Lemonade Mouth

I read this book because I really enjoyed the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same title, based on it. When I watched the movie, I did not know that it had originally been a book. I found out after googling the movie and reading up about it on the Wikipedia page, because I watched it for the first time this year and wanted to see how it had been received and whatnot.

While the movie and book are pretty different, they follow the same trajectory and hit the same themes. I enjoyed both greatly and I honestly think I can enjoy both just fine without feeling negatively or disappointed about either one.

What I liked about the book was that it went into more detail with each character. I had a general idea about them all from the movie, show more but the book does some things different, and sometimes more edgily. For example, the handling of Charlie's "brother" being only in his mind instead of an ideal to live up to, and the extent of Wen's issues with Sydney. I also liked that Olivia's familial issues were more in-depth within the book. I also enjoyed that Mo's culture and values are on show more within the book, to actually see the culture and beliefs that have formed her up to this point, and the conflict she feels about her identity. I like that Stella's issues were explored more in the book and that we get a broader idea of why she feels so self-lacking compared to her family.

The sound of Lemonade Mouth as a band is described as being much more avant garde than the movie went with, but which I understand as a company choice. To get something more along what the author had in mind, he probably would have had to work with a company that does work like "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" where the music isn't going to be targeting mainstream teens and kids, but more niche markets, generally speaking. However, I am generally a fan of the Lemonade Mouth movie soundtrack, so I think each version has its merits and even their own identities despite being "the same work" inherently.

The two things I think that this book does well is addressing how teen identity is formed, perceived, and affected, and the impact that music can have on people, either through listening or playing. I think those were very well handled and despite not being a teenager anymore, seeing the way the band's friendships helped them develop, and their environment, and the way music impacted them and their peers...it all really spoke to me still, in my mid-20's. I think that teenage me definitely would've enjoyed this book and found ways to identify with it, as well as the movie, had I seen that when it actually came out. Both are definitely worth appreciating, in my opinion. show less

Reviewed on Her Fiction Fix:

4/5 stars

This is the story of how the band, Lemonade Mouth, came to be. Stella, Wen, Mo, Charlie, and Olivia met one fateful day in detention. They discovered their mutual love for music and slowly, the idea of starting a band formulated, thus turning them into a sensation. Even still, nothing ever comes easy. Individually, they weren't popular; every other student like them who took part in activities and clubs that weren't considered "popular" got demoted to the high school's basement. They're labelled as the freaks of the school, and it's up to Lemonade Mouth to use their newfound popularity to change things.

The characters that made up Lemonade Mouth were so odd and easily classified as misfits. There's a show more freakishly tall green-haired girl and a guy who's really insecure and hears the voice of his dead twin brother in his head, to name a few. But when they were together, it was magic. It was interesting to read how they formed, as it wasn't a sudden thing where all five kids completely went for it. It took time, and it was realistic. After all, they weren't really friends; they only really got together through detention, and they barely knew each other beforehand. They each had their own stories and struggles, which were touched upon equally and made their story as a band more believable. Hughes never gave one character more importance over another.

The core of the book is about five strangers who never really fit in anywhere, coming together and making something out of nothing. They became influences to their fellow classmates, and even though their journey wasn't an easy one, they never gave up. They were able to cope with the insanity known as high school through their growing friendship, all the while, touching the lives of their fellow classmates with their music and their message.

The overall concept isn't original by any means, but the way the author wrote it really puts it in a class of its own. The book was offbeat and funny; definitely had its own unique brand of humour, which I found totally refreshing. It's original in the sense that when you think of a high school band-- or any band, your mind immediately goes to a guitarist, singer, bassist, and a drummer. Lemonade Mouth throws all conventions out the window. Here, you have stuff like a ukulele, trumpet, bongos, and congas. In other words, this book is not full of your typical high school characterizations.

