Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker

Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Music Boxes is a well-written YA novel with a wonderful twelve-year-old protagonist. The book deals with the relationship between two sisters. Lindsey, the twelve-year-old, has every reason to be jealous of her eight-year-old sister, Bridget. Lindsey loves to dance and is quite good at it, but Bridget is a prodigy on the violin. Their family has moved from Nebraska to New York City to allow Bridget to attend the elementary school associated with Julliard. Meanwhile Lindsey is left to attend dance lessons at a local community center. Here is what she thinks of that option:

Classes at the Community Center didn't count as real ballet no matter how well-known the teacher had been. Community Center meant trash.

Music Boxes is a horror story with a witch whose evil magic revolves around dance and music boxes, two subjects that should interest many readers, especially young ones. Every good horror story has a strong villain and this one has a great one. The tension keeps increasing as the pages keep turning.

However, what I like the most about this novel is how it covers many important topics in a subtle fashion while never straying from a plot that holds a reader's attention. The topics include jealousy between siblings, honesty, trust in one's family, drug use, prejudging people, and the power of love. Yet Music Boxes never feels preachy.

I recommend this novel to readers of all ages who enjoy horror stories featuring young people.



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