From Powells.com
Our favorite books of the year.
Synopses & Reviews
Music, magic, and a real-life miracle meld in this genre-defying masterpiece from storytelling maestro Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Lost and alone in a forbidden forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.
Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each, in turn, become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. And ultimately, pulled by the invisible thread of destiny, their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo.
Richly imagined and masterfully crafted, Echo pushes the boundaries of genre and form, and shows us what is possible in how we tell stories. The result is an impassioned, uplifting, and virtuosic tour de force that will resound in your heart long after the last note has been struck.
Review
“After reading Pam Munoz Ryan’s enchanting new novel, you’ll never
see the harmonica the same way again….Start to finish the book is a joy
to read….The music swells, the book sings.” New York Times
Review
"A satisfyingly multilayered tale of music, self-sacrifice and redemption." Wall Street Journal
Review
"Ryan’s ingenious plotting harmonizes as sweetly as the famed mouth harp
itself, and her eloquent prose breathes life and energy into likable
characters whose stories are individually compelling and historically
resonant." Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
Review
"The book’s thematic underpinnings poignantly reveal what Friedrich,
Mike, and Ivy truly have in common: not just a love of music, but
resourcefulness in the face of change, and a refusal to accept
injustice." Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
“A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in
a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of
readers' time.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
"Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and
perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to
believe they can do the same." School Library Journal, starred review
About the Author
Pam Munoz Ryan is the recipient of the NEA's Human and Civil Rights Award and the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for multicultural literature. She has written more than thirty books which have garnered countless accolades including the Pura Belpre Medal, the Jane Addams Award, and the Schneider Family Award. Pam lives near San Diego. You can learn more about her at www.pammunozryan.com.