Publishers Weekly
★ 04/11/2022
Narrated by Mirabelle, a goldfinch with an exceptional voice, this soulful story set near Boston offers a bird’s-eye view of three friends bound together by their passion for music. Mirabelle loves to listen to her once-famous pianist neighbor Mr. Starek, an emigrant from Poland, play the piano; he, in turn, delights in her singing. But when his sister dies, Mr. Starek grows despondent and ill until he takes on new student Michael Jin, who reads as East Asian, a rising sixth grader preparing for an upcoming Chopin competition that could “open doors.” Michael is initially reluctant to play, but when he does, his talent astonishes both Mirabelle and Mr. Starek. Over the next few weeks, Mirabelle attends the lessons, performing duets with Michael, learning the history of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin alongside that of French author George Sand and French painter Eugene Delacroix, and becoming involved in a mystery regarding a very old, very valuable piano. Rich with facts around goldfinches and music, Broach’s (the Masterpiece Adventure series) novel employs vivid descriptions (“It comes in a torrent, a rush of silvery notes cascading over one another”), unique characters, and carefully crafted suspense. Occasional b&w illustrations by Chen (Dancing with Daddy) depict the characters. Ages 8–12. (May)
From the Publisher
Praise for Duet: An Amazon Best Book of the Month A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection * "Narrated by Mirabelle, a goldfinch with an exceptional voice, this soulful story set near Boston offers a bird’s-eye view of three friends bound together by their passion for music…. Rich with facts around goldfinches and music, Broach’s (the Masterpiece Adventure series) novel employs vivid descriptions (“It comes in a torrent, a rush of silvery notes cascading over one another”), unique characters, and carefully crafted suspense."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "The story involves a treasure hunt, but it revolves around the characters’ love of music and the sense of wonder that it inspires . . . Mirabelle’s lively, accessible first-person narrative offers a fresh perspective on the lives of birds and keen perception of the human characters. . . . This captivating chapter book is perfect for readers who, like Mirabelle, are sometimes spellbound by music."—Booklist, starred review
"This story illustrates an appreciation for excellence and the passion to create music just for the joy of it. A quick and interesting musical read, full of history and mystery."—Kirkus Reviews
"Mirabelle, a goldfinch with a sparkling personality, narrates this engaging music-focused mystery con brio…. Broach gives her heroine true self-determination and emotional growth."—The Horn Book
"This touching novel explores themes of family, friendship, loss, art, and music through the perspective of a bubbly but reflective narrator."—School Library Journal
"The prose is as lyrical as the themes.... Broach's latest invention celebrates the unique ways we each find to sing and the journey through which we turn our individual notes into the harmony of collective song."—La Crosse County Library, La Crosse County, WI
Praise for Masterpiece: ALA Notable Children's Books Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year ABC E.B. White Read Aloud Award CCBC Choice (Univ. of WI)Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Master ListIllinois Bluestem Book Award Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List Indiana Read Alouds Too Good to Miss Master List Iowa Children's Choice Award Master List Kansas State Reading Circle Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Maser List Nebraska Golden Sower Award Master List Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List * “Inventive.... Broach...packs this fast-moving story with perennially seductive themes: hidden lives and secret friendships, miniature worlds lost to disbelievers.... Broach and Kelly show readers something new.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This marvelous story is sure to be a hit."
—School Library Journal
Praise for The Wolf Keeper's: * "Broach’s intrepid protagonists engage in sleuthing expeditions—moments Ratteree captures in evocative pencil illustrations of human interactions with the natural world.... A gratifying, thought-provoking tale."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
School Library Journal
08/19/2022
Gr 3–7—Narrator Mirabelle's positive (and slightly sassy) disposition is inviting from the first sentence, as she befriends a boy taking piano lessons from the music teacher whose backyard she lives in. Mirabelle is a goldfinch who loves singing more than anything and is fascinated by the talented new student. Michael is naturally gifted but reluctant to play because he is upset about having to leave behind a beloved former teacher; missing his father, who is working away from home; and nervous about starting middle school in the fall. However, when there are no adults in the music room, the goldfinch sings while he plays, and they develop a special bond. Before long, Mirabelle has become Michael's good luck charm, and he feels like he cannot play without her, which complicates his preparations for a music festival featuring works of the Polish composer Chopin. Meanwhile, Mirabelle's world is rocked when her mother lays three new eggs, meaning she and her brothers will have to start being more independent. The narrative pace is meandering with low stakes, until action picks up in the last quarter of the book as the music teacher becomes ill and light is shed on the mystery of a missing piano. An author's note clarifies which details on goldfinches and Chopin are factual and which are embellishments. Students with some experience in vocal or musical instrument performance will no doubt be drawn in by the shop talk as both bird and boy learn to broaden their horizons. VERDICT This touching novel explores themes of family, friendship, loss, art, and music through the perspective of a bubbly but reflective narrator. Recommended for large fiction collections.—Lauren Younger
Kirkus Reviews
2022-03-02
A singing goldfinch becomes a musical muse for a young piano prodigy.
Mirabelle, a young female goldfinch who loves music, closely watches the home of Mr. Starek, a gifted piano teacher. One day, a tween boy named Michael Jin arrives, clearly against his wishes. The boy refuses to play for the esteemed teacher, who is supposed to help Michael prepare for the prestigious Chopin Festival in Hartford. Broach unfurls a shy dance between boy and bird, as Mirabelle’s curiosity helps Michael, who presents as East Asian American, reveal his precocious talent. When Michael plays Chopin’s Minute Waltz, Mirabelle, perched in a tree outside the window, begins to sing along, inspiring both to perform beyond their expectations. This creates a musical friendship that leads them to the mystery of Chopin’s lost piano. Readers learn about the historical friendship among three geniuses: Frédéric Chopin; his muse, the writer George Sand; and painter Eugene Delacroix. A dilapidated house stuffed with treasures holds a rare piano that brings forth the duo’s best performances, but will the bank take the house and all its contents away? Glimpses of bird life provide a lighthearted balance to the fine details of musicality and piano virtuosity. This story illustrates an appreciation for excellence and the passion to create music just for the joy of it. Final art not seen.
A quick and interesting musical read, full of history and mystery. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)
