Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
A DEBUT BAND OF MISFITS WORTH ROOTING FOR: Melody may be a solo act, but in Cassette City, she’ll have to learn to play well with others—literally. This debut graphic novel is a celebration of community, creativity, and the courage it takes to put yourself out there.
90’S NOSTALGIA MEETS KID POWER: Skateboards, walkmans, arcade games, monster movies, Cassette City is a fantastical, analog world with major retro vibes and endless visual appeal.
HILARIOUS, HEARTFELT, AND HIGHLY RELATABLE: Behind the band practice and battle-of-the-bands banter, this is a story about friendship, self-expression, anxiety, and finding where you belong, even when it’s not where you expected.
FIRST IN A SERIES: Cassette City kicks off a world where the absurd and the emotional go hand-in-hand (Book 2 Fall 2027, Book 3 Winter/Spring 2028) Add the estimated pub date seasons (doesn’t matter if the books move seasons)
FROM AN ACCLAIMED ARTIST: Jarett Sitter brings his music-industry chops and love for skate culture, Saturday morning cartoons, and band posters to this irresistibly illustrated middle grade graphic novel.
FOR FANS OF: The Tryout and Rhymin’
SWEET SPOT READER RECOMMENDATION: 9+ years
LEVELING INFO: F-P Guided Code: T - Grade Five I. Lexile Code: Graphic Novel 470 L
“Full of funny, big-hearted beats, Cassette City proves friendship matters more than winning.” —Tegan Quin, Tegan and Sara
“Sitter’s unique art style makes the piece, going all-in on a retro indie aesthetic . . . Like a good mixtape, there’s a surprising variety of things to jam to here.”
—Booklist, 03/01/26
“In the sweet and lively graphic novel Ready, Cassette, Go!, a girl is reminded that life is not a solo act.”
—Foreword Reviews, 05/01/26
“Sitter’s art is masterful. A palette of burnt orange, teal, and muted gold channels peak-era alternative comics, while confident linework gives every character vivid, distinct personality . . . A sharp series opener, steeped in humor, heart, and nostalgia.”
—Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 04/06/26
“[T]he underdog story is a perennial favorite, and garage bands everywhere will appreciate the grit and determination of this little ragtag group.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 05/26
JARETT SITTER is an award-winning illustrator, animator, and artist with extensive experience creating artwork for magazines and the music industry. Jarett is based in Calgary, Alberta.