Echo is a wonderful children's book that could be classified as a historical novel with a fantasy element. The book's anchor is a magical harmonica and any music lover will appreciate the musical themes presented throughout. Three thrilling, yet lyrical stories unfold in the book, all taking place mid-20th century. Due to war and other hardships, all of the stories involve characters that are escaping or transitioning to a different way of life.
Friedrich is the main character in the first story; his is a heartbreaking tale that takes place in the early years of Hitler's Germany. Jews and anyone associated with Jews have to flee their homes or face the real possibility of being sent to a concentration camp. Will Friedrich make it out of Germany alive? Michael's story takes place during the great Depression; can he get himself and his much younger brother out of the horrific Philadelphia orphanage they live in to begin a new life? Finally, in the last story, Ivy is a Mexican American girl living as a migrant farmer with her family in California. Pearl Harbor has recently been bombed, and Japanese Americans are being rounded up and imprisoned. This presents an opportunity for Ivy's family. But what is the cost for their meager success?
Don't be discouraged by the size and thickness of this book; it is a wonderful read with a larger type font and well-spaced margins. The only time you will be able to put the book down is when one story ends and another begins. It is no surprise that this book won the Newbury honor in 2016. If you like the format of this book, try reading Refugee by Alan Gratz.
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