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66th out of 160 books
—
362 voters
The Mozart Season
“Remember, what’s down inside you, all covered up—the things of your soul. The important, secret things . . . The story of you, all buried, let the music caress it out into the open.”
When Allegra was a little girl, she thought she would pick up her violin and it would sing for her—that the music was hidden inside her instrument.
Now that Allegra is twelve, she believes the...more
When Allegra was a little girl, she thought she would pick up her violin and it would sing for her—that the music was hidden inside her instrument.
Now that Allegra is twelve, she believes the...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
July 10th 2007
by Square Fish
(first published 1991)
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Allegra is a talented musician. She’s played the violin for several years and plays very well. She is selected to be a finalist in the Bloch Competition, but just playing notes won’t get her first prize. Allegra has to realize that the music is not in her fingers, but inside her heart.
I was able to relate to Allegra. I understood her struggles because I had the same problem a few years ago. I believed the music was in my fingers and that’s how I played. Eventually, I realized that I had to reach...more
I was able to relate to Allegra. I understood her struggles because I had the same problem a few years ago. I believed the music was in my fingers and that’s how I played. Eventually, I realized that I had to reach...more
Though this novel begins slowly, it is a beautifully written effort that really wows. Allegra Shapiro looks forward to the summer after 7th grade, since softball is over and she can get back to concentrating on violin. Then her music teacher tells her that she is a finalist (and the youngest one) in the Bloch competition for young musicians, which will be held in September. This staggering news colors Allegra's life from then on, and the transformations she goes through during the summer, in res...more
This story is slow and contemplative. The beginning was a bit odd and almost too slow, but by the end I was completely absorbed and utterly satisfied.
The book caught my attention because it is about a 12 year old girl who plays both softball and the violin. I have an almost-12 year old daughter who does both of those things, too, so I picked it up to see if it would interest her. The book was published in 1991, so the voice may not be modern or exciting enough to engage today's youth. I will re...more
The book caught my attention because it is about a 12 year old girl who plays both softball and the violin. I have an almost-12 year old daughter who does both of those things, too, so I picked it up to see if it would interest her. The book was published in 1991, so the voice may not be modern or exciting enough to engage today's youth. I will re...more
This book dances and sings, even as the characters mourn for lost music, and lost lives. 12-year-old Leah is a prodigy, the youngest finalist in a prestigious violin competition. She’s very mature – at times she seems a better fit for graduate school than middle school – but she still has a young girl’s dreams and inspirations, along with an eye and ear for all the distracting details that wedge themselves into her day.
I like the asides of music history: André Previn writing for Itzhak Perlman’...more
I like the asides of music history: André Previn writing for Itzhak Perlman’...more
Gosh I remember reading this years ago many times. Now I may not be able to give my opinion of pros and cons or very much input to the story, but a review I read said that it may not be engaging enough for today's youth. However, although I don't remember at what age I read this (many, many, many years ago-I'm 15 now) I do know that I loved it and read it over, and over, and over. Something about this story just pulled my little elementary school mind into the world and I'm so glad I found this...more
Mar 13, 2009
Todd
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
classical music enthusiasts
I was pretty lukewarm about this book for the first third but then it turned a quiet corner. Protagonist isn't an orphan or a victim or poor or even loosing a friend. She's 12 and has parents who love her dearly and she lives in a world of classical music—not because she's some kind of prodigy but because it runs in the family. All of which is a kind of normalcy I find refreshing. I'm a sucker for books that explore the creative process and this one nicely gives you a peek inside the head of a y...more
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Anyone who wants a glimpse inside the agony and joy of a musician as she practices and performs should read this book.
This is an extremely unusual young adult novel. The plot is based in routine rather than action, and the protagonist is unabashedly contemplative and intelligent. She is also refreshingly open to people who are different (perhaps because she can relate) and seldom has anything negative to say about the other characters. Although the book was not "perfect," I loved the way the cha...more
This is an extremely unusual young adult novel. The plot is based in routine rather than action, and the protagonist is unabashedly contemplative and intelligent. She is also refreshingly open to people who are different (perhaps because she can relate) and seldom has anything negative to say about the other characters. Although the book was not "perfect," I loved the way the cha...more
The beginning was quite annoying - and it took me a while to get into this book. The author's use of "Mommy" and "Daddy" coming from a 12-year-old was incredibly unrealistic and kept me from totally getting into the author's head. But after the first 40 pages, I was hooked and I read this book in several hours. I am not a musician, so I have no idea how accurate the music stuff in it is - but I felt nervous for the main character when she went on stage. And this book was rich in themes and big i...more
Feb 20, 2008
Keishi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like classical music
Shelves:
9th-grade
The story is based on Allegra Shapiro, a twelve year old violinist. One day, she gets into a competition, but she loses. Her friend, Mr. Trouble is trying to identify a song he has in his head. At the end of the story, he identifies the song with Allegra's help. Allegra is happy for Mr.Trouble and forgets her disappointment with the competition.
I especially liked the book because it was written in first person. I was able to understand the feelings of a good violinist. For example, when the orc...more
I especially liked the book because it was written in first person. I was able to understand the feelings of a good violinist. For example, when the orc...more
Jun 14, 2012
Kim (magicsandwiches) Lawyer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
i-ll-borrow-from-library-again
The story of a 12 year old violinist named Allegra who learns about life and our connection to other people while she prepares for a prestigious violin competition. I loved all the characters in the story. I especially appreciated Allegra's story arc and how she learned how important each person is and that she used the love of her ancestors to get her through the competition. I bawled and bawled at the family history element. It was so wonderful!
