DRUMMING UP LOVE
Finding the rhythm of friendship when ambition and young love collide
- Child Books
- Young Adult
- Literary Fiction
Eighth-grader Ethan Brooks has always kept the beat—whether setting the pace on the track or anchoring the rhythm section in the school band. When his strong academic record earns him an unexpected nomination for class president, his best friend instantly launches a high-stakes campaign to win at all costs. There is just one problem: Maya Lin is running too. Maya is brilliant, passionate about saving the arts, and the girl Ethan has secretly admired for months. As the race heats up, ruthless campaign tactics and rising tensions drive an agonizing wedge between them. Their friendly practice room duets turn sour, and a painful misunderstanding threatens to silence their connection for good. Torn between the pressure to win and the desire to stay close to Maya, Ethan turns to the quiet sanctuary of the piano keys. To repair the rift, he must discover what true leadership looks like and realize that some victories are only meaningful when shared. An uplifting, heartwarming story about ambition, first love, and the courage it takes to find real harmony.