The Case of Beethoven’s Bandit
by T. A. Sigafus; illustrations by Tammy Fleetwood-Moody
Published by Clairborne Publishing Group(unavailable)
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Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart
The Case of Beethoven’s Bandit by T. A. Sigafus is the first in the Little Maestro Mystery Series.
The Little Maestros are a quartet of 11- and 12-year olds who receive special tutelage under Madame Macaroni at her music store. I was surprised that the characters were as old as they are as the subtitle makes me think of much younger children, perhaps five or six.
While everyone takes the music seriously, the music store is a front for the Little Maestro Detective Agency. I found it odd that the agency existed since this is the first in the series and it seems like it would be logically, but the kids refer to other things like casebooks and other cases, which have no names or references.
The premise of the book is fun. Professor Podge has sent the Little Maestros a new symphony, Symphony in “See” Sharp, for them to perform at the Annual String Quartet Competition. However the Professor’s symphony is awfully awful. And on top of that, Professor Podge, who has been commissioned to complete Beethoven’s tenth symphony, is missing along with the master’s handwritten notes!
Madame Macaroni is sure that her little musicians can figure out what happened to the Professor because someone as prestigious as the Professor would never, ever abscond with such a priceless masterpiece of music. Once the group gets to the site of the Annual String Quartet Competition, their hunt begins in earnest, but soon Madame is also missing. Authorities think that she had flown the coop with the Professor and is hiding on a secluded island sipping drinks that have little umbrellas in them. But the Little Maestros know better and the hunt is on. Along with Mortimer, an old and crabby Siamese cat, the kids are off to find Madame and Professor.
The Case of Beethoven’s Bandit will give young readers a bit of knowledge about Ludwig von Beethoven without having to rotely memorize the facts.
Armchair Interviews says: A fun read that should delight the middle-school crowd.