Interesting MG graphic novel about 12 year old Lucy, a so-so student who has recently begun attending an arts magnet school against her parents' best judgement. Lucy's struggles to master a more difficult curriculum and much higher expectations in band are set against a backdrop of her father's worsening alcoholism and the breakdown of her parents marriage. While her parents problems clearly aren't her fault, Lucy becomes convinced that if she can just secure first chair flute her life will go back to the way it was before her father lost his job and became an alcoholic. This is one first book I've seen in graphic novel format to explore parental alcoholism without including abuse, which was unique and probably much needed in terms of representation. Issues discussed include alcoholism, divorce, anxiety, parental pressure, drug abuse (briefly), parental death (briefly), and managing friendships.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lucy is starting a new school in Windley, North Carolina in this graphic novel. It's a school for the arts, and she's hoping to be the first chair flautist, just like she was at her previous school. Even though it's nerve wracking to leave a comfortable environment, it's better than being at home with younger siblings Elizabeth and Liam when their mother, a busy nurse, and their father, an out of work lawyer, are constantly fighting over money and household responsibilities. Luckily, Malia, an 8th grader, is super nice on the bus and helps her get her bearings at school. The other flute players, like Neela, are nice, but Tolli is odd. Her mother is a former opera singer who is very pushy, and expects Tolli to be first chair. The school expects Lucy to have her own flute, which is a hardship for the family, because $400 would go a long way towards food and rent. Even though money is tight, a lot of money is spent on beer for the father, who, as we learn, once had to go to the hospital because he was so intoxicated. Lucy is very embarrassed by his actions, and missed the father he used to be. When Tolli makes first chair, Lucy is devastated, but she takes comfort in hanging out with Malia and her grandmother, who likes to bake. When they take Lucy home one day, Lucy's father is passed out and can't be woken up. Malia's grandmother stays with the kids, and is very understanding, since Malia's mother died of a drug overdose, and is very supportive of Lucy's mom. Lucy does talk to the school counselor, since the academic demands of the school are higher than her old school. When her father is supposed to be watching the children, Lucy sustains an injury, and this is enough to propel her mother to move into the hotel with the children and start divorce proceedings. This is hard on Lucy, and who steals Tolli's music before a challenge. She's discovered and has to go to a meeting with her parents at school, but manages to get the help she needs to cope as her family goes forward.
Strengths: I played oboe in middle and high school and spent an inordinate amount of time practicing. The two other oboe players and I were always going back and forth, and being first chair is just a huge thing at that age, even in a regular school. I can't imagine the pressure in a performing arts school. It was very nice to see Lucy connect to Malia and her grandmother, and have some support. Lucy's home life is difficult, and the author's own experiences (mentioned in an afterword) add to the slice-of-life feel of this. It was interesting to see her joke with her friends about her father getting drunk; I can't imagine sharing this kind of information, but it is certainly one way to cope with a difficult situation. The father does go into rehab twice, and the family is going forward in a more positive direction by the end of the book.
Weaknesses: There is a wide array of graphic novels about problems, but very few about children in sports, so I do wish that we would see a little more variety in the graphic novels that are published. Also, there was something uncomfortable about the father being drawn in only boxer shorts without a shirt, although I am sure this reflects real life.
What I really think: There are very few books about band, (exceptions include Walter's The Club, Grosso's I Am Drums, Dionne's Notes From an Accidental Band Geek, and Herbach's Gabe Johnson Takes Over, aka Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders) and I know that music was a big part of my middle school career. There are even fewer books about parents who are alcoholics, other than Deuker's 2024 Shadowed, Hautmann's 2024 Answers to Dog, Petro-Roy's 2021 Life in the Balance, Vrabel's 2018 Bringing Me Back, and Sonnenblick's The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.

This is a really great book. BUT, it needs a trigger warning. As a survivor of an alcoholic parent, the emotions I felt were incredibly strong. As an adult, it is a heavy topic but for a middle schooler, it could be very difficult. That being said, the writing was spectacular...the fact that it got me emotional and it brought me back to my memories of my own childhood are insane. Phenomenal job.

This was a tough read — there is no sugar coating what Lucy’s life is like with her alcoholic father. I hope it leads to good conversations, like, how it’s always better to ask for help, whether from a counselor or retaking a test.

This was such a stunning and emotional read. I teared up a couple of times. Lucy and her journey are incredibly honest. She is a good kid who puts too much pressure on herself, shows age-appropriate resentment toward her siblings and parents, and makes occasionally makes bad decisions. I see her in a lot of my students. The story itself is multi-layered and addresses how difficult it can be to grow up with an alcoholic parent, or parents who aren't good for each other. I can't wait to see this book fly off of our shelves in the library!

