Description

‘Utterly moving, totally powerful. Honest, pure and true! An arrow to the heart. A warm hug. A light of hope in the dark. I could not put it down.’ Laura Dockrill

‘Witty and heart-breaking in equal measure’ Books Ireland Magazine

‘Beautiful coming of age story’ Manjeet Mann

* LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING

* The Independent’s YA verse novel of 2022

Uplifting and unputdownable, an illustrated coming-of-age verse novel about family, mental health and the healing power of music.

Azadeh is a budding violinist on a music scholarship at an expensive private school, dealing with all the usual trials of being sixteen: trying her best to fit in, keep up and have fun. Then as her mum’s mental health spirals out of control, Azadeh’s world starts to unravel. Her friendships fall away, and as much as she and her dad try to keep a lid on everything, their problems insist on taking over. Feeling alone, it’s her violin that finally helps Azadeh to find her way back to her friends, herself and even her mum.

A beautifully illustrated, highly important and irresistible novel about mental health struggles and the solace we find in music and rhythm, friendship, family and honesty.

Publisher Review

A very special debut. Jion's lyrical verse has you racing through heartbreak and joy in this beautiful coming of age story. -- Manjeet Mann I devoured this clever, brave and beautiful book which is game-changing in the way we tell stories. Utterly moving, totally powerful. Honest, pure and true! An arrow to the heart. A warm hug. A light of hope in the dark. I could not put it down. -- Laura Dockrill This debut from Jion Sheibani is stunning: like the musical notes violin prodigy Azadeh brings to life on the page, the story seems to come alive melodiously. * The Independent * Encapsulates all of the best elements of a great contemporary verse novel . . . witty and heart-breaking in equal measure. [. . .] An incredible book, it is absolutely worth reading time and time again. -- Ruth Ennis * Books Ireland Magazine * Compelling and intimate . . . a wonderful book -- Tom Tolkien * School Reading List * A touching meditation on mental health and an exquisite love letter to the power of music to comfort and heal. * Waterstones.com * This is a sensitive and engaging book that offers a moving celebration of music's capacity to bring solace in times of darkness. -- Kate Wakeling * BBC Music Magazine * Each poem presents a sharp crystallisation of Azadeh's emotions at key moments, so that the usual 'cement' of a more conventional structure would seem cumbersome and redundant by comparison. This lovely book will, I'm sure, delight and reassure anyone going through this difficult time in her or his life. -- Laurence Inman * School Reading List *