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mckinlay's review
5.0
[4.5 stars] I loved this book so, so much! It's such an amazing exploration on gender. I love that Jordan was constantly questioning her choice, and how that intruded on the trans space, and that she recognized that. It was also a fantastic look at poverty, something i feel like has never truly been explored in this way. I've read many books about students at rich schools, who come from poor households, and none of them went as in depth about what it's really like, until this one. This book also actually mentions a period. A PERIOD! should this be surprising? no. but it is! It was seriously just so good. Diverse in race and sexuality. Amazing read. The only reason a took off half a star is because I thought the songs in the book were pretty shitty. But that's really my only issue! Highly recommend!
whitreadslit's review
4.0
I got Noteworthy unexpectedly early on the Libby app, so I scrambled to get it read quickly. This was another book that had a bit of a slow start, but by the end I was really enjoying it! Jordan was such a fun character. I really enjoyed getting to watch her grow and figure out who she really was. Anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Pitch Perfect, then this is the feel good summer read for you! (4 Stars)
lesbrary's review
4.0
Absorbing, nuanced read.
It's interesting to read a crossdressing narrative that addresses the queer subtext. Jordan isn't trans or genderqueer, but the story acknowledges the existence of trans people, which honestly, is a first for me in a crossdressing narrative.
Jordan is bisexual, but that's a pretty small part of the story. There is no F/F romance in this (though there is a kiss), and the romance with a guy is only when he knows she is a girl.
As for the story itself, I was totally drawn into it. Jordan's double life, the arts academy environment, and the world of a capella was all fascinating. Add to that Jordan's struggle to fit into an elite private school on a scholarship while her family struggles to make rent as well as an ever-more-vicious rivalry with another a capella group, and I was hooked.
I will say that I felt like some of the members of the Sharpshooters blended together for me—only a few felt like fleshed out characters. I did really love Nihal and Jordan's relationship with him, though.
Overall: fun and engaging!
It's interesting to read a crossdressing narrative that addresses the queer subtext. Jordan isn't trans or genderqueer, but the story acknowledges the existence of trans people, which honestly, is a first for me in a crossdressing narrative.
Jordan is bisexual, but that's a pretty small part of the story. There is no F/F romance in this (though there is a kiss), and the romance with a guy is only when he knows she is a girl.
As for the story itself, I was totally drawn into it. Jordan's double life, the arts academy environment, and the world of a capella was all fascinating. Add to that Jordan's struggle to fit into an elite private school on a scholarship while her family struggles to make rent as well as an ever-more-vicious rivalry with another a capella group, and I was hooked.
I will say that I felt like some of the members of the Sharpshooters blended together for me—only a few felt like fleshed out characters. I did really love Nihal and Jordan's relationship with him, though.
Overall: fun and engaging!
kbrownreads's review
5.0
While the storyline in the book was interesting, what struck me the most was the way Redgate interwove questions about sexuality, what it means to be a girl (or a boy or somewhere in between), and poverty in this country. The questions, while probably unanswerable, were thought provoking and will stick with me for a long time.
rokinkrys56's review
5.0
Oh man guys this book is so good!
A Chinese cis gendered female dressed up as a guy to sing with an all males group. She discovers her own bi sexuality while discussing gay culture and trans culture. They also talk like real teen talk. Honestly I was amazed and happy with the way they spoke it felt so real. I loved it and can't wait for the world to read this book!
A Chinese cis gendered female dressed up as a guy to sing with an all males group. She discovers her own bi sexuality while discussing gay culture and trans culture. They also talk like real teen talk. Honestly I was amazed and happy with the way they spoke it felt so real. I loved it and can't wait for the world to read this book!
hellomadalyn's review
5.0
This review originally appeared on Novel Ink.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know those occasional books you go into with a ~feeling~ about? Those books you just know you’re going to love, even before you’ve read a single page? Well, friends, Noteworthy was that book for me, and I am happy to report that it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it blew my (already-high) expectations out of the water! I mean, a bisexual MC + cross-dressing + a capella choir + boarding school setting?! Yeah, no wonder this was the book of my dreams.
Obviously, being the choir nerd that I am, I adored the plot of Noteworthy immensely. Jordan Sun, a junior at the prestigious Kensington-Blaine Academy (an arts school), runs out of options when she isn’t cast in the school musical. So, with nothing left to lose, she decides to audition for the vacant Tenor I spot in Kensington’s oldest and most reputable a capella group, the Sharpshooters. The only problem? The group is historically all-male. Hilarity and heart ensue when Jordan (or shall I say Julian?) gets into the group and begins to find her place. The plot is fairly straightforward and could easily have fallen flat, but Redgate writes it so well.
