Gone Viral

For fans of the Legendary Alston Boys, an uproarious contemporary adventure story with a dash of fantasy about two friends who start a non-singing duo, go viral, and become unlikely international rock stars, bringing mindfulness to the middle school masses.

At Visalia Middle School, nothing exciting ever happens. For Jason and Sean, eating candy at recess and dreaming of a future filled with fame and fortune is usually the highlight of their day. But when Sean stumbles across a video of a composer’s deliberately silent performance piece, the boys come up with an idea for a musical act that performs non-songs. And when a video of their first concert goes viral, the duo suddenly finds their dreams of stardom coming true—despite their lack of any musical talent.

Soon they’re off on a globe-trotting adventure where, with the help of a cockatiel translator and an eleven-year-old talent agent, they unintentionally popularize the concept of quiet mindfulness and discover that fame can be fickle, but friendship is forever.

"Gone Viral mixes fantasy and adventure with a seemingly endless supply of wild plot turns. This satirical take on what it means to be famous will have readers chuckling." - Booklist

"Action and humor are packed into every page. . . . Lively, entertaining illustrations showcase the racially diverse cast. An imaginative, madcap escape." - Kirkus Reviews

"Two California seventh graders become famous for performing “non-music silence” in this madcap wish-fulfillment novel by Soto (Puppy Love)."

- Publishers Weekly

"Action and humor are packed into every page. . . . Lively, entertaining illustrations showcase the racially diverse cast. An imaginative, madcap escape." - Kirkus Reviews