ABOUT THIS BOOK

A compelling story full of magic and music.

Sylvie Bartram lives alone with Mr. Jackson the dog and her eccentric composer father, who invents strange and wonderful musical instruments. One day she returns from school to find a message left in toothpaste on the bathroom mirror: her father has been kidnapped. Later that night, the house is visited by a terrifying apparition—a half-man, half-creature who is searching for something and will not rest until he has found it. . . .

Sylvie uncovers an underground world of magic and evil, and with help from her friends, she must hold off a power that threatens the lives of all beings in the world. The Songman is at large, and is determined to steal music and use it for his own evil ends. . . .


REVIEWS

Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2009:
“[T]he sheer force of what [Binding] realizes makes this an unforgettable tale, rife with thoughtful explorations of animal life, fascinating displays of instinctual communication, and breezy interpretations of the everyday magic we take for granted.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2009:
"This is an exceptionally honed story with levels of depth."


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Binding is a former editor at Penguin Books in London. He is a part-time commissioning editor at London publishers Simon & Schuster, and has had four highly praised adult novels published. This is his first book for children. He lives in Kent, United Kingdom.


RELATED LINKS

Meet the characters of Sylvie and the Songman- Get the character guide!