← Back

✦ Reading card

The Power of Harmony

by Jan L. Coates
Cover of The Power of Harmony
Genre
Novel
Finished
Sep 28, 2026
Rating
The whole book in one line…
Melody is new at Jenn’s school, and is the new bully victim. Then an unexpected friendship happens.

Think it through

Q5In their shoes

Why did the character do what they did? What were they thinking or feeling that made it make sense to them — even if you’d have done it differently?

Jimmy stole stuff from people and gave them presents to make up. It was because he ran away from his bad school and was hiding from the police. If he didn’t steal, he would have died, but I still think he should have found another way to survive.

Make it yours

Q13Book buddies

What other book, movie, or show does this remind you of? Do they agree with each other, or would they argue?

Like Lucky Broken Girl, this book is set in the 1960s. Both books got the song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra. Both Sarah, Danielle and Ruthie is seen wearing go-go boots.

Think it through

Q7Real life

What problem in the book reminds you of something real in the world today? Is it exactly the same, or does the book make you see it in a new way?

In the book, Sarah and her friends bully Melody because she is Indian. This connects to racism. In the real world, people are still mean to Black people and it is unfair. The book also shows us what a lot of people think about the Syliboy family. For example, Sarah, Nanny, and Jenn.

↔ Book buddy: Lucky Broken Girl