Review: The Song from Somewhere Else

The Song from Somewhere Else
by A. F. Harrold
illustrated by Levi Pinfold
Age Range: 8-12
Release Date: July 3, 2017
Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
9781681194011

In a small and quiet neighborhood, dangers are coming out of the shadows. But Francesca Patel is more focused on the harsh realities of life. And for her, reality comes in the shape of Neil Noble, the local bully. For reasons Frank can’t fathom, Noble has chosen her as his punching bag, seeking her out day after day to mercilessly taunt. What had she ever done to him? Then one day, the school oddity steps in to help. Nick Underbridge is considered just plain weird by his classmates. He’s too big, too quiet, too… different. And before Frank knows it, she finds herself in the strangest friendship she could have imagined.

 Harrold, author of The Imaginary, has penned a tale with a lyrically quiet beauty to it. The Song from Somewhere Else is thoughtful, powerful, and takes its time moving along in the loveliest way. What starts out as an ordinary kid-faces-bully story quickly brings in stunning fantastical elements as Frank, taking refuge in Nick’s home, hears a breathtaking and unearthly music coming from somewhere in the house. Where is this impossibly lovely tune coming from? The answer introduces Frank to a world she could never have dreamed of.

Frank and Nick’s world is further laid out in soft black-and-white illustrations throughout the pages. As the story moves along and Frank sees the otherworldly dangers becoming more and more prominent, charcoal-like wisps of shadows begin to grace the pages, increasing in frequency as the darkness comes closer and closer. This tool with the illustrations themselves help to set the dreary, muted, and yet alluring tone to the story:


While there are threatening shadows and troll-like figures a-plenty, the story somehow remains rooted in reality. At its core, The Song from Somewhere Else is an exploration of love and friendship, and what it means to forge a connection with another. This lovely and unassuming novel feels much weightier than its 217 pages would suggest, and Frank and Nick’s struggles to ward off the shadows reflect a desire in all of us to walk fearlessly in the light.

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