The book Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee is about a girl named Cline who dreams of being a singer/ songwriter. However, her mother doesn’t believe that being a musician is a suitable profession that would allow Cline to make a living. In this book Cline finds many new friends that help in unexpected ways, while, sadly, losing her best friend. Cline’s employer Mrs. Yune, her teacher Mrs. Johnson, and her partner Sylvie all help her in various ways. 

Mrs. Yune first employs Cline to babysit children at the church nursery. Even though Cline doesn’t attend church, Mrs. Yune happily lets Cline take the job because they have a lack of employees. This is helpful to Cline because the music camp she wants to attend has a high fee and her mother is not willing to pay for it. Later, when Cline is going to leave the camp, because she doesn’t have enough money, Mrs. Yune helpfully gives Cline money she was saving up so Cline could fulfill her dream. Mrs. Yune also comforts Cline after her best friend, Hollie, rejects her. Mrs. Yune is a very important character in this book, even if she is not the main character.

Cline’s music class is taught by Mrs. Johnson, a well trained and famous musician. Mrs. Johnson teaches Cline how to write songs and music. She allows Cline to join the class, even when she doesn’t yet have all the money for it. Finally, when Cline’s mother was not going to allow her to continue the class, Mrs. Johnson visited their house and convinced her mother to let Cline to stay. Mrs. Johnson helped a lot with Clines musical journey.

Sylvie is Cline’s partner in the music class and her friend. When Cline and Sylvie first met, Sylvie was in a bad mood, but at the next class the girls become good friends and connect through music. Sylvie was a big help to Cline when Hollie wasn’t being a good friend by comforting her and making her laugh. With their special connection they make a beautiful song and win a competition. The two girls quickly fell for each other, which was Cline’s main inspiration for their audition song. Their strong connection played a major part in the story, by not only helping them both find who they are, but also connecting them in a way only music could express.

Though these characters didn’t have major roles in this story they still were helpful to Cline. Whether they were comforting her, teaching her, or loving her they changed a lot of Cline’s life for the better.

Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.