From School Library Journal Grade 5-8 -This story of three eighth-graders who try to overcome personal obstacles to realize their talents unfolds in alternating voices. Kira has moved from her grandmother's upstate home to live with her rock-musician father and younger half brothers in a squalid New York City apartment. Her beautiful voice is a great asset to the family's subway station performances, but the 13-year-old balks at this embarrassment. Jake, who stutters except when he sings, is testing the limits of his parents' and his teachers' patience by constantly cutting class. His pal Eugene Kim, a natural comic with a foghorn voice, balances work in his parents' grocery store with school and his attempts to keep Jake from going too far in acting out. The three come together in a special chorus class where their charismatic teacher helps them develop the inner resources they need to cope with their situations. Their friendship grows as they collaborate on a project to save a stray duck, fend off the unsettling appearances and demands of Kira's stepmother, and try to figure out how they can manage to perform in the talent show. Deft characterization, an authentic sense of place, and a good mix of serious and funny scenes make this a better-than-average novel. The author handles the delicate balance between friendship and love with sensitivity and offers a satisfying, realistic conclusion.