In addition to its super fun premise, Noteworthy features one of the most lovable casts of characters I have ever read. I absolutely fell in love with every single one of the boys in the Sharpshooters, and I loved reading about Jordan’s newfound friendships with each of them. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I adored Mama the most out of all the Sharps– his love of Haydn, Handel, and his general classical music/music theory nerdiness were waaaaaay too relatable. I also loved his friendship with Jon Cox– yay for close dude friendships! Ugh, all the friendships among the guys in the Sharps made my heart melt. They were always looking out for each other.
Noteworthy is, in large part, a love letter to a capella. I loved seeing Jordan find her place and find *her people* through becoming a member of the Sharps. Reading about her falling in love with a capella was almost like reading a romance in and of itself (one that I could relate to a whole lot). The world of a capella– and of choir in general– was portrayed incredibly well, too. Redgate perfectly captured such specific feelings I have experienced time and time again singing in choral ensembles: the feeling of nailing an incredibly difficult passage for the first time and finally hearing it click into place with the other parts, the rush of adrenaline that takes over before a high-profile performance, the way singing with other people forms bonds stronger than almost any other art form can. I liked the rivalry between the a capella groups on Kensington’s campus, too– so fun to read about. Oh, and I adored the setting. I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I’m a sucker for boarding school settings, especially ones where school/campus life plays a major role in the story, and Noteworthy did not disappoint on this front.
Another huge reason I adore this book so much is for its representation. Not only is Jordan Asian-American, but her family also struggles financially, and the book explores the idea of privilege in an economic context (in addition to privilege in relation to race, sexuality, gender, and disability), which is something I haven’t read about too often in YA. Oh, and of course, Jordan is also bisexual and coming to terms with her sexuality. She struggles over the course of the book with her attractions, and with labeling herself. As a bisexual woman myself, this was arguably some of the best bi representation I’ve ever read. It felt disturbingly close to my own experiences. It’s brilliant in that it’s left open-ended– Jordan is still figuring out her sexuality, and she’s okay with the fact that she doesn’t know everything yet. As expected Noteworthy also makes some A+ commentary on gender.
Noteworthy originally drew me in with the promise of bisexual rep and a plot involving a capella, and though of course I adored those elements of the book, I ended up becoming enchanted with every single element of this book. I found myself falling deeply in love with each and every character and feeling so invested in the trajectory of the story. If I had to pick one single book of my heart, Noteworthy would be it. I only wish this had found its way to me while I was in high school. This is the book that high-school-choir-nerd-Madalyn-struggling-with-her-sexuality desperately needed, but hey, out-college-music-major-Madalyn adored it just as much, too. 🙂 All in all, Noteworthy is a book you do not want to sleep on. It will give you all the happy feelings. Run, don’t walk, and go preorder it ASAP!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
You know those occasional books you go into with a ~feeling~ about? Those books you just know you’re going to love, even before you’ve read a single page? Well, friends, Noteworthy was that book for me, and I am happy to report that it didn’t disappoint. In fact, it blew my (already-high) expectations out of the water! I mean, a bisexual MC + cross-dressing + a capella choir + boarding school setting?! Yeah, no wonder this was the book of my dreams.
Obviously, being the choir nerd that I am, I adored the plot of Noteworthy immensely. Jordan Sun, a junior at the prestigious Kensington-Blaine Academy (an arts school), runs out of options when she isn’t cast in the school musical. So, with nothing left to lose, she decides to audition for the vacant Tenor I spot in Kensington’s oldest and most reputable a capella group, the Sharpshooters. The only problem? The group is historically all-male. Hilarity and heart ensue when Jordan (or shall I say Julian?) gets into the group and begins to find her place. The plot is fairly straightforward and could easily have fallen flat, but Redgate writes it so well.
In addition to its super fun premise, Noteworthy features one of the most lovable casts of characters I have ever read. I absolutely fell in love with every single one of the boys in the Sharpshooters, and I loved reading about Jordan’s newfound friendships with each of them. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I adored Mama the most out of all the Sharps– his love of Haydn, Handel, and his general classical music/music theory nerdiness were waaaaaay too relatable. I also loved his friendship with Jon Cox– yay for close dude friendships! Ugh, all the friendships among the guys in the Sharps made my heart melt. They were always looking out for each other.
