Calvin excels in chemistry and competes for a statewide research award. But when he responds to teachers and classmates who urge him to conduct the chorus , he loves it. His high school years are packed with challenges --- trying to understand his long time special friendship with Lucy, pursuing chemistry experiments, tutoring math in a precarious situation, losing his mother's attention as she considers a second marriage, and enjoying his love of music as he is introduced to conducting choirs and playing the organ. Calvin develops a method for thinking through problems and learns to respond by listening to and supporting his friends. Calvin enters college focused on STEM courses, yet is soon confronted with other choices.

Joy Douglass has been a public school music teacher at the high school, middle and elementary school levels. She is a graduate of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and holds a masters degree from Teachers College, Columbia University as well as a PhD in Music Education from The University of Michigan.

Joy is a life-long member of NAfME, ACDA,and has served on the Board of Chorus America. She is the author of two previous books, The Hum and the Buzz and CALVIN.