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What Members Thought
I think listening to this book on audio adds much to the telling of the stories. The addition of music and the narrators accent provided richness. Recommend.
This middle-grade Newbery Honor book brings together two genres, standard historical fiction and fairytale-retelling, by weaving together several strands of story into one lovely tapestry. I don't think this book is quite as beautiful or cohesive as Pam Muñoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising (one of the best middle-grade books out there!), but this was still a charming story ... or, rather, stories.
The book begins with Otto, a German boy who is magically pulled into a beautiful fairy tale story -- and th ...more
The book begins with Otto, a German boy who is magically pulled into a beautiful fairy tale story -- and th ...more
This is one of those books that I gave four stars because objectively I could tell it was masterfully done and not necessarily because I enjoyed it a ton.
It consists of four loosely related historical fiction stories. Each one is atmospheric and filled with details that really place you into the time period. The characters are also richly drawn, and each story pulls you in so that you always feel a little bummed when it's time to start the next story. I also liked the fairy tale angle, which I w ...more
It consists of four loosely related historical fiction stories. Each one is atmospheric and filled with details that really place you into the time period. The characters are also richly drawn, and each story pulls you in so that you always feel a little bummed when it's time to start the next story. I also liked the fairy tale angle, which I w ...more
Oh hey, a story about the dissolution of society under the fear and oppression of a rising fascist regime hahahaha, hitting a little (a lot) too close to home in 2017! May return later. (Left off @ 23%.)
4.5 stars A fairy tale ties three different characters together through the passing along of a harmonica. I enjoyed this book and the author does an amazing job writing such empathetic characters. The audio readers were fantastic and I enjoyed listening to the music that went with the story. Good book! (Pop Sugar Challenge: a book that is a story within a story) C & K B.C.
Apr 13, 2015
K
marked it as to-read
Dec 02, 2015
Cora
marked it as tbr-on-hand
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
kindle,
magical-realism,
young-adult,
historical-fiction,
juvenile,
music,
california,
award-winner
Jan 04, 2016
Heather
marked it as to-read
Jan 05, 2016
Jen
marked it as to-read
Oct 05, 2016
Adrienne
marked it as to-read
Nov 22, 2016
Krissy
marked it as to-read
Mar 07, 2017
Michelle
marked it as to-read
Aug 07, 2017
laurie
marked it as to-read
Apr 20, 2018
rissa
marked it as to-read
Oct 29, 2018
Jocelyn
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
award-newbery,
authors-to-read
Dec 19, 2020
James
marked it as to-read
