Echo

How Pam Muñoz Ryan does what she does is magical, as is this book. Three World War Two-era young people are tied together by the musical magic of an enchanted harmonica that is passed among them as, each time, a gift of love and kindness. With a magical twist and a solid historical fiction timeline, this unique tale is a must-read. Boys and girls will equally see something to connect with as they learn important lessons about American history, a world at war, and the healing majesty of music.

Let me start off by saying Echo is a monster of a book. Seriously. 502 pages guys. But I lived, I conquered!

The plot of Echo focuses on the ability that music can change your life. In the midst of World War II are two characters Ryan who shares the story of Friedrich and then in the second part there are orphan twins Mike and Franky who both love playing music.

For a children's book, it's a little bit heavy since it's more world history and less fantasy but I believe it's a good read for any child who is struggling with finding US History boring. This will definitely change their mind! Sort of with the author had just made it into a duology to be honest. The size of this thing is truly intimidating. Like I could throw it at someone and cause some real serious damage!

I've been a fan of Pam Munoz Ryan since I was eleven years old. ("Esperanza Rising" and "Riding Freedom" will forever have special places in my heart). "Echo" contains all of the hallmarks of Ryan's writing: dreamy, deceptively simple, elegantly layered, and magical. "Echo" was obviously written for younger readers, but anyone who appreciates Ryan's writing, or is simply looking for a well-written, beautifully executed story regardless of target age, will enjoy "Echo". Highly recommended.

Even though I'm an adult, I often read YA fiction to avoid the disturbing scenes in so many adult novels. I don't even have any particular interest in music, but this story was so well written and so moving that I really enjoyed it. The historical content was great, too. Spoiler alert! I like to know if books have happy endings, and this one made me nervous, but everything turned out great.

Four stories in one book all well developed and interconnected about young people. There is a heavy musical theme in the novel with the main focus being on the harmonica. I believe young adults will really enjoy and embrace this book which deal with issues like parental loss, injustice and racism effectively. Music, however, is the central thread that ties these stories together. As an adult I thought that the ending of the book was just a little too neat with every issue being resolved but I remember when I was young and that is exactly what I would have wanted. In the book on CD there is a lot of nice instrumental music but when the narrators sang I wanted to plug my ears most of the time.

I won this book in a goodreads.com giveaway...thank you.
What a book!!! I loved "Echo" and I'll be saving it for my grandchildren who must read this awesome book. There's music, magic, friendship, promises, challenges, suspense, and a harmonica. It's full of everything that makes a book magical and impossible to put down. Now I am ready to read more from this excellent author Pam Munoz Ryan. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost between the pages of an awesome book.

Ryan has written a story of four people, who don’t know each other but have had the same harmonica in their possession. Frustrating as you read it, because each person’s story just stops and the reader is left wondering what the heck just happened…that is until you get to the end and you cry because it came together so beautifully. Each “owner” of the harmonica has had to face huge challenges from the Nazis in Germany, to the fear of separations from a brother in the process of adoption during the Great Depression, to living in the unequal world of education for Hispanics in California during World War II. Ryan has written a book in which fantasy and historical fiction meld perfectly.

5 stars!

“Everybody has a heart. Sometimes you gotta work hard to find it."

So I read this book based on work recommendations from fellow librarians. These are the librarians who do not rate high very easily and all of them told me this book was a 5 out of 5. I had ZERO interest in reading this book. I mean it's historical fiction AND magic realism? Totally not my thing. But I pulled up my big girl pants and checked it out and gave it a chance, and I am so glad I did!!! This book is something else, and I feel all ages could read it.

Echo tells 3 main stories: Friedrich, Mike and Ivy. All are children of preteen age, they all live in different times, places and circumstances. We get to read each one of their stories separately, and the power of music is what connects their stories in ways you wouldn't have guessed.

“Music does not have a race or a disposition! Every instrument has a voice that contributes. Music is a universal language. A universal religion of sorts. Certainly it's my religion. Music surpasses all distinctions between people."

I cannot say much else than that because SPOILERS. What I can say is that from the first page I couldn't put this book down. The way it's written and the stories involved in it, it's magical. I loved the themes, how many of them are still relevant today. The characters felt so real to me, there were moments where I was in great big tears because apparently I am a wuss. This is a book I can see myself rereading in the future and giving it to a lot of kids to read.

