The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket

The Composer Is Dead, by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Carson Ellis, Music composed by Nathaniel Stookey, 2009, New York: Harper Collins Publishers (978-0-06-123628-0)

Awards: N/A
Author Website: http://www.lemonysnicket.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.carsonellis.com/
Composer Website: http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=3094
Media Used: Ink and Watercolor

Annotation:  This books starts out with a dead composer.  An inspector is hired to find the murderer.  All of the instruments in the orchestra are interviewed, and it is determined that the music of all great composers is butchered at one time or another.

Personal Reaction:
This book is very entertaining.  While reading the book, I had funny scenes playing in my head featuring giggling instruments that can waltz and drive cars.  The text is rather ironic and sarcastic at many points, which is one thing that makes this book an excellent choice for older readers.

2009 Class Top Ten List

My Top 10

Personification:  Throughout the entire book, the musical instruments are given human characteristics.  The instruments laugh and giggle, and sing and are even accused of being capable of murder.

Alliteration: (unpaged...estimated page 23) "We conquered the concert, battered the band, agitated the audience, rattled the roof, and got the phone numbers of several very attractive young sailors."