Duet

March 15, 2022
A singing goldfinch becomes a musical muse for a young piano prodigy. Mirabelle, a young female goldfinch who loves music, closely watches the home of Mr. Starek, a gifted piano teacher. One day, a tween boy named Michael Jin arrives, clearly against his wishes. The boy refuses to play for the esteemed teacher, who is supposed to help Michael prepare for the prestigious Chopin Festival in Hartford. Broach unfurls a shy dance between boy and bird, as Mirabelle's curiosity helps Michael, who presents as East Asian American, reveal his precocious talent. When Michael plays Chopin's Minute Waltz, Mirabelle, perched in a tree outside the window, begins to sing along, inspiring both to perform beyond their expectations. This creates a musical friendship that leads them to the mystery of Chopin's lost piano. Readers learn about the historical friendship among three geniuses: Fr�d�ric Chopin; his muse, the writer George Sand; and painter Eugene Delacroix. A dilapidated house stuffed with treasures holds a rare piano that brings forth the duo's best performances, but will the bank take the house and all its contents away? Glimpses of bird life provide a lighthearted balance to the fine details of musicality and piano virtuosity. This story illustrates an appreciation for excellence and the passion to create music just for the joy of it. Final art not seen. A quick and interesting musical read, full of history and mystery. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

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Starred review from April 11, 2022
Narrated by Mirabelle, a goldfinch with an exceptional voice, this soulful story set near Boston offers a bird’s-eye view of three friends bound together by their passion for music. Mirabelle loves to listen to her once-famous pianist neighbor Mr. Starek, an emigrant from Poland, play the piano; he, in turn, delights in her singing. But when his sister dies, Mr. Starek grows despondent and ill until he takes on new student Michael Jin, who reads as East Asian, a rising sixth grader preparing for an upcoming Chopin competition that could “open doors.” Michael is initially reluctant to play, but when he does, his talent astonishes both Mirabelle and Mr. Starek. Over the next few weeks, Mirabelle attends the lessons, performing duets with Michael, learning the history of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin alongside that of French author George Sand and French painter Eugene Delacroix, and becoming involved in a mystery regarding a very old, very valuable piano. Rich with facts around goldfinches and music, Broach’s (the Masterpiece Adventure series) novel employs vivid descriptions (“It comes in a torrent, a rush of silvery notes cascading over one another”), unique characters, and carefully crafted suspense. Occasional b&w illustrations by Chen (Dancing with Daddy) depict the characters. Ages 8–12.

August 19, 2022

Gr 3-7-Narrator Mirabelle's positive (and slightly sassy) disposition is inviting from the first sentence, as she befriends a boy taking piano lessons from the music teacher whose backyard she lives in. Mirabelle is a goldfinch who loves singing more than anything and is fascinated by the talented new student. Michael is naturally gifted but reluctant to play because he is upset about having to leave behind a beloved former teacher; missing his father, who is working away from home; and nervous about starting middle school in the fall. However, when there are no adults in the music room, the goldfinch sings while he plays, and they develop a special bond. Before long, Mirabelle has become Michael's good luck charm, and he feels like he cannot play without her, which complicates his preparations for a music festival featuring works of the Polish composer Chopin. Meanwhile, Mirabelle's world is rocked when her mother lays three new eggs, meaning she and her brothers will have to start being more independent. The narrative pace is meandering with low stakes, until action picks up in the last quarter of the book as the music teacher becomes ill and light is shed on the mystery of a missing piano. An author's note clarifies which details on goldfinches and Chopin are factual and which are embellishments. Students with some experience in vocal or musical instrument performance will no doubt be drawn in by the shop talk as both bird and boy learn to broaden their horizons. VERDICT This touching novel explores themes of family, friendship, loss, art, and music through the perspective of a bubbly but reflective narrator. Recommended for large fiction collections.-Lauren Younger

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2022
Mirabelle, a goldfinch with a sparkling personality, narrates this engaging music-focused mystery con brio. She attributes her excellent taste in music to listening through the window to a world-renowned pianist, and she's intrigued by his unappreciative, sulky new student, Michael. When Michael finally tries out the piano, she can't resist singing along with him to Chopin's Minute Waltz: "It's as if the song is singing me...Am I still made of bones and skin and feathers? No. I am only song." Mirabelle's singing inspires Michael, and the two continue their duets as Michael prepares for a Chopin contest. Broach skillfully incorporates bits of bird lore and information about both Chopin (including the macabre story of his heart) and his life partner, George Sand. As in Broach's previous books Masterpiece (rev. 11/08) and Shakespeare's Secret, a historic object is missing -- this time, Chopin's piano. The pace is brisk, and Mirabelle faces multiple dilemmas (beyond her secret duets), involving newly hatched siblings, a dangerous cat, and a desperately ill man. Broach gives her heroine true self-determination and emotional growth, as the little bird ponders her situation: "What's the difference between a secret and a lie? A secret probably feels like a lie to someone who loves you." A final note sorts out historical fact from fiction. Susan Dove Lempke

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 1, 2022
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Mirabelle, a goldfinch who sings beautifully, enjoys listening from a branch outside Mr. Starek's window when he plays the piano. A former concert pianist, the elderly man occasionally gives lessons to exceptionally gifted students such as Michael, an 11-year-old boy who is preparing to perform at a Chopin Festival. Unhappy to leave his former teacher, Michael initially refuses to play for Mr. Starek. But one day, the boy begins playing a piece by Chopin, and Mirabelle, perched near the window, begins to sing along. The spontaneous duet fills them both with awe. Now eager to learn from Mr. Starek and determined to play Chopin's music well, Michael is also intrigued by the mystery of the composer's missing Pleyel pianos and sets out to find one with help from Mirabelle. The story involves a treasure hunt, but it revolves around the characters' love of music and the sense of wonder that it inspires. Black-and-white art (not seen in final form) will illustrate the book. Mirabelle's lively, accessible first-person narrative offers a fresh perspective on the lives of birds and keen perception of the human characters. A companion book to Broach's Masterpiece (2008), this captivating chapter book is perfect for readers who, like Mirabelle, are sometimes spellbound by music.

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January 1, 2022
Mirabelle, a goldfinch with a sparkling personality, narrates this engaging music-focused mystery con brio. She attributes her excellent taste in music to listening through the window to a world-renowned pianist, and she's intrigued by his unappreciative, sulky new student, Michael. When Michael finally tries out the piano, she can't resist singing along with him to Chopin's Minute Waltz: "It's as if the song is singing me... m I still made of bones and skin and feathers? No. I am only song." Mirabelle's singing inspires Michael, and the two continue their duets as Michael prepares for a Chopin contest. Broach skillfully incorporates bits of bird lore and information about both Chopin (including the macabre story of his heart) and his life partner, George Sand. As in Broach's previous books Masterpiece (rev. 11/08) and Shakespeare's Secret, a historic object is missing -- this time, Chopin's piano. The pace is brisk, and Mirabelle faces multiple dilemmas (beyond her secret duets), involving newly hatched siblings, a dangerous cat, and a desperately ill man. Broach gives her heroine true self-determination and emotional growth, as the little bird ponders her situation: "What's the difference between a secret and a lie? A secret probably feels like a lie to someone who loves you." A final note sorts out historical fact from fiction.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)