Sylvie and the Songman

October 1, 2009
Gr 4-6-In this powerfully written fantasy, Sylvie, whose mother drowned a year ago, becomes concerned when strange events begin to happen. First, her beloved dog, Mr Jackson, loses his voice. Then, a note from one of her father's musical instruments causes an explosion. As she begins to notice that the usual animal sounds have vanished, her father, a musician and composer, disappears; a frightening man appears at her house; and a fox she sees each morning is no longer there. The sense of menace grows alarmingly when the terrifying Woodpecker Man attacks the house with Sylvie and her friend George inside. They figure out that he works for the Songman, whose plan is to capture and hold captive all the world's songs. The friends embark on a dangerous adventure to find Sylvie's father and save the world from the fate of silence. Binding has created rich and interesting characters in Sylvie's friend George, her dog, and the fox that bites Sylvie's hand, giving her the power to understand the language and thoughts of animals. Sylvie herself is a likable and spunky character, even if she is a little too self-sufficient to be entirely believable. While the action lags a little in some sections, Binding's rich language and multisensory descriptions of the world of animals are absorbing, and Sylvie's terror at discovering that she has enemies all around her will have readers on the edge of their seats."Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2009
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Bindings novel, sparsely and tantalizingly illustrated by Barrett, is the sort of story ripe to be visualized by Tim Burton, lacing a modern, pastoral British setting with quirky, nightmarish streaks. Sylvies composer father (who deigns to capture the music in between the notes were used to hearing) goes missing, and thats the first odd thing that interrupts her happy routine. Next, the animals seem to have lost their voices. The third is the arrival of the eerie, malevolent Woodpecker Mana silent villain as essential and exhilarating asa Wicked Witch in Ozwho stealsevery scene hes in. Sylvie and her clever but timid friend, George, set out in search of answers to questions they can barely frame, wanderingdeep into the unseen world of animals, threatened by the dual machinations of a shadowy mastermind, The Songman, and his henchman, the Woodpecker Man. The dense narrative is packed with surreal imagery that may slow down more action-oriented readers, but its a testament to Bindings assured writing that the abstractions become visceral thrills, like a dream you just cant shake. Binding might have attempted a bit too much in his debut outing, but the sheer force of what he realizes makes this an unforgettable tale, rife with thoughtful explorations of animal life, fascinating displays of instinctual communication, and breezy interpretations of the everyday magic we take for granted.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)