About the Book
Book: The Rubber Band Stretches – Rocky’s Story
Author: Christy Hoss
Genre: Middle Grade Novel
Release date: June, 2021
Foster kid Rocky “Roadkill” Espinosa, drummer for the Rubber Band, chooses Elvis for his 4th grade living biography report. With little money to create a costume, Rocky believes he’ll be the worst Elvis impersonation ever, destined to fail.
When his ex-con father Eduardo, sneaks into his life demanding attention, Rocky’s best friend and lead guitar for the band, Eddie, comes to his rescue. Eddie involves the entire band in Rocky’s protection to be “secret service” and comedic chaos erupts.
After the Rubber Band performs its first set at the mayor’s 50th birthday party, Rocky mysteriously disappears. The band realizes it’s no longer about fun and games. Friends and family are what matter most in life. The bond of the band demands that secrets be revealed.
Will friends, foster or blood family win the battle for Rocky’s future?
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About the Author
Christy caught the writing bug in second grade after winning a prize for a five-page story about her dog, Noodles. Mrs. Olson told her she was destined to be a writer and that dream never left her thoughts. After teaching elementary school for fifteen years, Christy fulfilled her childhood dream with her debut novel, The Rubber Band. She substitute teaches to support her writing career, deriving writing inspiration from the students and situations she encounters.
At age twenty-five, she was diagnosed with type-one diabetes but refuses to let it limit her. Her diabetic alert dog, Aiden, has saved her life uncountable times and will appear in future installments of The Rubber Band. Christy lives by this equation:
Living + diabetes = LIVE-abetes.
Christy is a freelance editor and writes children’s Bible stories for Focus on the Family ClubHouse magazine and has written articles for Guideposts. She is a featured speaker for conferences, retreats and special events.
Christy lives in Northern California with Kevin, the love of her life. They have three grown children.
The Rubber Band Stretches, Rocky’s Story is the second book in The Rubber Band middle grade novel series by Christy Hoss.
More from Christy
Why the Rubber Band?
Sitting in the front row keeping an eye on my students, the stage curtain opened to our elementary school assemble. A sign over the group declared “The Rubber Band.” With one stroke the lead guitar caused my inner groupie to emerge. I screamed in delight and crooned out. ‘Born to Be Wild’ along with the kid band delivering professional sounds. Our usually reserved staff soon joined me in my whoops of delight and the band had the entire assembly on its feet, dancing and clapping.
I was so impressed by this rock and roll group of fourth and fifth grade students, I asked them to play at my fiftieth birthday party.
Returning to our classroom, I put on my writer’s hat, thinking about what a cool kid’s book The Rubber Band would make. But I had to come up with a plotline. It was then I noticed a rubber band on the floor and knew instantly what needed to be done. It had to be about a good guitar-playing kid getting trouble for a mis-shot rubber band. He’s sent to the principal’s office where he sees the sign advertising the talent contest and he begins his quest to recruit a diverse group of misfit kids to form a garage band.
My imagination took off as I thought about the many children I have taught through the years. Most of my characters are inspired by those actual students and events. Rocky is a fictional name given to a real foster kid who came to our school temporarily. He used to walk alone around the perimeter of the school boundaries – just like Rocky. Edison and Oliver are actual names of maternal twins I taught my first year at Kenwood Elementary, the school I derived Wildwood elementary from. Even Principal Haymaker is based on my friend, Principal Bales.
The band is not without troubles and Eddie soon finds himself challenged by an incurable illness. But the bond of the band is strong, and they will not snap but hang tight to see the dream through no matter how it turns out. Rocky longs to be a part of a permanent family, but has his heartstrings pulled when his freshly paroled birth father shows up. Becca is the lonely, spoiled-rotten rich girl with no friends but a voice of gold. Manny plays bass and Oliver the keyboards, but not without adding their own unique personalities to the mix.
You’ll be hearing more from The Rubber Band as I plan to write about their adventures into adulthood and beyond, and there will be many.
I no longer look at a rubber band and think of it as just an elastic ring to hold things together. It’s a simple, useful object. that inspired a novel series.
My Thoughts
The Rubber Band Stretches – Rocky’s Story is a middle grade novel that is written by Christy Hoss. My 10 year old son and I read this book together. This is book 2 in the Rubber Band series and we have enjoyed both books.
This is Rocky's story. Rocky is in foster care. He is in 4th grade and has had a rough life. He is finally with a family and feels like he is settled in. The Perkins are really nice to Rocky and he really enjoys being there. He especially loves having a little "sister" Rosie. I love that the author focuses on Rocky this time around, because it helps others to understand that some kids do not have it as nice as others. That you need to be kind to everyone because you do not know their circumstances.
When Rocky's biological father shows up, Rocky is in a bit of a panic. He is not sure if he is going to live with his biological dad, or if he should trust him. My heart sunk when all this was going on. Rocky starts to find out about his bio dad, what kind of person he was (an ex con) and he is afraid if people find out he will lose the friends he has.
What I love about this book besides the issues that it tackles is the Perkins. They love Rocky unconditionally. Rocky is so used to being shipped out as soon as there is problems. They reiterate the fact that they chose him, they love him and they want him to stay with them. For a middle grade book, I teared up a bit. They support his dream of being in a being in a band - and they love the fact that he chose Elvis.
Watching the band prepare for the concert for the mayor. The members of the band are super protective of Rocky and want to make sure he is safe. His bio father is making appearance for wrong reasons and I loved seeing the friends band together to keep him safe.
Christy Hoss has written an amazing story. This is appropriate for 4th grade and up. I enjoyed it as well as an adult. The characters are well written and feel real. The story line tackles some tough subjects that kids may be facing.
I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 9
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 10
Texas Book-aholic, August 11
For the Love of Literature, August 12 (Author Interview)
Inklings and notions, August 13
For Him and My Family, August 14
deb’s Book Review, August 15
Vicky Sluiter, August 16 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 16
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 17
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 18 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 18
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 19
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 20
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 22
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Christy is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of both The Rubber Band and The Rubber Band Stretches!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/111b5/the-rubber-band-stretches-rocky-s-story-celebration-tour-giveaway
This sounds like a fantastic read.
ReplyDeleteI think my kiddos would enjoy this! Thanks for sharing!
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