About the Author

Simon French had his first novel published at the age of eighteen. Since then, he has written numerous books for young readers that have earned critical acclaim and awards. French is a teacher, and the characters in his stories often develop from the children he has worked with. He lives in Australia.

Reviews

"A quietly told story about relationships between a boy and his grandfather (Opa) and between music and memories. . . A slow voice weaving between past and present characterizes this thoughtful piece about music, family, and memories."—Kirkus Reviews

★ "An unusual and gripping coming-of-age story. . . This well-constructed novel challenges readers to think about their own families, talents, and 'where in the world' they might be."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"This is one of the few novels for the age group that handles the topic of music with a musician's sensibility. . . The lyrical writing style suits the theme of musical improvisation in a story that's poignant without being overly sentimental."—Booklist

"Australian author French's sensitively observed novel offers up quiet notes of joy while conveying the pain of a fatherless child. . . The understated prose sets off the thunderousness of the emotions, and French, who avoids tearjerking, wins readers fair and square with a tender approach-as well as a protagonist who grows immensely."—Publishers Weekly

Australian author French's (All We Know) sensitively observed novel offers up quiet notes of joy while conveying the pain of a fatherless child. Narrator Ari and his mother have moved from Germany to Australia, where his mother owns a small caf?. Ari was three when his father died, and now struggles between yearning for memories of his father ("My dad lived in a small photo," he states) and acceptance of his stepfather, a good man who loves him and allows him his personal space. Two things bring Ari joy-his music, a force that emerges on the page as Ari shifts from player to fledgling composer, and his beloved Opa (grandfather), who is also his mentor and teacher. Opa's death plunges Ari into a dark, anguished period of questioning his love for music. The narrative oscillates between Ari's recollections of traveling throughout Europe with his mother at ages six and eight, and different points in Ari's life in Australia, where Ari gradually learns to share his music with those around him. The understated prose sets off the thunderousness of the emotions, and French, who avoids tear- jerking, wins readers fair and square with a tender approach-as well as a protagonist who grows immensely. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

"A quietly told story about relationships between a boy and his grandfather (Opa) and between music and memories. . . A slow voice weaving between past and present characterizes this thoughtful piece about music, family, and memories."-Kirkus Reviews

"An unusual and gripping coming-of-age story. . . This well-constructed novel challenges readers to think about their own families, talents, and 'where in the world' they might be."-School Library Journal, Starred Review

"This is one of the few novels for the age group that handles the topic of music with a musician's sensibility. . . The lyrical writing style suits the theme of musical improvisation in a story that's poignant without being overly sentimental."-Booklist

"Australian author French's sensitively observed novel offers up quiet notes of joy while conveying the pain of a fatherless child. . . The understated prose sets off the thunderousness of the emotions, and French, who avoids tearjerking, wins readers fair and square with a tender approach-as well as a protagonist who grows immensely."-Publishers Weekly