Honestly, I ask you as an adult to read this book. Or read/give it to the child in your life whether it be your child, niece or nephew, family friend, anyone. I know it's aimed at middle grade age range but I feel it's a book any age can love. It's amazing.

I have also had people tell me and read reviews on here where people have said to listen to the audiobook. My friend played me a small bit of the audiobook and I can agree because it plays music that enhances the story.

“She said people on hard times deserved to have beauty in their lives as much as anyone else, whether or not they could pay their rent or were walking to a breadline. Granny said that just because someone was poor didn't mean they were poor of heart.”

Our seventh-grade son absolutely loved this book. As opposed to so much grade school fiction these days, this story was uplifting and inspiring - this despite being set against Nazi Germany and the Great Depression. The story is intriguing throughout and driven by characters who have much more depth than is the norm. He cited that this felt like a "real book" compared to many of the YA offerings that seem to just trying to monetize a series of stories. Highly recommended.

Lost and alone in the forbidden forest. It made me keep on turning the pages. This book is about a boy named Otto, and he is lost and alone in the forest. He is rescued by three mysterious sisters. The sisters are cursed by the which. Otto promises them that he will break the curse because they rescued him. Mike is a orphan, and Ivy is a little farm girl. They all live in a world of music. Ivy is struggling with poverty and other family issues.She tries to so her part on the home front in the middle of World War II. I would rate the ages of this book 10-14.

My full review here: http://wp.me/p5F7Ll-2v

Summary

"Echo" shares the stories of Friedrich, brothers Mike and Frankie, and Ivy. These are sandwiched by the tale of a boy named Otto, who encounters three mystical sisters in the forest during a game of hide-and-seek. Otto's life is forever changed by these sisters and the mysterious harmonica they bestow upon him.

This powerful harmonica travels the world, further impacting the lives of each person it reaches. First, the harmonica falls into the hands of Friedrich during the perilous era of Nazi Germany. Friedrich works at a harmonica factory and has dreams of becoming an orchestra conductor. When the Nazis discover his unsightly facial birthmark, they threaten to take him into custody. Friedrich, his father, and his uncle make plans to escape, but those plans are wrecked when Friedrich's father is arrested and sent to a work prison in Dachau. Not to be discouraged, the boy decides to make the long train ride to rescue his father. But before the train even leaves the station, Friedrich is seized by two guards who recognize his birthmark.

Next, we find the harmonica in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mike has a knack for playing the harmonica, and he and his brother, Frankie, often play duets on the piano in the orphanage where they live. When the boys are finally adopted, they're rescued from poor treatment and even poorer living conditions. But when they get to their new home, they learn that they're not wanted by the lady of the house. They try using music as a way to win her heart, but it seems to be frozen solid. After Mike stumbles across documents releasing Eunice from her adoption contract, he tells Frankie that they need to make a break for it. Late at night, they climb down the tree outside their bedroom window. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Mike falls from the tree. Laying helpless on the ground, Mike realizes he can neither breathe nor move.

Finally, Ivy comes into possession of the harmonica. Her brother has gone off to war and she has just moved to a new home in California. Here, people with differences are not tolerated, and Ivy has to go to a school separate from caucasian students. Though her parents try to fight this silly rule, they refuse to let her attend the "regular" school. Music becomes her way of getting around the regulation, and she joins the orchestra at the caucasian school. One day, as she's playing outdoors with a friend, Ivy sees a bike messenger pass by. Ivy panics when she learns that this is the same bike messenger that delivers news about soldiers who have passed away overseas. She chases after the boy to find out whether or not her brother is still safe.

In the conclusion of the book, we discover how each of these three stories connects. Somehow, the harmonica has brought them all together and has fulfilled its purpose. The endings of each individual story is explained, then masterfully woven together into one satisfying grand finale. "Echo" is a book not to be missed.

