Stifled

Madge from Muffled gets her own story in this companion coming-of-age middle grade novel about rediscovering your voice, overcoming challenges in school, facing loss, and experiencing the ups and downs of friendship. Madge Hesse is the best sixth grade trombonist, and getting into the middle school elite jazz ensemble proves it. She plans to become a professional musician like her mother, who died when Madge was one. Her best friend Amelia doesn’t get in, though, and instead joins the Free Readers, a group fighting book banning at their school. Amelia expects Madge to be a part of the Free Readers too, but Madge is torn. She wants to support Amelia and the cause, but she is preparing for a jazz solo audition, which means hours of practicing. As Madge tries to juggle both commitments, her friendship with Amelia erodes and her music suffers. It doesn’t help that the eighth graders in band are constantly correcting her. With her confidence and voice stifled, Madge no longer knows where she belongs. And to make matters worse, she uncovers a secret about her mother—a secret her grandmother had kept from her. Faced with pressure on all sides, Madge must rediscover her loud self to help Amelia fight book censors and to harmonize with the music of her heart once more.