"The Mozart Girl" by Barbara Nickel is the interesting biography of Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart, one of the finest pianists in Europe before her younger brother, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart overshadowed her. Born on 30 July 1751 in Salzburg, Austria, Maria Anna Mozart, called "Marianne or Nannerl," was the first born child of Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart. She was the family’s first musical prodigy. Touring Europe as a pianist, Maria Anna took the world's stage by storm in Munich, Vienna, Paris, London, the Hague, Germany and Switzerland. “My little girl plays the most difficult works … with incredible precision and so excellently,” her father, Leopold, proudly wrote in 1764. “My little girl, only 12 years old, is one of the most skillful players in Europe." Nannerl’s playing became so brilliant, her technique absolutely perfect. She was an extremely talented young virtuoso. Nannerl quickly learnt that music was a unique way to communicate without words. Her famous younger brother, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, wrote to her in 1770: "I am in awe that you can compose so well... the song you wrote is beautiful." But her lovely composition has been lost to posterity. Her father, Leopold wrote that she played with "perfect insight into harmony and modulations" and that she improvises "so successfully that you would be astounded." In "The Mozart Girl," Barbara Nickel portrays Maria Anna Mozart brilliantly, including the feelings common to all young girls that she might have faced as she struggled to compose the most astounding music in the male-dominated world of her life and times.

Nannerl has just turned 12, and is somewhat sad about her childhood being over. She is also angry that even on her birthday, her talented but tempestuous brother Wolfgang gets all of the attention. While her father allows her to perform along with him, if time runs out, Nannerl is always the one who does not get to play. When the family embarks on a tour of Europe, Nannerl hopes that she will be able to take her symphony to Bach, whom they are going to meet, and help her get it published so that she, too, can be famous. Instead, she spends a lot of time having to help with household chores, work on technical passages of other people's work, and suffer the injustice of being a second class citizen merely because of her gender. She misses her best friend, but does make some new acquaintances, including Sopherl, the sister and wife of other musicians who no longer speaks or performs in public. After Bach laughs at her attempts at composing a symphony without even looking at her manuscript, Nannerl is inspired by Sopherl to finally to take matters into her own hands and bring her work into the public eye against all odds.
Strengths: This was well written, moved quickly, and gave a lot of details about the performances that the Mozart children gave in a variety of European cities. There was a lot of positive girl power, even though Nannerl doesn't have any luck in getting much for herself. This reminded me a bit of some Carolyn Meyer of Ann Rinaldi fictionalized biographies, or the Scholastic Royal Diaries.
Weaknesses: While younger readers won't pick it up, I found Nannerl's tone a half a bubble off. This is the challenge of writing historical fiction; understanding how people felt about social mores of the time. Yes, Nannerl would have been frustrated at her lack of opportunities, but she would also have been less surprised at the unfair way in which she was treated.
What I really think: This is only available in paperback, so I think I will pass on purchase for my library, although I enjoyed reading it myself.

Apparently Amadeus Mozart had an older sister known as Nannerl. This historical fiction is based on her life with her famous younger brother, when they went on the grand tour of Europe, mostly in what is now Germany and France.

What is truly amazing is realizing all this is happening a few years before the French Revolution. (The tour happens in 1763-1764, the French Revolution started in 1789). All the pomp, all the wealth, would bring this about. But in the meantime, the children get to see the glitter of the courts, and perform there.

And Nannerl is constrained by the norms of that time. She is not to play the violin, because that is considered a male instrument, nor can she play the organ.

Although some of the details are very true, others, such as how Nannerl felt, or thought, we have no knowledge of, because, although the diary she kept was real, much of it was destroyed in later years.

A very interesting look into this time, and place. Well written, and well researched.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Nickel’s tale of Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, is similar to those of the Dear America series where real people and events are told through fictional stories. In The Mozart Girl, we follow the story of Nannerl and Mozart’s three-year tour of Europe.

Nannerl’s story is fun and one that many older siblings can relate to. A prodigy herself, she was overshadowed by Wolfie and the role afforded him by societies standards of the day. Nannerl wanted to learn to play the violin and organ, but those were for boys only. She wanted to compose symphonies, but was told girls did not compose symphonies and soon her days would be filled with taking care of the house, children, and her husband.

Where Nickel’s tale and history differ most, is in Nannerl’s journey. The story allowed her to do something she never did in real life (as far as history has mentioned, at least) and that is to defy her father, play her self-composed symphony, and receive a standing ovation and approval from her parents.

Even if not historically accurate at times, Nickel’s story of believing in oneself is a great tale for anyone to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Story Press for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy