Home is Where The Violin Is
Good afternoon everyone! Where I live it is cold and snowy outside and I am currently having a snow day off from school. So that being said I am writing this post in the warmth of my room. I hope you all woke up today with sunshine and a good book in hand. The book I am reviewing today is now one of my all-time favorite reads. I found this book (or my mom did) at a small, local used book sale. The book is… Mountain Solo by Jeanette Ingold!!!! You guys have probably no clue what book I am talking about, but trust me on this, it is a great read. I was surprised by how much I loved this book because I originally thought that it was going to be one of those old books that you fall asleep halfway through. But I was wrong! This novel was phenomenal. The storyline was interesting and intriguing. The author’s smooth writing style carried the story along nicely. One thing I found really interesting about this novel was the way it was structured. It would constantly flip back and forth between three time periods. You had the present day main character, the younger version of the main character, and a time set in 1905 that somehow connected to the present day. Even though the times and settings were all over the place it gave this book a unique twist. This was definitely a 5 star novel and for kids at the age of 11 and up. There are not many tricky words but in the 1905 time setting there were a few old-timey phrases and expressions. Oh! I also forgot to mention that if you are a musical junkie like me then you will love this book. I am a violinist so I could relate to a lot of the musical terms in this book. I suggest this book to anyone, but specifically to anyone who plays an instrument!
Mountain Solo starts off with Fredrick in 1905 in South Dakota. His father wanted him to learn to play the violin but Friedrick protested. Sadly, his mother fell ill and passed away. Months later his father suddenly perished in a careless accident. Fredrick was left with only his horse and his father’s old violin. Fredrick was sent away to his Uncle’s farm in Montana to help with chores and work. Then we move to Tess. Tess is a young, teenage violin prodigy who attends a big music school in New York. She is visiting her father, step-mother, and step-sister, Amy, in Rattlesnake, Montana. She realizes how much she misses the mountains and beautiful forests and is even considering staying and not going back to New York. For her entire life, her mom has pushed and pushed her to become this amazing violinist. Tess has succeeded in becoming a great performer and musician but that’s not what she wants. She wants to have a normal life and not be pressured by anyone. While all of this is unraveling, Tessie (Tess’s younger self), explores her early years while growing up in New York and the pressure her mom put on her. Check out Mountain Solo by Jeanette Ingold and Happy Early Christmas!
Merry Reading!
Evelyn Harrier
Mountain Solo starts off with Fredrick in 1905 in South Dakota. His father wanted him to learn to play the violin but Friedrick protested. Sadly, his mother fell ill and passed away. Months later his father suddenly perished in a careless accident. Fredrick was left with only his horse and his father’s old violin. Fredrick was sent away to his Uncle’s farm in Montana to help with chores and work. Then we move to Tess. Tess is a young, teenage violin prodigy who attends a big music school in New York. She is visiting her father, step-mother, and step-sister, Amy, in Rattlesnake, Montana. She realizes how much she misses the mountains and beautiful forests and is even considering staying and not going back to New York. For her entire life, her mom has pushed and pushed her to become this amazing violinist. Tess has succeeded in becoming a great performer and musician but that’s not what she wants. She wants to have a normal life and not be pressured by anyone. While all of this is unraveling, Tessie (Tess’s younger self), explores her early years while growing up in New York and the pressure her mom put on her. Check out Mountain Solo by Jeanette Ingold and Happy Early Christmas!
Merry Reading!
Evelyn Harrier
