A review by rkw25
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

5.0

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 . . . . .