The Boy Who Was Saved By Jazz

by Tom Bentley-Fisher

Robert lost his father before he’d even been born, and was quickly abandoned by his young mother to be raised by his grandparents in small-town Saskatchewan. In another sense, though, Robert never lost his father, whose ghostly presence lingers in the young boy’s life over the years by means of spectral “advice letters” on how to be a man. When Robert finds an old pump organ in a derelict farmhouse, he discovers a deep love of and talent for performing music. He also begins to discover secrets from his past, including his grandfather’s Communist ties, and the familial cover-up of his father’s sudden death. Along the way, Robert embraces his budding bisexuality, discovers his Métis identity and harnesses the power of his wild imagination. Recalling the work of Jamie Fitzpatrick and Greg Rhyno, The Boy Who Was Saved By Jazz is a coming-of-age story and meditation on belonging.

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[Autummskies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a moving piece of literary fiction that really sunk deep into me and left a lasting impression. I really enjoyed reading how the main character, Robert, changes his views on things as he grows up, and reading how his voice matures overtime through his narration. I found the narration realistic as to how a 12 year old boy would react to grief and feeling lost with no idea about your identity. I also loved the little letters from his dead father that were sprinkled throughout the chapters, as it would add thoughts that the reader may also have been thinking, whether it was being exasperated with how a young adolescent boy thinks, or with being sorrowful about how things turned out to be for his wife after his death.

I also enjoyed how the relationship Robert had with music would really reflect his thoughts. The emotional connections that he made with the music, as well as the relationships he made through music felt like they had a lot of meaning. The last few chapters of the book really hit me with how everything came together between Robert and his mother. I also encourage people to read the afterword of the book, as it really tied in everything for me.

Overall, this was a really beautiful coming of age story!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Literary Press Group of Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Adrienne Adrimano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild -- not implausible, just, a whole lot for a small boy and his family members. This is the kind of fiction that you know is based in truth.

A coming of age story about a boy in a family that gets shuttled to and from his mother, maternal grandparents, and mother & stepdad, while being accompanied by his father's ghost. Along the way, his family's history comes up a lot, to explain why it sometimes seems like he is unwanted. The family history is unimaginable really, but easily plausible.

Sadly, the boy's family and history were more the star of the show than him and his jazz. While his discovery and love of music was present, based on the title, I expected the book to be more musical or at least equal parts crazy life stuff and music (e.g. Duet for One).

Side note: another "ghost parent" story I read recently was The Catch. In both, it's hard to tell if the parent's presence is a "ghost" manifesting in physical forms or items or just imagined, and written so well that we simply interpret them as manifest.

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review The Boy Who Was Saved by Jazz by Tom Bentley-Fisher
Publication Date: May 1/25


Robert lost his father before he was born, and was quickly abandoned by his young mother to be raised by his grandparents in rural Saskatchewan. A quirky and poignant coming of age story, chronicling Robert’s search to uncover information about who his father was, his death and his father’s family.

Narrated by Robert himself, the story begins with a naive boyish voice that gradually deepens in insight and depth as he grows older. Bentley-Fisher perfectly captures the emotional turbulence of adolescence as Robert grapples with his feelings of loss and abandonment, his longing for connection and belonging; and his exploration of his bisexuality all within a complex new family configuration.

Robert is a gifted pianist, and music becomes a central, almost living character in the novel. Through music, he feels seen and heard, the power of music to match his volatile emotions, and the power of expressing these feelings through playing the piano. It becomes both an emotional outlet and a bridge to connection - helping his bond with others and begin to see a possible identity and potential future.

This is a unique beautifully crafted story about identity and the many forces that shape it. It is the journey of a mother and son, each moving through grief, loss and secrets, searching for a path back to one another.

It is a story of abandonment and redemption, sorrow and healing, and the lingering presence of his ghostly father. The quiet courage it takes to be fully seen, and to learn to appreciate what you have not what is missing. This unique storytelling style will captivate and charm you and will stay with you after you put it down.

[Jonesy.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this had a bit of a slow start in pulling me in. Robert is quite young at the beginning so his voice is quite juvenile to start. As he comes of age his voice becomes more sure and less juvenile, his ruminations become more serious and less childlike, and I became more invested in his story. His character sees a lot of personal growth throughout.

Two quotes I particularly enjoyed are:

"It bugs me that the world is so dominated by men. Makes me feel protective of my mother, and a little ashamed of being a man. Since the beginning of the trip, I'm beginning to develop a new understand-ing and respect for her. I can see what her need for independence had cost her and admire her bravery".

"The music sang from the first moment she started to play. Robert assumed his role, supporting her freedom with the clarity of rhythm and subdued legato, nothing fancy, emotional, or even an attempt at musicality. He was the river, barely stirring, sustaining her journey. She was the voice of the bird gliding along the surface, delicate and completely absorbed. She had elegance, the nobility of her stature containing the certainty of her sadness."

[Enid Wray]

I found the writing to be very stilted, very wooden. It feels like the author is trying way too hard. It entirely lacks any natural flow, grace or elegance. There is no variation in either sentence structure or tone… it’s just all very ‘flat.’

Neither did I buy the conceit that is these ‘other-worldly’ communiques from his (dead) father.

The choice of third person narration was the wrong choice… we should be listening to Robert’s own voice here… we are kept too much at a distance.

The other thing that really bothered me was that presentation on the page is dreadful. I know that that is not the author’s fault, but… it does zero to enhance the writing. Indeed, it accomplishes the exact opposite.

DNF

[Jacquelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good coming of age story that explored themes of identity, belonging, family, and grief. The first time Robert's dead father chimed in, I admit that I rolled my eyes a bit. But I soon got used to it and didn't mind so much by the book's conclusion. The author did a pretty convincing job of portraying Robert's gradual maturation. I thought that by the end, the characters' growth was very satisfying. Certainly a worthwhile read.

[Alicia Dattner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The planet is richer for this book. Themes of childhood, family, creativity, alienation, and nature abound. A boy who raises himself amid the chaos of a broken family in a far away land, who discovers the beauty of the dirt, the stars, the keys of a pipe organ in an abandoned house. I am deeply inspired by the resilience of his spirit and the determination to be himself. The writing is filled with wit and wonder. Read this book!

[Karen Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book, partly because I spent a good part of my adolescence practicing and playing the piano. It got downgraded from 4 stars to 3 because of the “potholes”, typos and other errors that stop the reading. Editors get paid to find these things, so how did “treble cleft” get through?