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Jellybean by Tessa Duder

This is the re-release of one of Tessa Duder’s best-loved children’s novels. It is about a lonely girl called Geraldine and nicknamed ‘Jellybean’, who has an unconventional single mother. Her mother is uncomfortably different from all the other mothers in school because she is not only a professional musician, but instead of being in something cool like a rock band, she plays the cello for the city orchestra and also in a piano trio at restaurants.

Her mother’s music is her life, it seems to rule her life, even to the extent that she seems to sometimes forget about Jellybean. She tries to get Geraldine to learn the piano, which she hates, but although she only ever admitted it to a stranger, Geraldine secretly wants to be an orchestra conductor.

Before the stranger comes into her life, Geraldine often feels neglected by her mother’s obsession. She is often either left to her own devices or put in the care of one of the many babysitters her mother uses. Meeting the stranger was entirely by chance one evening when her mother couldn’t find a babysitter so took Geraldine to the restaurant where she was working. She then finds out that the man is someone from her mother’s past. Could he be her father?

Jellybean also learns valuable lessons. She finds out that some things are so important to who you are that you have to make challenging choices. She also learns the hardest lesson of all, that sometimes you might want to hide away, but you need to take your courage in your hands.

This is an interesting and entertaining read, hard to put down, and by a great New Zealand children’s author. It also gives readers insight into a world that many of them will not know about, the world of classical music.

RRP $16.99
Published and distributed by HarperCollins Publishers

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