Have your kleenexes ready; this novel is a bit of a tear-jerker. It's realistic fiction, showing how the greatest skill involves listening.

Told from different points of view, the reader follows the members of a jazz lab club and one, supposed, juvenile delinquent. Cassie, Lily, Jake, Mac, and Nick find the best part of the day with Mr. Lewis learning to play jazz. The point of jazz is to listen to one another and add to the conversation between the instruments. It's a give and take form of music that resembles a conversation. One day they learn that Mr. Lewis has quit. Jake begins to suspect there's a link between Mr. Lewis quitting and the signs saying the school district needs to be more fiscally responsible. Jake's aunt is running for the school board, so he hears more than most. Perhaps the small groups and clubs are being dissolved in order to save money. The Jazz Lab students decide to protest.

spoiler alert--don't read on if you don't want to know.

The book discusses how they being their protest and what they learn. Shockingly, they learn that no one listens. There is no give and take, no conversation. It'll take something more noticeable than a petition. Quag also helps them even though he isn't a member of the musicians. He's just a guy who doesn't pretend. He doesn't have the patience for playing by the rules. He's not a rebel; he just sees to the heart of the matter and simplifies. Each character experiences problems at home that also affects their lives and adds to their desire to have some control and to be heard. Don't think everything will be tied up with a bow at the end. Life isn't that way. We don't know what happens, but we do know they tried. Life marches on, as stories don't always have a pretty ending or even an explanation. As they go forth from this experience, they are different people. This Jazz Lab ends. Their lives don't end, but we don't know what happens with each because you can't plan life. Life throws curve balls and control is often a lie. The best we can do is show up and listen with the intention of responding as humans. ( )

Mac, Jake, Nick, Cassie and Lily are members of Jazz Lab at their middle school, taught by the beloved Mr. Lewis whom they admire for all that he's taught them. When they learn Mr. Lewis is quitting, they believe it's due to budget cuts and that Jazz Lab and other extra-curricular activities are on the chopping block. With the help of Quag, a loner who skates under the radar at school, they mobilize the other students to protest the cuts. It culminates in a dramatic Jazz Lab performance of activism. Quick-paced with short chapters, readers see how each member of the band responds to the situation and grows as a member of their close-knit group. I felt the personalities of the band members weren't as distinctly drawn as Quag's but it's a strong story in terms of portraying youth agency. ( )