5 Stars Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

The Tunes of Lenore: When You Go to Boarding School Bring Your Friends by J.T. Blossom is a gripping coming of age story that features a compelling female protagonist. Set in the future in 2026, the novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Ella, an intelligent girl caught in the constant conflict between her parents. Her dad runs a pot business which fuels the tension between the parents, but the looming divorce makes things even worse for her as she is sent to a school far from home and to live under austere conditions. Will getting the attention of boys fill the emptiness in her heart and abate the restlessness in her soul? Follow a tale in which a grandfather's wise fiddle and a mysterious friend help bring a young character home to herself. This is a novel of unique beauty. The protagonist has a solid background, a young girl in a home filled with tension. The author does an impeccable job with the backstory, keeping it measured and using it to add depth to the character development. The prose is crisp and filled with a unique charm that keeps the reading exciting and engaging. While J.T. Blossom develops exceptionally good characters, it's the author's gift for storytelling that captured my attention. The Tunes of Lenore: When You Go to Boarding School Bring Your Friends is an exciting read for fans of coming of age stories and tales that are transporting. This novel kept me reading through the night; it is deft and balanced.

Review first published on Oh Just Books:

The Tunes of Lenore is a beautiful book encompassing music, physics, dogs, ecology, farming, ranches, mechanics, nature, boarding school, sustainable living, farming, biology, research, and literature. It is a beautifully written book and one that I really enjoyed reading, and I'm sure you would too. It is set in the not-too-distant future, and environmental protection and ecology make up an important part of the story. Almost like it is an important character itself. The titular Lenore is a fiddle owned by Ella Bradley, our wonderful protagonist. She is a wonderful human being with goodness in her heart. If you think she's just another sulky teenager at the outset, you'll realize once Jenny (her dog) and Lenore (the aforementioned fiddle) come up in the story that Ella is anything but a regular teenager. You will come to like her even more as you read more of this book. Jenny is a very special dog, and I don't want to talk more about it because it's best if you read and see for yourself. The pictures in this book are beautiful too. It adds another dimension to the story and is a unique concept. What I really appreciated was that even though Ella had such wonderful gifts, she still was not shown as a perfect specimen of adolescence. She had a well-developed character arc and grew as a person through the progress of the book. She still had her moods and flaws and foibles and moments of insecurity, making her quite relatable to any teens reading this book. *A review copy was provided to Oh Just Books by the author in exchange for an honest review* Read the rest of the review here - https://ohjustbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/review-tunes-of-lenore-by-jt-blossom.htmlOn Amazon by HGSR: 

"One normally does not start at an ending when writing a review, but the last pieces of imagery and the beautiful accompanying illustration cap perfectly this captivating, creative piece of juvenile fiction. Unique is the author's use of illustrations and I found myself guessing and anticipating what treasure may be around the next turned page, and how matched with the text. The character development is authentic for all, but most strikingly for Ella. We first meet her in the car in her cautious teen angst. But throughout the pages, her journey and experiences allow her to open her mind and heart to a smooth and realistic maturity. Her relationship with Jenny, and how author John Blossom reveals the dog's history, her secrets piece by precious piece, captures the truly magical and deeply meaningful relationship between human and canine, if indeed we humans are patient and loving enough. What strikes me as particularly important about this book is how the author does not fall prey to certain stereotypes of young teens as often snarky, entitled or just plain mean. Talents, both natural and honed, physical attributes, intellects, backgrounds, personalities, family situations -- all are treated with respect and dignity, allowing the reader to embrace the essence of the story, the complexities of these lives, both young and older, and ultimately, the triumphs. I recommend The Tunes of Lenore strongly for young readers, as well as teachers for book studies into the complex world of today and certainly, the possibilities for tomorrow." 

"Hi John, I finished your book the other day, and I was really, really impressed. I found it absolutely captivating. I found Ella very likable, her thoughts about the events felt real and engaging, the dialogue extremely well done, and the storyline compelling. Truly this is very, very well done. I'm glad you shared it with me. If you want any feedback beyond gushing admiration, just let me know." - CS

Award-winning The Tunes of Lenore is available to the public now on Amazon and will be free to NetGalley users through August 15th. This compelling story will have special appeal to older teens, bluegrass musicians, organic gardeners, climate activists, teachers, counselors, pet owners, and animal rights advocates. Both a prequel and a sequel are in the pipeline. The author is available for interviews, events, and written responses to questions.