Hello! I'm Afoma.
  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · August 12, 2022

Review | Duet

Book Review - Duet

Summary: Duet by Elise Broach

In Duet, we meet a young goldfish, Mirabelle. Mirabelle lives with her mother and brothers in a nest next to a piano teacher’s house. Mr. Starek, the piano teacher, is now aged but has received a new student, Jin, who does not seem pleased to be taking lessons from Mr. Starek. After weeks of reluctance, Jin starts to play, and surprisingly, Mirabelle joins in, forcing Jin to notice her. Soon, the two begin to create duets together during Jin’s practice sessions. When Jin and Mirabelle find out that Mr. Starek’s late sister might have a special piano in her foreclosed home, they band together in a new way to investigate and solve a decades-old mystery about Frederick Chopin’s piano.

The Good

I don’t like most “animal books,” so I fully expected to be meh about this one, but boy was I surprised! I think two things made the difference for me with this one. First, the writing is really lovely — it’s charming, very classic-style, and enjoyable to read. Second, I had no idea where the story was going until we were well into the second half. The mystery kept me flipping the pages.

Another high point is that the story includes interesting goldfinch facts interspersed throughout. As unrealistic as it sounds, it’s also not magical realism — although it does require some suspension of disbelief. I loved watching Jin and Mirabelle bond (without her needing to talk). It was also fun because the story is told from Mirabelle’s perspective and I enjoyed her observations about the world around her.

There’s some history about music and Chopin, but I’d hate to give anything away. Finally, the book includes illustrations (around one or two per chapter), and I think it’d make a fantastic readaloud pick.

Overall: Duet by Elise Broach

Duet by Elise Broach is an enrapturing, unique story about music, friendship, history and birds — especially goldfinches. If you like unusual stories told from the perspective of animals, you’ll enjoy this one!


Buy This Book

Duet

buy on amazon

More Book Reviews

  • Across the Pond by Joy McCullogh
  • 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr
  • Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi

Don't Forget to Share!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Related

Posted In: Book Reviews, Middle-Grade

Join My Newsletter

Like what you just read? Sign up for my Friday kidlit newsletter!

Privacy Policy

You’ll Also Love

Review | Tokyo Ever After
Graphic Novel Review | Pawcasso
REVIEW | WONTON TERROR

What do you think? Leave a comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

Picture Books About Indian Culture

About Me
Hi, I'm Afoma! Thank you for stopping by. Learn more about me here.

Get 2 Months Free on Scribd


Follow on Bloglovin’

Follow

We’re Social Too!

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Stock photos courtesy of our partners at DepositPhotos 📸
✨a suspenseful middle grade book✨ ✨chapter books worth reading!✨ Welcoming a second baby? Here’s a delightful picture book with tips for big kids. Although there’s more text in this one than I’d like for a typical picture book, I love that the information is factual and can be very helpful for parents tackling these specific questions with their big kids ❤️ ❓What happened to Rachel Riley❓ As much as I love new releases, I like to make room in my reading plans for books released a couple (or more) years before. Here’s my current backlist stack for 2023. ✨life’s easier when you can be yourself ✨
  • Blog
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Reading Middle Grade · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...