Don't Blame the Music

By Caroline B. Cooney

Book Overview

When Susan's burnt-out rock star sister Ashley returns home after a three-year silence, the family begins the near impossible task of welcoming this bitter and abusive woman back into the family. . . . Cooney meshes universal feelings with an extraordinary situation to produce a compelling and poignant story . . .--School Library Journal.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0448477785
• ISBN13: 9780448477787
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Price Stern Sloan
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 5.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

I blame the publisher

for making this book so hard to find. It was a great read, funny, thoughtful, and unique, and yet, it has disappeared from my library and is unavailable in my local bookstore. All I want is to re-read the story, and can I do this? Can I re-read Susan's realistic dealings with snobs and A-boys and losers (who just might not be)? Can I once again feel the pain and terror and sadness involved with having a sister like Ashley, burned out and destructive and volatile? Can I indulge again in the great romantic scene between Susan and *cough* the guy who she has a romance with? NO, I can't, because some stupid publisher decided to stop printing this excellent book and now it is impossible to get ahold of. As sad as this may be for me, however, it is sadder for those who have never had the chance to read the book at all. Make More Copies!!!!

Definitely Don't Blame the Music

A Review by CarrieSeventeen year-old Susan Hall is excited about her senior year in high school. She is the music editor for the schools yearbook. Susan has the biggest crush on a boy names Anthony, but she has some competition with the chief editor of the yearbook, Shepherd. When everything is going fine for Susan an unsuspected visit from her twenty-five year-old sister, Ashley, turns everything upside-down. Ashley holds a grudge against the family because she was going to be a famous rock star, but everything went wrong and she failed at success. Susan came up with a great idea for the yearbook so she has to ask her scary classmate Whit for help. When Susan starts to talk to Whit she realizes he is not a bad guy at all, and she develops a crush on him. Things at home are not going good for Susan though, Ashley keeps ruining things, and she even tries to kill Susan.I like how the story has a twist at the end. It is a very happy ending too. Everything leads up to the climax perfectly. It is a very fast read. Even if you don't have a psychotic sister you can find something to relate to in the story. Like trying to make things better in your family or trying to impress a guy at school, you can somehow relate.I recommend this book to mostly girl teenagers that like to read about the everyday feelings that we encounter. Also I recommend this book to people that like to read about family issues and people that like happy endings.

An Enjoyable Read

I read this book years ago when I was 14 years old and wish it were still in print! The characters are believable and the plot draws the reader into the story. A must read for any teenager!

This book was really great!

I enjoy almost all of Caroline B. Conney's work, and I must say, this book was one of her best. It is written in the first person by a girl who's older sister returns home on her 25th birthday. Her sister creates a crisis in the family by controling her parent with crazy antics. While the narrorator is having a great emotional struggle at home, she is trying to sort out feelings for two different guys at school. This story has a great ending. I definately recommend this book as well as the rest of Conney's work. Although this book is out of print now, it is probably available at your local library.

Coming of age in a dysfunctional family

This is one of the best "social commentary" books I have ever read. I have wanted to use it with my 8th graders for several years, but it has never been available at an affordable price. The book deals with coming of age, consequences of decisions, family dysfunction, and family loyalty. Readers will sympathize with the protagonist who must deal with her rebellious older sibling coming home and stealing the family attention, albeit in a negative way. This book will also connect with any young adult who has tried to be the "family hero," but resents the attention that more "flambuoyant" family members receive. This is an example of Carolyn Cooney's early quality writing before she became caught up in the "R.L. Stine syndrome."