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The Composer Is Dead

(2009, Fiction - Mystery, Written by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Carson Ellis)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Murder and mystery create a unique intro to the orchestra.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The book encourages kids to learn more about music and the orchestra.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    No real violence, though this is a murder mystery, and the inspector is trying to find out who has murdered the composer. 

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Composer Is Dead

Parents need to know that this introduction to the orchestra is presented as a murder mystery. Readers ready for tongue-in-cheek, and slightly macabre, humor will be ready for it. Also, it comes with a CD of the author reading against the backdrop of newly composed music played by the San Francisco Symphony.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the various instruments and the roles they play in an orchestra as they try to solve the murder mystery along with the inspector. They also may want to look at the list of composers carefully. Do you recognize any of the names? Do you see any women on the list? Why not? The book could inspire families to go to the orchestra to hear the instruments for themselves.
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