The Musician's Daughter

Theresa Maria lives a modest yet comfortable life with her younger brother, mother, and her father, who is a violinist in the orchestra of Prince Nicholas Esterhazy of Vienna. When her father is murdered on Christmas Eve, his body found at a gypsy camp outside of Vienna and his priceless violin missing, not only is Theresa devastated, but desperate for answers. Why would someone murder her kind father, a simple musician? In her pursuit for answers and in looking after her family, Theresa discovers some startling secrets, revealed to her by her godfather, the maestro of the orchestra, and her father's fellow violinist, Zoltan, that will lead her on a path to justice and danger. The Musician's Daughter is a lively and suspenseful read that will take readers to the glittering life of 18th century Vienna, but also offers a look at the darker aspects of the time. Dunlap offers a very authentic and accurate look at the times and social aspects, as Theresa struggles to find way to feed her family, and worries about her pregnant mother and how her family will cope with the loss of her father. But there are political elements in the story as well, as Dunlap reveals a government that is not always fair and is prone to corruption. Though a little slow at first, The Musician's Daughter soon picks up, becoming a fast paced and action-packed race to stop many injustices and to keep Theresa's family safe from harm. At times it may be a little hard to keep certain minor characters straight and to keep up with the whereabouts of everyone, but the excitement and danger will keep a tight rein on readers. Dunlap has created a shining, adventurous novel with an admirable and plucky heroine that is sure to entertain.

I periodically read YA books to see what is out there and to hunt for good books for my teenage daughter. Teens are so caught up in my space, you tube, clique-issues, and teen angst TV that it is difficult to get them interested in the classics (like Little Women). When they read literature, they want something identifiable. I was wary that this would be a "good book" for parents to recommend (like spinach is a good food) but boooooring for teens. I was happily wrong. A period piece from the 18th century whereby chamber music and not popular music is featured may not interest most teens at the outset. However, if you can persuade them to read the first chapter, they won't be able to stop. It is Dunlap's writing, including her plucky protagonist, which is the key to this treasure. The story moves with a flawless rhythm and cadence that pulls you effortlessly along. Even teens with spotty attention spans will be lured as the story builds suspense while providing aesthetic pleasure to the ear. It also educates the reader without ever being didactic. Beautiful narration combines with ongoing adventure. The author weaves in stunning imagery and a clear picture of 18th century Vienna without ever using stilted, stuffy, or stodgy prose. Court musicians; Romany gypsies; class-consciousness; personal identity; family loyalties; first love; as well as murder, torture(described rather than presented, and never gratuitously), treachery, child abuse (never heavy-handed), and friendship combine in this coming-of-age tale. The story gears up in the opening pages as the 15-year-old protagonist, Theresa Schurman, is presented with the dead body of her murdered violinist father as she is waking up from a disturbing dream. His Amati violin is missing, and (as she learns soon thereafter) he is wearing a strange but beautiful gold medallion around his neck. Theresa is determined to solve the mystery of her murdered father. Her ensuing adventures are as internally reflective as they are externally suspenseful. She is a sharp observer of human life--as her perceptions of the world around her deepen, her judgments are refined. For example, she used to think of gypsies as base, dirty thieves that are apt to kidnap children and sell them into slavery. As she befriends a group of them, she becomes aware of her miscalculated and learned prejudices. Equally, she observes how her middle-class standing appears to the upper echelon of royalty. As she learns to navigate the different classes of society, she develops a wily confidence. One image that stands out for me is Theresa's passion for her viola. She calls it her other, deeper voice. Theresa is a true novelistic heroine. She risks her life and reputation to uncover the truth. She also remains believable and dimensional throughout her journey--her internal dialogue is easily identifiable by a contemporary teen. Some issues are timeless, such as going against the grain, yearning for love and acceptance

The Musician's Daughter starts with Theresa Maria a 15 year old opening her the door to her house on Christmas Eve after been waken by men in hooded cloaks who are carrying a large sack and they drop it in front of her. There lying before her is her father dead with a gold medallion she had never seen before and what meaning does it have? But more importantly where is her father's violin-something he never went without. From a night that suppose to be playing for the upper class and joyful account has turned into murder and mystery that only the main character can find out why. Very entertaining for young adult and older readers as well.

