It was a good story, but the main character was such a jerk!! It really got to me. Sorry, but when I read a book I prefer to look up to a character than look down on them. But, that being said, it made the story very unique.

I really like this book because it was funny but the first book has more comedy. Read the first book: highly recommended! Beat the Band is a book that a lot of teenage boys can relate to because we can relate through our relationships and dreams. Coop was a difficult character because he had attitude but not everyone is perfect. I recommend Beat the Band because it has more intensive plotting and romance.

Beat The Band by Don Calame is definitly a godo book to understand teen psyche and very true to it's core. Maybe not for all people, but some can definitly relate to the book. Personally, I felt a bit disappointed, because I had read the prequel to the book Swim The Fly. It really made me expect more for the next one. I think the change I felt with Sean was not something I expected. Stil lthe book was great!

Very funny but I think the first book was funnier than this one, although this one looks into social life more then the other one (which I like).

Never read a book like this before. Loved it and never expected it. I'd have to say it's one of the funniest books I've ever read. To be honest when I first saw the cover I wasn't too for the book. Obviously this is one of those cases where you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

This book was hilarious with an unexpected but funny main character. Parts of this book had me howling with laughter, and all of the characters were well thought out and realistic. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good laugh!

i really loved this book. coop is a hillarious character.

Were this book not on the White Pine list, I would have quit well before I got to page 50. That’s not to say that there isn’t some “good” to this book. It does address some serious issues: sex (especially safe sex); cliques; bullying; and the difficulties teens face negotiating the shark infested waters of the climb up the social ladder. BUT... this book is crude, rude, juvenile, full of foul mouthed boys with neolithic - no, neanderthal - attitudes towards girls and women. There is nothing funny about it. It is simply offensive. The characters are superficial, stereotypical and one-dimensional - with, perhaps, the exception of Helen. The longer I read, the more I disliked the narrator, Cooper Redmond. No matter that Cooper comes to his senses and achieves some kind of redemption, and receives forgiveness, at the end of the book. This doesn’t change the fact that he is an incredibly self-absorbed, manipulative, insensitive, peurile little jerk. Sorry (not really), but I don’t find that type hilarious. Au contraire. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not the absolute fact of the crude language or the toilet humour that bothers me. It’s the amount, and the fact that it is almost always gratuitous and, more often than not, objectifies women and/or their body parts... for laughs. So not funny. But even more than that, it’s the lack of authenticity. I mean let’s get serious. Does anyone actually speak like these guys do? And then there’s Dad! P.S.   A plea to the Forest of Reading selection committee:  Apparently, there is a third book coming (from Sean’s POV).  Please DO NOT put it on the White Pine list if it’s as “humourous” as this.  Spare us. This book is just cheap, tawdry. There is enough schlock out there for our young adults to find on their own, without it being championed in a sanctioned reading initiative. 

i loved this book but i would recommend reading swim the fly fisrt so that u can get the whole story alot better

This book was awesome! it was really funny. HILARIOUS!!!!!!!