A Melody of Nerves

A funny, heartfelt novel in verse for fans of Sharon Creech, Jason Reynolds, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Ten-year-old Evie likes being the only girl in a house full of brothers.
She does not like surprises.
Especially the kind where the principal announces—into a very loud microphone—that Evie has been chosen as the official Fifth-Grade Representative for the retirement ceremony of Mrs. Flowers, the beloved (and slightly mysterious) music teacher.

Evie’s job?
Write and deliver a speech.
In front of the entire school.
On stage.
With a microphone.
While everyone is looking at her.
No big deal… right?

Wrong.

Suddenly Evie is drowning in advice—from her dramatic brothers, her encouraging parents, her worried best friend, and even the principal—none of which helps her actually write anything. But everything changes the day she discovers a dusty box in the school music closet… and learns Mrs. Flowers had a music career no one ever knew about.

As Evie investigates the truth behind Mrs. Flowers’s past, she begins to find her own courage, too. And when the big day finally arrives, Evie learns that bravery isn’t the absence of nerves—
it’s stepping up anyway.

Told with humor, heart, and Evie’s unforgettable voice, A Melody of Nerves is a celebration of:

✔ Finding confidence
✔ The power of music
✔ Friendship and family chaos
✔ What it really means to be brave

Perfect for grades 3–6, classroom read-alouds, and fans of heartfelt middle-grade stories that make you laugh one moment and cheer the next.