Second Fiddle: Or How to Tell a Blackbird from a Sausage

by Siobhán Parkinson

Aspiring writer Mags Clarke has just moved with her mother to a new area after the death of her father. Because her feet are usually firmly planted on the ground, Mags is cautious about befriending Gillian, whom she enchantingly finds playing the violin high up in the trees near her house. But the two get acquainted and embark on Project Manhunt: a plan to find Gillian's absent father, the only one who can send Gillian to an audition for a prestigious music school. Their strategies differ, making the road to true friendship a bumpy one. Second Fiddle is a thoughtfully crafted portrait of family and an unlikely friendship forged around a noble goal.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2005

About the author

Siobhán Parkinson is an Irish writer for both children and adults. Siobhán grew up in Galway and Donegal. Her books have won numerous awards and have been translated into several languages. She is currently a co-editor of Bookbird, the magazine of international children's literature organsation IBBY. She resides in The Republic of Ireland with her husband Roger Bennett and son Matthew.

Reviews

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay that was so much fun. Mags has such a quirky narration style, and quite an interesting way of looking at the world around her. Overall it's a charming little story; not necessarily the best thing I've ever read, but one that made me smile nonetheless.

You never do know anything, really, about anything until after it has happened, and even then you don't know much either, which is why life is so confusing and why books are usually better than life, because in books, it is the author's job to make things less confusing for the reader.

[Bill Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just picked this up off of the new shelf at the library because I thought it looked interesting. I liked it a lot! Great story line, interesting characters, and the Irish feel to the language made it very enjoyable. The author is an award winner in Ireland.

[Zeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did our library throw this one out??? Too few readers? Some books should be kept in libraries, even if they get only one or two readers a year. It's not even old, and the copy I bought ( 50 cents or so) in top condition. I admire writers who manage to write really well for youth. This is written as if the actual author were a 12 year old ( pretty talented 12 year old!) with its own peculiar humour. The story is of friendship of two girls and the ambition of both of them to get the older of the two to qualify for a prestigious music school - or rather: to get her to the audition! I very much liked the book.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read for the interaction between two girls not much alike. Very good writing and even better with the second read.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so charming! I think I appreciated it more when I was older, but would recommend if you stumble across it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main characters of this book, Mags and Gillian were both very quirky and odd. There were times when I found them frustrating, but they were more likeable than unlikeable. The narration of the book was mostly from Mags with Gillian interjection occasionally. In Mags, the author captured the voice of a twelve-year-old. Sure, the run-on sentences got annoying, but it felt the way a twelve-year-old would really write. Overall it was a good book.

[Marlene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't know 12 year-old narrators could be so patronizing.

[Britt, Book Habitue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the woodsy atmosphere and the spunk of the MC.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book. I like Gillian. That is not an ugly name. Miranda is not either.