What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
► UNSOLVED: One specific book
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Picture Book - Child who doesn't speak (selective mute? Autistic?) discovers they can communicate through music. Ends up becoming a jazz musician.
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Were the illustrations colorful, realistic, full page, etc?Anything about the cover?
Time period/location story takes place?
Part of a series?
I don't remember anything about the pictures that I can say for certain. I'm a former teacher and current children's librarian and I've seen so many other jazz music books that I keep THINKING I know what the cover looks like, but I'm actually thinking of another book.It definitely wasn't a series.
The story seemed to be current when I read it as a kid (early-mid 90s), definitely a "realistic fiction" or even possibly a loose biography or memoir.
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I am still looking... I’m like 90% sure it was a picture book but lately I’ve been thinking it could have been a short chapter book so now I’m even more confused.
Also, I gave a horrible description of this to begin with... the MC is mute (though by “choice” and not a physical disability) and struggles to communicate. The story is told from the perspective of the sister I’m pretty sure. The kid is misunderstood, but she knows his talents. Eventually they are discovered and people realize that where words fail him, music (specifically jazz) allows him to communicate.
That could be it. The timeline certainly fits. I’ll see if I can track it down. I thought of the book again when reading a new one and so I am sure I combined the plots in my memory.
The main character was a young boy, though he may be an adult by the end of the book. I don't quite remember.
He ends up performing and I think he plays either piano or saxophone.
Looking back on it, I'm sure the character is autistic, but that wasn't a big thing when I was a kid so I don't think it is explicitly a book about autism or even stated.