The Sound of Freedom

March 1, 2018
Grades 5-8 Anna Hirsch's familiar, safe world changes as Hitler's persecution hits Jewish people, including Anna's family, in Krakow. As she begins to witness this wrongdoing, Bronislaw Huberman, a musician, creates a new orchestra in Palestine for Jewish musicians. Seeing this as a golden opportunity, Anna encourages her father, who plays the clarinet, to audition in hopes of escaping Poland before things get worse. Reminiscent of the author's debut, The Secret of Gabi's Dresser (1999), this historical novel from Kacer is based on the true story of violinist Huberman, but it is told from the perspective of Anna, a young and promising musician. While Kacer's setting is executed well against the backdrop of pre-WWII, the plot does falter a bit. The biggest thrills are when the musicians travel to a new country and perform their first concert, leaving the novel's ending a bit flat. The faint implication of hope for Anna and her family does help make this agreeable read go down smoothly.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

February 1, 2018
Against the rising tide of anti-Semitism in pre-World War II Poland, one Jewish girl sees an opportunity for her family to escape to Palestine.In 1936 the Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman got permission to form an orchestra in the British Mandate of Palestine, the country that would become Israel after the war. By obtaining papers for his musicians and their families, he rescued 1,000 European Jews who'd otherwise have likely been murdered by the Nazis. Anna, a fictional Krakow schoolgirl, will be saved by Huberman's orchestra. She loves her father, a clarinetist with the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, and Huberman's planned ensemble is a spark of hope in the escalating horror and darkness--for Anna's already witnessed property destruction, beatings, and segregation against local Jews. Though her father initially refuses to leave Poland, Anna secretly writes to Mr. Huberman and obtains an audition for him. Thank goodness, Papa's skill obtains him a seat in the new Palestine Symphony Orchestra, and despite difficulties, Anna finds herself in Tel Aviv. The Arab-Jewish-British conflict, addressed simplistically, has little impact on Anna's life; she struggles more with her study of Hebrew and learning to haggle.This straightforward tale of some lesser-known aspects of the time period provides a welcome spark of optimism. (author's note, sources) (Historical fiction. 10-12)

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February 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-It's 1935 in Krakow, Poland, and Anna Hirsch's young life is on the brink of immense change. Lately, she has been noticing more and more unkindness and downright cruelty in Krakow towards Jewish citizenry like her own family. Anna witnesses the violent beating of the local butcher and Anna and her father are almost attacked at his music school. Anna sees only one way out. If her father is accepted in Bronislaw Huberman's new orchestra that will be based in Palestine, it would ensure safe passage for the Hirsch family out of Poland. Kacer's novel examines a little-known historical event preceding the Holocaust. Huberman was a real musician who founded the Palestine Philharmonic (as it was then known). Kacer, whose own parents were survivors of the Holocaust, writes a fictional account of a family saved by Huberman. The story is somber from the beginning as the author does not shy away from showing violence and hatred. But amidst a backdrop of despair, Anna and her family have hope, and their love for each other is a beacon of light. Kacer includes an author's note and a short bibliography encouraging more learning about Huberman. VERDICT A fine historical fiction addition to all library shelves.-Sarah Wethern, Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN

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