Review by Booklist Review
Evelyn Glennie challenged not only the traditional role of a percussionist but what it means to listen to music. This picture-book biography begins with her childhood in Scotland, where she learns to play the piano by ear. But when she gradually loses her hearing, an audiologist diagnoses her with a degenerative disorder. Opting against attending a school for the Deaf, the girl defies her doctor's grim (music-less) prognosis for her future. The lyrical text instead focuses on Evelyn's experiences in a secondary school, where she learned from a percussion teacher how to perform music by listening through her body rather than just her ears, eventually becoming a deaf student at London's Royal Academy of Music. Expressive swirls of vibrant colors throughout evoke the sounds Evelyn's body feels and the beautiful music she creates in return. The book concludes with a brief look at Evelyn's career as a deaf percussionist, including being knighted by the Queen of England, while an author's note fills in more details about this artist who redefines music and disability.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Having learned piano and clarinet before being diagnosed with degenerative hearing loss at age 10, Evelyn Glennie (b. 1965) was determined not to forsake music, which "rolled through the farm hills" of her native Scotland. Drawn by her school orchestra's percussion instruments, she starts lessons with a teacher who suggests that she remove her hearing aids and feel the drums' vibrations in her body: "every other sense intensified, as if Evelyn's whole body had become one giant ear," Stocker writes. Embracing the idea that "her brain just listened differently," Glennie fights to attend London's Royal Academy of Music--resulting in changed rules across British music schools--then goes on to record albums, win two Grammy Awards, and be awarded damehood by Queen Elizabeth II. Digitally enhanced watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations by Holzwarth emphasize Glennie's experience of finding, per an author's note, "other ways to listen," capturing the figure's barefoot performances via swirling, radiant colors that pour forth from her mallets. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Evelyn Glennie grew up 1960s Scotland surrounded by music: her mother played the organ and her father played the accordion. By the age of eight, Evelyn could play songs by ear on the piano. She began to experience degenerative hearing loss when she was ten. She was determined to continue playing music, however; she knew that even though she couldn't hear, she could still feel its rhythm and vibrations. After high school, she auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in London, "but they turned her down. No one believed that a deaf musician could have a career in music." Glennie fought the decision and eventually was admitted -- and because of her, "every music school in Great Britain changed its rules...No one should be turned away because of a disability." Glennie's career has taken her around the world; she has won numerous awards (including two Grammys) and was knighted in 1993. Stocker's engaging text is ably supported by Holzwarth's vibrant illustrations, which effectively use color and pattern and movement to represent sound. An author's note provides more information about this remarkable musician's work, and a list of references is appended. Maija Meadows Hasegawa May/June 2022 p.168(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Stocker and Holzwarth tell the story of Evelyn Glennie, a profoundly Deaf world-renowned solo percussionist. The story opens with Glennie's musical childhood in the Scottish countryside. She was well on her way to becoming a skilled pianist and clarinetist when she started losing her hearing around the age of 10. Despite her doctor's gloomy prognostication--"she's never going to be able to play music"--young Evelyn refused to give up her dream. Drawn to her high school orchestra's percussion section, she solicited the help of music teacher Ron Forbes, who taught her how to use her body to sense the vibrations of percussion instruments. Despite challenges, including the discrimination she faced as a Deaf person, Glennie persevered and was eventually accepted into the Royal Academy of Music in London. The story closes with a précis of her groundbreaking career achievements. Holzwarth's illustrations--rendered in watercolor, gouache, and color pencil with digital touches--are charming and effectively portray the dynamics of sound visually. Some kids may be turned off by the wordy text and small font size. The implicit narrative framing of a disabled person as "inspirational" and having "overcome" their disability is problematic. This and the tired juxtaposition of Deaf school with failure and mainstream school with success are unfortunate blemishes in an otherwise sweet and educational book. Like too many children's books featuring deafness, this story would appeal to hearing or oral Deaf children but might not be an appropriate choice for signing Deaf children. An intriguing, loving biography that's unfortunately marred by some disparaging clichés. (author's note, references) (Picture-book biography. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
