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280th out of 1,019 books
—
701 voters
The Singing Tree
by
Kate Seredy
Life on the Hungarian plains is changing quickly for Jancsi and his cousin Kate. Father has given Jancsi permission to be in charge of his own herd, and Kate has begun to think about going to dances. Jancsi hardly even recognizes Kate when she appears at Peter and Mari's wedding wearing nearly as many petticoats as the older girls wear. And Jancsi himself, astride his priz...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
October 1st 1990
by Puffin
(first published 1939)
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One of the great books of my childhood, this one is much more serious that its predecessor "The Good Master." War and prejudice enter and interrupt the halcyon days of Kate and Jansci's Hungarian village. The illustrations of these books add to their appeal.
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This was one of my favorites as a child, so much so that I go back and read it every few years. Kate Seredy brought the Hungarian landscape to life, and taught me about World War I though the eyes of two Hungarian Children: Jansci and Kate. Its issues are more complex than The Good Master and a good introduction to adult subjects such as war and religious and racial discrimination for younger readers without the hammering that is so often seen in modern and preachy children's books. I highly rec...more
In this sequel to The Good Master (a juvenile novel set in rural Hungary in the early 1900s), cousins Kate and Jancsi are now 15 years old and still enjoying a serene life rich with Hungarian traditions. However, this life ends abruptly with the outbreak of World War I. Suddenly, Kate and Jancsi must shoulder the tasks of adults, see their fathers and neighbors off to war, and share their house with neighbors, relatives, Russian prisoners of war, and German refugee children.
This novel has a hap...more
This novel has a hap...more
Considered a "young people's book," the so try takes place in Hungary and tells of several young people and their family dealing with the issues of World War I and their fathers being gone and the ways the family manages to run the farm, have Russian prisoners of war helping with the farming, and taking in 6 hungry German children to care for. A major message of the book is that all people are alike regardless of their nationality or religion, inclusind Uncle Moses, the Jewish shope keeper who m...more
We all loved this book. It tells the story of a Hungarian family during WWI. While it discusses the war, and how it affects others, the main purpose was to show that people are people and we are all the same. Russian chicken, Hungarian chicken...all same.
My boys have repeated parts of the book to each other many times. I've seen it in their play. They all sat and listened intently, laughing and even crying. They were always eager to read it and often chose to read it before our other books. (For...more
My boys have repeated parts of the book to each other many times. I've seen it in their play. They all sat and listened intently, laughing and even crying. They were always eager to read it and often chose to read it before our other books. (For...more
One of my most favorite books of all time. A teen novel that is entirely worth the adult read. It's a snapshot into family life in Hungary during WWI. Characters are charming and the folksy tales reminded me at the time of how similar, by lifestyle and geography, that farmers in that part of Europe were to their American counterparts well through the 1950's. Jansci and Kate, puppies, gypsies, soldiers and easter eggs are some of my favorite parts.
Read the prequel, The Good Master, to really set...more
Read the prequel, The Good Master, to really set...more
Sep 03, 2012
Christine Page
added it
The war became real to the family when the father takes Jancsi to town and comes in wearing a soldier's uniform. He had written down in a ledger everything about the farm so they could follow the seasons. Kate and Jancsi find his missing father, Marton. The Jewish store keeper loses his son in the war and faces the beginning of German Jewish persecution. Set in Hungary, WWI seems so real and horrible to the family left behind to deal with the farm and their community.
I love this book. I read it aloud years ago, but just reread it to 11-year-old Josh and he loved it, too. This is the sequel to the Good Master, continuing the story of Hungarian farmers and peasants at the outbreak of World War 1. In this book, Kate Seredy shows the damage war causes to people and the land. The overall message is that people are all the SAME at heart and should be treated with respect -- Jewish, Russian, German, Hungarian. We come to love the Jewish shopkeeper, the Russian pris...more
May 14, 2012
Michelle
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
All readers from youth to adults
Unfortunately, I do not have time to write a review of this book that will do it any justice. It is a beautifully written story set in Hungary just prior to and during The Great War (WWI). The culture of the people, place, and time are shared with the reader in the story of one family and their contemporaries. I highly recommend it to all readers, youth and adult. It will stay with you long after the last page has been read.
I read this as a young child after I finished (and loved) The Good Master. Now, years later, I still love it. It is a touching (and occasionally heart-breaking) look at the effect of war. Several scenes and quotes still stand out in my mind and, upon rereading, it still stands out at a poignant novel that I personally feel everyone should read at some point in their lives.
This book always makes me cry, no matter how often I read it. I think it's because it takes place during World War I, which I just see as such a waste. But the language is beautiful. Kate Seredy transmits her love for Hungary to the reader. You kind of get hit over the head with "all same," but it doesn't matter because it's true.
This was a book that I could not put down. Although it is about a war, it shows the compassion and caring of a family and how even when times are hard they are willing to open their doors and their hearts to take in as many people as they can. To show them that life and others are there to help guide them and teach them.
While it will never replace my love for Rilla, this is a great look at WWI from the eyes of those that were the enemy. Not as much detail about how the war effected daily life as I would have liked, but some great imagery and a wonderful complement to other WWI books.
I'll be talking more about this on the blog soon.
I'll be talking more about this on the blog soon.
This was a sweet book about family, community, and patriotism---hard work, sacrifice, sharing, and caring. It is a story about what truly matters in any circumstance. I loved the description of a Jewish storekeeper and his elaborate trades that would be carried out for the benefit of everyone.
a far more serious book than The Good Master, this one still brings a tear to my eye. one fact I find most interesting is that this book written about world war 1 was written and published just months before the declaration of world war 2.
Good treatment of accepting that people who are different from us can still have the same feelings. Set during WWI in Hungary and how families managed when the men were gone to war. (Written for 9-12 year olds.)
May 09, 2013
Amelia
marked it as to-read
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11867614
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11867614
I loved this sequel to "The Good Master" set in rural Hungary during World War I and published in 1939 just before World war II. Very prescient.
I HATED reading this book ( because it was for school...) I mean It was a good book, but when it is for school, it kinda ruins the book for you...
Old fashioned but still interesting to see what life in Hungary would have been like (in a very idealized way) both before and during WWI.
An excellent continuation of the Good Master, The Singing Tree is the story of the Hungarian people before, during and after World War I.
Even though this is a children's book, I loved it and read it very quickly. Set in Hungary and the writing was beautiful.
tear jerker, written about hungry early ww11, good picture of normal hungarian town affected by war
This is a wonderful sequel to The Good Master. Another wonderful read-aloud for your family!
What a wonderful story! I loved learning more about the cultures represented!
Loved it! I am now trying to purchase a copy!
I read this until our copy fell apart.
A classic featuring good old fashioned values, this book is set in 1917 during WWI. What makes it unique is that it is told from the perspective of a Hungarian farming family on the homefront. There is very little about the war, but a lot about helping each other get through a hard time. Of interest to kids: horses, and kittens play a role in the story. Jews and Russians are portrayed in a positive light. The family takes in five young German children and cares for them until they can be returne...more
Beautiful, simple and sweet.
A personal tale (the author is retelling her childhood) of the shift from the farms of rural Hungary to the effects of WWI. The Jewish storekeeper having faith that this war will help keep his people safe for good, the Russian prisoners of war working in the farm and being grateful to be there, safe from the battlefield, the soldiers coming home changed and shell shocked, the solidity of community and family...
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Seredy (Serédy Kató) was a gifted writer and illustrator, born in Hungary, who moved to the United States in 1922. She is best known for The Good Master, written in 1935, and for the Newbery Award winner, The White Stag.
More about Kate Seredy...
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