Noteworthy is, in large part, a love letter to a capella. I loved seeing Jordan find her place and find *her people* through becoming a member of the Sharps. Reading about her falling in love with a capella was almost like reading a romance in and of itself (one that I could relate to a whole lot). The world of a capella– and of choir in general– was portrayed incredibly well, too. Redgate perfectly captured such specific feelings I have experienced time and time again singing in choral ensembles: the feeling of nailing an incredibly difficult passage for the first time and finally hearing it click into place with the other parts, the rush of adrenaline that takes over before a high-profile performance, the way singing with other people forms bonds stronger than almost any other art form can. I liked the rivalry between the a capella groups on Kensington’s campus, too– so fun to read about. Oh, and I adored the setting. I’ve mentioned before on the blog that I’m a sucker for boarding school settings, especially ones where school/campus life plays a major role in the story, and Noteworthy did not disappoint on this front.
Another huge reason I adore this book so much is for its representation. Not only is Jordan Asian-American, but her family also struggles financially, and the book explores the idea of privilege in an economic context (in addition to privilege in relation to race, sexuality, gender, and disability), which is something I haven’t read about too often in YA. Oh, and of course, Jordan is also bisexual and coming to terms with her sexuality. She struggles over the course of the book with her attractions, and with labeling herself. As a bisexual woman myself, this was arguably some of the best bi representation I’ve ever read. It felt disturbingly close to my own experiences. It’s brilliant in that it’s left open-ended– Jordan is still figuring out her sexuality, and she’s okay with the fact that she doesn’t know everything yet. As expected Noteworthy also makes some A+ commentary on gender.
Noteworthy originally drew me in with the promise of bisexual rep and a plot involving a capella, and though of course I adored those elements of the book, I ended up becoming enchanted with every single element of this book. I found myself falling deeply in love with each and every character and feeling so invested in the trajectory of the story. If I had to pick one single book of my heart, Noteworthy would be it. I only wish this had found its way to me while I was in high school. This is the book that high-school-choir-nerd-Madalyn-struggling-with-her-sexuality desperately needed, but hey, out-college-music-major-Madalyn adored it just as much, too. 🙂 All in all, Noteworthy is a book you do not want to sleep on. It will give you all the happy feelings. Run, don’t walk, and go preorder it ASAP!
bluebeereads's review
4.0
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
I have to admit, I kind of feel stupid now. Because when this author's debut was released, it had a lot of positive buzz, and it still does, but I never picked it up. For some reason. Which right now completely escapes me. Because honestly, I should have read it already. No doubt, upon finishing Noteworthy, I am certain I will push it up on my endless TBR and try to actually fix that mistake by the end of the year. Because Noteworthy was an extremely enjoyable and wonderfully diverse read that left me with a big, satisfied smile on my face. I hear that's a positive reaction to a book.
Noteworthy is about Jordan Sun, who's at the start of her junior year at Kensington Blain Boarding School for Performing Arts. As an Alto 2, she struggles to get parts in plays. Voices like hers aren't very popular in the musical theatre world so she's not very surprised when she's not chosen for the fall musical for the third year in a row. Then a spot opens up in the school's most worshiped, revered... and all-male a cappella group the Sharpshooters. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan transforms herself into a boy and auditions for them, not really imagining how much her life will change once she actually gets in.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. Not just because of the music theme and the a cappella stuff, but also because of the diversity. Jordan's self-discovery and the exploration of gender are handled with such care and respect in this book and it's executed beautifully. I feel like I should mention that right off the bat because it's one of the best things in this book and it's worth reading just for that. But obviously there's a lot more to enjoy than just that. I just wanted to get that out of the way first.
The writing was also really my style. It was very easy and quick to read but still had lots of depth to it. And banter! So much lovely banter. The characters really make this book so much more wonderful and I loved the friendship between the Sharpshooters. Though I would've loved to get to know some of them better? I feel like we only got to know some of them a bit better and the others just enough to make them somewhat developed. Don't get me wrong, none of them were flat pancakes. I just wanted to get to know them better because all the characters were all so unique and likable that I wanted more of them. I want each of them to have their own book, even. Because I loved Trav, Nihal, Isaac, Mama, Jon Cox, Eric and Marcus. All of them. I also loved our MC Jordan. I found myself relating to her sometimes too. Which is always nice, of course.
So why am I not giving it 5 stars? Well... It's hard to pinpoint an exact reason? Except maybe that towards the end I found it... wrapping up a bit too easily? To say it without spoilers. I just can't get myself to say more than that "I really enjoyed it". I wish I could say I loved the pants off this book, but I just didn't. I just... really enjoyed it a lot. Though I wish I loved it.
