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list price: $9.99
edition:eBook
also available: Paperback
category: Young Adult Fiction
published: Jan 2014
ISBN:9781552443552
publisher: Red Deer Press

Millions for a Song

by André Vanasse, translated by Susan Ouriou & Christelle Morelli

tagged: music
Description

Millions for a Song is the story of Alex, a Quebec teenager and his rock band, The Nexxtep, made up of Alex and his friends: creative genius and lead guitarist Bruno, hot, feisty singer Melanie, and quiet-except-when drumming Jean-Francois. Alex and Melanie are close, very close, but friend-close not boyfriend/girlfriend close, despite the love/hate swings to their relationship.

One day, the friends cross paths with a true rock star whose chance remark will come back to haunt them. "Be careful. The music business is full of sharks." But first, Alex and the others experience the joy of composing and playing their own songs, tracking down their first contract and gig, and achieving fame, high-school style. Yet Alex's parents — teachers both — are far from happy that the band's songs are written in English — and not in their mother tongue French… and that they are rock songs to boot. Alex's dad declares rock passé, but Alex retorts: "My generation's going to get it right."

Then comes Tom Paradis who worms his way into their lives, promising big record deals if they take him on as their manager. They do, only to have him rob them of their songs. The theft comes to light during a rock concert they attend during which the featured rock band straight from Ireland announces that they'll be playing, as a special treat for their Quebec audience, a song by Quebecer, Tom Paradis. And then proceeds to play Nexxtep's song. That's when Alex's band has to learn to fight back. And win.

André Vanasse's original GG short-listed novel is translated by GG Award-winner Susan Ouriou and will strike a chord with young adults, giving them a glimpse into the worlds of music and fame, exploring friendship's many facets.

About the Authors

André Vanasse obtained a Ph.D. in literature from the Université de Paris-Vincennes. He is vice-chairman and editorial director of XYZ éditeur. He is directs the Romanichels and the Étoile variables collections, and is editor of the literary magazine Lettres Québécoises. André also writes novels and essays.


Susan Ouriou is a literary translator, fiction writer, and conference interpreter with an M.A. in Translation Studies from the Sorbonne University, Paris, France. Her French-English translation The Road to Chlifa was shortlisted for the 1996 Governor General's Award and was awarded an IBBY certificate of honour for translation. She has given papers on translation, creative writing, and interpreting at conferences in Canada and in Mexico and has sat on juries for the Governor General's Award for Translation and the Writers Guild of Alberta annual fiction award.


Susan Ouriou is a literary translator, fiction writer, and conference interpreter with an M.A. in Translation Studies from the Sorbonne University, Paris, France. Her French-English translation The Road to Chlifa was shortlisted for the 1996 Governor General's Award and was awarded an IBBY certificate of honour for translation. She has given papers on translation, creative writing, and interpreting at conferences in Canada and in Mexico and has sat on juries for the Governor General's Award for Translation and the Writers Guild of Alberta annual fiction award.

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
Age:
13 to 15
Grade:
8 to 10

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