John Smythe is rapidly becoming one of my favorite science fiction writers. I would put Smythe right up there with M John Harrison and Robert Charles Wilson, two of the best. Symthe writes with economy and style and, like those other two authors, believes in the power of science fiction to explore character in engrossing stories set in strange and sometimes very unsettling locations. I started my exploration of Smythe with, fittingly enough, The Explorer. I was browsing Barnes and Noble and I liked the book's cover (odd reason to read a book) and loved the book's first sentence. So, based on a nice cover and a great sentence, I bought it, and lived in that book for the next three weeks. When I finished The Explorer, I went wow! and backtracked to read Smythe's earlier books, The Testimony (hated the cover, loved the book) and The Machine (a terrifying, wonderful book... sort of Rod Sterling meets Franz Kafka). Then came The Echo, which is (as I learned on the book's inner cover), the second book in his Anomaly Quartet. I would have been quite happy with the ambiguity of The Explorer as a stand alone book, but joy oh joy to find another book set in that strange silent vicinity of space. And make that joy oh joy a double because the second book is just as good the first, just as introspective, and just as plain weird (in the most complimentary sense of weird). I hate spoilers, so I'll stop the review here, except to say: the store lists January 2015 as the publishing date for the next book. Suddenly, for the first time since moving to Iowa 15 years ago, I look forward to something in the first month of the new year. A transplanted Iowan looking forward to something in the short dark days of January? Praise doesn't get much higher.

It begins slowly, but hang on and keep on reading. It is brilliantly written and will fill both your heart and brain. It covers the power of hope, love, and believing in yourself. It is yet another Y.A. book that I think is geared more towards adults.
Note: It's not really a children's book for older elementary unless you read it to or with them to explain some of the deeper concepts (e.g., Jewish persecution by the Nazis, orphans during the depression, and incarceration of the Japanese during WWII ILin America). These are pretty deep concepts that require a conversation bc they are such foreign ideas to today's kids.

A novel for the ages. Encompassing story telling embedded in fairy tales, to the the perilous life of one child in early Nazi Germany, to an Pennsylvania orphan in the depths of the Great Depression in the mid-1930's, to Mexican child (soon after Pearl Harbor has resulted in the internment of Americans of Japanese descent) and her parents work on land once farmed by their interned owners. All are connected though music and the lovely prose of the author. A Perfect ending.

Keeper.

This novel has everything you could ask for; a fairy tale, heartbreak, family, music, and a brilliant ending. I wanted to sit and read it from cover to cover, and I hated setting it aside when my reading time was over for the day. The book is brilliant, and it definitely deserved the Newbery Honor Award. I can't wait to share it with my family and friends. Go ahead and pick it up at the library today. You won't regret it.

Excellent storytelling, at times leaving your gut wrenched with heartbreak, and forever seeking to fill in the blanks. I can imagine this book on a banned list as it deals with war, resistance, and the endearing human spirit. As a former teacher, how I'd like to teach this to middle readers to see how they look at the stories peppered with difference, bullying, fight for life, search for identity, friendship, and love. An excellent read, asuberbly told story with an ending of hope and redemption.

Ok - all I can say is WOW! I don't know where the Newbery committee's head was when they were evaluating books this year but they certainly missed the mark when this one, even beyond Inquisitor's Tale, was not selected for the highest award. This book IS truly music, hanging on a single chord, to be woven into a complete masterpiece! This is a symphony of it's parts where the reader connects with the music but is only satisfied when the finale begins. Thank you Ms. Ryan for one of the finest children's books I have read in years.

Echo is a rousing tale that plays its part in four sections, including a prologue. Otto, who finds three mysterious girls in a forest when he wanders away from his friends. It tells the stories of three different children in three different destinations and times. Section One tells the story of Friedrich Schmidt in Germany, during the time when Hitler ruled, Section Two is about Mike Flannery in Pennsylvania in 1935, and finally, Ivy Lopez during 1942, who lives on a farm and tries to keep her family together. This book swept me away on wings, and I will definitely recommend this book for people with a knowledge of music. The author made an effort to make me care for the characters, and she was successful! If you buy this book you are in for a treat.