Band Nerd follows seventh grader Lucy Carver as she navigates her first year at an Arts school alongside the tensions that are happening in her home life. Lucy copes by hyper focusing on getting to First Chair Flute like she was at her old school in hopes that it would help return the rest of her life to balance.

This book covered some very real and difficult topics, like alcoholism and divorce. The dad's drinking problems were much more on-page than I had anticipated from the description. I was glad to see Lucy have supportive teachers bringing her together at the end with her parents in counseling to talk through what was happening, and her parents taking accountability for the areas they should have supported Lucy along the way. My heart broke for the weight Lucy was carrying both at home and at school in trying to fit in. The story also touched on ways her peers were also trying to please their caregivers by choosing certain paths and interests.

I did find the artwork a bit inconsistent in detail level throughout the book. I couldn't tell a pattern on whether it was going in-and-out of focus alongside the emotional swings of Lucy's experience, but it did distract from the story page-over-page.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an ARC for my review.

3.5/5 stars

Content Warnings: Alcoholism

this was good!!! it does however cover heavier topics such as family fights, alcoholism, struggling to make friends. i liked that this had real life issues.

Lucy is a middle schooler obsessed with band, going to a new school, and navigating her intense home life. An alcoholic father, a stern mother, siblings that are treated differently than her, and friendship drama, this graphic novel was way more intense than I thought it would be from the cover alone. I really enjoyed it overall and appreciated the ending, especially the author's note. The illustrations were rough for my taste, many panels feeling completely phoned in and taking me out of the story being distracted by the lack of fingers on hands or blobs for feet or lack of line on half a face. But overall I still liked it.

Band Nerd follows Lucy as she starts her year at a magnet school in the advanced band program. Lucy is used to being 1st chair at her old school, but the competition is a lot ore fierce this year. She develops a rivalry with Tolli, her classmate with a much more musical family and advantages Lucy's family cannot provide. Meanwhile, Lucy's father's drinking has reached an unhealthy and unstable level. Lucy laughs off her family's quirks but things are getting worse. (Her mom also has a lesser drinking habit that is not necessarily addressed)

While there are some graphic novels with themes of family substance abuse (Sunny series) in my school library, the alcoholism is too on the page to add it to my elementary library. That said, I would recommend it for 5th grade classrooms and middle school libraries.

Band Nerd is a middle grade graphic novel following a seventh grade girl who is obsessed with becoming first chair in flute and dealing with academic struggles and an alcoholic father. This one does not hide tough subjects, and the alcoholism was shown in-depth and dark. I think this is a really important story, especially for kiddos who might be facing something similar. Excellent art!

Thanks to NetGaley, Sarah Clawson Willis, and HarperCollins for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

Thanks to NetGalley & HarperAlley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel looks like it's bright and hopeful but it's mainly depressing and still slightly hopeful. The protagonist is flawed but you see her family situation and understand why she is the way she is. I didn't really like her "friend" Tolli at all though.

Side note, the art flipped flopped a lot which threw me off. Sometimes it'd be good and sometimes it just looked really rushed and hastily drawn. I especially don't like how they draw the tears, it looks like fountains pouring out of their eyes, lol.

I also recommend this for the Young Adult crowd (Gr 6-12) due to many adult themes in the book, the marketing is comparing it to Rollergirl which it really isn't all that similar in my opinion due to the alcoholism prevalent in the story. The only thing similar is both protagonists are obsessed with a particular hobby and have some questionable behavior but Band Nerd is strictly for Grades 6+ while Rollergirl works well for Grades 3+.

I don't think I have read many graphic novels about band, so this was a refreshing way to look at all of the issues and challenges facing a middle grader. Lucy is going through a lot, with her home life falling apart around her and the change to a new school. Band becomes her refuge and a way for her to try and fix all the bad things she can't control. This is definitely not an unheard of situation, and it was hard to read (trigger warning - alcoholism and verbal abuse) of the scenes when her father is drinking and, in truth, most of the scenes at home involve him drinking. But it was equally hard to read about Lucy's coping mechanism which is to hyper fixate on getting first chair in band. She rationalizes some pretty bad behaviour because of her desire to be the best and, as a result, mend things at home.

Watching her fall apart through the book was not easy, but it felt very real and very much like the type of book that someone who is struggling or has a friend who is struggling should read. I won't say that every middle schooler will get something out of this book, and there are some who will find it hard to get through, but Willis does a very good job of showing the scary and hard alongside some positive aspects, like having a supportive teacher and friends.

This is a very solid read with some great life lessons and supports.

I almost forgot, the artwork reminds me a lot of similar middle school graphic novels that are popular. And I would probably compare this to the Sunny series by Jennifer Holm.

