I’ve read a number of books that deal with mental disabilities, and while I can’t say any have felt inauthentic per se, I haven’t read one that has made the character a completely normal person. But I am excited to say I found that experience no longer true after reading Tara Kelly’s debut Harmonic Feedback.

Drea and her mother move from California to the Seattle suburbs after her mother can no longer afford to support them both. They’re moving in with her mother’s mom, who has agreed to take them in — for a while, at least. Drea’s mom is not the most stable as we discover, but she’s not central to the plot. Drea is.

Drea is ADHD and has Asperger’s disease, but those challenges aren’t what will hold her back from trying to make friends at her new school. As soon as she steps foot at her grandmother’s, she is greated by Naomi, the neighbor who happens to her age, and she is immediately making a friendship. This helps get her settled into school just a little easier, even though Naomi has a list of issues herself. She’s a little too into drugs for Drea’s liking.

Music and sound design are Drea’s passions, and those two things are what lead her to meeting — and falling for — Justin. Well, really, they meet the first day of school since they are both the new kids. They don’t hit it off immediately, but when they start talking music, the sparks fly. Without much time, Justin, Naomi, and Drea are mixing their own jams. But then things go south for Naomi when she spends a little too much time with the wrong guy…and the wrong drugs.

Harmonic Feedback was a fast-moving and well-written book that portrayed Drea is a completely normal light. Although she mentions a few times that she has a couple of mental challenges, the book is not dominated by THE ISSUE. Drea wants to keep it under wraps from her new friends and the potential boyfriend, and when eventually the diagnoses come out, it’s refreshing to see that no one makes it a big deal. They make Drea different, but that is neither a good thing or a bad thing. It just is.

Drugs, sex, and rough language abound in the book, but I didn’t think they were too distracting. In fact, I thought that Tara Kelly provided one of the most convincing portrayals of real teenagers I’ve read in a long time. I didn’t feel they were forced or set up to provide essential issues. The obsession with music in the teens’ lives were well developed and weaved into the fibers of the characters, and I think readers will connect with someone here quite easily. Likewise, it was a relief that Drea’s mother wasn’t as deadbeat as she could have been, and it was sort of interesting to see grandmother as the powerhouse in the family. I definitely saw Drea in her grandmother.

Harmonic Feedback will appeal to teens who love music, stories about those with mental challenges, or stories about fitting in and forging new relationships. It sort of reminded me of Robin Benway’s Audrey, Wait, despite all of the major differences. Perhaps it’s the music element and the enjoyable writing style. Those who like realistic fiction will eat this one up. Because of how well written Drea is, I think her story will appeal to both males and females pretty easily — music is clearly a uniter.

Kelly’s debut will hit shelves in June. This was one of the top 5 of the debuts I read for the challenge . . . and the one that wrapped up my goal to read 20!

* Review copy provided by the publisher, who was so kind as to send it to me after chatting with me at PLA. Thanks!