All in all, Noteworthy is a beautifully diverse book about friendship, self-discovery and music. I highly recommend it if you're a YA Contemporary fan but also if you like movies like Pitch Perfect. Obviously. You know that comparison was coming. Now go forth and read.
I have to admit, I kind of feel stupid now. Because when this author's debut was released, it had a lot of positive buzz, and it still does, but I never picked it up. For some reason. Which right now completely escapes me. Because honestly, I should have read it already. No doubt, upon finishing Noteworthy, I am certain I will push it up on my endless TBR and try to actually fix that mistake by the end of the year. Because Noteworthy was an extremely enjoyable and wonderfully diverse read that left me with a big, satisfied smile on my face. I hear that's a positive reaction to a book.
Noteworthy is about Jordan Sun, who's at the start of her junior year at Kensington Blain Boarding School for Performing Arts. As an Alto 2, she struggles to get parts in plays. Voices like hers aren't very popular in the musical theatre world so she's not very surprised when she's not chosen for the fall musical for the third year in a row. Then a spot opens up in the school's most worshiped, revered... and all-male a cappella group the Sharpshooters. Desperate to prove herself, Jordan transforms herself into a boy and auditions for them, not really imagining how much her life will change once she actually gets in.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. Not just because of the music theme and the a cappella stuff, but also because of the diversity. Jordan's self-discovery and the exploration of gender are handled with such care and respect in this book and it's executed beautifully. I feel like I should mention that right off the bat because it's one of the best things in this book and it's worth reading just for that. But obviously there's a lot more to enjoy than just that. I just wanted to get that out of the way first.
The writing was also really my style. It was very easy and quick to read but still had lots of depth to it. And banter! So much lovely banter. The characters really make this book so much more wonderful and I loved the friendship between the Sharpshooters. Though I would've loved to get to know some of them better? I feel like we only got to know some of them a bit better and the others just enough to make them somewhat developed. Don't get me wrong, none of them were flat pancakes. I just wanted to get to know them better because all the characters were all so unique and likable that I wanted more of them. I want each of them to have their own book, even. Because I loved Trav, Nihal, Isaac, Mama, Jon Cox, Eric and Marcus. All of them. I also loved our MC Jordan. I found myself relating to her sometimes too. Which is always nice, of course.
So why am I not giving it 5 stars? Well... It's hard to pinpoint an exact reason? Except maybe that towards the end I found it... wrapping up a bit too easily? To say it without spoilers. I just can't get myself to say more than that "I really enjoyed it". I wish I could say I loved the pants off this book, but I just didn't. I just... really enjoyed it a lot. Though I wish I loved it.
All in all, Noteworthy is a beautifully diverse book about friendship, self-discovery and music. I highly recommend it if you're a YA Contemporary fan but also if you like movies like Pitch Perfect. Obviously. You know that comparison was coming. Now go forth and read.
kamome_reads's review
3.0
Okay, so it's a good book, but it felt a little like a fanfiction. I kept getting this feeling as I went on. I expected more depth from this novel given the heroine's dilemma. It could have been better if it involved something richer than just highschool kind of rivalry and pranks.
rmpenny247's review
4.0
This story was really good. The characters were well developed and all mattered. The diversity in the book wasn't just shoved in there so that could be one of the plugs of the books, and it just had a great theme of accepting others and being kind to everyone. It just took me a bit of time to actively get into the story. This is a great story of finding oneself and dealing with things life throws at you unexpectedly.
abbypneal's review
4.0
I was so surprised by this book. I thought it would drag and be something I wasn't interested in at all, but I ended up really liking it!
The good:
-The first line. I just have to reference this here because it's probably one of the best first lines I've ever read.
-The characters. Man, these characters. They all felt so fleshed out, and even though we have 8 members of an a capella group to keep straight they all stood out as individuals enough to where I felt like I knew a lot about all of them (ex. my sweet political child Marcus, the regrettable likely Republican Erik, Trav the fantastic musical genius, Nihal, my everything, who I will mention later).
-Pretty realistic depiction of casual sexism. There are a few scenes where the Sharpshooters are talking and we notice the casually sexist language that pervades their speech, and it's a really good insight into how these things are harmful. On the other hand, there was really no change in the guys' attitudes so that was disappointing.
-The Victoria arc was great and that's all I'm going to say bc spoilers.
