02/01/2021
Dali, Denver, and Shak, “three brown girls,” are 17-year-old best friends living in a boring white town, which they dream of someday leaving. Denver feels that music is her destiny, so when R&B megastar Sean “Mercury” Ellis is in town to perform, she and the other two teens act quickly to get his attention. Performing for the musician, the trio soon finds themselves part of his inner circle. Denver believes this is her big break, but things take a sharp turn when Mercury begins to show his controlling nature. Committed to securing a record deal, Denver finds herself willing to do anything, including lying to her mother and ignoring Shak’s warning about Mercury. Accepting the opportunity to live in Atlanta with Mercury, Denver and Dali believe they will soon record their album—only to slowly realize this is merely the beginning of a tumultuous journey of abuse caused by the celebrity singer. Though the novel includes potentially triggering subjects such as sexual assault, it’s an eye-opening narrative that spotlights the uneven power dynamics endemic in the music industry. Ages 12–up. (Feb.)
Praise for Muted:
* "Heart-racing . . . [a] taut and gritty read." -Booklist, starred review
* "Charles’s heartbreaking novel in verse shows the harsh realities of the music industry." -School Library Journal, starred review
"Catapults [readers] toward a breathless, satisfying conclusion." -The Horn Book
"Highly-anticipated . . . Groundbreaking." -Entertainment Weekly
"One of those books that when you finish, you stare at it for a little bit and need a moment before you can do other things – it is that good." -Buzzfeed
"Muted blends the music of beautiful poetry with a powerful and relevant message. A stunning book." -Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree and Young People's Poet Laureate Emeritus
"A captivating and unflinching view into the dark corners of the music industry where souls are crushed in the silence between songs." -Lamar Giles, author of Spin and Not So Pure and Simple
"An intense ride that unfolds lyrically, Muted is thrumming with emotion, tension and, most of all, heart. A heart-pounding page-turner, from start to finish." -Debbie Rigaud, New York Times bestselling author of Truly Madly Royally and co-author of the Hope series
"Mesmerizing! Raw and honest, Charles captures the voice of a bright young star trapped between a dream and a nightmare in this devastatingly beautiful novel-in-verse — a page-turning lyrical journey!" -Kim Johnson, best-selling author of This Is My America
★ 02/01/2021
Gr 10 Up—Haitian American 17-year-old Denver and her friends Dalisay, who is Dominican, and Shakira, who is Black, are a local Shohola Falls, PA, R & B group called Angelic Voices. When they are noticed by popular singer and producer Sean "Mercury" Ellis, their world, which looks bright and promising, becomes full of deceit and isolation. Charles's heartbreaking novel in verse shows the harsh realities of the music industry and runs parallel to the real-life #MuteRKelly and #MeToo movements. Denver's first-person narration is completely believable. She is an honest and reflective character who often thinks about her choices and how she is doing the best she can with what she knows. Denver shares insight to her family life, her love of music, and also her secret love and adoration for Dalisay that is hidden from her family and Shakira. Denver's voice is unique, delicate, and written from the point of view of a relatable teen girl who struggles with her identity. Readers are advised of themes that may be triggering such as "rape, eating disorders, abuse, manipulation, and divorce." These themes are worth exploring and may teach readers that these tragedies can happen to anyone. The book also shows the importance of having a trusted adult to talk to and the warning signs of manipulation. VERDICT Hand this to fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Tiffany D. Jackson.—Kharissa Kenner, Bank Street Sch. for Children, New York City
This must-listen is narrated by the author, who drew from her own experience in an all-girl R&B group to tell the harrowing story of three teenage girls’ attempt to make it big in the music industry. Denver and her BFFs, Dali and Shak, are confident they’ve found their big break when they meet Merc, a huge R&B star who acts as their mentor. But when Merc monitors everything they do and won’t let them contact anyone outside their world, Denver wonders if this is the price of stardom or something else entirely. This novel in verse is periodically interspersed with Denver’s original music, and listeners will be enraptured by Charles’s fluid performance of the poetry, her gorgeous voice, and her powerful songs. S.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
This must-listen is narrated by the author, who drew from her own experience in an all-girl R&B group to tell the harrowing story of three teenage girls’ attempt to make it big in the music industry. Denver and her BFFs, Dali and Shak, are confident they’ve found their big break when they meet Merc, a huge R&B star who acts as their mentor. But when Merc monitors everything they do and won’t let them contact anyone outside their world, Denver wonders if this is the price of stardom or something else entirely. This novel in verse is periodically interspersed with Denver’s original music, and listeners will be enraptured by Charles’s fluid performance of the poetry, her gorgeous voice, and her powerful songs. S.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
2020-11-24
Denver Lafleur, along with friends Shak and Dali, is out to achieve her dreams while being pulled into the dark side of the music industry by a conniving, exploitative, male R&B superstar.
Readers are introduced to the wonderful harmonies of these three girls of color as they win $50 at a Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, corn festival. They hold on to each other, their love for music a refuge from the racial tensions of their mostly White home, far away from Denver’s Brooklyn roots. They know all too well that they are bigger than this place and, after sneaking off to Newark, manage a chance meeting with king of R&B Sean “Mercury” Ellis. Merc notices their talent and provides a platform for them to reach an audience, but red flags appear, pointing to his controlling behaviors. Something more sinister is at play, and with the teenage girls away from familial support in Merc’s world, who will protect them? Charles, herself a former young R&B artist, draws upon themes from the still-unfolding criminal investigation of R. Kelly. The powerful, smoothly flowing text will drive readers to seriously challenge the societal vulnerabilities and toxic ideologies that leave girls of color open to sexual violence and harm. Themes of friendship, family, cultural inheritance, and taking a stand are strong throughout.
This novel ripped from the headlines is a necessary reckoning that amplifies the voices of Black and brown girls. (Verse novel. 12-18)
