About the Book
"I thoroughly enjoyed The Legend of SqueezeboxSqueeze. It was clever, original and heartfelt, evoking the full range of emotions. Musicians (of any age) especially will love this story and the illustrations."
--Matthew Dykeman, Producer for NPR's "From the Top"
Will Cheng Lee ever be the same after he's taken on a wild, miraculous, earth-shaking adventure by the unlikeliest musical superhero?
Cheng Lee, former inventor, physics professor and one-time pioneer in quantum mechanics is the owner of an accordion shop in London, England where he works as an instrument repairman. His business is failing, his beloved wife is gone, and he may soon be evicted. Now old and broken, all seems lost.
Then a small package is delivered, and it launches the shopkeeper on a crazy, magical journey. It's not all easy, though, and Cheng is faced with some hard decisions. When a constable knocks on the shop's door, Cheng's world is turned upside down. He'll need more than luck or an accordion to get out of this precarious situation.
Along the way, Cheng, his apprentice, and a group of magical, musical cohorts learn the meaning of loyalty, faith, and heroism, and the power of believing. How will this new perspective change Cheng Lee?
About the Author :
Mark Shamlian, freelance illustrator, portrait painter and designer resides in a semi-rural area outside of Boston with his wife, Gina. With his debut novel, The Legend of SqueezeboxSqueeze, he combines his love for illustration, music, and writing. When not engaged in the creative process, he lives an unremarkable life, enriched by various hobbies, humans and animals. For more info about Mr. Shamlian, visit shamliandesign.com or find him on Facebook.
Review :
"I thoroughly enjoyed The Legend of SqueezeboxSqueeze. It was clever, original and heartfelt, evoking the full range of emotions. Musicians (of any age) especially will love this story and the illustrations."
--Matthew Dykeman, Producer for NPR's "From the Top"
"An unlikely hero, SqueezeBoxSqueeze, courageously travels the universe...past and future...to take music to a troubled world. Smart, caring, and heroic, SqueezeboxSqueeze is an inspiration to kids everywhere. With a gift of music, he and his team of an elderly repairman and endearing animated instruments bring peace to music-loving souls. A fun read!"
--J.J. Kat, Author of The Curious, Mysterious Happenings of Blind Mice and Lost Pikas
"Sparkled with rich imagination, adventures and hints of witty humor, this life-affirming story, written by Mark Shamlian to target a middle grader audience, drives complex emotions, that make it suitable even for adult readers. I laughed, cried and had a warm smile after finishing reading it. Highly recommended."
--Susana Juniu, Professor, Montclair State University
"The Legend of SqueezeboxSqueeze is creatively worded and will inspire kids who read it."
--Lexi Jordan, Author of Resurfaced: A Max Ryan Novel
"A wonderful book, The Legend of SqueezeBoxSqueeze, is a beautiful way to introduce the accordion to a young audience. It puts the accordion in a main role, a heroic one even. Most importantly, it shows a major truth of instrumental music, namely the unbreakable bond between instrument and player."
--Cody McSherry, Accordionist
"Mark Shamlian writes a fun read for middle grade students. His instrument characters in The Legend of SqueezeboxSqueeze will motivate young artists toward dedicating time with their instruments. With Squeeze around, who wouldn't want to learn to play?"
--Mark DeMuth, Secondary Music Department Chair, Green Bay Area School District