This new novel is a masterpiece! The author knows just how to draw readers into the story and the characters. The book description of a little fantasy is somewhat inaccurate, in my opinion. The introduction to the novel may be said to contain a little fantasy, as it is more of a fairy tale in genre. The three stories of the characters are historical fiction, and they are each very well written. The way they all come together in the end is really impressive. The overall message of the book is very positive and an amazing testament to the power of music. The way the historical elements are presented is not overly violent or harsh, if you are concerned about the content for younger readers. I plan to let my 9-year-old daughter (who reads above grade level) read it, as I think the issues presented would make great conversation about injustice, how to treat others, and the Holocaust and World War II. The novel would be appropriate for a mature 9-year-old through adults. I certainly recommend it for my 7th grade students. It is the best book I've read this school year (out of 53) by far! I could not stop reading it. Don't let the length deter you... You may find that you finish in a couple of days.

In The Echo, twin brothers, who happen to be genius scientists lead an exhibition to discover the nature of "The Anomaly" that claimed a previous mission, that of the Ishiguro, and devastated international interest in space exploration. One brother is at home doing "mission control", the other is the captain of the Lara, which is named for their mother. The story is told from the point of view of Mira, the captain, and it's told in a stream-of-consciousness style.
Events compel Mira to make one (in hindsight) poor decision and it all goes downhill as the nature of The Anomaly becomes apparent to all.
This is one of those books that left me thinking for a while after reading it about how the pieces fit together. I love that about it. It's definitely a psychological horror but some of the more real pieces of the story take a little bit of imagination to figure out: How much alike are the brothers really? Do they think identically, as Mira keeps reiterating, or are they completely different as he seems to imply in his moments of bitterness? How you interpret that part of the book will influence your understanding of the plot as a whole.
I agree with a reviewer of the previous book in the series, which you do not have to read to enjoy this one, that the science itself is a bit shaky and definitely not the focus of the story--There seem to be some inconsistencies in the way the anomaly behaves which make for interesting speculation about the Anomaly, however, I'm not sure that these were intended by the writer.
Also, for scientific geniuses who designed all their own gear and their own spacecraft, Thomas and Mira seem to be almost unbelievably short on ideas when the situation gets desperate. We aren't given any real insight into any thinking they might be doing about how to extricate themselves from the situation--while I would have liked for this to have been addressed more to make the characters "live up" to the background given them, it may have taken away from the psychological drama and focused it more on the nature of the anomaly. Also, I'm fairly sure there was a Star Trek Next Generation episode about this anomaly.
In my opinion, the novel could have had a more detailed world AND a rich drama, but it's clear that the author focused on the later. It hardly degrades the experience--I'm still thinking about it two days after having finished it.

What a wonderful story both for young readers and adults. The main characters are so well developed that young readers will be able to easily see what it would be like to live under the hard conditions that these children did. But such a wonderful outcome to each of their lives will make the reader happy they were there licing life with each of these three main young people. You can almost hear the harmonica playing in each child's hands.

My fifth grade granddaughter recommended this book. She was reading it in class when they were reading historical fiction. It's a small part fairy tale, but the main reason to read it is to get a view of some very important times in history from the viewpoint of children living through the confusion and sadness . But it is not all sadness, either. There is great hope and success realized through hard work and dedication.

Wow!! This novel was a surprise delight! The story of each young musician was touching and inspiring. I love music and it makes me want to be a better musician myself. I loved learning new history in the book, I loved the ending. I loved the magic. So much to love. And so hard to review without divulging any secrets! My only disappointment: that each owner of the harmonica never learned of its fate.

Super magic. Wonderful book that stays with you and deeply touches the reader. It has fantasy, amazing plot and of the beaten path story line. Makes a great gift or a bedtime read aloud for many days. This one is firmly staying on our bookshelf for a long long time. New favorite.

I loved everything about this book. The fairy tale aspect was lovely and the other three stories were suspenseful. I loved the character development, especially of Ivy. I want to read this book over and over again!

"Echo" by Pam Munoz Ryan is such a good book that while it's a children's book, it's one adults will also love. Well written with great characters, this is a story filled with bits of fairy tale like wonder. It's been some time since I've read a children's book I was so taken with. I .oved it so much!

A story that will delight children and bring joy to everyone else!

