National Indie Excellence Award Finalist 2019
Ella is sixteen and her ex-hippie parents are getting a divorce. Reluctantly, she is headed to a boarding school on a remote ranch where things are so rustic that she is required to chop her own firewood just to have hot water. Surprisingly, the boys are hot there too, and soon Ella's troubles at home are not nearly as compelling as her romantic adventures and the challenging adjustments she faces in her vastly more organic school. On her team is Jenny, a quantumly-altered golden retriever who can communicate like no other dog in the world, and Lenore, her grandfather's old fiddle who provides comfort and needed cosmic guidance. Ella battles loneliness, sadness about her parents' divorce, confusion about sex, a troubled mentor who is not who he seems, and a camping trip that goes incredibly awry. Tragedies and triumphs shape all of us, but especially Ella who, after all her struggles to know herself and fit in, learns that setting free the spirit of someone who means everything to you can be the only way to find true love.
What Editorial Reviewers are saying about The Tunes of Lenore:
One normally does not start at an ending when writing a review, but the last pieces of imagery and the beautiful accompanying illustrations perfectly capped this captivating, creative piece of juvenile fiction. Unique is the author's use of illustrations, and I found myself guessing and anticipating what treasure may be around the next turned page, and how it matched with the text. ★★★★★ HGSR: Great Choice for Young Readers! March 3, 2019
The Tunes of Lenore is a beautiful book encompassing music, physics, dogs, ecology, farming, ranches, mechanics, nature, boarding school, sustainable living, farming, biology, research, and literature. It is a beautifully written book and one that I really enjoyed reading, and I'm sure you would too. ★★★★★ Margaret: It was amazing! Feb 24, 2019
The writing and storytelling grabbed me from page one and I finished it in less than a day. Excellent read that I will remember. I will definitely be looking for other books by J.T. Blossom! The Tunes of Lenore is a fascinating look at the near future from the perspective of a young high school student who is sent to a rustic boarding school in rural California. It explores survival and getting along as well as climate issues, animal rights and care issues, population, and natural resources. ★★★★★ Maggie T. I will remember this one! February 25, 2019