Una bellissima storia di una giovane ragazza che decide di partecipare a una competizione col suo violino. Non imparerà solamente a suonare il concerto numero 4 di Mozart, avrà anche a che fare con molti altri lati della sua giovane vita, come la scoperta delle sue origini e la comprensione del suo essere un ibrido tra due culture, accettando lungo il percorso gli strani modi di comportarsi di molti adulti con cui avrà a che fare.
I loved this book. Being a music teacher, this book fell right into the "genre" of my life. I know the concerto that Allegra was working on and mastering. As I read this book I could hear the concerto throughout the book. At the times of anticipation, I could hear those same moments from the music and as it gets close to the end, I could hear the end of the concerto in my mind. Amazing and inspiring book!
This is more like 3 1/2 stars for me. The narrator's broad, serious (but still very twelve year old) perspective was unique, or "Neek" according to her. If you like classical music, you will like this book. If you like books that wrestle with the big worldly questions but don't let themselves be carted off by them eventually, then you could do worse. I am satisfied. I am glad to have read this book.
This book got some good ratings, to my suprise... I didn't hate it but it bore me. I had to read this book for a class thing and I dreaded it. I hate criticizing books, but this book was just so UGH. Maybe if I had finished it, and not given up then maybe I would have liked it but I couldn't. It was literally painful reading this book. I'm sorry.
I liked this book - mostly. The dialogue was good, the characters were good, the storyline was good. I thought it fell apart a little near the end, where she was basically going on and on about her great-grandmother and the purse and Mr. Trouble. That got a little old. But really, this book is excellent and the author has a great sense of humor.
Worst book ever. ultimately super boring! no plot, no sstory,days just go by with nothing happening. where is the intensity i wonder. nothing to interest me even. i dislike it very much. no offense to the author i feel as if this book serves no purpose except to bore holes in ur head. um... that was a little dramatic. it wasn't that boring. but i couldnt understand and i couldnt figure out what was the main problem of the story. that was why i didnt like it. guess it wasnt my type of book.
Nov 13, 2012
Andi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-and-children,
from-usa
As far as I remember this is the first book I read in english. The main reason was the title itself, the Mozart season, second place, the cover, a little girl holding a violin, this is what captivated me in first place...and then the story was nothing but lovely. I loved all the emotions this girl went through and the way it is written. It can be nice for kids to read a "proper" book.
I still have an ARC of this that I got at the first ALA that I went to as a librarian (Atlanta in 1991--I had also been to Dallas in 1989, when I was in library school). It was the 2nd Wolff book that I read, and I loved it. Not sure why I've not remembered to add this to my list of books until now.
One of the gems that ends up in your hands by mere chance. A sweet, provoking read that is at once as thoughtful as it is delightful. Musicians in particular will love this one, though certainly anyone who can relate to the struggle to perfect an art will relate and enjoy The Mozart Season.
A YA novel that I & my daughters loved: An extraordinary novel with some stream-of-consciousness writing that the girls could identify with, and with constantly surprising twists in a simple plot--a girl prepares to play in a violin competition)--and with positive, though not idealized, relationships among kids & adults, all delivered in a tone that was not patronizing, but assumed kids' interest in cultural matters.
This was given to me as a gift from someone who read it in junior high and remembered loving it. I can imagine that as a 12-year-old I would have loved it, too. As an adult, it doesn't really hold up--but how many teen books do? It was a good read, and very sweet.
Again, a book I chose to read for my Humanities class. They all seem to be the same: the beginning irritates me, and barely manages to hold my attention, but by the end I'm crying and smiling about the way it has progressed. This story is about a girl Allegra Shapiro and her summer journey through training for a violin competition. It definitely made me want to pick up my flute, or sax, or guitar, or even plunk away at the piano. I found I could relate by the end when she finally decides to play...more
I have read this at least a dozen times over the past 20 years and have come to the incontrovertible conclusion that there will never be anything that I do not love about this book. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it has to be.
One of my very favorite novels in the world. I've read this at least once a year since I first discovered it 16 years ago. A wonderful book about family, music, and the (sometimes painful) reality of making our dreams come true.
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I read this when I was about 13 or 14, and I loved it. I'll have to reread it so I can remember all the details, but I remember the feeling afterwards... It was the sensation of being quiet in myself and happy with what I'd read.
This is an amazingly deep story for a young adult book. I loved it as a kid, it connected with me as a lifelong classical piano student, and the back story of the Jewish grandmother who survived the holocaust is really moving.
As a child/pre-teen, I read this book about 20 times. I am now a music teacher and this book may have something (among several other things) to do with that choice. It somehow always inspired me to practice more too.
Enjoyale characters, though I found it difficult to believe the narrator was just twelve. I wish the story would have moved a bit quicker, several times my focus flagged. Lovely sentence structure and a lyrical voice.
Unbelievably inspiring, especially to a musician! I play cello myself, and I especially relate to Allegra's musical journey. This book shows the inner kindness and imagination of a musician's heart.
I truly enjoyed this book. It is so well written and has so many excellent parts and characters. I have always wanted to play an instrument in an orchestra and this book gave me a glimpse into what that would be like. I love the 12 year old protagonist. I thought she had it so together. At times I thought that there was no way a 12 year old would think like this but then I remembered that she was a child genius and a sensitive, kind one. One of my new favorite books!
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On August 25th, Virginia Euwer Wolff was born in Portland, Oregon. Her family lived on an apple and pear orchard near Mount Hood. Her father died when she was five years old and she admits her childhood was pretty messed up, but she held things together with her violin. She graduated from Smith College. She raised a son and daughter before going back to teaching high school English.
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