This book is divided into three parts, held together by a magical harmonica. The opening pages, when the magic spell is described, were quite perfect. "This is a storyteller, at last," I breathed, settling happily into the tale. And the first part, about a boy with a strawberry birthmark and musical genius, growing up in the early days of Nazi Germany, was everything I had hoped for. Totally believable, the characters totally sympathetic, the tale totally gripping...and then we move on to the second part. I've read and enjoyed the Horatio Alger tales, but today, they don't quite ring true. Two brothers, again, musical geniuses, are adopted by accident by a wealthy woman, and I'm not sure if I'm watching Pollyanna or the Little Rascals. It just...didn't quite work for me. And alas, the third chapter was the same. A California girl of Hispanic descent (musical genius again) fights the battle against ethnic unfairness during WW II and the years of Japanese internment. It all ties up in the end.

Because the book began so beautifully, I was that much more disappointed by the ending. I know that's unfair. There's so much mediocre in children's literature, and Echo certainly reached much higher levels than that. As a teacher, I'm afraid I would use only the first section as a readaloud.

I read this book with my 9yr old daughter each night before bed. I was afraid this might be a confusing storyline since there are so many main characters. Not the case. Each story was wonderful and very emotional. The ending tied everything up nicely but was too brief for me. I would have liked even more detail.

Ryan's eloquent expertise in storytelling,character development, and engaging readers in history in meaningful ways are on full display in this multi-layered, time-traveling, faintly-fantasy work of interconnected stories. Each section could make a book on its own merits, but the underlying structures and interplay of backstory make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Excellent sequel to The Explorer, which follows the (mis)fortunes some twenty years after the Ishiguro went missing. Takes the oddness of what was happening in the first novel even further. Intelligent sci-fi which is well written as the astronauts on this exploration of the anomaly find themselves in a nightmare scenario.

Ray Smillie

Pam Munoz Ryan has hit another one out of the park. If you enjoyed Esperanza Rising, you will enjoy this book as well. I also think fans of the Book Thief will find something they love in the pages of this story.

Pam Munoz Ryan is an excellent story teller, with quality writing skills that make her stories appeal to all ages, I think upper elementary might be the most appropriate age to read the story, but as I said, all ages will enjoy the story!

Echo, a masterpiece written by Pam Munoz Ryan is a journey through time as a harmonica passes from one owner to another. It is an amazing tale of family, love, and strength through the most difficult of times. I seriously read this in a matter of days not willing to part with it even at stop lights. It has been my constant companion for the last week. However, this story will remain in my heart for years to come. Ms. Munoz Ryan has written a fairy tale that rivals the Brothers Grimm. I highly recommend for a thoroughly enjoyable read for children and adults alike.

My sons (9, 12) and I are just finishing the audio version of Echo. It is wonderful! The ties between the parts, the context of WWII, the insight into the social air of the times, the music! Get the audio, so you can hear the music. This book is masterfully put together. Listen to it.

I powered through this compelling book. Three distinct stories spanning the period around World War 2, framed by an intriguing fairy tale, all tied together by the power of music and a...harmonica. It sounds strange but Ryan has crafted a beautiful story. I had to keep the tissues handy. Strongly recommended for your middle grade reader of either gender.

Beautifully crafted story, great narrators. It was written in several parts, and it was so easy to become engrossed in each part that there was a sense of loss as you moved on to the next. The characters were likeable which made you care about what happened to them. The ending tied everything together in a very satisfactory manner. I highly recommend this book.

I really liked this book, my daughter is still reading it. I think the length of the book is probably a downfall, I think the size alone has stressed her out. There is also some pretty big topics for a young reader. My daughter is fairly mature and took to the topics OK, but other readers, it might be too much. The book is well written, and the story is very catching. I recommend this book

I enjoyed the unique setup of this book and how it intertwined three realistic stories with the thread of fantasy. I hope some of my students will enjoy it as well. The focus it places on the magic of music is refreshing and much-needed in any day and time. While the length of the book may seem daunting to some young readers, the pages fly by separated into four sections with spacious font and easily readable yet interesting writing.

I loved this creative weaving of stories over time. My students in my classroom fought to have first crack at it and many ordered it for themselves. What a unique way to give us a glimpse into life during several distinct periods of time in our history. Great read!

