A Melody of Nerves

Ten-year-old Evie is used to standing out—
not because she wants to,
but because she’s the only girl in a house full of five brothers.
So when Principal Harper announces that Evie has been chosen to represent the entire fifth grade at beloved music teacher Mrs. Flowers’s retirement celebration, Evie does what any sensible girl with stage fright would do—
panics.

With her brothers offering unhelpful advice,
her parents giving inspirational speeches,
and her best friend Lily trying (and failing) to keep her calm,
Evie’s confidence melts faster than a cafeteria popsicle.
But when a dusty box in the school music room reveals a hidden record—a secret from Mrs. Flowers’s past—Evie discovers there’s more to her teacher than anyone ever knew.
And maybe, just maybe, there’s more to Evie too.

Told in free verse full of heart, humor, and honesty, A Melody of Nerves captures the tangled, tuneful chaos of being brave when you least feel it.
It’s about music and courage,
family and friendship,
and the way one girl learns that sometimes the loudest song
starts as a whisper.

Perfect for readers of Love That Dog, The Crossover, and Because of Winn-Dixie,
this first book in the Only Girl Series hits all the right notes—
funny, heartfelt, and pitch-perfect for anyone who’s ever felt too small
for a really big moment.