Checker and the Derailleurs

“Ms. Shriver portrays [her characters] with psychological depth and wry humor dramatizing a subject that’s rarely been exploited in fiction and pulling off a novel that not only works but rocks.” —New York Times Book ReviewFrom the author of the New York Times bestseller The Post-Birthday World and the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin a tender hilarious story of youth and envy ambition and rock and roll hero worship and heroism and especially loveBeautiful and charismatic nineteen-year-old Checker Secretti is the most gifted and original drummer that the club-goers of Astoria Queens have ever heard. When he plays conundrums seem to solve themselves brilliant thoughts spring to mind and couples fall in love. The members of his band The Derailleurs are passionately devoted to their guiding spirit as are all who fall under Checker''s spell. But when another drummer Eaton Striker hears the prodigy play he is pulled inexorably into Checker''s orbit by a powerful combination of envy and admiration. Soon The Derailleurs too are torn apart by latent jealousies that Eaton does his utmost to bring alive.