Solo is a short story by award-winning filmmaker Marc Hampson. Nineteen-year-old Alex had created a band in his own garage. But his band, to whom he was attached as if they were his family, suddenly abandoned him, and worse, no one from his band spoke to him about it. Instead, they left him to find out this from a pop-up ad. Devastated, Alex takes his stepfather’s gun and his friend’s car. Driving at midnight to the show venue where his band was to perform, he notices a woman with dried blood in her hair in the road’s dead zone. Alex stops so she can get in. She gets in but can't remember her name. She is just out of the hospital, with a concussion and a butterfly bandage on her eyebrow. Who is she? And what will Alex do next?

Marc Hampson’s Solo impressed me with a powerful portrayal of the feelings and thoughts Alex and his injured companion were having as they drove to the show venue. I liked how the suspense built up and gradually revealed Alex’s background and the psychological trauma still affecting him since his childhood. Likewise, I appreciated his companion’s story. On a deeper literary level, the story impressed me with the symbolism of the broken guitar, a hummed melody, and the borrowed car and gun. I also appreciated how the story balanced action with the depth of the characters and packed so much meaning into such a short read. All in all, it is one of the most thought-provoking and atmospheric short stories I have read. I highly recommend it to young adults and older readers who like concise psychological roller coasters.

Solo by Marc Hampson delves into the raw emotions of Alex, a young musician who suddenly gets kicked out of his own band. It’s not just that they replaced him; they act as if he never existed. Abandonment isn’t new for Alex; his father took off years ago, and he’s been carrying that weight ever since. Still, music has always been his way through it all. He doesn’t just sing and play guitar; he finds rhythm and comfort in everything around him. Unfortunately, he discovers that his songs have been stolen and will be performed by someone else at an event. He angrily breaks a guitar, steals his stepfather's gun and car, and starts heading toward the music concert. On his way, he runs into a woman who looks like she has just survived a car crash and has a concussion. He decides to give her a ride, his world is turned upside down.

Solo offers readers a personal look at how the music industry exploits creative musicians. You can feel the sting of having your hard work stolen on every page of this book. Music and memory really steal the show here. They break through what we think we know and tap into something deeper, anchoring us in who we are. Marc Hampson keeps things suspenseful, weaving in just enough mystery to keep you hooked the whole time. The action takes place over one night, but he reveals the story bit by bit, making you anxious to see what comes next. Alex and Shannon change a lot as the night rolls on. You watch them slowly regain their sense of power and the grit they need to keep going. It’s moving to see how the story isn’t just about music. It is also about bouncing back, holding on to hope, and healing from pain. I really liked this book. If you’re drawn to stories where music isn’t just a soundtrack, but something that gives people identity and draws them together, you will probably love this one too.