The Castrato

Gr 9 Up-During the peak of the baroque era, Angelo Montegne lives in Fiesol, a small Italian village. While he enjoys working in his father's tannery shop, his true passion is music. Angelo is a star singer in the local church choir, and his immense talent does not go unnoticed. When priests from a prestigious music academy in Florence try to recruit Angelo for their school, though, Angelo's father refuses to let him go. Angelo's musical career seems to have ended before it began, until a tragedy strikes. Defying his father's wishes, Angelo agrees to attend the academy, and he learns the price of admittance: his own castration. At the academy, Angelo develops friendships, but music remains his truest love and anchor. Just as Angelo finally begins to accept his future as a castrato, a beautiful girl from his youth reappears, and he must choose to follow his heart or pursue a successful musical career. This intriguing novel, originally published in the Netherlands, introduces a fascinating and disturbing part of musical history. Angelo's personal story is highly compelling, and his gender identity issues and the sexual fluidity of his classmates may lead to open discussions with teens. Some readers will be motivated to learn more about the history of castrati and the renowned composers of the baroque period.