Today I'm excited to be hosting a spot
on the WE ARE THE SONG by Catherine Bakewell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Catherine Bakewell
Pub. Date: May 3, 2022
Publisher: Holiday House
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 304
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
A lush and beautiful fantasy set in a world where music is magic and the fate of many thrones lies with one girl...
Twelve-year-old Elissa has been raised in seclusion as a devotee of the Mother
Goddess. She is a special child, a blessed child, a child who can sing miracles
into being. Her voice can heal wounds, halt landslides, cure hunger--and even
end wars.
But there are those who would use her gift for darker things. And when Elissa
finds herself the farthest from home she's ever been--along with her vain and
jealous music tutor, Lucio--she will have to develop the judgment to decide who
wants to use her song to heal... and who wants to use her song to hurt.
Reviews:
"Elissa’s
desire to follow her divinely inspired abilities and overcome the barriers to
her musical ambitions echo women’s historical experiences in classical music. .
. . And constellations of race, sexuality, and gender expression lend richness
to an already unique world."—The Bulletin of the Center for
Children's Books
"This fast-paced fantasy is full of action and intrigue, taking place in a
war-torn world that still holds much beauty and magic. Readers will come to
love Elissa, who struggles with doubts as she faces heartbreak, tragedy, and
loneliness and tries to fight for what is right. An excellent addition to
middle-grade fantasy collections."—Booklist
"Fantasy fans will queue up for this delightful novel with its strong
female characters and carefully drawn fantasy world. . . . Fast packed action
will keep readers totally engaged. This captivating novel promises a good
future for this first-time author."—School Library Connection
"An exploration of devotion and finding one’s voice."—Kirkus
Reviews
My thoughts:
One of the first things that struck me about We Are the Song was how it reflects the authors love for music, nature, the arts and language. There's a very lyrical quality to her writing and I especially enjoyed the imagery it creates. Like this passage, "my voice hopped like a stone skipping across water..." Music is central to the story, we see it in the names of the cities (Acuto, Basso and Cadenza), the way the story was written into four movements, how musical terminology is infused into the story (trill, crescendo and vibrato) and how music is what creates the magic that allows Elissa to sing blessings that heal, stave off hunger, and even give comfort.
Elissa is such a wonderful character, she begins the story as this quiet girl, following the plan that was set to her by the Goddess Caé, realizing that her gift is to be a singer, not a scholar or composer. Then Elissa becomes like this flower gradually exploding into bloom as she gains her voice. She begins to question the people who are in power and asking her to perform for their own purposes, wanting to use the power of her songs to defeat their enemies. Even trying to tell her that it isn't her place to decide whether to sing or stay silent, that they know Goddess Caé's wishes better than she does. I so enjoyed that Elissa learns that the only voice she really needed to listen to was her own.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. How it touches on religion, spirituality, how if something doesn't set right with you, it's ok to question it. Although this wasn't a high stakes adventure as I expected it to be at first, the musical/lyrical writing made this a delight.
About Catherine Bakewell:
Catherine Bakewell is a writer, artist, and opera enthusiast. She has lived in Spain and in France, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. We Are the Song is her debut.
Sign up for Catherine’s newsletter!
Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of WE ARE THE SONG, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week Two:
|
5/9/2022 |
TikTok Review/IG Post |
|
|
5/9/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
5/10/2022 |
Review |
|
|
5/10/2022 |
Review |
|
|
5/11/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
5/11/2022 |
Review |
|
|
5/12/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
5/12/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
|
|
5/13/2022 |
Review |
|
|
5/13/2022 |
Review |
I haven't heard of this one before. I really like the cover and your review made me very curious about it. It sounds like the writing is just so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete