Review: Befiddled

Author: Pedro de Alcantara

ISBN:  0-385-73265-1

The following review was contributed by: Lily Azerad-Goldman: CLICK TO VIEW Lily Azerad-Goldman's Reviews

Writer/musician Pedro de Alcantara has penned an enchanting debut novel with Befiddled, wherein believable characters are drawn with the hand of an expert.

The narrative focuses on Becky Cohen, a befuddled klutzy 13 year old, who is obsessed with playing the violin and her little brother Benji, who plays at being an editor for “The Splinter”. Becky yearns to be ready to play at the year end music competition. Their widowed mom, who works at a nearby deli to make ends meet, can barely afford to rent Becky’s violin and give her lessons with a heartless Mrs. Stark. To top it all off, Becky’s pretty “friend” Ramsey is a little virtuoso on the violin.

Benji’s cleverly offers us a monthly resume of his sister’s progress in “The Splinter,” together with jokes and his plays on words. Becky’s anxiety hinders her playing ability and her schoolmates compare her to “Paganini having spasms.” Not only does her violin screech, but she is also a dreadful volleyball player for her Sedgwick team, “The Cream Puffs”. It is not until she meets Mr. Freeman, the new super handyman of her building, that she slowly regains her self-confidence. A musician himself, he often stays with Becky and teaches her relaxation methods. Thanks to Mr. Freeman, and her brother, she takes care of a dog and learns a few playful tips from it. Becky embarks on regaining her poise, acquires a boyfriend in Damian, and becomes quite a good volleyball player. Moreover, she becomes a real virtuoso on the violin.

Understandably, her mom is very disturbed by the fact that Mr. Freeman visits the children when she is not home and threatens to cancel Becky’s participation at the music competition. When everything seems to be lost, De Alcantara fills us with amazed delight and takes the tempo to a magnificent finale.

The jacket illustration by Susan Farrington and the jacket design by Trish Parcell Watts(a collage of Becky with the violin, a copy of the Splinter and a volley ball) are very true to the story. Kudos to first time writer Pedro De Alcantara. Befiddled is a must read for all those who lack self-esteem.