Secret of the Songshell

Here’s a synopsis of the Secret of the Songshell plot:

Neither Nerd nor Normal.

Joel Suzuki gets a huge surprise when he bumps into his favorite rock star while walking down the street. You see, this particular rock star–multiplatinum bandleader Marshall Byle–is supposed to be dead.

Joel gets an even bigger surprise when Marshall makes him the offer of a lifetime: the chance to become a rock star himself. There’s a catch, of course, but this one is a little different. To unlock the shortcut to success, Joel must travel to an alternate world where his unique brain waves can be combined with sound waves of music to create magical effects. If he can learn to harness these powers, he will be able to write songs that capture the hearts of millions.

As a sensitive sixteen-year-old with Asperger’s Syndrome living in a single-parent home, Joel leads a stressful life full of bullies, bad grades and money woes. Figuring that stardom will solve all of his problems, he accepts Marshall’s offer. But once Joel arrives in the new world, he finds himself faced with an unexpected audition that is unlike anything he has ever imagined…

For more information:

• Listen to Jonathan and Brian’s interview on Autism Empowerment Radio
• Read our interview with author Brian Tashima