4.07 AVERAGE

inspiring mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Superb.
emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I gave this book four stars because I am a violinist, so the subject matter interested me. Also, Slocumb references someone I know in the book, which was a delightful surprise. The story moves along at a good clip. If I was not as interested in the music part, I would probably give it 3 stars, as it is not particularly literary. But if you like mystery, you will probably enjoy this book.
adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective relaxing tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

First book in a while that I have wanted to skip work and read!

Brendan's ability to weave Ray's emotion around the violin and all its significance while also bring readers with limited orchestra background along is amazing.

3.5 stars. This is more a coming of age tale and less mystery, but a good story nonetheless. Slocumb, a classical musician himself, highlights disparities in classical field for black musicians.

Started out great but took a wrong turn rather quickly. The family dynamics became almost unbearable to read after a while and the main character became rather annoying due to his immaturity, hot headedness & flip/flop attitude. I didn't find his character believable after a while, considering the opportunities he was given. I'm guessing it's received it great reviews because it's considered "woke"???
hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

To my mind, this book deserves all the good press it is getting. Brendan Slocumb has a story to tell, much of it from his own experience as a Black musician. His main character comes out of a home where music is not appreciated growing up, except by Grandma Nora who eventually gives Ray the violin that was passed down by her grandfather. With the help of a wise college music teacher, Ray makes his way after graduation to prepare for the world-famous Tchaikovsky Competition with the family violin which has been discovered to be a priceless Stradivarius. With his family wanting money on one side (except for dear Aunt Rochelle), the slaveowner's family claiming ownership of the instrument on the other, what is Ray to do when the instrument he truly loves is stolen six weeks before the competition? How was it stolen when he never let it out of his sight? Can his family ease off? Will he have to play the competition with a substitute instrument? Where is the envelope he saw back in high school with his great-great-grandfather's name on it--and will it help determine the ownership? In these days when we truly need to hear each other's stories, Slocumb challenges us to open up the parts of the world that are still too often closed to Black youth and young adults.

I tend to read author's acknowledgements before I read the book, to get a sense of them as persons. In this case I also read the author's note which I recommend--Slocumb begins "Music is for everyone," hints at the difficulties still present for black musicians, particularly in the classical world, and ends "Together we are a symphony." (Can you guess he has taught school music for more than twenty years?). This is an author who knows the power of both music and words and how to weave them together. I look forward to reading his next book. And if there could be a soundtrack for this book . . . . .