By page 100 I was already so connected to the characters and story that I became emotional, which is rare for me!

I found her characters very relatable and the story didn't seem forced or driven by the harmonica thread. It progressed very naturally. And left me wanting more at the end of each section!

Echo was a great book! My four kids and I have been listening to this on audiobook for the last two weeks. The author really creates beautiful imagery while telling her tale. I loved the use of the harmonica to connect each character. This was enjoyed by my nine, six, four and 2 year old. Highly recommend this especially the audiobook version. Getting to hear the different voices really enhanced the story. As well as the beautiful harmonica playing.

This book! Oh my goodness, so beautiful, so innovative, so unique and touching. I adored these stories individually, each in their own way. It took me a little time to sink into the way the book is presented but once I finally pushed distractions aside, I was hooked. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone, it is well worth the time!

Echo is a great book. Echo was a birthday gift for my 9 year old triplets and I decided to read it so I could discuss it with them. The book weaves multiple stories together through the common thread of music. Many great themes are touched on throughout the books and brings up many great discussion points. Despite the size of the book it is a quick easy read.

REVIEW SUMMARY: Goes deeper into the mystery and emotions of this dark space epic.

MY RATING: 4 Stars

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The sequel to The Explorer charts the second expedition to understand the deadly anomaly in the far reaches of outer space.

MY REVIEW:
PROS: Complex mystery adds depth to what was established in The Explorer; relationship between main character and his twin; empathetic struggle between ambition and failure; the ending.
CONS: Lacks immediate hook into the story; secondary characters only engaging at key moments; confusion during significant events.
BOTTOM LINE: A deep-space mystery to save Earth in a story for anyone who fears failing in their life’s work.

Following in the footsteps of the phenomenal first book, The Explorer, The Echo rewards fans with answers to the anomaly located deep in outer space, but then adds more danger as the anomaly’s strengths and mystery increase. More than that, though, the story of its main character, Mira, is touching, succinct and a perfect fit for a reader toe-to-toe in the battle between ambition and failure.

Mira is the captain of the flight toward the anomaly. His twin is on Earth, guiding them and offering support on a mission to succeed where the one described in The Explorer failed. The anomaly is spreading, and decades have been wasted getting this second trip launched. If they fail, Earth may not survive long enough for a third attempt. More important to Mira than Earth’s survival, though, is proving to his brother and himself that he is more than the overlooked younger twin.

Mira, through luck, finds his opportunity to show the world (which, to him, is his brother) his greatness. In this pursuit, however, he uncovers more misery than he was prepared for and fights desperately not to be consumed by fear and violent self-preservation. This emotional battle is the best part about The Echo. This is also a common theme to James Smythe’s works and his greatest strength as a storyteller. Not only does he amaze with the mystery, but his characters (who sometimes don’t end up better off than they were) churn out heart-wrenching moments. The author also possesses a superb ability to weave clues and emotional turmoil into increasingly difficult and surprising conclusions. That said, while The Explorer started out with a line that propelled initial interest into the story, The Echo takes a bit longer to start getting exciting. In hindsight, though, the development of Mira’s relationship to his twin was essential to his struggles and revelations later on. Once they found the anomaly, action and relationship tension made the remainder of the book fly by.

James has a way of creating characters with interesting backgrounds and struggles, and did a fantastic job with Mira and his twin, but the secondary characters did not create as much sympathy or empathy as I would have liked. He introduces them in interesting ways early on, but then little is connected to those introductions and their identities flattened as I forgot who was whom. There are moments near the end that made me care, but in the middle their placeholder characteristics slowed the read. Also, it could be that I missed something, but there were a couple events that took place without enough explanation in regards to how the anomaly spread and where Mira was in relation to it. There is a chance that from Mira’s point of view, he did not know what happened and then struggled in the midst of something more complex than he understood. However, this confusion left me unsure how to accurately understand what Mira was going through.

The Explorer already uncovered a mind-bending characteristic of the anomaly. The Echo successfully doubles the mystery, while still leaving plenty to discover in the remaining planned two books. This is is the kind of science fiction horror that I crave. I don’t get this blend of science fiction, mystery, horror and emotion anywhere else.

Reviewed at SF Signal
Received a promotional/free copy by Harper Voyager U.S.

