The Song from Somewhere Else Review

Title: The Song From Somewhere Else
Author: A.F. Harold, Levi Pinfold (illustrator)
Series: Not Applicable
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Publication Date: 10 November 2016
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 216
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reading Timeline: 03 April 2017 - 04 April 2017










Goodreads Synopsis:

Frank doesn't know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies on afternoon. No one likes Nick. He's big, he's weird and he smells - or so everyone in Frank's class thinks.

And yet, there's something nice about Nick's house. There's strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank happy for the first time in forever.

But there's more to Nick, and his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realizes she isn't the only one keeping secrets. or the only one who needs help.

Book Review:
Pre-reading Thoughts:

This book was part of my very first package that was sent by Jonathan Ball Publishers and to be honest I just jumped straight on into it because of how happy I was about the package. It has never made me happier. I started this book by just going in blind because I thought it would be a really quick and easy read because of the illustrations and the text wasn't too small. Boy, was I in for a ride... Please note that in no way has receiving this book affected my opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

Seeing as this book is directed to the target market of middle grade learners, the writing was simple but extremely impactful. In the simplest words, this book conveyed every emotion, thought and message beautifully and clearly. A.F. Harold has written a book that spoke to me and made me feel that everything was okay.

Plot Thoughts:

In this book, our main character is bullied by three boys. We, as readers, are held captive by the brutality that this young main character experiences. We also see how prominent mob mentality is in the young and influential minds of middle grade children. We see how one rumor or one lie can affected so many people's thoughts. Despite all of the bad things that happen in this book, one good thing came out of the story. Friendship. 

Character Thoughts:

Frank was our main character of the story and my heart really went out to her. She experienced the torment of bullying but she still rose above it. She made friends with the person who everyone disliked and she helped those who had oppressed her. Frank also doubted herself. Her stomach who represented her conscious voiced all of her fears, worry and even her self doubt.

Nick was such a trooper. He knew what Frank had done and he still wished to be her friend because he knew that she would never intentionally hurt someone. 

Final Thoughts:

Oh my gosh. Where was this book when I needed it when I was in middle grade. This book sums up the brutality and the mob mentality that children in primary/middle school experience. It expressed exactly all of the emotions and thoughts that I went through when I was younger and bullied. So to say the least, this book hit a little too close to home. But it was perfect. I think that everyone should read this book. If not for the message it carries then for the gorgeous illustrations. Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a copy of this book to review. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. 

Yours in Reading,

Melleny

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