We Are the Song

An exploration of devotion and finding one's voice.

An excellent addition to middle-grade fantasy collections.

Music has an otherworldly power. What if there was an ethereal place where music is magic and singers and composers were highly revered? What would happen if songs were manipulated for evil? Twelve-year-old Elissa is a rare accomplished singer in fairy-tale-like Cadenza. When the king of Cadenza died without an heir, it sparked a world war. For the past two years, Elissa and her composer Lucio have been traveling performers, gifting small acts of hope and goodwill to the common people with their songs. On their journey, Elissa experiences firsthand how power corrupts. Bakewell's middle grade fantasy novel weaves mythology with Baroque backdrops replete with Christian connotations: Elissa resembles Joan of Arc guided by a goddess named Cae. While music lovers will appreciate all the harmonious vocabulary and sonorous celebration, this title lacks the romance and strong chemistry of friendship that other fantasy novels carry. It also comes off as pontifical at times. Otherwise, it's a sweet fantasy work with an independent female lead. VERDICT An alluring fantasy exploring the influence of music, the importance of listening to one's own voice, and knowing who your friends are.—Laura Dooley-Taylor

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Twelve-year-old Elissa is one of the goddess Caé's 12 chosen Singers, individuals whose voices possess bewitching power capable of healing wounds, invigorating crops, and stopping landslides through song. She travels her homeland, Cadenza, with her overprotective music tutor and composer, Lucio, providing aid and relief to the war-torn nation's citizens. During a stop at a royal palace, Lucio shows increasing disregard for his songwriting responsibilities and agrees to perform music with the potential to incur great harm, causing Elissa to question her role as a "mouthpiece of the goddess." Her role is further put into question when military leaders attempt to weaponize her gift. After a mysterious visitor emboldens Elissa to write her own musical spells—something Lucio disapproves of—she sets off on a harrowing journey to save Cadenza from ruin. The cast sometimes feel like vehicles for the story's events rather than fully formed individuals, making it difficult for readers to foster connections with the protagonists. Nevertheless, Bakewell's beguiling debut—brimming with high-stakes adventure, expansive worldbuilding, and a uniquely detailed magical system—steadily crescendos to a gratifying conclusion. Major characters cue as white. Agents: Devin Ross, New Leaf Literary & Media. (May)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"Bakewell's beguiling debut—brimming with high-stakes adventure, expansive worldbuilding, and a uniquely detailed magical system—steadily crescendos to a gratifying conclusion."—Publishers Weekly

"Elissa's desire to follow her divinely inspired abilities and overcome the barriers to her musical ambitions echo women's historical experiences in classical music. . . . And constellations of race, sexuality, and gender expression lend richness to an already unique world."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This fast-paced fantasy is full of action and intrigue, taking place in a war-torn world that still holds much beauty and magic. Readers will come to love Elissa, who struggles with doubts as she faces heartbreak, tragedy, and loneliness and tries to fight for what is right. An excellent addition to middle-grade fantasy collections."—Booklist

"Bakewell crafts a spellbinding narrative."—The Horn Book

"An alluring f­antasy exploring the influence of music, the ­importance of listening to one's own voice, and knowing who your friends are."—School Library Journal

"Fantasy fans will queue up for this delightful novel with its strong female characters and carefully drawn fantasy world. . . . Fast packed action will keep readers totally engaged. This captivating novel promises a good future for this first-time author."—School Library Connection

"An exploration of devotion and finding one's voice."—Kirkus Reviews

"Brimming with elegant writing and striking magic, We Are the Song will captivate readers with its thoughtful portrayal of the healing power of grace. Simply poetic."—Juliana Brandt, author of The Wolf of Cape Fen

"An enchanting, beautifully written book that teaches readers how to find their own voice even in times of despair. Magically woven together, with worldbuilding that sings on the page, it hits all the right notes and ends in a page-turning crescendo."—Mindy Thompson, author of The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams

"The language of music absolutely suffuses the book, from its structure to the names of people and places to the way characters perceive their world. But ultimately, this poignant and lyrical story is about recognizing the power in our own voices, and understanding that if we use that power wisely, each of us has the capacity to help bring peace to a broken world."—Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon

"Elissa is the kind of main character one can't help but root for: generous, empathetic, and determined to do what is right. This story reads like a song itself, a well-balanced harmony of heart and hope; a testament to the healing power of music and of the peace we can usher into the world when we all work together in love."—Lorelei Savaryn, author of The Circus of Stolen Dreams and The Edge of In Between