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A review by ocean_cactus
The Soprano's Last Song by Pierdomenico Baccalario, Iacopo Bruno
3.0
Again, I don't read a lot of YA, so maybe my standards are high or just off. First, I still hate the concept of these books - that the young narrator, Irene Adler, only has access to the story because she eventually ends up as the girlfriend of Sherlock Holmes. I think she's actually quite a resourceful, introspective, plucky character. I disliked when her guardian/butler made Sherlock promise to be careful as a condition for letting Irene set off with Sherlock across London. Irene herself couldn't promise to be careful? What is the purpose of that interaction, especially given the general tendency of the butler to serve as an understanding presence in Irene's life? It does, indeed, show the norms and mores of the time, but I rather like seeing Sherlock as a man beyond his time (a debatable premise, I realize).
Anyway, this is a small quibble. I will say that this book does engage slightly more with questions of male/ female roles and questions of class. I wouldn't say this engagement is successful or nuanced, but, well, at least these elements are present. Class, I think is handled better than the overdrawn stereotypes of what other girls Irene's age like (shopping, dresses). There is really no one else like her? This seems more like a failure of her own view of the world than a failure of her social milieu. I understand that her loneliness sends her toward Sherlock and Lupin, but why not come at this from a place of strength - or at least another female friend?
This book also has a little more romantic content than the first one. Do 4th graders like to read about kissing? I really have no idea. The romance is pretty chaste - there is a kiss, but this isn't really a deal-breaker for me. There are also a few other long looks, fingers help to lips, hair being patted, etc. I'm just not sure that any of this is necessary to advance the story.
The books are also translated from Italian. In instances where the voice seems off, I don't know if this is the author or the translator. For example, there's a reference to "ladies with bad reputations" - I imagine they are ladies of the evening or something similar. I'd wager that this is likely over the head of most 4th graders, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm not sure that this is element that even needs to be in the story at all, given that I think most readers wouldn't get it and it isn't needed to advance the story.
Likewise, there's a moment where Irene picks up a book of Edgar Allan Poe stories and exclaims, "Wow! These are good!" I'm not sure that's how kids talk / talked.
The mystery itself is fine - not too scary, not to predictable. No one will have nightmares - which, well, I think is pretty much what you want for a YA mystery, I guess.
Would it prompt kids to keep reading the series? I think so. Would I let my kid read it? Sure - but this is likely informed by my (perhaps unduly harsh) view that there is so much drivel out there that this book / series seems better than average.
Anyway, this is a small quibble. I will say that this book does engage slightly more with questions of male/ female roles and questions of class. I wouldn't say this engagement is successful or nuanced, but, well, at least these elements are present. Class, I think is handled better than the overdrawn stereotypes of what other girls Irene's age like (shopping, dresses). There is really no one else like her? This seems more like a failure of her own view of the world than a failure of her social milieu. I understand that her loneliness sends her toward Sherlock and Lupin, but why not come at this from a place of strength - or at least another female friend?
This book also has a little more romantic content than the first one. Do 4th graders like to read about kissing? I really have no idea. The romance is pretty chaste - there is a kiss, but this isn't really a deal-breaker for me. There are also a few other long looks, fingers help to lips, hair being patted, etc. I'm just not sure that any of this is necessary to advance the story.
The books are also translated from Italian. In instances where the voice seems off, I don't know if this is the author or the translator. For example, there's a reference to "ladies with bad reputations" - I imagine they are ladies of the evening or something similar. I'd wager that this is likely over the head of most 4th graders, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm not sure that this is element that even needs to be in the story at all, given that I think most readers wouldn't get it and it isn't needed to advance the story.
Likewise, there's a moment where Irene picks up a book of Edgar Allan Poe stories and exclaims, "Wow! These are good!" I'm not sure that's how kids talk / talked.
The mystery itself is fine - not too scary, not to predictable. No one will have nightmares - which, well, I think is pretty much what you want for a YA mystery, I guess.
Would it prompt kids to keep reading the series? I think so. Would I let my kid read it? Sure - but this is likely informed by my (perhaps unduly harsh) view that there is so much drivel out there that this book / series seems better than average.