The Dulcimer Boy

In an eerie world where people have cold and hard hearts, twin baby boys are left at the doorstep of their uncle's house. They grow up into odd boys and are kept hidden from the world because of their strangeness. The only thing they have from their parents is a dulcimer. The dulcimer has a powerful attraction for William, the stronger of the twins, and he decides to take the wonderful instrument and flee. This is a dark, almost gothic story, where cruelty to children is commonplace. In a Dickensian world, where orphaned youngsters are thrown away or used for profit, William and his lonely little brother seem to be the pawns of chance.True to the Dickensian model, a stranger steps in to help the boys in their time of need, and we are relieved to have a happy ending.Tor Seidler has infused small pieces of wry humor into his story, which adds to the weird nature of the book. For example, the horrible aunt and uncle are called Mr. and Mrs. Carbuncle. A carbuncle can be a gem, but it can also be a terrible sore. There is one aspect of the story that is puzzling: How can William leave his poor, defenseless brother in the home of his cruel aunt and uncle? How can he abandon Jules, a boy who does not speak and who is so frail and ill? There is a magical and ethereal quality to William, an almost spirit-like element to his personality. Yet, at the same time, he is heartless enough to leave his brother behind.THE DULCIMER BOY is a disturbing book that left me feeling more than a little uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it is a masterfully written tale with powerful imagery. Seidler has written a book that is deeply moving, thought provoking, and will appeal to many different kinds of readers. --- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber