Words by Audrey Ades, Pictures by Adelina Lirius
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2020
Picture Book, 40 Pages, Ages 4 – 8
Wolfgang Mozart, the famous 18th-century Austrian composer had a sister who was, in her own right, a talented composer and musician. Unfortunately, in that period in history, women were not supposed to play music.
A powerful true story of a talented, ambitious girl who has been hidden from history!
During their childhood Maria Anna and Wolfgang play the harpsichord together. They were both so talented that they performed all over Europe for packed audiences in large concert halls. Her father bragged that she was the best child musician in all of Europe. When Maria decided to compose a piece of music of her own that Wolfgang then played in front of an audience her father was furious.
Written in first person, this book spans approximately 30 years of Maria Anna’s life, from her happy childhood into her less than exciting adulthood. It explains why she obeyed her father’s demands that she not play or compose music, because in the eighteenth-century men made all of the important decisions and women were obedient. History is enriching, and is important to know in order to make good decisions in the future.
This is a book of ‘creative non-fiction’ where certain aspects and details of Maria are made up, and the explanation of this genre of writing is beautifully explained in the back-matter of this book. The Time Line, Glossary, and Sources are well organized in back as well. The illustrations help carry the story forward, and flows quite nicely with more muted colors.
I think that this book is well written, interesting, and will hold the attention of children and adults of various ages. In today’s world would Maria Anna Mozart have been as lauded for her talent as Wolfgang Mozart? We all would hope so. It is a must for any collection.
I Am Mozart Too: The Lost Genius of Maria Anna Mozart receives 5 stars from this reviewer.