Totally Unrelated

By Tom Ryan

Neil plays guitar with his family's band, the Family McClintock, even though he can't stand the Celtic music they play, he doesn't dance, he hates the outfits, and every single performance reminds him that he isn't as talented as the rest of the family.

When his buddy Bert convinces him to form a rock band and enter a local talent show, Neil's playing improves and everyone notices, including a girl who shares his musical interests. He starts to think that all those years of practice might come in handy after all. But it all comes to a head when Neil has to choose between an important gig with the family band and the talent show. He's only sure of one thing: whatever he decides to do, he's going to be letting someone down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Oct 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781459804609

Tom Ryan

Tom Ryan served as publisher and editor of the Newburyport, Massachusetts, newspaper The Undertoad for more than a decade. In 2007 he sold the newspaper and moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire with miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch. Over the last five years, Tom and Atticus have climbed more than 450 four-thousand-foot peaks.

Book preview

TOTALLY

UNRELATED

Tom Ryan

ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

Copyright © 2013 Tom Ryan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and

retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in

writing from the publisher.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Ryan, Tom, 1977

Totally unrelated [electronic resource] / Tom Ryan.

(Orca limelights)

Electronic monograph.

Issued also in print format.

ISBN 978-1-4598-0459-3 (PDF).--ISBN 978-1-4598-0460-9 (EPUB)

I. Title. II. Series: Orca limelights (Online)

PS8635.Y359T67 2013       jC813’.6       C2013-901914-6

First published in the United States, 2013

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013935383

Summary: When Neil starts to compose and play his own music, it conflicts

with the traditional Celtic music he performs with his family’s band.

Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for

its publishing programs provided by the following agencies:

the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the

Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia

through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

Design by Teresa Bubela

Cover photography by Getty Images

www.orcabook.com

16    15    14    13    •    4    3    2    1

For Liam, Calum and James, the best brothers

I ever could have asked for.

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Acknowledgments

One

It’d be a lot easier to kill Bert, my best buddy since kindergarten, if I could find the guy. I know he’s somewhere in this massive abandoned warehouse—there’s no way out, for either of us. I’m locked and loaded and adrenaline is coursing through my veins, but if he tracks me down first, none of that matters.

I move slowly down the dimly lit hallway, my back against the wall. When I get to the corner where the corridor makes a right turn, I stop and take a second to gather my nerves, then quickly flip around and make my move, hoping to catch him by surprise. Unfortunately, Bert has the same idea, and before I realize what’s happening, he’s jumped out in front of me from behind a pile of packing crates.

I yell as I start shooting, but he’s too quick for me, and the bazooka he’s packing unloads, tossing me backward in slow motion. I slam into a pile of rubble as Game Over Sucker scrolls across the screen to the sound of some kind of futuristic sad trombone. I whip my joystick at the couch on the other side of the room and try to ignore Bert’s hoots and hollers. Not always the easiest task, considering he’s the loudest person I know.

Yes! he yells. Yes! Yes! Eat my dust, loser!

I get up to leave.

Aw, c’mon, he says. One more game.

Sorry, man, I say, grabbing my hoodie from the couch. Gotta bounce. Big family dinner tonight.

Bert’s an only child, and, as annoying as he can be, his basement is pretty much my refuge from the world, especially during the summer. He even has his own bathroom. It usually stinks, but still. My house is packed to the rafters—one senior citizen; two middle-agers; three, sometimes four, teenagers; and two preteen girls in a four-bedroom house with one and a half bathrooms. You do the math.

You guys have a big family dinner every night, he says.

Yeah, but Kathy gets home from college today, so my parents want everyone there.

Oh, really? he says. How’s old Kathy doing, anyway? I know this isn’t an innocent question. Bert has been in love with my older sister since the moment girls stopped being gross.

I haven’t seen her yet, I tell him. She’s supposed to land this afternoon sometime.

Make sure she knows I’m around in case she’s feeling lonely.

Whatever, man, I say. Catch you later.

I’m already halfway up the stairs when he yells after me, Oh hey, Neil, wait!

What? I call back over my shoulder.

Seriously, come here for a minute. I want to show you something!

Reluctantly, I walk back down and stand in the doorway. What is it? I’m going to be late.

He rummages in a pile of crap on the coffee table and pulls out a page torn from the newspaper. I almost forgot, he says. He leaps over the back of the couch and shoves the paper at me. Check this out.

He’s circled an item in the community-announcements section with red pen. Deep Cove Talent Show, the caption reads.

Talent show? I ask. What, are you going to start juggling or something?

No, man, he says. Keep reading.

‘To help commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Deep Cove Days, there will be a live talent show on the waterfront,’ I read aloud. ‘Three judges will choose the winner from local acts. Deadline for registration is July fifth. Grand prize five hundred dollars.’

