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Beat the Band Audiobook
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(3.05) - 511 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Get ready for riffs on hot girls, health class, and social hell! The outrageously funny boys from Swim the Fly return to rock their sophomore year.
In this hilarious sequel to Swim the Fly, told from Coop’s point of view, it’s the beginning of the school year, and the tenth-grade health class must work in pairs on semester-long projects. Matt and Sean get partnered up (the jerks), but Coop is matched with the infamous “Hot Dog” Helen for a presentation on safe sex. Everybody’s laughing, except for Coop, who’s convinced that the only way to escape this social death sentence is to win “The Battle of the Bands” with their group, Arnold Murphy’s Bologna Dare. There’s just one problem: none of the guys actually plays an instrument. Will Coop regain his “cool” before it’s too late? Or will the forced one-on-one time with Helen teach him a lesson about social status he never saw coming? With ribald humor and a few sweet notes, screenwriter-turned-novelist Don Calame once again hits all the right chords.
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"(ARC from ALA) Companion book to "Swim the Fly" - very fun. At first I was disappointed to find this was told from Cooper's point of view- I found the character kind of annoying in the first book. But now I'm glad it was his pov, since I really like the kid after knowing him better. I liked the realistic issues, challenges, hilarious dialogue... Great Dad character. All-around good guy read, great follow-up, and I'm looking forward to Sean narrating junior year, maybe?"
— Meredith (4 out of 5 stars)
Beat the Band Listener Reviews
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" has some pretty funny parts. "
— Sarah, 2/13/2014 -
" As with most things, the sequel isn't as good as the original. Still a decent read with plenty of teen boy humor. Whatevs man "
— Andy, 2/8/2014 -
" This book is one of my favorits and i loved it it would be great for any kid in middle school "
— Damaj, 2/7/2014 -
" Another hilarious installment in the Swim the Fly series! "
— Michael, 2/6/2014 -
" one word...cheesy "
— Elizabeth, 2/3/2014 -
" Started at around 6:00 pm and ended at 10:30 pm - the same night! Review to come soon! "
— Joey, 1/17/2014 -
" A really funny and satisfying sequel to Swim the Fly, featuring Cooper. Many laugh-out-loud moments. "
— Rachel, 1/11/2014 -
" Not quite as funny as the first book, Swim the Fly, this book still sucked me in. I found a lot of the character's behavior to be reprehensible, but there was a good ending that made me happy, without being completely unbelievable. "
— FlibBityFLooB, 11/27/2013 -
" Hilarious! Don Calame has to be one of the funniest writers ever. Loved Coop's perspective and to get to know his dad more as a character. Loved seeing the world through Coop's eyes. Laughed at times until by sides hurt! Great book! "
— Julie, 11/9/2013 -
" Pretty crude, which I was expecting, but the ending was pretty good. Didn't quite make up with how annoyed I was with the main character for the rest of the book. On Teen's Thumbs Up Award list so I thought I would read it. "
— Melissa, 11/9/2013 -
" again, my utter enjoyment of this book indicates my juvenile sense of humor. LOVED IT! this companion book does a great job of changing perspectives, with a different character being first person narrator of this title. "
— Michelle, 10/20/2013 -
" I thought Swim The Fly was the best book ever... but I was so wrong.. Beat the Band is better.. I just loved reading the book from Coop's perspective... and Helen was nice addition to this book !! "
— Charan, 9/16/2013 -
" Funny as hell laughed through the entire thing! to think this is actually what goes through teenage boys heads! "
— Jessie, 7/15/2013 -
" The sequel is told from a different boy's perspective than the first one and it's not quite as funny as Swim the Fly, but still very enjoyable and recommendable. I hope he writes another one real soon! "
— Aimee, 3/28/2013 -
" Read it for the White Pine club. I didn't read the first one, but you don't have to read the first one to read the second one. It's an enjoyable book regardless of if yo've read the first book. "
— Shanella, 8/12/2012 -
" Hilarious! A little raunchy.... "
— Ann, 8/6/2012 -
" Great book. Fun to read! "
— Lisa, 5/6/2012 -
" This is one of the crudest YA books that boys will LOVE that I have ever read...want to slip a copy into my son's collection, without handing it to him directly. "
— Lori, 2/21/2012 -
" I liked this one better than Swim the Fly. "
— Brent, 1/30/2012 -
" This is a great boy book and the sequel to Swim the Fly. A must for any high school library. "
— Mrs., 4/29/2011 -
" I lied, this is even funnier than first. Better yet, listen to it on audio. You won't be disappointed. "
— Danielle, 4/5/2011 -
" Maybe you have to be a teenaged boy to enjoy this book? And the hackneyed overuse of slang? And the fart jokes that last for an entire chapter? I got halfway through and the main character hadn't grown on me at all so I called it quits. <br/> "
— Ardis, 4/5/2011 -
" Cooper is an asshole--I kind of thought that in the first book, too--but he manages to be so likeable anyway. <br/> <br/>And I still love Nick Podehl as a narrator. "
— Brandy, 3/30/2011 -
" has some pretty funny parts. "
— Sarah, 2/27/2011 -
" Pretty crude, which I was expecting, but the ending was pretty good. Didn't quite make up with how annoyed I was with the main character for the rest of the book. On Teen's Thumbs Up Award list so I thought I would read it. "
— Melissa, 2/21/2011 -
" A hilarious sequel to "Swim the Fly" following Coop and his friends into their sophomore year of high school. "
— Liz, 2/11/2011 -
" Sequel to Swim the Fly. Funny, funny! Nick Podehl does the audiobook. Not for prudish sorts! "
— Diane, 1/9/2011 -
" I liked this one better than Swim the Fly. "
— Brent, 1/7/2011
About Don Calame
Don Calame is a screenwriter whose film projects include Employee of the Month and Hounded. Of his many prior occupations, he says his most satisfying was teaching elementary school for four years in Los Angeles, where he received the LAUSD District Intern Golden Apple Award and a Los Angeles Education Partnership Grant. He lives in British Columbia.
About Nick Podehl
Nick Podehl is a professional voice actor. He has narrated numerous audiobooks, many of which have won prestigious awards, including fourteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. He currently lives and works around Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife.