After Hart shoots a rubber band at Mr. Meinert, he finds that the chorus teacher is not just annoyed but furious. Unbeknownst to Hart, all the faculty art and music positions have been eliminated, and Mr. Meinert will not be returning after the winter holiday concert. When the teacher unexpectedly turns the concert planning and preparation over to the students, they vote to make Hart their leader. This entertaining novel relates Hart's ups and downs in his challenging new role. The story also delves into the problems and emotions of Mr. Meinert and, to a lesser extent, Hart's younger sister. These shifts in viewpoints and sympathies are unusual and to some extent enlightening, but the narrative always reverts to Hart's thread of the story, which children will probably find most involving. Many school stories focus on underdogs; this one expresses the concerns of a boy who is popular, yet still under stress. Convincing in its portrayal of middle-school life, this accessible novel will find a ready audience. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved