Muted

Muted
Tami Charles
Scholastic, 2021
Grades 10-Up
381 pages
Narrative Poetry

Denver dreams of becoming a singer and breaking away from her humdrum life as one of the only girls of color in her small Poconos town. Her grades aren't great and her prospects are limited, so the music business offers an attractive way out. But how to break in? Along with her two best friends and singing partners, Denver travels into Newark to attend a Sean "Mercury" Ellis concert. The trio manages to sing for Merc as he passes by, catching his attention and landing backstage after the show. Merc wants to mentor the girls in the music biz and takes them under his wing. The problem is-the trio is under age and a parent needs to sign the contract. One girl's mother immediately signs, hoping for a step-up for the family. Another girl n the group's religious grandparents pull her out immediately. That leaves Denver. Her parents won't sign and are uncomfortable with the arrangement. She forges their signature and runs away. Life with Merc is not what Denver expects. He's very controlling and she loses freedom, as well as confidence, as Merc manipulates both Denver and her partner. Is this the dream that she's always wanted or a nightmare?

Narrative poems and song lyrics tell Charles' most autobiographical story to date. As a former R&B performer, she knows all about the pitfalls and manipulations of the music industry and sets out to warn the reader about the price of fame. Charles points out the dangers of the powerful taking advantage of the innocent and voiceless. This book made me increasingly uncomfortable as Denver's situation becomes more dire and the story goes a bit off the rails. A twist ending with shock the reader and help them to never forget this story and it's message. There are some very graphic scenes involving assault, underage drinking and drugs, strong language, and poor choices, making it best suited for older teens. I loved the writing and the lyrical, yet authentic voice of the author. Poetry is the perfect way to tell a story of a musician. The book reads quickly since some of the poems are short. Denver is both queer and Haitian/American, offering diversity on several levels. Charles highlights the dangers of the music industry, but the lessons apply to any imbalance of power, whether its entertainment or politics. A sobering, yet eye-opening novel that sings like Denver, perfect for fans of On the Come Up and The Poet X.