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thelittlerusticreader's review against another edition
Over the Christmas holidays, I finally dove into Music for Tigers by Michelle Kadarusman. It’s not one of my regular genres (middle-grade fiction) but something about the description called to me when I first requested it. Now, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’m an almost 40-year-old woman. I’m not in middle school. I’m not even sure my children still qualify as middle-school-aged (although I think if J. gave this one a chance, he’d enjoy it.) All that being said, I’m not the target audience for this book, and still, it mesmerized me.
There is a reason Kadarusman is a Governor General’s Literary Award finalist and this title was issued the JLG Gold Standard. It’s poignant and eloquent, simple without pandering, and absolutely engaging. Touching on issues of conservation, extinction, family roots, secrets, bullying, and neurodiversity, it’s a heart-warming richly crafted novel for the young (but not too young) reader. I think it was absolutely brilliant (and may gift some copies to elementary teachers I know!)
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Note: Amazon’s recommended age level is 8 – 12, grade level 4 – 7
There is a reason Kadarusman is a Governor General’s Literary Award finalist and this title was issued the JLG Gold Standard. It’s poignant and eloquent, simple without pandering, and absolutely engaging. Touching on issues of conservation, extinction, family roots, secrets, bullying, and neurodiversity, it’s a heart-warming richly crafted novel for the young (but not too young) reader. I think it was absolutely brilliant (and may gift some copies to elementary teachers I know!)
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Note: Amazon’s recommended age level is 8 – 12, grade level 4 – 7
kleonard's review
1.0
In this novel, a young violinist gets sent to Australia for the summer, where she learns that her family protects animals thought to be extinct. I had a lot of problems with this book. The plot is a mostly fine, but the narrator is pretty unlikeable and doesn't get any better; there's an autistic character about whom everyone talks, but is rarely allowed to speak for himself; the music terminology is off; and none of the characters are more than cardboard cut-outs. I'm used to writers screwing up musical things (no musician ever says "I'm going to go practice my musical scales."), but I'm very unhappy about the way the autistic character is created and treated. Adults speak about him right in front of him; his mom asks the narrator to befriend him; even the narrator ends up speaking for him instead of letting him speak in situations. It's infuriating and hurts autistics (like me). In the endnotes, the author acknowledges a special ed teacher: is that the only person she spoke with in writing an autistic character? Did she talk to autistic kids? Having an autistic character is great; using one as nothing more than a plot device or teaching tool is bad.
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