• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Fourteen-year-old Rose is sure she's going to become a folk-music sensation, with her best friend, Shilo, at her side.

But first Rose needs to convince her mom to keep paying for her expensive violin lessons. Her mom wants her to join the youth symphony and focus on classical music, in preparation for a music degree at university. When Rose enters a fiddle competition with a unique prize for the winner, she hopes to show her mom she can really can make it as a folk musician.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Megan Clendenan has worked for women's rights, mental health and youth empowerment nonprofits as well as for an environmental law group, which is when she realized for the first time that the court system could be a way to help protect human health from pollution and toxic chemicals. She is the co-author of Design Like Nature, part of the Orca Footprints series, and the author of Offbeat, a novel for young readers. Megan lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with her family.

Megan Clendenan's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"Appealing, accessible story for teens interested in the arts that will tempt them to become avid readers."

Kirkus Reviews

"Rose's first-person, present-tense narrative is not overwrought with drama, despite the daunting obstacles she faces, and she achieves a convincing new level of maturity. This is a great high/low pick, and the well-paced story and likable characters will have wide appeal."

Booklist

"The author's understanding of the joys and struggles of a young musician comes across very well in her clear writing. The experiences Clendenan captures in Offbeat give great insight into a subject that is not often shown in literature for young people. Offbeat, a fun and quick read, is a welcome addition to any collection."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials