The Sweetest Sound

October 31, 2016
“What happens if you make a promise to God, then try to take it back?” Ten-year-old Cadence Jolly finds herself asking that question after she promises to share her secret talent for singing with the world—or at least with her church—in Winston’s (President of the Whole Sixth Grade) warm story of growing up and coming out of one’s shell. A folksy first-person narrative reveals an intensely introverted girl who wants to be “the mouse that roared” but can’t quite muster it, whether she’s trying to sing by herself, stand up to a pushy friend, or tell her father not to make a big deal of her birthday (it’s also the anniversary of her mother skipping out on the family). As courage fails Cadence, she finds solace in her musical talent and love of words. When that talent is accidentally shared online, she’s forced to take credit or continue to cower. Focusing on an African American church community and incorporating references to gospel music throughout, Winston breathes fresh life into the shy-kid narrative, making Cadence’s story feel both individual and universal. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from October 15, 2016
What if, in not keeping a promise to God, you make a deal with the devil?Ten-year-old Cadence Mariah Jolly, named after singer Mariah Carey, belies her name: she suffers from near-deleterious social anxiety, especially after her mother left her, her father, older brother, and the small town of Harmony, Pennsylvania, to pursue a singing career. The solicitous, diverse townspeople--from the African-American Trinity Sisters and server Sofine to Chinese-American classmate Mei-Mei's mother--who dote on the black family with pity and prayer don't know that Cadence's mother left her with another gift: the ability to sing...mostly because Cadence is terrified to use it. When she initially prays for a keyboard and microphone, she makes a deal with God that if she gets them she would indeed share her talent, but she vacillates as opportunities, such as graduating to the Youth Choir, appear. When Cadence inadvertently sings in front of her best friends, Zara and Faith, one of them tries to exploit the main character's shyness for her own chance at fame. Though some may feel Winston overdoes the musical names (in addition to Cadence, there's her dog, Lyra, and the choir assistant, Miss Stravinski), she creates a rich and winning first-person story about a deeply introverted black girl who nearly loses her gift because of her understandable but undermining fear. Readers will be rooting for both Cadence as she claims her gift and the community who supports her. (Fiction. 8-12)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Ten-year-old Cadence Mariah Jolley is surrounded by music. She refers to Mariah Carey as her "fairy godmother" and lives in Harmony, PA, and her favorite day of the week is Sunday, when she joins her friends in the church choir. The girl inherited a beautiful voice from her mother, who left town to pursue her own dreams when Cadence was seven. Since that day, Cadence has struggled with change. Her father does his best as a single parent, but Cadence thinks he worries too much. She knows her voice is special, but she is afraid of the spotlight. When a new church choir director arrives, Cadence takes a risk and tapes what she believes is a private recording of her singing in the hope that she will be recognized for her gift. Things don't go according to plan, and soon Cadence has to decide if she can share the power of her voice-both musically and personally. She has the support of a distinctive cast of characters: her brother Junior, who helps Cadence navigate her relationship with her father and come to terms with her mother's absence; her two best friends, Zara and Faith, who represent the loyalty and jealousy that mark middle grade relationships; and her aunt Fannie, who loves and supports her throughout. VERDICT This well-crafted novel about a young girl who learns valuable lessons about love, family, and community will appeal to readers of realistic fiction and fans of happy endings.-Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2016
Grades 3-6 Cadence Jolly, known as Mouse by everyone in the small town of Harmony, Pennsylvania, is intensely introverted. Too many well-meaning neighborhood ladies pay her pitying attention since her mother left to pursue dreams of becoming a star. A secretly talented singer in her own right, Cadence is trying to come out of her shell and reveal her gift to her church. When a recording of her singing is leaked and she becomes an Internet sensation, it is time for Cadence to reclaim her life from the smothering attention of her neighbors, the panic she feels in the spotlight, and her complicated feelings about her mother's desertion. Cadence, grounded in faith and the love she has for music and her family, finds a way to be strong without wholesale change. The cast is predominantly African American, with one exception being a Chinese classmate who connects with Cadence as they both try to stay true to themselves. Though slow at first, this bookmuch like Cadenceabsolutely blossoms.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
Ten-year-old Cadence Jolly, an introverted African American girl, lives with her loving but stifling father in small-town Pennsylvania while her mom is off pursuing singing fame. Cadence works to overcome her anxiety about using her own gifted singing voice and begins to embrace and develop her talent once the church takes notice. A strong family and community story about finding support in friendship and faith.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)