Book Nook: The Enchanted Sonata

The Nutcracker is a classic tale often told around Christmastime. I recently had a chance to review a very unique retelling of this story, The Enchanted Sonata, written by Heather Dixon Wallwork, who has worked as a storyboard lead for Disney and is the author of two novels published by HarperCollins.

This whimsical retelling is updated but still faithful to the themes of the classic - with little bits of the Pied Piper thrown in. It's a fairly long novel, so there's plenty of room for character development that sets it apart from children's renditions of the story.

At 15, Clara Stahlbaum feels like her life is all planned out, with a life full of music after marrying a handsome pianist. Then she receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker, where, just like in the original, she is whisked away to his world, a world of fairies, palaces, magic, and more. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of this book. As a musician myself, it's fun to read books that weave that in as a core plot element. Whether or not you like the story of the Nutcracker, this modern twist on the story makes a fun, imaginative tale.

Dixon Wallwork is a musician, animator and author. Working under Disney Interactive, she has illustrated for many popular franchises including Lucasfilm, Marvel and Pixar, and was the story lead for the Moana playset. She is the author of two novels published by Greenwillow Books – HarperCollins: Entwined and Illusionarium.

For more information visit Dixon Wallwork at www.story-monster.com. Say hello and see more of her gorgeous illustrations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.