The Song of Seven

The Song of Seven

Tonke Dragt

Goodreads Link

I received an eGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

"Does that happen often? he wondered. That the stories you dream up aren't just fantasy, but came from somewhere and really happened, in another time, in another place, without you knowing it?"

One of the perks of being a review is getting the opportunity to review translated stories. In America, or at least the Midwest, it's hard to find anything translated unless it's already famous. Here, in the UK, it's much easier to just stumble across translated fiction and fantasy, and it's definitely an area of the bookstore I'd love to spend more time. There are so many lovely stories out there not originally in English and reading them just expands my heart. But I digress; let me speak of this book particularly. Originally The Song of Seven was written in Dutch and published in 1966. Recently it was republished with a new English translation. While it's definitely a book intended for younger readers it doesn't talk down to the readers (as some middle grade can do) but treats them as equals. Honestly, I think it's the perfect book to read to kids; the experiencing of reading a book about storytelling is just so poetic and perfect.

This is a book about a secret society trying to save a little boy who is heir to a treasure and a school teacher who just kind of stumbles into all of this and ends up being a major player. There's not really much going on outside of this narrative but it's strong as it is. Because Frans had no intention of getting involved, and because he's an outsider, there's a lot of explaining and convincing that needs to happen for him to actually get involved and help, and that's pretty entertaining to read about. He's definitely not the quickest when it comes to secret prophecies and personality changing teenagers. But he's not dumb either, and as soon as he gets aboard and the saving of Geert Jan starts happening the pace quickens and there were many moments where I was at the edge of my seat worrying for everyone.

There's also a lot placed on how important children are and how great they are. The book really does empower children in so many ways. There's a huge plot point (not really a spoiler, though) that is literally the fact that you shouldn't (and they don't) keep secrets from children. I don't think I'm reading too much into the sentiments of this book to say that it's really about children being both children and persons who can do things. They aren't full on adults, but when they work together, or even alone, they shouldn't be counted out and they definitely should be given the responsibility to choose who they want to be and what they want to do. It's so kind and so wonderful towards kids (which is another reason it should really be read aloud to them, or at least handed to them on Christmas Eve-- it's really such good messages!).

Above all I loved how whimsical the writing was. Sometimes it was frustratingly so, in the way that Alice in Wonderland can be frustratingly whimsical. I would probably say some of this does come from the fact that it is a translation, but the story really does have some strange elements that couldn't be tackled straight-forward. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the writing and this nature of it because it was confusing and there was a lot being thrown at me, but as I got used to it I fell in love. It's definitely convinced me I need to read more of Tonke's work.

Where I really felt let down, though, was with the characters. Sure, they were all distinct, but honestly none of them were that three dimensional. Frans and Geert Jan came close, but no one was truly vibrant in the way I want to read about characters. Whenever I tried to grasp onto one of them they slipped away like a fish. Again, this may have something to do with the translation, and it certainly has something to do with my own personal preference, but it kept me from really connecting with the story.

TL;DR This is a perfect bedtime story that empowers kids and also engages the imagination. The writing is at once both whimsical and confusing, which could be a turn off, but I think it's worth seeing this one through to the end.

At the end of every schoolday, new teacher Mr Van der Steg entertains his pupils with tall tales of incredible events, which he claims really happened to him - involving hungry lions and haunted castles, shipwrecks and desert islands. One day, when he can't think of anything suitably exciting to tell them, he invents a story about a very important letter which he's expecting that evening, with news of a perilous mission. Evening arrives and so, to his surprise, does an enigmatic letter...
And so Mr Van der Steg is drawn into a real-life adventure, featuring a grumpy coachman, a sinister uncle, eccentric ancestors, a hidden treasure, an ancient prophecy and Geert-Jan, a young boy who is being kept prisoner in the mysterious House of Stairs. Although the treasure rightfully belongs to Geert-Jan, his uncle is determined to seize it for himself. As Mr Van der Steg, with the help of his pupils, sets out to rescue the boy, he becomes more and more entangled with the strange history of the Seven Ways, the House of Stairs and the powerful Conspiracy of Seven.

Book cover linked to Goodreads. Book cover, and description taken from Goodreads.