Review: Enter a Magical World of Music, Mystery, and Danger
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 15, 2014
I have to admit I knew nothing about luthiers or violins before I read this novel. When I was in fifth grade a teacher was giving violin lessons and I so wanted to learn. My parents said we couldn’t afford it, but now, many years later, Author Mayra Calvani has given me a glimpse into the lives of both the violin teachers and their students, and much more.THE LUTHIER’S APPRENTICE, a YA dark fantasy novel by Author Mayra Calvani, is set in present day Brussels, Belgium, not long before Halloween, which adds to the mystery of the story. Emma Braun’s violin teacher, Monsieur Marcel Dupriez, is missing, and he’s not the first one to vanish without a trace. Two other teachers have disappeared in the past few months, along with other teachers that vanished over many years. To add to the mystery, Emma’s been having strange incidents lately, as well, and is beginning to wonder if she has psychic powers.  When her mother unexpectedly decides to visit her sister, Lili, and leaves Emma with her grandpa, who makes violins, Emma and her best friend, Annika, decide to find out what happened to the violin teacher. Along with Corey Fletcher, another student of Dupriez, they set off on a journey of magic and danger on their quest to discover the fate of their missing teacher.Mayra Calvani has created a world of fascinating characters, some good, some evil, along with interesting information about famous violinists that young musicians will enjoy reading. Told from alternating points of view, we get a look inside the thoughts of several different characters. The author has even thrown in the beginnings of a young romance. Short chapters move the story along and add to the suspense of what happens next. THE LUTHIER’S APPRENTICE would make a great addition to high school libraries, as well as your local library and your own private library. I enjoyed learning about the process that goes into making a violin, also.  Good news: This is the first book in a series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next story.###