Befiddled

By Pedro de Alcantara

Becky Cohen has a rough life. She’s an outsider everywhere she goes: shunned and mocked at school, at her violin lessons, and at home by her disapproving mother. Her only true friend is her brilliant little brother, newspaper-loving Benjy. She dreams of becoming a great violinist, but at the group lessons she’s forced to take at the Y, Becky panics and plays badly. Then Becky meets Mr. Freeman, her building’s handyman. He has a lot to teach her about becoming a musician, and being a friend.
Gradually, Becky begins speaking her mind more often, and finds that people are actually listening. Then Mr. Freeman tells Becky about a local performing arts high school’s scholarship contest. With the lessons learned from Mr. Freeman and Benjy, can Becky overcome her fears and play what’s in her heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: May 6, 2009
• ISBN: 9780307514059

Pedro de Alcantara

Pedro de Alcantara is a musician, writer and teacher, and a Visiting Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow. He lives in Paris and travels the world giving workshops and performances. His website is www.pedrodealcantara.com