Rating: Recommended
Charlesbridge, 2009, $15.95
ISBN: 978-1570917141
Age/Grade Level: 10 years and upWith a death mask on its cover and Beethoven's corpse's coiled hair on its back, inquisitiveness locks the reader into The Mysteries of Beethoven's Hair. This forensic and historical odyssey is an adaptation of the similarly titled adult publication, winner of The Washington Post's "Book of the Year" award. Young readers sample, in well-written nonfiction, Beethoven's life, accomplishments, personality defects, and physical complaints. Ludwig's suffering is palpable. Readers, as time's bystanders, witness Beethoven's death and the subsequent snipping of his hair, a customary practice. Thus begins Beethoven's DNA caravan through place and time, from father to son, through Nazi-occupied Copenhagen, to the pages of a Sotheby's catalog, and ultimately to its owners who "find renowned scientists to perform forensic tests in order to unlock the mysteries of Beethoven's hair." A compelling read, and one that a children's librarian will be confident recommending.
Reviewer: Rebecca Porter, Orange County Public Library/Laguna Beach
