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Idol Gossip: A K-Pop Dream Come True by Alexandra Leigh Young

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“This is a fast-paced, captivating inside look at what lies behind the glitz of the K-pop industry. Alice’s road to fame highlights cultural differences, self-discovery, sisterhood, and empathy. The narrative is laced with blog posts that help move the story forward and give background information. Korean dialogue is romanized. An entertaining read unveiling the people behind K-pop glam.  A debut novel about standing out and fitting in, dreaming big and staying true.” KIRKUS

After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2007, Alexandra Leigh Young moved to New York City where she ran an audio post-production house called Explosion Robinson. In 2014 she was awarded an artist residency in South Korea in 2014, where she fell in love with a new kind of music: K-pop. After spending a year reporting on South Korea’s music industry, she returned to the US and produced her first podcast episode for Radiolab, called “K-poparazzi”. The episode was the inspiration for this debut novel.

K-pop gets the Gossip Girl treatment when Alice Choy is catapulted into the life of a manufactured popstar at the elite Top10 Entertainment’s Star Academy.

When seventeen-year-old Alice Choy moved from San Francisco to Seoul, she left behind her friends and the regular singing lessons she used to love. Now the only singing she does is karaoke with her little sister in Myeongdong. That is, until she’s spotted by a scout for Top10 Entertainment and invited to attend their Star Academy. But sculpting herself into one-fifth of soon-to-be-launched K-pop group A-List is hard work. It’s rising at dawn for lung-crushing cardio, dancing drills and calorie controlled meals. It’s egos and rivalry and secrets lived outside of the public eye, because if A-list gets on the wrong side of a certain influential blogger and the anti-fans, then Alice’s dreams of being an idol might never materialise.

Alexandra Leigh Young discusses Idol Gossip from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

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Song for Jimi: The Story of Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Smith ill. Edel Rodriguez

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Dec 2021

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“Following Hendrix through his difficult childhood, military service, and stints in Nashville, New York, and London, blocks of text emphasize the figure’s complicated parental relationships, disinterest in conformity, and dedication to his craft. Digitally enhanced oil-based woodblock ink art centers images of Hendrix’s face and form amid abstract, warm-hued backgrounds that recall band posters and psychedelia.” Publishers Weekly
“Rodriguez’s gritty, oil-based woodblock paintings effectively capture Hendrix’s passion, drive, and genius. Smith describes wanting to conclude with a “moment of triumph…to celebrate the unique individual who inspired me.” And he does: With his “show-stopping tricks / …behind-the-back, between-the-legs, / teeth-plucking licks,” Hendrix set his guitar on fire and “showed the world / how to kiss the sky. This creative, impassioned, in-your-face biography is as on fire as Jimi Hendrix’s guitar.” KIRKUS

Jimi Hendrix’s talent was epic, and so is this fifty-six-page lyrical account of his life, with spectacular artwork by Edel Rodriguez.

Let me tell you a story, a story ’bout a boy, who became a man, a git-tar man, named Jimi.

From his turbulent childhood through his epical appearance at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals, Charles R. Smith Jr. covers it all in this rich and rhythmic account of a singular life, accompanied by the psychedelic splendour of Edel Rodriguez’s acid-tinged artwork. Written as a series of verses beginning with intro and ending with outro, this unique mix of rhythm and rhyme captures the essence of rock icon Jimi Hendrix and his struggle to live life on his own terms.

A YouTube portrait of the Cuban-born illustrator:

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A History of Music for Children by Mary Richards & David Schweitzer ill. Rose Blake

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Sep 2021

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“Wide-ranging and accessible, this is a rich resource for musical exploration.” KIRKUS
“‘An amazing history of music, really brought to life by the illustrations and diverse examples!’ Alexis Taylor, Hot Chip

Following on from the success of the award-winning A History of Pictures for Children comes this introduction to the history of music that takes children on a musical journey around the world. Readers will meet along the way a diverse cast of composers, musicians and performers who all make music in different ways in a variety of different genres, from Bach to Billie Eilish, Mozart to Miriam Makeba.

