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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: The Violin Conspiracy
Author: Brendan Slocum
Publisher: Anchor Books
Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 11-12, Adult Genre/Type of Book: Mystery
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: It got very good reviews and is a topic I thought would be popular in my school as we have a strong orchestral program. I personally picked it up because my son was a classical musician (string bass) and I was intrigued by the idea of reading about a missing Stradivarius violin, and racism in the classical music world. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
A glimpse into the cutthroat world of classical music!
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Review:
High school senior Ray McMillan loves playing the violin. In spite of many obstacles- no instrument of his own, no support from his single, struggling mother, racial barriers against black students playing classical music, and no private lessons...he excels. This story grabbed me from the first page, and I could not put it down. I found Ray's story and character compelling. We follow Ray from his first private gig in a classical quartet where he is banished from the event after his stellar performance because black people being there would "ruin the day" to his competition in the world-famous International Tchaikovsky Competition. The author illustrates the struggles Ray faces as an African American in the classical music world. The only person in his family who supports him is his grandmother, who gives him her grandfather's fiddle. Luckily, at a high school orchestra, event he gains the attention and support of a music professor from a college who recognizes his raw talent and encourages him to attend her school and offers him a full scholarship to do so. Ray goes against his mother's wishes to attend school and to study the violin. Ray works hard to catch up, overcome the prejudices of those around him. He knows as a black man in the classical world he has to be better and work harder! However, he also needs a "concert level" instrument to use that meets his potential. On his journey to purchase a new instrument he realizes his great grandfather's "fiddle" is actually a rare Stradivarius violin. The instrument was given to his great grandfather, a slave, by his owner. This discovery sets off a string of events that involve the slave owner's ancestors, Ray's jealous and greedy family, a girl friend, a theft, and a world-wide classical music competition. A riveting mystery that provides an eye-opening look at the classical music world, which reveals a cut-throat, racist environment, even today. However, what I love most about the book is that Ray, in spite of all this, remains unscathed, true to his values and his grandmother's wishes that he be good, kind and hard working.
I think this could have potential in the curriculum when teaching about racial discrimination, especially in non-traditional areas. It could be an interesting book to assign to members of an orchestra! I also think it could spark interesting conversation about reparations and rights of former slaves in a US history class. How cool would it be to have this be an assigned reading for a humanities class?!
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For more information about this book, see the Author's Website