Befiddled opens with a two page spread of ‘The Splinter.’ It is the September issue set down by editor B.S. Cohen. He is violinist Becky Cohen’s brother.

Becky is not at all sure that she will ever learn to play the violin well enough to be called a virtuoso. Becky’s music teacher shares Becky’s emotion. Mrs. Stark is not at all kind in her treatment or assessment of Becky and her ability.

To top off the problem; when Becky tries to practice, the scales drive Mrs. Cohen to a frenzy. Becky’s mother is the manager at a deli across town.

Becky really feels defeated when she learns Ramsay Adkins will compete in the upcoming Aaron Copland Scholarship competition. Mr. Adkins and the now deceased Mr. Cohen were colleagues, and the girls have known one another most of their lives.

As the tale continues Becky plays volleyball in the school gym, Becky avoids the ball , her team the Cream Puffs are not amused and Becky is sent to the principal.

Lunch in the school cafeteria, Mr. Freeman the building handyman, a classmate named Damian, younger brother Benjy goes to visitAunt Hannah, and practice, practice, practice begin to fill Becky’s life.

Wearing an old shirt of her father’s, dealing with her mother’s anger, a kitten named Minky and a finger caught in the window all play a part in the story surrounding Becky before Becky becomes a finalist in the competition held at the Sedgwick School for Performing Arts.

Befiddled is a well written work presented for readers of middle grades and beyond. Becky is a geek, nothing goes right, her hair is horrible, she finds herself shunned by classmates, her clothes aren’t right, PE class is misery and some of the teachers don’t like her. Becky’s overworked, widowed mother is busy, caught up in the anger she feels following the death of her husband and unable to cope with the realities of what is going on with her family.

Becky is thirteen, her violin teacher is unkind and only Becky's brother Benjy and Mr. Freeman offer the support Becky needs to realize her musical potential.

Writer de Alcantara presents a compelling read in his initial offering. He offers teens who are suffering from feelings of inadequacy a peek into the life of another youngster who has many of the same worries.

Becky fears she will lose memory of her deceased father, that she just cannot fit in, and that she is doomed to nothing but mistakes and misery. As is often the case with youngsters as they are in the growing up process; Becky finds herself unable to confide in her mother and often retreats to her room where she weeps alone.

Befiddled is a fast paced work, moved forward with Becky’s thoughts and her brother’s editions of ‘The Splinter,’ as well as pithy dialogue typical of teens. The work has a place on the personal reading list, the classroom reading shelf and the school library.

Good Read, happy to recommend.

Title: Befiddled

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Author: Pedro de Alcantara

Line/Publisher Delacorte Books for Young Readers http://www.randomhouse.com/kids

ISBN: 978-0-385-90281-6

Reviewed by: molly martin 20+ years classroom teacher

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