Fifteen year old Theresa Maria Schurman awakens from a nightmare relieved yet, the reality that faces her is much worse --- three unknown hooded men have brought a large sack into their home. Her father lies dead on the floor. Torn apart by grief and and the need to protect her unborn child, Theresa Maria's mother seems unable to provide the reassurances or financial needs caused by her sudden widowhood. When Theresa Maria realizes that her father's violin is missing, the very violin that might ease the financial pressures, she sets out to find the violin and solve the increasingly mysterious circumstances surrounding her father's death. Hired by Haydn as violinist to Prince Nicholas Esterhazy's court and a man for whom music was his life, her father never would have left his violin behind. Theresa Maria's quest for clues takes her to the courts of Vienna's royal family, to gypsy camps and other aspects of 18th century Vienna and Austrian society where danger, blackmail, friendships and even family are not all that they seem on the surface. Susanne Dunlap's THE MUSICIAN'S DAUGHTER combines history, music and mystery in a young adult historical novel that will grab readers from start to finish. Told through the eyes of the musician's young daughter, THE MUSICIAN'S DAUGHTER takes the reader right into the immediacy of the mystery and the historical setting with a freshness and vibrancy that will appeal to modern young readers. Maria Theresa is intelligent, courageous and imbued with a sense of honor and compassion for others that allows her to see below the surface. Friendship outside her immediate circle, the hint of a first love, a growing devotion to music all add a rich dimension to her character. Susanne Dunlop gives readers a wonderful insight into the musical background of this novel, not only in the historical details but also in Maria's descriptions of the instruments and sounds of the music itself. The mystery itself intrigues as several exciting twists and turns lead to a dramatic encounter in which Theresa Maria herself meets new challenges that test her and all that she has learned from her father. As Maria Theresa's journey for clues takes her on a journey through the lavish royal courts and the not so rich gypsy camps, she also comes to know her father better and indeed herself. As Maria Theresa journeys outward in an intriguing look at society, she also looks inward and discovers her own self in a tale that moves the reader's emotions. THE MUSICIAN'S DAUGHTER is a beautiful, moving growing of age tale of one 18th century girl who will steal the hearts of young adults and a few adults (myself included) as well!

Teen novel The Musician's Daughter begins with 15 year old Theresa Maria opening her front door on Christmas Eve to three men in hooded cloaks who unceremoniously dump a large cloth sack at her feet. With one swift knife stroke the sack is slit open pouring out the girl's father, very dead. A student of the famous musician Franz Joseph Haydn, Theresa's father, a favored violinist, lay still at her feet, his neck encircled with a mysterious gold medallion never seen before, and has obviously been the victim of evil deeds. Her father's prized violin is also not with his body, leaving his daughter even more bewildered as to what has happened. Set amidst the glimmering courts of 18th century Vienna, Susanne Dunlap's new historical novel for young adults evokes a time and place of European glamour. With an opulent backdrop set in the royal palace of Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, Theresa Maria is a privileged music assistant living amongst the bewigged, powdered & patched, hoop skirted and buckled shoed nobility. These highly fashioned players prance and dance evening after evening to exquisite music performed by only the finest musicians chosen by the Prince who loves music above all else. Murder and music set the tone creating a lavish and intriguing story that orchestrates the reader along an allegro pace of pursuit. In snowy frozen Austria, our young heroine quickly buries her father next to the frozen Danube and soon must begin her quest of investigating who has murdered her father. She also needs to find the missing violin that might be sold to save the family from plummeting into instant poverty. The three-fold mystery of murder, medallion, and missing violin, sets the tempo for a riveting story that is sung to the tune of mayhem. As Theresa Maria's godfather, Franz Haydn hires her to assist him with his musical creations at court, she is plunged into a multifaceted world of curtsies and concertos, crescendos and crime. Adding to this literary concert is a lecherous uncle tugging Theresa into a world of debauchery, and another group of players that assist her in her plight, the colorful, fiery Romany gypsies! With the Romany Theresa finds new friendships and alliances and another side of music that will capture her heart, and will give her glimpses into a whole new magical world she never knew existed. There she uncovers that her father was mysteriously involved with these dark skinned, captivating people. I found a nice mix of ingredients to make this novel a mystery or music lover's delight. Any young lady today who loves music, and perhaps may be in a school orchestra would thoroughly enjoy this wondrous story that begins with a slow steady rhythm, builds to an astounding fevered pitch, and eventually ends with perfect harmony. Dunlap steps down from adult fiction to teen level with ease.