Scan barcode
crystal_e_fall's review
I struggled to suspend my disbelief that a twelve-year-olds narration would be so poetic and lyrical - add to that the plot didn't really catch me as I hoped it would. A shame, cause the concept of the music-based magic system and the themes of spirituality and independence were fascinating!
ebazilereads's review
3.0
"Listen to your own voice. Listen to your own song."
**Thanks to NetGalley, Catherine Bakewell, and Holiday House for this ARC**
We Are the Song is Catherine Bakewell's debut middle grade novel, to be followed by a young adult novel in 2023. A charming, lyrical middle grade fantasy, We Are the Song tells the story of Caé Elissa, a 12 year old Voice of the Goddess who sings blessings from the creator of the world, Caé. She travels with a 17 year old composer and is tasked with helping the people of their war-torn world. With her voice, she has the ability to heal, to grant joy, and to transform the physical world around her. As the book progresses, she is asked by powerful people to sing blessings that feel evil to her and she begins to wonder how she the Caé she knows and loves can be represented so differently by those with power. A thoughtful exploration of the difference between spirituality/religion and Religion with a capital R, this book emphasizes listening to your own understanding of what is right and your own unique connection with a higher power.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was beautifully written and still felt appropriate for being told from the point of view of a 12-year-old. My only complaint was the pacing - the first two thirds of the books flowed beautifully and then it felt like the ending of the book was compressed and happened very quickly. It also sometimes felt a little heavy handed with the religious messaging.
Three stars - I liked it :)
**Thanks to NetGalley, Catherine Bakewell, and Holiday House for this ARC**
We Are the Song is Catherine Bakewell's debut middle grade novel, to be followed by a young adult novel in 2023. A charming, lyrical middle grade fantasy, We Are the Song tells the story of Caé Elissa, a 12 year old Voice of the Goddess who sings blessings from the creator of the world, Caé. She travels with a 17 year old composer and is tasked with helping the people of their war-torn world. With her voice, she has the ability to heal, to grant joy, and to transform the physical world around her. As the book progresses, she is asked by powerful people to sing blessings that feel evil to her and she begins to wonder how she the Caé she knows and loves can be represented so differently by those with power. A thoughtful exploration of the difference between spirituality/religion and Religion with a capital R, this book emphasizes listening to your own understanding of what is right and your own unique connection with a higher power.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was beautifully written and still felt appropriate for being told from the point of view of a 12-year-old. My only complaint was the pacing - the first two thirds of the books flowed beautifully and then it felt like the ending of the book was compressed and happened very quickly. It also sometimes felt a little heavy handed with the religious messaging.
Three stars - I liked it :)
aseel_reads's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a super adorable little fantasy novel. I like the MC a lot, her character arc was very sweet and I liked seeing her being young and learning to trust herself. Plus, I've never read a musical fantasy, so this was fun.
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, War, Death, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
evenstr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
csistek's review
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for giving me an eGalley for review.
I have not been this surprised by how fantastic a book was in a long time. When I say this one was hard to put it down, it was REALLY hard to put down--I was up late a couple of nights just to see what happened next!
Every character in this story gave me intense emotions, from joy and love to frustration and anger. I was also quite surprised to see how utterly diverse it was! There are characters of color and queer characters, who are not merely in the background--they are just as important as our main protagonist, Elissa. It was such a relief to read, especially as the religious tone of the story may make some of us under these umbrellas uneasy. The Goddess is loving and gentle and it is so obvious that She is meant be social commentary. It was wonderful.
This book really made me want to sing, too.
I have not been this surprised by how fantastic a book was in a long time. When I say this one was hard to put it down, it was REALLY hard to put down--I was up late a couple of nights just to see what happened next!
Every character in this story gave me intense emotions, from joy and love to frustration and anger. I was also quite surprised to see how utterly diverse it was! There are characters of color and queer characters, who are not merely in the background--they are just as important as our main protagonist, Elissa. It was such a relief to read, especially as the religious tone of the story may make some of us under these umbrellas uneasy. The Goddess is loving and gentle and it is so obvious that She is meant be social commentary. It was wonderful.
This book really made me want to sing, too.
zanjabeel_z's review
3.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
We Are The Song is a book full of light and magic, I don't know if you understand but what I'm trying to convey is that it's brimming with hope and happiness.
I found that the magic system was very original and unique, definitely the best part of this book. The MC was so sweet and cute!
The second best part though was Elissa's relationship with Caé. These days, we don't get strong relationships with God in books anymore and whenever anything like that is written people criticise it but I don't, I look forward to it. I just really loved the faith Elissa had in Caé and how everyone loved their Goddess.
To conclude I'd say We Are The Song is a magical and an amazing book perfect to read in one sitting.
3.75 stars!
We Are The Song is a book full of light and magic, I don't know if you understand but what I'm trying to convey is that it's brimming with hope and happiness.
I found that the magic system was very original and unique, definitely the best part of this book. The MC was so sweet and cute!
