Alfredo, a choir boy in 18th-century Italy, loses his family in a fire, and his mysterious Uncle Giorgio spirits him away to their ancestral home b...
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Nov 02, 2011
Brandon
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Book Review
Tears of the Salamander
Tears of the Salamander is a great book that i just finished. The book is about a boy and his family and his dad is a baker. The boy named Alfredo is a choirboy in the eighteenth century in Italy. His family is early lost in a fire at there home and he thinks he is on his own. His long lost uncle, Giorgio takes him away at just the right moment and bring him far away to where he lives on the mountain. He later learns about what powers he has and how More...
Tears of the Salamander
Tears of the Salamander is a great book that i just finished. The book is about a boy and his family and his dad is a baker. The boy named Alfredo is a choirboy in the eighteenth century in Italy. His family is early lost in a fire at there home and he thinks he is on his own. His long lost uncle, Giorgio takes him away at just the right moment and bring him far away to where he lives on the mountain. He later learns about what powers he has and how More...
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Apr 07, 2011
Jess
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True confession: part of my collection development job in the children's library is to periodically run a list of things that haven't been checked out in several years and decide if they're worth keeping (the library is simply not big enough to keep everything forever - the shelves are PACKED). Some things are easy to get rid of (falling apart, dated, obscure), others are easy to keep (authors or titles I know and love) and still others fall into the middle. How do I decide if it's worth keepi
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Jan 13, 2011
Robert
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The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson is about a young boy named Alfredo who has a love of music and singing, but even more so of his family and helping his father, who is a baker, tend to the fiery ovens of his bakehouse. After a tragic event that killed his immediate family, he was taken in by his mysterious uncle, Giorgio, who lived at the foot of a mountain. What takes place on that mountain changes Alfredo's life forever, as he's swept up in an adventure of magic, alchemy, and the
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Sep 12, 2007
Melody
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Formulaic and predictable, though well-written. A young man comes into his magical heritage, smites evildoers, & grows up. I'm not sure why he didn't rescue a princess, but perhaps there's going to be a sequel.
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Sep 24, 2011
Kimifly
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I bought this book because of the cover (or more specifically because the lovely cover illustration is by the amazing Dave McKean) and I didn't look at the summary so I had no idea what this book was supposed to be about until I read it.
That being said, about halfway through the book I was still waiting for something to happen. By the time I realized I was already in the middle of the plot I figured it was too late to put it down and made myself finish the book anyway. It was disappoi More...
That being said, about halfway through the book I was still waiting for something to happen. By the time I realized I was already in the middle of the plot I figured it was too late to put it down and made myself finish the book anyway. It was disappoi More...
Sep 21, 2011
J.E.
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What intrigued me into buying this book was Dickinson's resume as a writer, as well as the storyline itself. I loved the setting, the use of music along with magic, and the concept of salamanders wielding supernatural gifts. This is a short book, but feels to me to be the perfect length. As a writer, Dickinson has a sophisticated style that is nonetheless palatable to young readers. And wow, what a resume!!
Jan 30, 2011
Brittany
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This was a very lonely sort of book. Due to the nature of the story, the protagonist is very isolated and there isn't much dialog. This makes for a spare sort of book. In addition, the story was almost painfully predictable. I had hoped for a twist that never came. It was a mildly entertaining story, and I did like the salamanders. But nothing special, and nothing I'll recommend or seek out again.
Feb 11, 2009
Reita
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I'm not sure why salamanders live in lava in the mountains, and even less why they sing and weep tears that heal, but it really is a good story. Alfredo learns that his uncle is trying to use him and maybe kill him. He develops a plan.... It is a well written intriguing story.
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Jan 29, 2012
Monica!
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I liked this book, in a sort of meh, formulaic, isn't-this-nice-but-not-all-that-exciting sort of way. The writing was lovely, but I just didn't find myself emotionally invested in the story. At all. And for some strange reason, I spent the entirety of the story just waiting, breathlessly, for the other shoe to drop. I was absolutely convinced that at any moment, <spoiler>it was going to turn out that the salamanders were evil, and that Uncle Giorgio (against all odds) was actually a s
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Dec 16, 2009
Melissa
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Wierd, and a lot of the details are unclear. Apparently this is how speculative fiction for young people is supposed to be, because this is the third review today where I thought that the idea was good and the execution left something to be desired.
Feb 28, 2010
Lady Celtic
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This book was intricately woven and fascinating for that, but where I was told that Alfredo (the main character) felt emotion, I didn't believe it for one minute. And without emotion the narrative fell flat for me.
Jan 07, 2009
Arwen
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This was a well-written book with an intriguing premise. But I am only giving it three star because it failed to engage me on an emotional level. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.
Nov 13, 2010
Chie
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There were really awkqard elements and some really good ones. Its a sort of a queer but charming book. Its ok to read, i wouldnt unrecommend or recommend it.
May 23, 2010
Cheryl in CC NV
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Dickinson has an amazing imagination. I'm thinking this is pretty intense for children, and so I disagree with my library for not putting it on the YA shelf despite how short it is.
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Oct 15, 2008
Jabenami
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Interesting book. I usually like Dickinson and this was no exception, though I always have a bit more trouble than I anticipate actually relating to the characters. Still, I thought this was book was extremely well-written, if a bit over the head of most children I know who might pick it up. He writes very adult children's book - not in content so much as in style - and one really has to know what one is getting onesself into.
Feb 01, 2011
Jenny
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Alfredo spends his days in the cathedral's choir, with occasional days off to visit his family's bake shop. One day after his visit, the whole shop with his family inside burns to the ground. Alfredo is left alone in the world until his uncle Giorgio mysteriously shows up to rescue him from castration to preserve his voice. However, Uncle Giorgio may have even darker plans for Alfredo . . .
Jul 14, 2008
Linnae
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Salamanders, music, fire, and the Mountain. A story of disovery and the uses of power. Highly recommended.
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Jan 24, 2012
Dec 10, 2011
