Cover of The minstrel's melody

The minstrel's melody

by Eleanora E. Tate

History Mysteries (Pleasant Company); Mysteries Through Time; American Girl; Skyview Books

Reading Level 5-6 Moderate (Lvl 3) Ages 9-12

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Twelve-year-old Orphelia escapes her life in Missouri by joining a traveling music troupe along the Mississippi River in 1904, discovering friendship and the power of song. As she navigates the challenges of performing and running away, Orphelia's journey reveals the complexities of race and identity during a turbulent time. Richly illustrated, this story captures the spirit of resilience and hope.

Representation & Themes

MusicFriendshipComing of AgeAfrican American ExperienceHistorical

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 3 — Moderate
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Race relations Runaways
Data confidence: standard

Details

ISBN
1584853107
Pages
163
Published
2001
Type
Fiction
Word Count
35,341

Genres

African Americans

Subjects

Musicians -- FictionRunaways -- FictionAfrican Americans -- FictionMinstrel shows -- FictionMissouri -- Race relations -- Fiction