Echo in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 04, 2015 Tanya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, genre-children-s-literature, format-audiobook

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.

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Feb 02, 2015 Kirsten Barber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, genre-fiction, genre-historical-fiction, genre-fantasy, format-audiobook, level-middle-grade, representation-latinx, award-newbery, setting-usa, setting-california

This lyrical saga begins with a boy and a harmonica. Lost in the woods, he meets three sisters from a fairy tale and finds himself magically entwined in their story and others' fate. From there, we meet three children - Friedrich from Germany, Mike from Pennsylvania, and Ivy from California - each trying to do the right thing for their families and linked by a magical harmonica, an instrument so well-crafted that it produces a sound like no other.

Except for the story's fairy tale beginning and This lyrical saga begins with a boy and a harmonica. Lost in the woods, he meets three sisters from a fairy tale and finds himself magically entwined in their story and others' fate. From there, we meet three children - Friedrich from Germany, Mike from Pennsylvania, and Ivy from California - each trying to do the right thing for their families and linked by a magical harmonica, an instrument so well-crafted that it produces a sound like no other.

Except for the story's fairy tale beginning and ending, most of this 585-page masterpiece reads like historical fiction, set during World War II. First Friedrich faces unfair discrimination as the Nazis institute eugenics laws. Will he ever fulfill his dream of becoming a conductor? Then Mike struggles to keep his brother and himself together in a home for orphaned children. When a wealthy family comes along that is willing to adopt both boys, it seems almost too good to be true. But their new home is filled with sadness that not even riches can vanquish. Last, Ivy's family moves to a new town - again. But this time her father says they may get to own their home when the wealthy Japanese-American landlord returns from the internment camp, as long as they do a good job maintaining his property. But Ivy must battle prejudice against herself and other Hispanic-Americans. Will they be able to finally stay put, or will discrimination force them to move on once again?

I have to say that I was skeptical about Echo. When it came in at the library, I asked myself and my coworkers what elementary or middle school kid would pick up a book so massive? Especially one that is (mostly) historical fiction. I ended up reading this book as part of the Mock Newbery Challenge this year, and I was proven wrong about the page length being intimidating. The story is beautiful and mesmerizing, and I was unable to put it down - I flew through this one like it was 200 pages instead of nearly 600. This is definitely one of the best middle-grade books of 2015, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it win the Newbery Medal next year.

Ages 10-14 ...more

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Jan 31, 2015 Jean-Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, family, middle-grade, war, young-adult, favorites, character, music, realistic-fiction, magical-fiction

I love this book! Part historical fiction, part fairy tale, and all magical. Pam Munoz Ryan is an amazing storyteller. This is an excellent middle grade/tween/teen read aloud. I read it to my 11-year old at bedtime, and we both loved it. Putting it on my favorites shelf.

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Apr 07, 2017 Katie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, female-author, listened-to, music

This young adult books begins with a fairy tale like story. A king abandons three infant daughters in the woods shortly after each of their births as he wants his first born to be a son who will inherit the throne. The three girls are raised by a witch and grow up not knowing who they are or where they came from. A boy is reading this fairy tale when he gets lost in the woods and encounters the very women from his book. They tell the boy of a prophesy involving a harmonica.

The book then tells t ...more

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