Orion Casey lives for music, but she won’t sing in public. She developed a phobia after her frenemy, Melissa Rae, and her minions openly mocked Orion’s singing voice. So while Melissa Rae takes the spotlight in their school’s musical production, Orion is just fine working backstage. Her self-esteem gets a welcome boost from an unlikely source: anonymous text messages signed J. They’re complimentary and encouraging: “You are strong! You are fearless! And super talented.” Orion can’t help but think (and hope) that those texts are from Jesse, the guy she’s crushing on. He always says hello, and he’s even given her the nickname Red, after her fire-emoji-hued hair. Best of all, he sings and plays guitar, just like Orion. She’s overjoyed when she gets the chance to play music with Jesse and considers rethinking her no-singing-in-public rule. But if Jesse isn’t J, then who’s been sending all those texts, and why? Orion’s quirky first-person narration gives DaVeiga’s book a sense of buoyancy. She notes that Melissa Rae has someone wrapped around her “press-on-nailed finger”; Orion goes through a “zillion emotions” in a matter of seconds. She’s an immensely likable protagonist, although her best friend, Izzy, nearly steals the story; Izzy is funny, fiercely loyal, and knows how to draw out a big revelation. Other characters show depth as well—Orion’s and Izzy’s families share history, and Jesse eventually drops some particulars about his “mysterious past.” The author deftly portrays the world of middle school, with potential bullies, hallway interactions, and social media providing much fuel for the story. The one downside to this novella is that it’s over too soon; thankfully, sequels will follow.