We Are the Song
- Subject
- Fantasy & Magic
- Age
- 6-8 years
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Holiday House, Incorporated
- Size
- 14.2 cm × 20.1 cm
- ISBN
- 9780823453375
A lush and beautiful fantasy set in a world where music is magic and the fate of many thrones lies with one girl…
"Excellent."—Booklist
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.
In this astonishing debut—perfect for music lovers—Catherine Bakewell presents not only a wholly unique musical magic system, but a sumptuous baroque world filled with soaring basilicas, gilded palaces, dazzling food, and snow-piled wildernesses. It is a world both beautiful and treacherous, with a fiercely determined girl blazing brightly at its center. Can a lone voice change the world?
“Spellbinding.”—The Horn Book
“Beguiling.”—Publishers Weekly
“Unique.”—BCCB
“Captivating.”—School Library Connection
“Enthralling.”—YA Books Central
“Alluring.”—School Library Journal
"Excellent."—Booklist
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.
In this astonishing debut—perfect for music lovers—Catherine Bakewell presents not only a wholly unique musical magic system, but a sumptuous baroque world filled with soaring basilicas, gilded palaces, dazzling food, and snow-piled wildernesses. It is a world both beautiful and treacherous, with a fiercely determined girl blazing brightly at its center. Can a lone voice change the world?
“Spellbinding.”—The Horn Book
“Beguiling.”—Publishers Weekly
“Unique.”—BCCB
“Captivating.”—School Library Connection
“Enthralling.”—YA Books Central
“Alluring.”—School Library Journal
Data provided by BiblioShare.
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What reviewers said
"Bakewell’s beguiling debut—brimming with high-stakes adventure, expansive worldbuilding, and a uniquely detailed magical system—steadily crescendos to a gratifying conclusion."
"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."
"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."
"Bakewell crafts a spellbinding narrative."
"An alluring fantasy exploring the influence of music, the importance of listening to one’s own voice, and knowing who your friends are."
"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."
