to in this book. The friendship that Jordan develops with them is something you wish you have. Or maybe, that's just me.

Oh, and one more thing, do not expect much romance on this one. Although it is present, romance is not the focus of the story. Which I don't mind one bit. My only complaint was that it took really long time for the story to pick up that I abandoned it a couple of times.

Overall though, Noteworthy is great, filled with humor YA contemporary book which deals with so many relevant topics in our society. And Miss Redgate wrote so well by being subtle and sensitive about them. One that is not only an entertaining read but also relatable.

This was a fun read! Jordan is starting her 3rd year at Kensington-Blaine Academy for the Performing Arts, the “Harvard of all art schools” and she’s still finding it impossible to get cast in any productions. She’s too tall, her voice is too deep, and she isn’t fitting the typical dainty feminine roles. How convenient that all of these characteristics would make it easy to cross-dress as a boy and audition her way into the best all male a cappella group on campus. Jordan Sun is suddenly Julian Zhang and nothing could possibly go wrong.

+ This book has so many intricately developed characters that are just fun
+ I liked how it touched on lots of deeper issues (poverty, closeting, masculinity) while still being light hearted
+ The racial diversity was a nice mix

Three and a half stars for this mash up of Mulan and Pitch Perfect

Fun story of a girl determined to find her place no matter what. Jordan is funny (some LOL moments) and I have a new appreciation for the complexities of a cappella singing since there's a whole lot of it in this story. The cast of characters also feels inclusive in many ways and Jordan's disguise brings up all sorts of interesting sexual tension.

There are some parts that are unrealistic such as Jordan's knack for not walking into anyone she knows while she's in disguise and a surprise at the end comes out of nowhere. Those are head scratchers, but I also I wish there were consequences for bad behavior. I feel like there's a loose end here since that part doesn't feel finished.

Overall, it's a fun and amusing read if you're in the mood for some music and hijinks.

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<font face="Georgia"> <h3>Welcome to another session of Turning Pages!</h3>

<p><i><b>Synopsis</b></i>: Junior Jordan Sun wants desperately to fit her square peg into the series of round holes that make up the Kensington-Blaine Academy for the Performing Arts -- but there seems to be no place for her, in theater, film, drama, or dance. In drama, she's not considered dramatic enough. In theater musicals, her voice is "difficult to reconcile with musical theater;" it's low for solo leads and too ...unique for chorus - second altos could quack like ducklings in a forest full of songbirds. Aside from her own insecurities as an artist was being a poor artist at a swanky school, where early admission to Julliard and spendy outfits were just an accepted norm. Jordon feels ashamed of her scrappy ambitiousness, feeling she should be home, being a helpful, <i>useful</i> part of her immediate family -- who really, really, really, <i>really</i>, really cannot afford her taking this chance. Not when her Dad's been injured. Not when her mother's having to apply for aid just to get food on the table. Not when... three years in at Kensington, and she's still not making it into any of the drama groups she's meant to join.</p>

<p>Jordan sees an opportunity to change her fate by auditioning to join the Sharpshooters, Kensington's premier octet. Of course, joining the Sharps means cutting some corners... and auditioning in drag. Soon, Jordon Sun, Tenor 1, is taking some chances; lying to a few people... and then a few more. It's all for a good cause, though, right...? </p>

<a target= _blank href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVANbsV439k/WO60v8qQKkI/AAAAAAAAGzw/s9pzZ2fejEcDfkETx1P9RXVVNbNIYTnsACLcB/s1600/31447601.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img hspace=10 align=right border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVANbsV439k/WO60v8qQKkI/AAAAAAAAGzw/s9pzZ2fejEcDfkETx1P9RXVVNbNIYTnsACLcB/s400/31447601.jpg" width="271" height="400" /></a><p><i><b>Observations</b></i>: Diversity, creativity, ingenuity: YES. While the novel may start slowly for some -- especially those who are not vocal groupies - the novel hit its stride fairly quickly, and steadily gained tension, as so many lies piled up, and so many secrets and competitive little twists were revealed. This novel is my novel in a variety of ways: I went to a private boarding school my parents could NOT afford -- and I worried about it with a brick in my gut every single day of the two years I was there. I love that the author included and examined the difference in classes and the egregious assumptions at times made about those who are wealthy, and those who are on public assistance. Redgate hits hard at some home truths about the secrets we keep - from ourselves and from each other - and the drag that Jordan continues to wear is not the only mask the novel examines.</p>