Why do we make music? Which instruments make up a classical orchestra? How does music affect our brains and emotions? These are just some of the fascinating questions addressed in this book, which looks at music’s transnational and boundary-breaking qualities. All over the world and throughout time, music has been recorded and passed down through different oral traditions and forms of notation. It has always been a powerful catalyst for influencing change and connecting people. And what might the future of music hold? Exploring the technology we use to listen to and create music, the authors imagine new possibilities such as computer-generated compositions and robot musicians.

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Once Upon a Tune: Stories from the Orchestra by James Mayhew

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 9 Sep 2021
Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week 12 Sep 2021

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“A simply stunning book crafted with love and skill.” BfK 5-star review

This magnificent and generous picture book (it has 90+ pages) sets out to be the “beginning of an exciting musical journey”—you can tell that creating it has been a heartfelt project and mission for James Mayhew, who both recounts the stories and illustrates them, in a style perfectly fitted to the target audience (of children aged 5+).  I wish I had had access to a book like this when I was young, which highlights the fact that its most appreciative readers will be those who do not already listen to or have access to the six pieces of music by different composers (Dukas, Sibelius, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg and Rossini) that the book features. In its back pages there are useful notes from the author explaining the sources of the stories and how they inspired the musical compositions.

The book is beautifully designed, with endpapers of repeating motifs from the stories inside. The font size is large and easy on the eye. The words always stand out well from the background and, especially on the larger spreads, are cleverly co-ordinated with  the artwork. From the opening illustration (showing the Sorcerer’s towers and turrets, some composed of musical notation) to the last (the dawning of a new day at the conclusion to William Tell), the artwork is breathtakingly good.

ACHUKA cannot recommend this book highly enough.

James Mayhew is well-known for bringing live classical music, art and storytelling to families across the UK, and is sure to be actively promoting this book on his social media channels.

The stories are excitingly told and stunningly illustrated byThere are also Musical Notes where you can find out more about the stories and music, plus James’s recommended recordings to download and listen to.

Here is a Spotify playlist featuring the pieces of music from the book:

XOXO by Axie Oh

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 13 Aug 2021

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“Filled with humor and theatrics.” KIRKUS
“With heaps of drama, cheesy goodness that soothes the soul, and a touch of forbidden love, XOXO is perfect for fans of fierce female friendships, chaotic K-dramas, and swoony band romances.” The Nerd Daily
“From musical interludes and well-thought-out metaphors to unbelievably adorable interactions between soulmates, XOXO is without a doubt one of my favorite YA romances. A love letter to music and belonging, [XOXO] is an absolute gem that proves you can chase your dreams and be capable of love, so long as you open your heart and embrace opportunity. Breaking the mold that practice makes perfect, Oh makes it clear that sometimes, all you need is to live for yourself – everything else follows. Paperback Paris
“I make playlists after each book I write as something fun for myself and they also provide some nice extra content for readers. I recently shared my playlist for XOXO, which I spent months on—it’s a K-pop book so I really wanted to showcase a variety of artists, and curate it well with songs that fit the book’s mood and tone. I even attempted to match each song to a chapter, so there are 40 songs on the playlist!” Axie Oh

Jenny’s never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk in this modern forbidden romance wrapped in the glamorous and exclusive world of K-pop.

Jenny didn’t get to be an award-winning, classically trained cellist without choosing practice over fun. That is, until the night she meets Jaewoo. Mysterious, handsome, and just a little bit tormented, Jaewoo is exactly the kind of distraction Jenny would normally avoid. And yet, she finds herself pulled into spending an unforgettable evening wandering Los Angeles with him on the night before his flight home to South Korea.

With Jaewoo an ocean away, there’s no use in dreaming of what could have been. But when Jenny and her mother move to Seoul to take care of her ailing grandmother, who does she meet at the elite arts academy she’s just been accepted to? Jaewoo. Finding the dreamy stranger who swept you off your feet in your homeroom is one thing, but Jaewoo isn’t just any student. Turns out, Jaewoo is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world. And like most K-pop idols, Jaewoo is strictly forbidden from dating anyone. When a relationship means not only jeopardizing her place at her dream music school but also endangering everything Jaewoo’s worked for, Jenny has to decide once and for all just how much she’s willing to risk for love.

