ARC Review: The Song from Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold, Levi Pinfold (Illustrator)

Frank doesn’t know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one 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 feel happy for the first time in forever.

But there’s more to Nick, and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she isn’t the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help …

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Physical copy of the book by Bloomsbury India in exchange for an honest review. However, all the thoughts, feelings and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was my first book for the amazing month long readathon hosted by Bloomsbury India for its Award Winning books starting from October 15th to November 15th.

The Song From Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold and Illustrated by Levi Pinfold is the winner of THE AMNESTY CILIP HONOUR 2018 & KATE GREENWAY MEDAL.

The Song From Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold is a beautifully illustrated middle grade fiction that had me enthralled right till the last page.

Told in the POV of Francesca aka Frank Patel – the story follows her through the summer holidays; she is a young girl who is bullied constantly by a group of boys form her school; has lost her cat and talks constantly with her “stomach” – which is her connection to a part of herself that makes her strive to be the best of who she can be!

During one of the bullying incident; it is the class “freak” – a giant, bumbling boy, Nick saves her. While she does take his help, she knows befriending this boy would also end becoming one more reason for the boys to bully her.

But it’s Nick gentle attitude and the mystery of the gentle music in his house that keeps her rooted to Nick – because being in his house and listening to that music is the only way she feels peaceful and happy.

I adored the way the author has penned down this story – it is mysterious, spooky and unnerving yet it is also one of the most arresting plotlines in a middle grade fiction about family, friendship and loyalty with a hint of paranormal – it is the secret behind the music in Nick’s house that could prove disastrous, if it ever came out.

Most of all, Frank is you and me as tween – the anxiety of finding out your identity, to the pressures that a kid usually under, to knowing that the choices you have made could prove disastrous to finally believing in your own self.

I understand why this book won awards – because it reminded me why I keep falling in love with middle grade fiction, even as an adult.