Becky Cohen plays the violin beautifully, but she suffers from stage fright! Read the review of Befiddled, a teen novel by Pedro de Alcantara.
Title: Befiddled
Author: Pedro de Alcantara
Ages: 10+
Rating:
Thirteen year-old Becky Cohen wants to become a great violinist. But how can she do that with a disapproving mom and a mean music teacher standing in her way?
Fiddlehead Falls Flat
Becky Cohen's life sucks. She doesn't have any friends, her classmates call her names like Cow and Fiddlehead, and she has a bad hair day every single day! The only thing she has going for her is that she plays the violin beautifully - as long as no one's around. The thing is, Becky suffers from stage fright so she can't play in front of her nasty violin teacher or any of the other students.
Hitting the Right Notes
Everything changes when Mr. Freeman, the building's handyman who has a passion for music, enters Becky's life. True to his name, he frees her from her insecurities and teaches her how to speak, act and play confidently. He even encourages her to apply for a scholarship to a prestigious performing arts school, but with talented students competing against her, can Becky overcome her stage fright and show the world that she really can play the fiddle?
The Bottom Line
Befiddled isn't just a book for musicians. It's for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast (and many of us have), experienced stage fright or faced critical teachers. It's a great read that'll offer up some laughs, bring a few tears to your eyes and most importantly, encourage you to try your best.
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