What do you think, man? he asks. Seriously.

I don’t know, I say. What are you planning on doing?

"You mean, what are we planning on doing?"

Yeah right, I say, handing him back the paper. You want to do a magic routine? Saw me up in a wooden box?

No, man, he says, frustrated. We’ll start a band, like we’ve always talked about.

I don’t think we’ve ever talked about starting a band, Bert.

"Sure we have! Remember when we had to watch that stupid documentary about Bieber at Joanie’s birthday party and you were all like, ‘We could do a better job than that guy’?"

I’m pretty sure I was joking, I say.

Okay, whatever, but you can really play, Neil! All you need to do is learn a couple of songs that people actually want to listen to, for a change. Come on. I know you’re dying to finally play some real music. Use your powers for good, Neil. Think about it.

I make a face at him. I won’t lie; I’ve always wanted to play music I actually like, but banging out tunes with Bert for a talent show isn’t really what I had in mind. What are you going to play? I ask.

Drums, meathead! He points to a huge pile of clothes in the corner of the basement, and I’m reminded that, yes, there is a drum set under there.

Bert, I say, "you’ve played those twice in your

Reviews for Totally Unrelated

[shootingstar2428 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good, solid book—and with better writing than most Orcas. I'm happy to add this book to my classroom shelf for students who struggle with reading. Musical kids will definitely enjoy this read.

[shelleydaugherty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Most teens have had a dream of rocking out with friends. Neil is a guitar player in his family band, but rocking is not what they do. He is part of family band which plays Celtic music. Though Neil loves his family he feels somewhat disconnected from them because he doesn't look like the rest and he just can't seem to get into the whole family band thing. Then one day his friend makes a suggestion they should try out for the town talent show and actually "rock the house". Neil is definately game for this and find out the date should be clear for any of his family shows so he eagerly agrees. Then a scheduling conflict comes up and Neil must choose between his family and his friends.This is one of those High-Low books that I really enjoyed and I can see it really appealing to many readers. Teens want to have that one time where they can stand in the spotlight. Neil give them that moment when he describes his emotions about being on stage yet still being a regular kid. I would really like to look at more books from this Orca Limelights collection. If they are as good as this one, I would really like to add them to my collection!

[sheilacornelisse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick, enjoyable read, perfect for reluctant readers who like a "feel good" story. Neil McClintock feels like the black sheep in his family's Celtic band. Not only does he not look like his red-headed parents and siblings, his guitar-playing talent seems to take backstage to the flair of bagpipes and step-dancing. Set in Nova Scotia, Canada, this book deals with subjects such as relationships, families, commitments, conflict and perserverance - a refreshing change from stories dealing with troubled youth and broken homes. My only complaint is that it was too short. I definitely recommend it.

[chrisweir-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Got this as an early review copy. Was a nice little enjoyable read. Neil comes from a musical family. Neil is a young teen and has a few problems with the family or performers. He's not so musically inclined. He does however play guitar. Will be a nice read for the tween and early teen age group that it is written for and the characters will be easily something they can identify with.

[sdbookhound · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a cute story about a family band. Even though Neil wanted to branch out and play different types of music, he still wanted to do his best for the family. He appreciated each family member for what they contributed and they all so well together. Not to say that they didn't have disagreements, they did, but the reader could truly sense the love they had for each other. I enjoyed this book and would love to read more like it. I will recommend this book.

[jackiewark · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Neil McClintock comes from a musical family, a VERY musical family. All his brothers, sisters, and parents play together in the family's band, The Family McClintock. Their Celtic music is developing a following, but Neil really isn't into it all that much. He feels as though he is the least musical of the family and is just good enough to get by...although it is their livelihood. But, when best friend, Bert signs them up for a talent show contest, he is intrigued, to say the least. The duo starts practicing, and they are sounding pretty good...now, all they need to do it find another musical person to do the vocals. Enter Sandy, a vacationer to the town, visiting with her grandma and little brother, the Beast. Bert and Neil find out that Sandy has a great singing voice and she's recruited! Practicing together is really paying off for Neil, both in what it is adding to his love of music and possibly his blossoming love for Sandy. He hasn't told his family about the talent show yet, but it really doesn't matter since the talent show is on Thursday, The Family McClintock's set-in-stone, forever day off. That's when, you guessed it, a huge gig comes up for the family...opening act to a famous country star. And, it is on Thursday! What will Neil do? Disappoint his friends or disappoint his family. Either way, some people will be hurt. In the end, things end up surprising everyone involved, including Neil. Totally Unrelated is a great tween fiction book that deals with self-esteem, doing what's right, finding what one loves to do and following the dream. A quick, enjoyable read. A perfect fit for those just entering the YA world. Thank you to Orca Book Publishers, Tom Ryan, LibraryThing Early Reviewers, and Leslie Bootle for this ARC.