-The acknowledgement of the fact that this book gets a bit sketch in terms of gender identity? There's a scene where Jordan makes the realization that where she's doing this as kind of a costume there are people who use some of her same methods to try to pass as their actual gender and I think Riley Redgate did a good job of not just ignoring this obvious questionable point.
-Fun- this book was just a lot of fun. Boarding school settings to me are either way underdeveloped or start getting too culty, but the whole atmosphere of this book was great. All the hijinks and humor and group messages were so much fun.
-Acknowledgement of class differences! The cycle of being poor! Financial aid packages being awful! In too many books where characters are on financial aid there is literally no mention of the fact that financial aid never covers every expense, and Noteworthy did a great job of exploring this reality.
-Periods. That's all I need to say.
The really good:
-NIHAL
-I loved him so much
-Everything about him
-His nature documentary voice
-He is so smart and good at art love him
-So pure
-Always does the right thing
-Gr9 friend
-Such a realistic spectrum of emotions- he reacts to things so humanly it's great
-I just love him 10/10
The less good:
-I had a really hard time suspending my disbelief here that no one would cross-reference anything and realize that the name Jordan uses to join the Sharpshooters is a nonexistent student. Even in my public school extracurriculars that went through the school had to have a list of names, that way the school could make sure you were eligible to participate. No one did this here, and I found that really hard to believe.
-I didn't care about the romance but that's just me with romance tbh.
-I felt like there was a slight lack of resolution for some of the plot points. We got a little, but some felt rushed.
-The ending was kind of a big deux ex machina. It was good and I freaked out for all of it but there were 2 big things that were pretty unlikely and kind of came from nowhere.
Although I had those problems I did (obviously) really enjoy this book, which is significant because I rarely rate contemporaries higher than 3 stars. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly for the fantastic characters, engaging plot, realistic depiction of teenagers, and, of course, diverse cast of characters!
The good:
-The first line. I just have to reference this here because it's probably one of the best first lines I've ever read.
-The characters. Man, these characters. They all felt so fleshed out, and even though we have 8 members of an a capella group to keep straight they all stood out as individuals enough to where I felt like I knew a lot about all of them (ex. my sweet political child Marcus, the regrettable likely Republican Erik, Trav the fantastic musical genius, Nihal, my everything, who I will mention later).
-Pretty realistic depiction of casual sexism. There are a few scenes where the Sharpshooters are talking and we notice the casually sexist language that pervades their speech, and it's a really good insight into how these things are harmful. On the other hand, there was really no change in the guys' attitudes so that was disappointing.
-The Victoria arc was great and that's all I'm going to say bc spoilers.
-The acknowledgement of the fact that this book gets a bit sketch in terms of gender identity? There's a scene where Jordan makes the realization that where she's doing this as kind of a costume there are people who use some of her same methods to try to pass as their actual gender and I think Riley Redgate did a good job of not just ignoring this obvious questionable point.
-Fun- this book was just a lot of fun. Boarding school settings to me are either way underdeveloped or start getting too culty, but the whole atmosphere of this book was great. All the hijinks and humor and group messages were so much fun.
-Acknowledgement of class differences! The cycle of being poor! Financial aid packages being awful! In too many books where characters are on financial aid there is literally no mention of the fact that financial aid never covers every expense, and Noteworthy did a great job of exploring this reality.
-Periods. That's all I need to say.
The really good:
-NIHAL
-I loved him so much
-Everything about him
-His nature documentary voice
-He is so smart and good at art love him
-So pure
-Always does the right thing
-Gr9 friend
-Such a realistic spectrum of emotions- he reacts to things so humanly it's great
-I just love him 10/10
The less good:
-I had a really hard time suspending my disbelief here that no one would cross-reference anything and realize that the name Jordan uses to join the Sharpshooters is a nonexistent student. Even in my public school extracurriculars that went through the school had to have a list of names, that way the school could make sure you were eligible to participate. No one did this here, and I found that really hard to believe.
-I didn't care about the romance but that's just me with romance tbh.
-I felt like there was a slight lack of resolution for some of the plot points. We got a little, but some felt rushed.
-The ending was kind of a big deux ex machina. It was good and I freaked out for all of it but there were 2 big things that were pretty unlikely and kind of came from nowhere.
Although I had those problems I did (obviously) really enjoy this book, which is significant because I rarely rate contemporaries higher than 3 stars. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly for the fantastic characters, engaging plot, realistic depiction of teenagers, and, of course, diverse cast of characters!