KidGlovz
by Julie Hunt, illustrated by Dale Newman
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 9+
Published by Allen & Unwin, 2018
About this book
Nine-year-old KidGlovz is a musical prodigy, playing piano concertos to packed concert halls. But KidGlovz’s corrupt and manipulative manager, Dr Eronius Spin, keeps him on a strict and protected schedule, hungry, alone and unloved – apart from his music teacher, Madame Lovegrove.
Spin also won’t let KidGlovz play the music that lives in his head – wonderful, enchanting music, which fills the boy’s mind with wonder.
One day, Shoestring, a tightrope-walker kid, lets himself into KidGlov’s locked apartment room, and a plan is made: Shoestring, with the help of Madame Lovegrove, organises KidGlovz to be kidnapped on the way to a music competition, thereby ensuring his freedom.
However, KidGlovz gets shot accidentally in the hand, losing three fingers; however, winning Count Arpeggio’s competition means a big cash prize that KidGlovz really needs if he’s not going to be managed by Spin anymore. But something terrible happens at the concert, and KidGlovz loses his gloves and his music. Finding himself – and his music – will be a journey he never expected.
This stunning pencil-drawn graphic novel of talent, music and friendship will delight fans of Levi Pinfold and Brian Selznick. Readers young and old will be rooting for KidGlovz: a poignant story to be remembered for a long time.
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