Sonata #1

January 1, 2004
Gr 5-8-Set in Cambridge, MA, in the early '60s, this novel, peopled by eccentric characters and narrated by 13-year-old Rachel Townsend, will grab readers' attention from the outset. Rachel's friend, Desmona, orchestrates the events spurred on by her philosophy that everyone is meant to do one extraordinary thing. Music is one of Rachel's escapes, but this outlet has been spoiled by her suspicions about her parents' rocky marriage, which she is trying to deny. Fighting for animal rights is Desmona's passion, and she organizes her friends and older brother, Riley, to save stray cats and to mount a protest in the school cafeteria. It is when they are suspended for this protest that Desmona galvanizes them to kidnap an elephant from a small zoo in the area. Though the plot becomes highly unlikely at this point, Stone's unique characters and their relationship impel readers to continue and discover the outcome. Unbelievably, the teens manage to hide the elephant for days. This act naturally becomes a cause celebre in the town, and Rachel is the one who cleverly and bravely brings the predicament to a close. Stone's lively prose style makes this a good read. The author's well-developed, multidimensional characters show a refreshing loyalty to one another. In spite of its bizarre plot, this story will find many fans.-Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2004
Gr. 5-8. In 1960s Boston, just before the Beatles' invasion of the U.S., 13-year-old Rachel and her small group of unconventional friends find escape from their family tensions. A neglected elephant at a run-down zoo gives Desmona, the group's ringleader, the idea for "one great deed." Together, the friends successfully "liberate" the animal. While in hiding, the kids reveal their secrets and fears, and Rachel returns home stronger and more confident. Rachel tells the story in a dramatic, lyrical voice, but her precocious poetry--trees are "shy and flirtatious," for example--and meandering, sometimes nonlinear structure may stop some readers. Even so, the main story will resonate with some kids; they'll appreciate Stone's use of appealing, vivid detail and her ability to create a cast of passionate, artistic, likable characters who struggle to overcome family pain and find their own strength.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)