I picked up the book because I watched the Disney Channel movie that was adapted from it. I loved the movie, I'm not even going to lie. Even bought the soundtrack and everything. I'm such a sucker for feel-good teenybopper DCOMs. So sue me. I was curious to see how the book compared to the film; what they left out and kept in, what they changed, etc. I was surprised at how different a lot of things were in the book, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's a fun and interesting read, filled with quirky characters that I'm sure all of us can relate to, one way or another. The book is definitely more mature than the movie if you've ever seen it; I'd say it's appropriate enough for teens 14 and over. There is, however, now an age-appropriate edition for middle-grade readers as a movie tie-in, with content slightly adapted by the author. Just look for the blue dot on the cover! show less

This is another book that I’ve looked at in the bookstore, spend three or four weeks waffling on whether or not I should read it, and then when I get to the point that I haven’t bought anything new, I just give in and buy it. I’ll admit, it caught my attention when my Disney-obsessed friend had mentioned the movie, but I picked this one up on my own.

I generally liked this book. It’s not stunning or life-changing, but it’s a decent enough read to check it out. The multiple perspectives are handled fairly well—the main five characters do sound similar to one another, but there’s enough stylistic differences to tell which character is telling what part. I also liked that we got some outsider perspectives from the friends and show more other kids at this high school. The outsider parts add to the mythic atmosphere behind the band Lemonade Mouth, and it really does feel like one of those high school myths that everyone tells year after year. I also thought it a surprise at the revelation that Lemonade Mouth was actually a fairly successful group. It’s played around enough where it could have been that they were just a small high school band, but I like the fact that they were able to get a larger fanbase.

The main five characters felt pretty realistic to me. Yes, they’re all in search of their own identity, but I liked that they had their own problems that they were dealing with privately. Even the relationship dramas between Mo, Charlie, Wen and Olivia that popped up were actually handled a lot better than I expected. Stella’s a little too “Fight against the oppressive school administration” stereotype, but I liked that a lot of her plot is her frustration at moving and not being as close with her mother. Charlie’s loneliness was one I could have really identified with back in high school, and I like that he’s trying to move away from listening to this imaginary voice in his head. Olivia is the weakest character, easily—we get bits of her storyline and struggles with having a father in prison, but I never really felt like I got to know her. Mo’s and Wen’s stories are pretty standard YA fare—Mo is trying to reconcile her traditional family with her American upbringing; Wen is dealing with the pending marriage of his father to a much younger woman. I do like the sense that all five of these kids are lonely, and that they find something that brings them together. But if there’s any weak points, it’s that a lot of these storylines really don’t go very deep. There is character growth, but the plot moves quickly, and I think Hughes could have explored more to these characters.

So, overall, pretty decent read. I haven’t seen the film version (although judging by the soundtrack, I really don’t think I should try to make comparisons) but as a standalone book, it’s worth checking out. show less

I don't normally watch a movie before I read the book, I have always been a read the book first kind of girl, but I did actually see Lemonade Mouth before I read it. Comparing this book to the movie, I was impressed by how similar it actually was. There are differences of course as there always are, but the important stuff I felt remained the same and the stuff that was changed or left out, I understood since the movie was made for Disney Channel.

The actual story/book: I loved the story of this book, a group of kids who are somewhat misfits find each other and end up great friends. I love seeing how they handle the challenges the each face both alone and together with friends. It's truly a story of personal growth (for each member of show more the band) as well as a story of realizing that you don't have to, nor should you do everything alone. Everyone needs friends. And finally, it's a story about how even kids can make a difference if they stick to what they believe in and do what they feel is right. I'm looking forward to the sequel. show less

I actually read this book prior to its Disney Channel Original Movie adaption. To be honest, I don't think the movie is really anything like the book aside from the main premise. I'm not really one of those people who can't enjoy an adapted movie if it's not like the book so I didn't mind the changes in the movie. The book is really good and if you're considering reading it after watching, please do. Just be cautioned that it is very different from the film.

I really like that they mention Olivia DAD in the book.

I'm crazy about this book. Doesn't seem to matter at what age I read it, it's always great.
My full review is here, on Hot Stuff for Cool People.