Site Loader
It Sounds Like This

It Sounds Like This

by Anna Meriano

A sweet and nerdy contemporary YA novel set in the world of marching band perfect for fans of Late to the Party, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega and Kate in Waiting.

Yasmín Treviño didn’t have much of a freshman year thanks to Hurricane Humphrey, but she’s ready to take sophomore year by storm. That means mastering the marching side of marching band—fast!—so she can outshine her BFF Sofia as top of the flute section, earn first chair, and impress both her future college admission boards and her comfortably unattainable drum major crush Gilberto Reyes.
 
But Yasmín steps off on the wrong foot when she reports an anonymous gossip Instagram account harassing new band members and accidentally gets the entire low brass section suspended from extracurriculars. With no low brass section, the band is doomed, so Yasmín decides to take things into her own hands, learn to play the tuba, and lead a gaggle of rowdy freshman boys who are just as green to marching and playing as she is. She’ll happily wrestle an ancient school tuba if it means fixing the mess she might have caused.
 
But when the secret gossip Instagram escalates their campaign of harassment and Yasmín's friendship with Sofia deteriorates, things at school might be too hard to bear. Luckily, the support of Yasmín’s new section—especially introverted section leader Bloom, a sweet ace and aro-spectrum boy—might just turn things around.

"As a former band kid, “well behaved” kid, “ideal Catholic” kid, figuring-myself-out kid, It Sounds Like This shines with its relatability and heart. Yasmin and her seven Low Brassholes are a beautifully chaotic addition to the current body of queer, diverse, Texas-set young adult stories and characters."--Jonny Garza Villa, author of Pura Belpré honor book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

"This novel is bound to become a classic for band kids, and its honest approach to the pain and joy of evolving friendships make it relatable to anyone, with or without a spare spit valve."—Booklist

Praise for This is How We Fly: *"Meriano’s novel is a layered, skillful work that thoughtfully explores the complicated dynamics of a family in conflict due to divergent views of the world. . . .This clever, subtle reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is both subversive and empowering. Truly enchanting."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for This is How We Fly: *"Through a conversational first-person voice that firmly grounds the reader in the main character’s inner tumult, Meriano portrays Ellen’s heightened awareness and dedication to social equity and inclusion alongside the timeless sense of unease that comes with new beginnings and major change. Readers will find much to appreciate about Ellen’s fresh, relatable journey to define herself on her own terms." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for This is How We Fly: "A timely coming-of-age story with a unique Quidditch twist."--School Library Journal

Praise for This is How We Fly: "Anna Meriano's This is How We Fly is a delightful treat of a book that will make you want to grab your broom and go! A story of a young woman at a crossroads summer, this tale tackles the growing pains of late adolescence - family struggles, changing friendships, new crushes - with so much grace and heart. See you on the pitch!" - Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Liars of Mariposa Island and Moxie

Praise for This is How We Fly: "This is How We Fly breathes new life into a sport and retelling we think we know and lets them bake beneath the Texas sun. Anna Meriano has written one of the most authentic teen voice I've read in years."--Nina Moreno, author of Don't Date Rosa Santos

Praise for This is How We Fly: "This is How We Fly is, at its heart, about fierce friendships, flirty beaters, and firsts. Anna Meriano takes the magical fairytale of Cinderella and gives it a bookish twist. Ellen is an existential crisis on a broom and I love her." - Ashley Poston, National Bestselling Author of Geekerella

Praise for This is How We Fly: "Meriano adeptly weaves questions of identity, friendship and family into this delightful summer tale about the thrilling world of club Quidditch. At times both hilarious and heartbreaking, this incredible story is sure to leave you flying high."--Jennifer Dugan, author of Hot Dog Girl and Verona Comics

  • Pages: 400 Pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
  • Imprint: Viking Books for Young Readers
  • ISBN: 9780593116906
Penguin Teen