An amazing story weaving together the lives of characters representing different points of view during World War 2. Highly recommended -- both for students studying WW2 and for adults who appreciate a wonderfully written story.

I loved this book and the students in two 6th-grade boy/girl classrooms I assist in love the book. My book club thought it was great. I hear the audio version is quite wonderful because you get to hear the music referred to in the book.

PHENOMENAL AUDIO PRESENTATION! Give it a little time if you're thinking of dropping it. Be patient and allow yourself to be pulled into their lives and stories. You won't regret listening until the end.

This novel is a joke. I admit that I could not stand to read further than 20% into it. The anomaly premise seemed promising and the writing not too bad at first. But the characters and execution are unbelievable.
**SPOILERS**
The two main characters should not be in charge of a Radio Shack let alone a space ship. They might be technical geniuses but are much too sociopathic to organize or design living quarters for humans or devise crew agendas, let alone manage personnel. I suspect Tomas is borderline psychotic while Mira seems mostly an insecure child. Who on Earth would put those two in charge of anything except maybe minor software programming?

Tomas seems to have sabotaged the entire process by hiring crew with physical illnesses. The ship design and Tomas’ oversight is all about OCD and paranoia. I suspect Tomas may have deliberately incapacitated his brother as captain as well, although from Mira’s thoughts he seems to suffer from several regressive, social anxieties and incompetencies no leader should display. If this was a commentary on current US politics, I could see some satirical value. Alas, this is not the case. Maybe this is all explained later in the book, but I couldn’t stand Mira’s angst and either twin’s inexplicable behavior for one more page.

Seriously. I can not recommend this book.

Pam Munoz Ryan's ECHO is brilliant, powerful, touching, and memorable. She uses masterful storytelling prowess to seamlessly weave four narratives into a multi-layered tapestry you'll never forget. Book-ended by a unique folktale-esque fable, this unusually structured middle grade masterpiece of historical fiction has all the markings of an instant classic.

This book was beautiful!
I am in 5th grade and this book was fantastic. All the stories were wonderful and heartfelt. (3/4ish mini-stories) Each one intertwined with another in a wondrous way! I definitely recommend this book for ambitious readers. (Like me!)

This was very long book ( about 520 pages ). I like how everyone kinda... met at the end to. But my favorite part was the story of the harmonica and the story of Kenny. This book was very carefully made and I enjoyed it!!

This book my daughter loved. It is very mystical and is broken into parts. It is a very fun book, and just the right length for a good reader. The beginning and ending are a little bit confusing, because it just throws as you into the book, but otherwise it is a fantastic story.

I loved how this book captured various characters and their experiences during WWII. Depicted the different struggles of families, as well as how music could bring hope into lives. Written beautifully; hard to put down!

I loved this book. I read it because my grandson read it for school and asked me to read it. It was magical but also historical. I bought him a harmonica and had it shipped to his house. Wonder if he will figure out the connection.

I loved how this book captured various characters and their experiences during WWII. Depicted the different struggles of families, as well as how music could bring hope into lives. Written beautifully; hard to put down!

I loved this book. I read it because my grandson read it for school and asked me to read it. It was magical but also historical. I bought him a harmonica and had it shipped to his house. Wonder if he will figure out the connection.

This is a wonderful story that is beautifully written. I stayed up too late because I just HAD to know what would happen next. It's a page-turner that has nothing offensive in it. I would highly recommend it for ages 9 and up.

Echo is a brave and adventurous and always leaves you wondering. In my opinion this book is like a wild fire you never know what will happen next. This is a great book and I recommend it for people with a great imagination.

I happened upon "The Explorer" because I was looking for an author I had never read before. I like these books a lot. They are insightful and creepy. "The Explorer" and "The Echo" both left me feeling uneasy. One of those stories that you realize you are still thinking about when it's over.

This book has a very different feel to it. It starts with a fantasy, then it jumps into history. There are a series of stories that you go through, and eventually those stories seem to collide at the end. The fantasy part doesn't feel like it fits, however. I also was frustrated that each of the three inner stories seems to abruptly stop leaving the reader feeling unsettled. It was nice to have these characters end up together to tie things off later.

