"How do you take all this messy stuff inside and turn it into something good?"

I think that's a question that plagues alot of young teens these days. Leo and the Magic Guitar is a story that follows 13-year old Leo through the trials and tribulations of being a teen as he learns to find his voice with the help of his guitar and music. And since I have a 13-year old son who loves to play his guitar, I took this opportunity to read this book with him.

Leo, like many teens, is suddenly faced with a lot of challenges and obstacles that hit him all at once. And like most teens, he doesn't quite understand how to process all of those emotions or face them. His uncle sends him this magical guitar that brings out legendary rock musicians to guide Leo through this journey with music.

"Remember, music isn't just about notes on a page. It's the language of the soul. Let the music guide you."

One of the biggest challenges Leo has to face is a bully, Derek who is relentless on torturing him. Bullying is a big issue kids of all ages face today. And in this story, Leo has to learn how to deal with his nemesis without just using his fists. He also learns that more often than not we have more in common than what separates us.

"Their music wasn't just songs; it was a way to fight back. Leo wanted to take that same spirit an make it his own, using his guitar to stand up and speak the truth."

This is a great read for middle school kids. The language is appropriate (which as a mom is a big deal for me. Too many books have curse words and that is not the example I want set for my son). There are several important lessons kids can learn from in this story. And what boy doesn't dream of being a rock star one day??!!

My thanks to Tsvi Jolles, Brave Fawn Books publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the premise of this middle-grade book: Leo, a 13-year-old boy, receives from his uncle a magical guitar that allows him to speak with musical legends. These musical legends help him navigate life's challenges, including dealing with his dad's passing and his mom's recent unemployment, supporting his friend whose parents are getting a divorce, and dealing with bullies at school. Jolles' writing is incredibly evocative, particularly when describing the atmosphere and creating an almost-magical world, but I found the plot and dialogue a bit lacking, unfortunately. I would've loved to see a deeper exploration of some of the relationships between the characters, and there were some characterizations of Leo's budding relationship with classmate Tammy that I didn't love. However, I think middle-grade readers will relate to some of the challenges Leo faces, and I appreciated the celebration of Colombian culture. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really sweet story about a young teen coping with loss through his music and guitar. I loved Leo's connection with his mum and best friend, it made the story feel really special and I liked the inclusion of Spanish culture. A really nice, cozy read, perfect for when the day has been a bit lackluster and you need a pick me up.

Leo loves music, but when he gets a magical electric guitar from his Tio, he finds that he can play even better than before, and bring up the spirits of artists of the past as well as the present.

And while this is all going on, he is being bullied, but he also has his best friend on his side, full of encouragement to lay in the Christmas showcase.

This book should come with a playlist, there are so many songs that are referred to. In fact, I found myself humming them, as the characters in the book spoke about them. Some of the artists that visit him, include BB King, John Lenon, Taylor Swift and Prince.

Most enjoyable. I liked how the bully was treated, that things weren’t all black and white, and there were shades in between as to why he bullies.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is out now, though I did read it as an arc. (advanced reader copy)

This is a magical and engaging read. The weaving of music and language into the story feels natural for the story being told. I would have loved to see more exploration of character relationships among the students.