Poets. Geniuses. Revolutionaries.
Five unlikely high-school freshmen form a band and discover how to use their music to push back — against rules, labels, and expectations that don’t fit.
Told through multiple voices, Lemonade Mouth follows Wen, Stella, Charlie, Olivia, and Mo as they find one another through detention and a shared sense that something about their world feels off. What begins as a joke becomes a band. What begins as noise becomes a movement.
Set in a high school where conformity is enforced and individuality is suspect, the story explores friendship, creativity, and what it means to be heard when you’re young and the world feels loud.
Widely read in classrooms and libraries, Lemonade Mouth earned numerous awards and honors, and was adapted into a Disney Channel Original Movie. At its heart, it’s a story about not giving up — and discovering the power of using our collective voices.
Critical Response
“A rock-and-roll THE BREAKFAST CLUB for the literary set… an enjoyable romp that touches on wide-ranging themes… a believable and heartwarming story… Readers will delight in watching these well-developed characters stand up for what they believe in and, in the end, learn who they are.”
— Publishers Weekly
“A work with as much soul as Lemonade Mouth’s music.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Fiendishly clever. Funny in all the right places and ultimately a meaningful story.”
— Alison Morris, ShelfTalker
“Laugh-out-loud funny… Hughes’s writing has an offbeat honesty… one of those unusual novels you can recommend to every reader with a clean conscience.”
— Kristen McLean, Executive Director, Association of Booksellers for Children
“…a refreshing read… a comical story that will keep teens reading until the last page… the perfect addition to any collection.”
— VOYA
“Will make readers laugh… They’ll care about the characters, too.”
— The Seattle Times
What does Lemonade Mouth actually sound like?
“Everyday Monsters” was created in response to readers asking that exact question. This track brings the band described in the novels to life—Wen’s trumpet, Mohini’s standup double-bass played with a bow, Charlie’s wall of percussion, Stella’s electric ukulele, and Olivia’s raspy, soulful voice.
Vocals: Olivia (Tami Burns), Percussion: Charlie (Eguie Castrillo), Bass: Mohini (Craig Fowler), Trumpet: Wen (Steve Curley), Electric Ukulele: Stella (Andy McKenna), Additional Vocals: Mo, Stella, Charlie (Beth Fowler, Karen Sasky Hughes, Mark Peter Hughes), Music & Lyrics: Mark Peter Hughes. Recording at CBRockers Studios, Rye NH