The Kingdom of Back

The Kingdom of Back
Marie Lu
Putnam, 2020 336 pages
Grades 7-Up
Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Nannerl Mozart is a child prodigy. She works with her father constantly to improve her clavier playing with hopes of being asked to tour the great courts of eighteenth-century Europe. Her little brother, Wolferl, is always at her side, watching her play, sharing her room, and helping to pass the time. Before his hands are even big enough to properly navigate the keyboard, Wolferl is teaching himself to play, proving that he also has natural talent. His winning personality, musicality and quick learning earn him the spotlight as Papa takes his children to perform around their native Salzburg, as well as other cities. Meanwhile, the children are visited by a lively, unworldly boy named Hyacinth, who takes them to his magical kingdom while they are dreaming. The siblings name it "The Kingdom of Back" because everything appears to be backwards. Even the trees grow upside down. Hyacinth tells them of his troubles. He is a princeling, who has lost his kingdom to evil forces. If the children aid his quest to regain his thrown, he will reward them with fame and musical immortality. At first the Mozart children are charmed by Hyacinth and happily carry out his wishes. As Hyacinth grows in power, he gets sharper around the edges. If the children do not do as he asks, family members begin to take ill. Is Hyacinth really who he says he is? Can the young people find the strength to resist him? And can they achieve musical immortality on their own?

A departure from Lu's usual fare, she now turns to the childhood of the western world's greatest (or at least best known) composer, concocting a fantasy based on Wolfgang and his sister's actual game. In an author's note Lu explains how the Mozart children invented this imaginary kingdom to pass the time on the long coach rides from one royal court performance to another.  Certainly, inspired by the master, Lu imagines what would happen if the children actually had experiences there and reflects that, perhaps, magic influenced the genius of Mozart. She also explores Mozart's relationship with his older sister Nannerl, our narrator, a prodigy in her own right, yet limited by the restriction placed on females of the day. Lu's fans may jump ship as they crack into this quieter, ethereal novel. I know I was expecting something much different. Sometimes the book is a bit slow moving, yet the writing is beautiful and the story haunting, backed up by history. The threat of constant illness will resonate with today's Covid readers and may offer hope that if young Mozart could survive the smallpox will little medical advances, we can get through our current crisis. Musicians will find much to love and be inspired to practice and try to write their own competitions. It is impossible to read this book and not search Spotify for a Mozart playlist. It made me fall in love with the great composer’s work all over again.