Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Happy Book Birthday, Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani with Giveaway!

 The title on this one won me over right away, and I was so excited to get my hands on a copy. I'm not from the Jukebox generation, but I do remember finding them cool whenever we did accidentally see one...and beg my parents to pay for a song. Any song. 

Add time travel and mystery, and how could I not take a peek at this one?



Jukebox
by Nidhi Chanani
First Second/Macmillan
Middle Grade Mystery/Time-Travel







 

Grab some coins for the jukebox, and get ready for a colorful, time-traveling, musical tale about family and courage

A mysterious jukebox, old vinyl records, and cryptic notes on music history, are Shaheen’s only clues to her father’s abrupt disappearance. She looks to her cousin, Tannaz, who seems just as perplexed, before they both turn to the jukebox which starts…glowing?

Suddenly, the girls are pulled from their era and transported to another time! Keyed to the music on the record, the jukebox sends them through decade after decade of music history, from political marches, to landmark concerts. But can they find Shaheen’s dad before the music stops? This time-bending magical mystery tour invites readers to take the ride of their lives for a coming-of-age adventure.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play


MY TIDBITS

Music and time travel mix to create an original and fun graphic novel, great for middle grader readers.

Shaheen's dad has disappeared, and she can only find a few strange things to help her figure out what has happened to him. She teams up with her cousin and discovers that a jukebox not only plays music, but transports them back in time. Every song takes them to a new place, but finding her dad in time will be more than a challenge.

This is a cute, fun graphic novel for middle graders. The illustrations are well done and set each scene...and with all of the historical flipping, they are wonderful ones...perfectly. Energy and excitement ride almost as high as the mystery. Plus, the idea of a jukebox sending people through time according to the songs played is simply tons of fun.

I enjoyed the jumps through time, but even more so, the relationships. The author has built a wonderful bond between daughter and father. It's simply refreshing to see this type of family closeness. Shaheen's relationship with her cousin is also lovely. It simply is a book, which puts family in a high position...and that is nice to see.

This tale flows with a interesting plot and keeps the pace quick all the way through. I did wish that some of the jolts through time had a bit more meaning in the overall plot or character development, and the characters themselves did lack a bit of depth. Still, it's an enjoyable read, which middle graders are sure to enjoy.


And here she is...

Nidhi Chanani was born in Kolkata, India and raised in California. She creates illustrations that capture love in everyday moments which are often featured at Disney Parks. In 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. She’s the author of Pashmina, Shubh Raatri Dost/Good Night Friend, and illustrator of I Will Be Fierce. Nidhi draws and dreams in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kid. everydayloveart.com

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Twitter





GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:
XBTBanner1

2 comments:

Giselle said...

Thanks for hosting today! This sounds like a cute, fun read!

Summer said...

This looks like such a fun read, I love the concept of a jukebox taking them through time/music history.