Five Flavors of Dumb

WINNER OF THE SCHNEIDER BOOK AWARD • From the acclaimed author of the Elemental series comes a rock n’ roll coming-of-age story where a young teen is determined to successfully manage her high school’s hottest new rock band. The only minor hiccup is . . . well, she’s deaf.

“Hilarious and so smart. . . . proves that everyone, no matter what, deserves to be heard.”—Catherine Gilbert Murdoch, author of Dairy Queen

“Chart-topping potential.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Eighteen-year-old Piper has gotten herself into a mess. Because of her big mouth, she has one month to get a paying gig for her high school’s hottest new rock band, Dumb. In Piper’s mind, the band couldn’t have a more perfect name. Just look at the members: one egomaniacal pretty boy, one silent rocker, one talentless piece of eye candy, one angry girl, and one nerd-boy drummer—five discordant personalities who, when put together, seem ready to self-destruct at any moment. Getting them an actual gig seems impossible. Add to that the fact that Piper doesn’t know if their music is good or not, because, well, she’s deaf.

But Piper is determined to get the band a gig to show her classmates that being deaf doesn’t mean she’s invisible. And as she gets to know the five flavors of Dumb, some hidden talents, secret crushes, and crazy rock music emerge. She doesn’t need to hear the music to sell it, but Piper wants the chance to feel the music too. Does she have what it takes to manage Dumb and discover her own inner rock star?