Thirteen-year-old Alondra was born into a musical family.
Her dad, the former frontman of a famous alt-rock band, expects her and her sisters to follow in his footsteps. The girls have formed their own band, which will open for their dad during his comeback tour.
Despite secretly liking quieter music, Alondra is committed to preparing for the tour. She’ll do whatever it takes: Change the sound of her voice. Suppress her discomfort with some fans’ behavior. Act the part of a hardcore riot grrrl.
But when a classmate invites her to join a choir club, Alondra discovers a new way of making music. Choir lets her express herself in ways that the band doesn’t.
Afraid to upset the delicate balance in her family, Alondra secretly practices with the choir between shows with her sisters’ band―until her secrets are exposed. Will she be forced to choose between her two voices, or can she bring the different parts of her life into harmony?
About the Author :
Ashley Jean Granillo is a Mexican American writer and educator hailing from the San Fernando Valley. She has her BA and MA in creative writing from California State University Northridge and holds her MFA in fiction from the University of California Riverside, Palm Desert. She is also a member of Las Musas, a collective of Latinx authors whose gender identity aligns with femininity. Her short story "Besitos" was featured in Where Monsters Lurk & Magic Hides, a Latine/x short story genre anthology. Her debut middle grade novel, Cruzita and the Mariacheros, was a 2025 Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book.
Review :
"Tackling tough topics like identity, divorce, family conflict, and learning disabilities, this novel is unafraid to confront big issues facing young readers today. For older middle grade readers, this coming-of-age, feminist story will inspire readers to find their own paths."—School Library Journal
"Granillo's lyrical text demonstrates the creative power of music to express new ideas, make meaningful connections, and heal damaged hearts. . . .Choir and band nerds will love this story featuring found families and musical joy."—Booklist
"Warm and funny with strong, realistic characters, Granillo's sophomore novel explores issues including parental conflict and the representation of girls, women, and Latine people in rock. . . An emotional, well-realized story about finding your voice."—Kirkus Reviews
"With more heart than your favorite Dashboard Confessional song, Ashley Jean's Choir Grrrl is a moving, riotous novel with a message about being true to yourself that rings out like a power chord."—Eric Smith, award-winning author of With or Without You and author of Jagged Little Pill
"Prepare to be charmed! As a retired emo girl, I certainly was."—Greta Morgan, author of The Lost Voice
"An ode to dream-chasers and anyone who's ever tried to find their voice in a world full of noise."—Nashae Jones, author of Courtesy of Cupid and As You Wish
"A beautifully written and riotously celebratory ballad about the power of music, sisterhood, and finding your own voice."—Taylor Tracy, Stonewall Honor-winning author of Murray Out of Water