"Band Nerd" is a middle grade graphic novel written by Sarah Clawson Willis and illustrated by Emma Cormarie. Lucy is a seventh grader starting at a new school: the Windley School for the Arts. Lucy is an excellent and dedicated flautist and desperately wants to be first chair (best flute player) at Windley, but she has to deal with making new friends, arguments between her mom and dad, keeping her grades up, and her alcoholic father relapsing. While there are lighthearted moments, this is a mostly serious story that will be very familiar for those who have dealt with addiction, parental fighting, and just middle school stress in general. A must-buy for middle grade graphic novel collections.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: A musically gifted seventh grader navigates family struggles, fierce competition, and tough choices in her quest to find harmony at a prestigious arts school.

My review: Band Nerd is a heartfelt graphic novel that delivers a powerful exploration of family struggles, grief, and resilience, making it a must-read for middle schoolers. While the title suggests a focus on band and music, the story delves deeper into the challenges of growing up with an alcoholic parent, creating a life that feels unstable, uncertain, and at times, frightening.

The narrative shines in its portrayal of how adults don’t always make the right choices, but it also emphasizes the importance of having a support system. Friends, teachers, and counselors play a pivotal role in offering hope and guidance when times get tough.

The artwork, with its bright and charming style, adds an appealing contrast to the serious themes and is sure to captivate fans of middle school graphic novels.

Genres/Themes: Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes - Friendship / Social Themes - Emotions & Feelings / Comics & Graphic Novels

"Band Nerd" is scheduled for publication on April 22, 2025, by HarperCollins Children's Books.

Genuinely did not expect to tear up over a graphic novel about a band nerd, but here we are! Band Nerd by Sarah Clawson Willis is about Lucy, a 7th grade flute player who is starting at a new school. While Lucy work to be first chair she is also struggling in math, trying to make new friends, and dealing with a difficult home life. Her father is currently unemployed and is struggling with alcohol abuse. Home has become unstable, unsecure, and a bit scary when her parents fight. As Lucy puts more focus on flute and being first chair the stress begins to weigh on her and she starts to crack. This book deals with some real life heavy issues but is handed with care. I felt so much more than I expected while reading this and Lucy is a character that is easy to love and empathize with.

In this coming-of-age graphic novel, Lucy is dealing with a lot because she’s moved to a new school and wants to be first chair in band, her parents still argue a lot due due to dad’s drinking, and Lucy wonders if she will make new friends. As Lucy finds her grades going down she thinks maybe she doesn’t belong at this school. When Lucy finds out Tolli also wants to be first chair, Lucy does something that gets her in trouble. What does Lucy do? Who ends up getting first chair?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was fun but also hard read. I personally don’t know anyone going through this but it was so hard to read it I can’t imagine having to live in it. I’m kind of glad that everything was resolved in the end but getting there was a little infuriating since I just wanted them to see how much stress they were adding onto their daughter and how much this situation hurts the kids. Kids are so observant so trying to keep things from them or even trying to hide things from them they still notice those things and you can only do so much. Plus letting them start to believe they aren’t good enough or that their failures are bigger than their achievements is so damaging not just to them but to their confidence and mental health.. They’ll start to believe that nothing they do is good enough for anyone. It was just so hard seeing her crumble from getting second chair and then eventually becoming so obsessed with getting first and losing friends over it.

I loved that the book showed that other students were struggling to. We just never know who is going thru hard times and going through it in silence. The writing and illustrations really did a great job showing the beauty and pain of what someone is going through. It felt so real and jarring.

This look into a middle schooler's family life dealing with an alcoholic father is impactful! I felt SO much for Lucy. It's a great story that illustrates how teachers (and guidance counselors) can be a safe space for middle schoolers who are going through rough times.

This is the perfect read for middle schoolers about grief/trauma! Lucy is a very loveable character whose father is an alcoholic. She loves music and her struggling parents, while dealing with their own troubles, try to support her. Definitely recommend.

Band Nerd is a middle grade novel perfect for younger audience exploring themes of grief, friendship and trauma. When middle schooler Lucy gets accepted into an exclusive arts school, she needs to manage getting good grades, friendships, family life, and most importantly, getting first chair flute in band. But when things get tricky with both her dad's alcoholism and her friend group, Lucy needs to figure out how she will get through 7th grade.

I think this graphic novel for middle schooler covers difficult topics such as alcoholism, divorce, and rivalry in a way that is both appropriate for and able to be understood by middle schoolers. Lucy's parents are struggling with their own issues, and Lucy needs to find a way to support her dreams while navigating a tricky home and school life. It shows that adults don't always do the right thing, but also that there are always those willing to help in the form of friends, teachers, and counselors. It also shows how healing the arts can be, as that is the one stable thing in Lucy's life. This book would be great for those going through a hard time, as is often the case in middle school.

The artwork was very bright and cute and would definitely appeal to the target audience. I felt like the story flew by and was completely engaged the entire time. I highly recommend this story for the middle grade audience!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.