Echo
by Pamela Muñoz Ryan
Ryan, P. (2015). Echo. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
Three stories come together in a beautiful tale of one enchanted harmonica. In the prelude, Otto finds himself lost in the forest where he meets three cursed princesses. The sisters save his life and help him find his way home by enchanting his harmonica, and they make him promise to pass it along to a person in need when the time is right so that their curse may be broken and they may return home. The first story is of a young Friedrich Schmidt, in 1933 Germany. Friedrich's father is a Jewish sympathizer, while his sister has been swept up in Hitler's grand plans and has joined the Hitler Youth. Freidrich was born with a large birthmark on his face leading to much torment and self consciousness, however he has big dreams of conducting and orchestra one day. When his father is taken by the Nazis to a hard labor prison, Friedrich and his uncle must make a plan for escape. The second story is of two orphaned brothers, Mike and Frankie, in 1935 Pennsylvania. Living in a group home after the passing of their mother and grandmother, the two boys only wish is to somehow stay together. They come to believe that joining a traveling harmonica band may be the way out, when they are adopted by a rich women who seems to actually have no interest in them at all. The boys wonder if she's really the answer to their prayers or if this is just some cruel charade. The third story is of Ivy Lopez in 1942 California, whose family has just moved onto a farm to care for the land while it's Japanese American owners were sent to an internment camp following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As the magical harmonica plays an important part in each one of their lives traveling from owner to owner, their stories culminate in 1951 New York at Carnegie Hall. History, adventure, reality and fantasy are all rolled into one truly touching and incredible story. At 587 pages it may be intimidating to some readers, but personally I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend it.
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