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A review by calistareads
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki
4.0
This might be the first book I've read about practicing an instrument to be better. Hana is a young girl with a violin and she has entered her school talent show to play for everyone and she has only had 3 lessons so far.
I spent my youth around orchestras and bands and I know (argh, my review didn't save and I have to re-write it) how terrible beginning players can sound. Yet, those same beginners can go on to make beautiful music and touch your heart one day if they keep at it. Certain instruments are worse than others.
Hana grew up listening to her grandfather play his violin for everyone. He was the 2nd violin in an orchestra and he could make really cool sounds on his violin. She woke every morning to the sounds of his practicing. That's what is needed in a music is dedication to practice and hearing someone do that is something to learn. One of the big holes in the story is the grandfather. Is he dead? Does he live in another place? We don't know and the story alludes to his death, but it's not done well and leaves the reader in confusion.
Hana's brothers make fun of her and tell her that her performance will be a disaster. Kenji and Koji are typical brothers. She ignores them. I dated a Kenji once. He was a very good guy, but his dog was jealous and ate my shoe. Anyway.
I love the talent show and the book does a great job of sharing the pressure of standing before an audience about to play. I love how smart Hana is. Instead of playing a song, so plays all the sounds the violin can make that sound like animals. It's what she loved to hear her grandfather do. Even Kenji loved it. It's a great thing here.
Anyone that wants to pick up and instrument and learn to play would appreciate this story, I believe. It's a nice ode to music and the love of playing.
My other review had more, but this is what I can recreate of it.
I spent my youth around orchestras and bands and I know (argh, my review didn't save and I have to re-write it) how terrible beginning players can sound. Yet, those same beginners can go on to make beautiful music and touch your heart one day if they keep at it. Certain instruments are worse than others.
Hana grew up listening to her grandfather play his violin for everyone. He was the 2nd violin in an orchestra and he could make really cool sounds on his violin. She woke every morning to the sounds of his practicing. That's what is needed in a music is dedication to practice and hearing someone do that is something to learn. One of the big holes in the story is the grandfather. Is he dead? Does he live in another place? We don't know and the story alludes to his death, but it's not done well and leaves the reader in confusion.
Hana's brothers make fun of her and tell her that her performance will be a disaster. Kenji and Koji are typical brothers. She ignores them. I dated a Kenji once. He was a very good guy, but his dog was jealous and ate my shoe. Anyway.
I love the talent show and the book does a great job of sharing the pressure of standing before an audience about to play. I love how smart Hana is. Instead of playing a song, so plays all the sounds the violin can make that sound like animals. It's what she loved to hear her grandfather do. Even Kenji loved it. It's a great thing here.
Anyone that wants to pick up and instrument and learn to play would appreciate this story, I believe. It's a nice ode to music and the love of playing.
My other review had more, but this is what I can recreate of it.