The Song Reader (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780743464451)

A moving, evocative tale of love, grief, and sisterhood from the author of the "brilliant, tender, and riveting" (John Dufresne, author of I Don't Like Where This Is Going) The Winters in Bloom.

She can hear the music in people's souls.

Mary Beth and her younger sister Leeann are trying to support themselves in their small Southern hometown. Mary Beth works to make ends meet by practicing her own unique talent: "song reading." By making sense of the song lyrics people have stuck in their heads, Mary Beth can help people make sense of their lives. In no time, Mary Beth's readings have the entire town singing her praises, including the handsome scientist Ben, who falls hard for Mary Beth and her unearthly intuition.

What happens when she can't make out the lyrics?

When Mary Beth reveals a long-muted secret in the community, however, she turns off the music and gives up song reading for good. Soon everyone's lives are out of tune: Leeann worries she'll never graduate from high school, and Ben can't conduct his experiments. Without Mary Beth's music, the town's silence is louder than ever. Could it be that all the lyrics to all those foolish love songs really aren't so foolish after all?

Author: Lisa Tucker
ISBN-10: 0743464451
ISBN-13: 9780743464451
Publisher: Downtown Press
Language: English
Published: 05/01/2003
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 8.28h x 5.34w x 0.82d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.5
Point Value: 15
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 76667 / Song Reader


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2003 pg. 267
Publishers Weekly 03/17/2003 pg. 50
Booklist 04/01/2003 pg. 1380
Library Journal 04/15/2003 pg. 128
Romantic Times 05/01/2003 pg. 61 - Excellent
Voice of Youth Advocates 08/01/2003 pg. 232
School Library Journal 08/01/2003 pg. 188
Kliatt 09/01/2003 pg. 22
Booksense '76 Jly/Aug 2003 07/01/2003 pg. 1
Library Journal 04/01/2003