The King's Conservatorium - by Emma Cameron (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Young brothers and aspiring musicians, Garlan and Cadell, must find a way out of their kingdom that has outlawed music or they will never be free.

Twelve-year-old Garlan and his mute younger brother are forced to run away from their abusive guardians. With no home to return to, the brothers make a dangerous and unlawful journey across the kingdom.

The two boys are at constant risk of capture from the King's Guard due to being underage without guardians, and must move on from every town within three days or be arrested for violating traveller's law and sent to work in the King's Mines.

Along the way they meet a small underground society of musicians who meet together to sing. Garlan has sung Cadell to sleep for years, and song is one of the few comforts the two have left. The meeting is busted by soldiers, and the brothers have to run for their lives. Still, the group's bravery inspires the brothers to dream of a world where they can embrace the joy and comfort of music freely, and live without constant fear.

Though it's rumoured that no one has ever survived crossing the wall that runs along the border of the kingdom - and those who lived were immediately arrested - Garlan has to trust Cadell's unique ability to find lost things, and the pair try their luck navigating through a pitch-black series of tunnels that burrow underneath the wall. Garlan is terrified that they will die down there, and Cadell has to comfort him when they find a human skeleton deep in the cave. When they finally make it to the other side of the wall, Garlan and Cadell have to decide what they'll do with the opportunity to live in a way they've never known before. They race to try out for the King's Conservatorium, which allows children below the age of 13 to study and practice music full time. They barely make it to the auditions in time, and Garlan is even injured while working to pay for the journey.

Though Garlan is the one who has spent his life singing, Cadell is the only one who makes it into the conservatorium, as he finds a song within his heart that he plays on an instrument he's never seen before. Garlan can't stay in the city without a job, and the separation of the brothers is tragic. But before anything else, Garlan has always wanted Cadell to be safe and happy, and he emphasises how lucky Cadell is, and how Garlan will find a job as a travelling musician that lets him visit the conservatorium often. Garlan sings to Cadell for the last time.

The brothers' devotion to one another is heart-warming and deeply engaging, and sends a strong message of hope and perseverance for the sake of the people we care about. Similarly, anyone who has a personal relationship to music or art will feel seen and resonate with the way that song serves as a beacon of hope for the brothers in a dangerous and unpredictable world. It reminds the reader that even impossible circumstances are survivable if you have the love and passion necessary to fight for a better tomorrow.