The second best part though was Elissa's relationship with Caé. These days, we don't get strong relationships with God in books anymore and whenever anything like that is written people criticise it but I don't, I look forward to it. I just really loved the faith Elissa had in Caé and how everyone loved their Goddess.
To conclude I'd say We Are The Song is a magical and an amazing book perfect to read in one sitting.
3.75 stars!
nutmegandpumpkin's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overview
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Dialogue: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Dialogue: 3/5
Writing style: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Description: 5/5
Description: 5/5
Personal Enjoyment: 4/5
———
Note: StoryGraph has it listed as a middle grade but imo the target audience for this book felt more so on the cusp between middle grade and YA. Like it feels perfect for older middle grade readers and/or younger YA readers.
Thoughts: It was a very enjoyable book and I thought the world building was done masterfully; it was sprinkled naturally throughout the story and felt well developed. The idea of a music based magic system and songs that bring miracles is a really cool concept. Through Elissa, I also found myself loving Cae (the goddess in the book). I also thought the description — particularly the setting descriptions — were written beautifully.
There were one or two parts in the book that were a bit redundant but it didn’t bother me too much. There was a lot of incorporation of musical terminology which I didn’t mind except for when it described voices. I don’t know, something about it felt forced? I’m also not super knowledgeable in the more technological part of music so it could just be me.
Examples of this:
———
Note: StoryGraph has it listed as a middle grade but imo the target audience for this book felt more so on the cusp between middle grade and YA. Like it feels perfect for older middle grade readers and/or younger YA readers.
Thoughts: It was a very enjoyable book and I thought the world building was done masterfully; it was sprinkled naturally throughout the story and felt well developed. The idea of a music based magic system and songs that bring miracles is a really cool concept. Through Elissa, I also found myself loving Cae (the goddess in the book). I also thought the description — particularly the setting descriptions — were written beautifully.
There were one or two parts in the book that were a bit redundant but it didn’t bother me too much. There was a lot of incorporation of musical terminology which I didn’t mind except for when it described voices. I don’t know, something about it felt forced? I’m also not super knowledgeable in the more technological part of music so it could just be me.
Examples of this:
“‘No,’ I said, my voice pianissimo.”
“Her voice was sharp and crisp; strings plucked pizzicato.”
^This happens A LOT throughout the book
There is also plot point that happens a little more than halfway through the novel that made me wish THAT was the plot of the book. Said plot point:When Cae told Elissa she had to find the other voices. I thought if the bulk of the book was Elissa journeying and searching to find the other voices and allowing us to get to really know their characters (which we don’t really because it’s at the very end that we see any of them) would’ve worked so much better for me as the plot. I don’t think what was written before was bad but when this plot point was brought up I realized how much cooler the story could have been. Plus this really cool plot point ends up being rushed which I talk about in my next point
The pacing was a bit unbalanced too. The first three-quarters of the book has a steady slowish medium pace to it but then the rest seemed so fast and rushed which was a bit disappointing. I think it could’ve been longer but maybe it wasn’t because of the target audience? I’m not sure but it felt very descriptive and full of depth and then it felt like whiplash towards the latter half of the novel. The solution that’s set up to solve the conflict is complicated and seems like it should take a lot of work but it’s rushed when it actually happens.
That being said, I think the VERY ending was really well done and a portion made me tear up a bit :)
There is also plot point that happens a little more than halfway through the novel that made me wish THAT was the plot of the book. Said plot point:
The pacing was a bit unbalanced too. The first three-quarters of the book has a steady slowish medium pace to it but then the rest seemed so fast and rushed which was a bit disappointing. I think it could’ve been longer but maybe it wasn’t because of the target audience? I’m not sure but it felt very descriptive and full of depth and then it felt like whiplash towards the latter half of the novel. The solution that’s set up to solve the conflict is complicated and seems like it should take a lot of work but it’s rushed when it actually happens.
That being said, I think the VERY ending was really well done and a portion made me tear up a bit :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Pregnancy, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Death
bookishcapybara's review
5.0
When I was young, I devoured books by Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, and other great female fantasy authors whose focus was on adventurous young girls, and this book reminded me so much of the feeling of reading those novels as a child. The concept, a world where music is literally magic, is so brilliant, and the cover art is just absolutely gorgeous. Bakewell's writing certainly has a musical quality to it that is a pleasure to read, and Elisse is such a sweet character, you can't help but root for her. I'm so glad to have read this book, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a little nostalgia, or for any young girl with an interest in fantasy.
dianasbooks's review
3.0
We Are The Song is a middle-grade fantasy novel following Elissa and her love for music. Through music, 12-year old Elissa learns to trust herself, remain strong in her beliefs, and NEVER underestimate her abilities powered by love and music. This novel was enjoyable and easy to follow along. It is a beautiful story that I think any child/adult will definitely enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. This book will release on May 3, 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. This book will release on May 3, 2022.