Sonata for Mind and Heart

Ron Simon, 16, has a shot at a scholarship to a prestigious violin master class. The only catch is, the auditions are in New York City and he lives in Toronto. With a mother who's not supportive of his musical leanings thanks to a bitter divorce from Ron's father (a member of a famous string quartet), Ron's not sure how he can raise the money to get there. Enter Jake, a shady clarinetist who promises Ron the needed funds in return for smuggling cocaine across the border. Ron succumbs to this temptation, but his brush with the grittier side of life proves both physically violent and damaging to his self-respect. The characters in this tightly written tale are for the most part well-drawn, if in some cases a bit contrived--the convenient return of Ron's older brother, an aspiring psychologist, allows for much wise advice on family tangles, growing up, responsibility, first love, etc. Though not as satisfying a read as Virginia Euwer Wolff's lyrical The Mozart Season , Bell has crafted a solid coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of the music world. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)