The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb was not on my radar, but after seeing a glowing review of it on Instagram, I immediately placed a hold at my library. Read on for my synopsis and book review:
Synopsis
Ray has always loved to play music. Despite little support from his mom or teachers, he pushed himself to become better and better. His grandmother, who always supported him, gifted him his great-great-grandfather’s violin. As Ray begins a career in music, he discovers that his violin is actually a priceless Stradivarius violin. As he is preparing for the world’s most prestigious musical competition, someone steals his violin.
Details/Review
- The story begins with the violin being stolen, and jumps between past and present.
- While this is technically a story about the missing violin, it was more of a coming-of-age tale. It focuses on Ray’s character, the challenges he faces, and how he overcomes them.
- Slocumb does a great job showing the reader how difficult it is for a person of color to get their foot in the door (let alone excel) in the world of classical music.
- I was seriously shocked by some of the racism Ray faced in this book. Slocumb shares in his author’s note that many of the events that happen to him are taken from his real life. This makes the story all the more important.
- Read this if you enjoy music or ever played an instrument yourself. Slocumb is a musician himself, and his knowledge really shows throughout the story.
- I correctly predicted who stole the violin and thought the explanation of it was a bit rushed at the end, hence the four-star rating.
- I loved the message of calling out wrongs, but also acting with kindness and respect.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You can buy The Violin Conspiracy by clicking here or by visiting your local bookstore. ☻