XOXO is a captivating YA romance that proves chasing your dreams doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your heart.

The author has been interviewed on The Happy Writer podcast.

Musical Truth: A Musical History of Modern Black Britain in 28 Songs by Jeffrey Boakye ill. Ngadi Smart

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 2 Aug 2021

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“This is a clever book, whose ambition is belied by its lucid and approachable text. Boakye sets out to tell the story of modern British black history through twenty-eight records.” BfK 5-star review
“Boakye’s knowledge and passion shines through as he explains the background, emotional impact, and historical significance of songs that changed British culture forever – from London is the Place for Me by Lord Kitchener to Vossi Bop by Stormzy.” BookTrust

Music can carry the stories of history like a message in a bottle. Lord Kitchener, Neneh Cherry, Smiley Culture, Stormzy …

Groundbreaking musicians whose songs have changed the world. But how? This exhilarating playlist tracks some of the key shifts in modern British history, and explores the emotional impact of 28 songs and the artists who performed them. This book redefines British history, the Empire and postcolonialism, and will invite you to think again about the narratives and key moments in history that you have been taught up to now. Thrilling, urgent, entertaining and thought-provoking, this beautifully illustrated companion to modern black music is a revelation and a delight.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ngadismart/

Gaspard’s Foxtrot by Zeb Soanes ill. James Mayhew

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 4 Mar 2021

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Gaspard’s friend Finty the dog and her owner Honey are travelling to a classical concert in London’s Hyde Park – if only Gaspard could join them! But while good-naturedly attempting to return Honey’s scarf, the handsomest fox in London suddenly finds himself on a tour through the city’s streets aboard Finty’s bus passing some of London’s best sight-seeing spots such as: Islington Green, Museum Street, Chinatown, the theatres of the West End, Piccadilly and many more.
This latest adventure in the Gaspard the Fox series sees Gaspard thrust literally to centre stage as he becomes a musical inspiration.

Read our Meet An Illustrator Feature:
https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator-2-james-mayhew/

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjamesmayhew/
Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zebsoanes/

Earlier adventures:
Gaspard The Fox
Gaspard Best In Show

The Violin Players by Eileen Bluestone Sherman

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 17 Dec 2020

This book may be more than twenty years old but, as Kirkus said of the original publication in 1998, “its message is one that always bears repeating.” I dipped into the opening chapter expecting to read only the first few pages (ACHUKA generally prefers to highlight books that are making their first appearance) but ended up being swept along by the force of the main character. The book is told in the third person but is very much Melissa’s story. Sherman writes with pace and elan, making this an ideal novella for a journey or a wet afternoon.  No, it’s not Newbery or Carnegie Medal material and reading it may be a little like deciding to watch an old movie on TV instead of a contemporary drama, but sometimes old movies hit the spot. 

Melissa Jensen is unprepared when life takes a turn for the seemingly tragic: her father (a playwright and college lecturer) accepts a teaching assignment in a small town in the Midwest, far from her home and friends (and bagels) in New York City. She’s too old to throw a tantrum, and her father’s offer of letting her live in New York with her grandparents is simply not an option. No way will she follow their strict Orthodox Jewish rules when her own parents didn’t even make her go to Hebrew school.

Melissa’s reluctant arrival in Henryville brings some surprises. To her amazement, the college town offers more than she ever anticipated, including a fantastic school orchestra and the chance to star in the school play. And then there’s Daniel Goodman, the remarkable boy who shares Melissa’s passion for acting and playing the violin. Everything seems too good to be true until Melissa comes across something she has never experienced before – antisemitism. No one in the school suspects she is Jewish, but when Daniel is taunted by a bigoted schoolmate, Melissa must make a decision. Her choice to speak out should be clear-cut, but life is never that simple. The Violin Players examines the price we pay when bigotry is met with silence.

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The Story Orchestra THE NUTCRACKER – ill Jessica Courtney-Tickle, text by Katy Flint

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A retelling of the classic Chirstmas ballet, with short (at just 10 seconds I found these a little tantalising and  often too brief to cover a reading of the text) extracts from the relevant section of the score.

It’s a clever way to show the way music and narrative combine and Courtney-Tickle’s illustrations are fittingly festive.

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