Unexpectedly fascinating, this skillful blend of biography, science, and history follows three narrative strands: a biography of composer Ludwig Beethoven; the story of two Americans in the mid-1990s purchasing a lock of hair supposedly from Beethoven at a Sotheby’s auction and the subsequent scientific research done on the hair; and what is known about the journey of the hair after it was clipped at the time of Beethoven’s death. It turns out the hair was passed down through generations of a Jewish family until it came into the hands of a Danish family assisting in the flight of Jews from Denmark during World War II. That historical drama is matched by the medical drama that unfolds as forensic scientists around the country examine the hair. Their research not only helped confirm that the hair did indeed belong to Beethoven, but also that the composer suffered from severe lead poisoning— a fact that could explain his many medical ailments, including deafness. The authors, who previously wrote an adult book on this topic, penned this account for a young adult audience and include a comprehensive discussion on the research they conducted and their decisions about how to craft the story. (Age 12 and older)

National bestseller reworked for middle-graders.

At the time of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, it was a common practice to take a lock of hair from the deceased as a remembrance, a sacred remnant of the person who meant so much when alive. One such lock of Beethoven’s hair survived through the years and eventually became the joint property of two men who, in 1995, opened the sealed frame that encased the hair and began the process of unlocking the mysteries of Beethoven’s life, death, and possibly his genius.

Follow the trail of Beethoven’s hair as it was passed on from the boy who cut it to his son and down through the years, as it was safeguarded from Nazi Germany and eventually sold at auction in 1994. Through careful forensic testing, the hairs in the lock revealed the causes of Beethoven’s deafness and his many illnesses. This fascinating story is not only a study of the secrets that forensics can reveal, but a moving history of many people’s devotion to Beethoven’s music.

Husband and wife team Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley follow the success of Martin’s adult book, BEETHOVEN'S HAIR, with this retelling for younger readers.