<p>The voice and characterizations in this novel reeled me in. The description of singing, of what perfection in harmony feels like emotionally, were so. spot. on. Sometimes, when you're singing, it's like you're flying, and the sound buoys you up, and you never want it to stop... The boarding school vibe, a microcosmic universe where suddenly EVERYTHING is super important, and the outside world almost doesn't exist? Also spot on. Music nerds and people who like school stories will really love this. People looking for stories from new voices in the field will really enjoy a fresh take on school and life from a cross-dressing, bi-maybe, Chinese-American perspective. </p>
<p><i><b>Conclusion</b></i>: This was a hotly anticipated novel to come out this year and is basically a love letter to music, choral groups, and high school organizations. I am a BIG OLD CHORAL NERD (and as I write this, we're two days from an a cappella performance this weekend) so this novel truly resonated for me. I am gratified that the hype didn't disappoint.</p>
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<hr width=55%><p>I received my copy of this book courtesy of the publisher. After MAY 2, 2017 - not long, now! - you can find <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/aff/readersrant7?product=9781419723735" target=_blank><i>NOTEWORTHY</i></a> by Riley Redgate at an online e-tailer, or at a real life, independent bookstore near you!</p>
</font> *THIS WILL POST ON THE BLOG 4/21

You know those occasional books you go into with a ~feeling~ about? Those books you just know you’re going to love, even before you’ve read a single page? Well, friends, Noteworthy was that book for me, and I am happy to report that it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it blew my (already-high) expectations out of the water! I mean, a bisexual MC + cross-dressing + a capella choir + boarding school setting?! Yeah, no wonder this was the book of my dreams.

Obviously, being the choir nerd that I am, I adored the plot of Noteworthy immensely. Jordan Sun, a junior at the prestigious Kensington-Blaine Academy (an arts school), runs out of options when she isn’t cast in the school musical. So, with nothing left to lose, she decides to audition for the vacant Tenor I spot in Kensington’s oldest and most reputable a capella group, the Sharpshooters. The only problem? The group is historically all-male. Hilarity and heart ensue when Jordan (or shall I say Julian?) gets into the group and begins to find her place. The plot is fairly straightforward and could easily have fallen flat, but Redgate writes it so well.

In addition to its super fun premise, Noteworthy features one of the most lovable casts of characters I have ever read. I absolutely fell in love with every single one of the boys in the Sharpshooters, and I loved reading about Jordan’s newfound friendships with each of them. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I adored Mama the most out of all the Sharps– his love of Haydn, Handel, and his general classical music/music theory nerdiness were waaaaaay too relatable. I also loved his friendship with Jon Cox– yay for close dude friendships! Ugh, all the friendships among the guys in the Sharps made my heart melt. They were always looking out for each other.

Noteworthy is, in large part, a love letter to a capella. I loved seeing Jordan find her place and find *her people* through becoming a member of the Sharps. Reading about her falling in love with a capella was almost like reading a romance in and of itself (one that I could relate to a whole lot). The world of a capella– and of choir in general– was portrayed incredibly well, too. Redgate perfectly captured such specific feelings I have experienced time and time again singing in choral ensembles: the feeling of nailing an incredibly difficult passage for the first time and finally hearing it click into place with the other parts, the rush of adrenaline that takes over before a high-profile performance, the way singing with other people forms bonds stronger than almost any other art form can. I liked the rivalry between the a capella groups on Kensington’s campus, too– so fun to read about. Oh, and I adored the setting. I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I’m a sucker for boarding school settings, especially ones where school/campus life plays a major role in the story, and Noteworthy did not disappoint on this front.

Another huge reason I adore this book so much is for its representation. Not only is Jordan Asian-American, but her family also struggles financially, and the book explores the idea of privilege in an economic context (in addition to privilege in relation to race, sexuality, gender, and disability), which is something I haven’t read about too often in YA. Oh, and of course, Jordan is also bisexual and coming to terms with her sexuality. She struggles over the course of the book with her attractions, and with labeling herself. As a bisexual woman myself, this was arguably some of the best bi representation I’ve ever read. It felt disturbingly close to my own experiences. It’s brilliant in that it’s left open-ended– Jordan is still figuring out her sexuality, and she’s okay with the fact that she doesn’t know everything yet. As expected Noteworthy also makes some A+ commentary on gender.

Noteworthy originally drew me in with the promise of bisexual rep and a plot involving a capella, and though of course I adored those elements of the book, I ended up becoming enchanted with every single element of this book. I found myself falling deeply in love with each and every character and feeling so invested in the trajectory of the story. If I had to pick one single book of my heart, Noteworthy would be it. I only wish this had found its way to me while I was in high school. This is the book that high-school-choir-nerd-Madalyn-struggling-with-her-sexuality desperately needed, but hey, out-college-music-major-Madalyn adored it just as much, too. 🙂 All in all, Noteworthy is a book you do not want to sleep on. It will give you all the happy feelings. Run, don’t walk, and go preorder it ASAP!

Have you read Noteworthy yet? If so, tell me your thoughts below! I’d love to discuss. If not, what are you waiting for?!