Quirky characters populate this promising, minor-key first novel set in a South Carolina trailer park ironically dubbed Paradise. Twelve-year-old Martin has a rare talent for music, but his father thinks it's a waste of time. Nothing Martin ever has or does is good enough, not his baseball swing, friends or pastimes. "All my life I ain't never had nothing but disappointments, and you're just icing on the cake," his father berates him. When Martin sees a violin in a pawnshop, he dreams of getting it. His unlikely allies are his grandmother Hazeline, his agoraphobic and overweight neighbor, Wylene, and the tall new girl in school, Sybil. The author, who grew up in South Carolina, has an instinctive feel for the local speech and its rhythms. Though the father's emotional cruelty may be difficult reading for some, this book ultimately has a hopeful outlookresilient people rise against the wind, and self-worth is determined chiefly from within. Ages 10-13. (Apr.)
Martin longs to be a musician. But a piano wouldn't fit in his mobile home, even if his father would let him have one. Martin's father wants him to play baseball and forget about all that "sissy" music stuff. If it weren't for the harmonica he plays when he's out of the house, and the music he creates in his head when his father is yelling at him, Martin would have no music at all. Then he sees a violin for sale for $50 in a pawn shop window, and he can think of nothing else. There's just one problem: he only has $12.78. Will one of his friends in the Paradise Trailer Park help him solve his dilemma, or will Martin's love of music go forever unrequited? In this engaging audiobook, filled with humor, pathos, and a colorful cast of offbeat characters, Barbara O'Connor shows that friendship and dreams can accomplish miracles-even in Paradise. Jeff Woodman's lively narration and wonderful Southern accents create a diverse and believable cast of characters.
1100950987
Beethoven in Paradise
Martin longs to be a musician. But a piano wouldn't fit in his mobile home, even if his father would let him have one. Martin's father wants him to play baseball and forget about all that "sissy" music stuff. If it weren't for the harmonica he plays when he's out of the house, and the music he creates in his head when his father is yelling at him, Martin would have no music at all. Then he sees a violin for sale for $50 in a pawn shop window, and he can think of nothing else. There's just one problem: he only has $12.78. Will one of his friends in the Paradise Trailer Park help him solve his dilemma, or will Martin's love of music go forever unrequited? In this engaging audiobook, filled with humor, pathos, and a colorful cast of offbeat characters, Barbara O'Connor shows that friendship and dreams can accomplish miracles-even in Paradise. Jeff Woodman's lively narration and wonderful Southern accents create a diverse and believable cast of characters.
10.99
In Stock
5
1
10.99
In Stock
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
BN ID: | 2940175007177 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Recorded Books, LLC |
Publication date: | 11/08/2022 |
Edition description: | Unabridged |
Age Range: | 8 - 11 Years |
Videos
From the B&N Reads Blog