Books about music for teens

Guitar Girl

Author: Sarra Manning
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 10+

17-year-old Molly and her two friends dream of starting a girl band, but when her dream comes true she's left struggling to remember who she was before she became lead singer of The Hormones.

Rhythm and Poetry

Author: Karl Nova Illustrator: Joseph Witchall
Publisher: Caboodle Books
Interest age: 11-16
Reading age: 11+

The author’s passion for words and music leaps off the page in this stunning, relevant and accessible book from award-winning hip hop poet Karl Nova, which may well inspire readers to pick up a pen or a microphone and have a go at writing.

Rockoholic

Author: C J Skuse
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 10+

Jody finds herself accidentally kidnapping an American rock idol and hiding him in her garage. But he turns out to be nothing like the lover of her dreams...

Drummer Girl

Author: Bridget Tyler
Publisher: Templar
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+

Lucy's all-girl band Crush has won a talent contest, been whisked to LA and played the Hollwood Bowl. Everything should be amazing - but this glamorous world has deadly undercurrents.

Musical Truth

Author: Jeffrey Boakye Illustrator: Ngadi Smart
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

A concise and passionate exploration of Modern Black British history through 28 songs that changed British culture forever.

Accidental Superstar

Author: Marianne Levy
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 11-13
Reading age: 11+

Katie's world feels like a mess: horrid new house, annoying new step-dad, and a mum who just won't listen. Things are weird with her best friend too. Katie's only escape is music and she loves writing her own songs, but then a film of her singing winds up online – and goes viral! Is this Katie's chance to make her dreams of pop stardom come true? Or will it …

Girl vs Boy Band: The Right Track

Author: Harmony Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

When Teddy Reese (school heartthrob) asks Lark to play guitar with him in the talent show, she just can't. It would mean revealing her two biggest secrets: she's a gifted singer-songwriter herself, but also suffers crippling stage-fright.

About This Boy

Author: Leon Rolle and Derek Owusu
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 11-13
Reading age: 11+

Part autobiography and part guide-to-life, Leon “Locksmith” Rolle of the British drum and bass band Rudimental writes about being a teenager, growing up and facing challenges. Looking at his own experiences and teenage years, Leon presents lots of positive advice to readers on how to achieve their dreams and be their best selves.

Leon’s journey to adulthood …

Love on the Main Stage

Author: S. A. Domingo
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 12-14
Reading age: 10+

Nova doesn’t want to fall in love this summer but a cute guitarist at a festival may change her mind.

Slay

Author: Kim Curran
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 12-16
Reading age: 12+

Slay are a successful rock band, but they hide a secret. When off-stage, the band fight demons, who are attacking innocent mortals to take over their bodies. This is a high-action drama with its fair share of blood and gore, but also plenty of humour and heart.

On the Come Up

Author: Angie Thomas
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 12-18
Reading age: 12+

On the Come Up is a classic in the making, an inspiring coming-of-age story that gets right to the heart of what it means to overcome life’s obstacles and the struggle not to become what everyone expects you to be.

Noteworthy

Author: Riley Redgate
Publisher: Amulet
Interest age: 14-18
Reading age: 10+

Presenting herself as Julian, Jordan successfully auditions for an all-male a capella group and is forced to consider what it means to be female, male and, ultimately, herself. A refreshingly complex and entertaining story of self-discovery.

The Lucy Variations

Author: Sara Zarr
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+

Lucy once had a promising future as a concert pianist, but the incessant pressure from her family made her give it all up. Can she learn to love music again - this time on her own terms?

Pop!

Author: Catherine Bruton
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

Elfie wants to change her life forever, so decides to achieve celebrity by entering TV talent contest Pop to the Top, coercing her reluctant friends Agnes and Jimmy to join her.

Songs About a Girl

Author: Chris Russell
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 14-16
Reading age: 12+

The first in a series of three books, Songs About a Girl is for anyone who has wanted to be with the band. The story is fun with a lot of depth to the characters and some great plot twists.

Rock War

Author: Robert Muchamore
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 12+

Teenagers Jay, Summer and Dylan couldn't be much more different, yet they all have something in common - music.

You Don't Know Me

Author: Sophia Bennett
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+

What happens if you betray your best friend in the finals of a TV talent show in front of millions of viewers?

Candypop: Candy and the Broken Biscuits

Author: Lauren Laverne
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+

The story of a girl, a guitar, a guardian angel and a long-lost father. The girl is Candy Caine: in her dreams she's storming Glastonbury; in reality she doesn't even have a band.