‘The Music Box’ by Bekezela Broscius

I enjoyed this book, which centers around the experience of a girl, Busi, attending school in Zimbabwe, who’s being bullied by a classmate.

The fact that Busi’s school was putting on a play was of special interest to me, as the school where I work integrates the arts into its teaching of core curriculum and its arts electives include drama. I view children’s books that address performance and other arts as especially well-suited for my school library.

In Busi’s case, the performance was a class-trip fundraiser. Busi submitted an anonymous idea to put on a class play of Cinderella.

Busi later auditioned and won the role of Cinderella, but was overcome by anxiety because Doreen, the school bully, was cast in the role of stepmother.

Throughout reading this book, I really felt for Busi as a character. The book’s themes of bullying and of trying to make new friends could resonate with children everywhere.

I received an Advance copy of this book through BookSirens