This story is told from the point of view of Rose, the magic guitar. She is crafted by the famous guitar maker, Victor Marcini, for his newborn son, Joe. Rose and Joe go through the terrible twos together, with Joe throwing fits, and Rose popping strings. As they grow older, Joe becomes an accomplished player, and the two become inseparably bonded. Rose is stolen and lives through many frightening adventures before she is joyfully reunited with Joe. As Rose tells her story, she uses musical terms playfully. ("He looked like a real treble-maker.") Although many musical references are made, readers do not need to understand music to enjoy the book.