I prefer books that have a plot or story that moves throughout the book. This book does not do that. I would say that there is no actual story here. The book seems based mostly on the characters, this works if you like/empathize/relate to the characters, but I did not. The characters were all unlikable and I could not relate to any of their decisions or motivations. For the last hundred pages I could see the ending coming, and just wanted it to hurry up and finish, but the author dragged it out needlessly.

Some people will like this book, but I was not one of them.

I read this book along with my fifth-grade daughter's book club, and ended up finishing it before she did! This is an excellent story that can be appreciated by children as well as adults. While the story line did not interest me initially--an enchanted harmonica comes into the possession of several children over the course of several decades and then unites them in the conclusion--I could not put this book down. The book deals with difficult times and circumstances in our world's history (early-Hitler Germany, race and class relations in the United States) with directness that is heart-wrenching at times as we experience them through the book's multiple characters, all of whom were beloved to me by the time the book ended. I highly recommend this one!

This review also appeared on The Social Potato

This book. Oh my god this book. I'd be lying if I said I didn’t know what I was getting into before I started reading the book but knowing how many emotions you will be bombarded with doesn’t really prepare you for them. Nothing does until you’ll sitting there yelling at the book for giving you too many feels (this happened). This book is so gorgeously written and so beautifully imagined and I don’t know where to start.

Perhaps I shall start with the one thing that didn’t work for me and then move on to all the good stuff because good stuff.

There is so much build up and so many emotions running through this book that by the time I got to the ending, I had expected something big and huge but I didn’t get that. The resolutions seemed too easy after everything our characters had been through. And while it may be surprising that I am even suggesting this given the size of the book (it stands at a whopping 592 pages... for the final copy), I think this book should have been longer. I needed a stronger resolution. One that didn’t leave me feeling like I had missed out on a big chunk of these characters’ lives.

So there, bad stuff out of the way. Now on to the good stuff. The stuff I cannot even begin describing because I am not sure I am capable of doing justice to this book with my limited vocabulary. Soooooo… this book IS AWESOMESAUCE. It’s heartbreaking, it’s diverse and it’s so so GOOD. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and when you start to fall, you are left hanging, hoping for the best, hoping against hope that there will be a happy ending even though real life offers few. How can I explain the roller coaster of emotions? How can I even begin to explain how MUCH PAIN I WAS IN. How much joy I felt and all the mushy gushy feelings in my heart. Stupid hearts. Making you feel stuff. I think I need to take a break from my heart. HEART, I NEED SPACE OKAY?

This book is divided into 4 parts. The first 3 introduce you to three different characters who are all connected by one simple harmonica, a harmonica that will bring them joy when life will seem bleak, a harmonica that has a magical background story and a harmonica that has a purpose.

Friedrich lives in pre World War II Germany, in a world where he gets to slowly experience Hitler's rise to power. He is witness to all the injustices committed against his fellow friends and even his own father. It’s heartbreaking to read about all these injustices and it’s even more heartbreaking to know what might happen to Friedrich if they don’t leave Germany. The thing that is so fascinating about Friedrich though is how he manages to retain his beliefs even knowing what could be done to him because of them. The only reason he isn’t out there screaming about the injustice of it all is because he doesn’t want to endanger his family. His story, unsurprisingly, is a heartbreaking one.

Then we have Mike and Frankie. Their story is just as heartbreaking even if there lives aren’t as affected by the World War. What they are is orphans, living in a time period where no one cares as much about orphans. Mike, at the young age of 11, has to be incharge of his younger brother and making sure that the two aren’t separated. At the tender age of 11, he has to put someone else’s safety and happiness above his own and if that isn’t heartbreaking, I don’t know what is. Mike is just as brave and lovable as Friedrich and his journey just as beautiful to read about.

The last main character we meet is young Ivy who lives in California. Who, on top of having to deal with moving to a new place, has to deal with injustices at school because of the color of her skin. She just wants to play her music but she cannot even do that in peace. She has to hold her family together, because she promised her brother who is away at war but how can she do that when she has trouble holding herself together? Throughout her story, we get to Ivy grow into herself and mature. We see her make new friends and we see her grow protective about a Japanese family she hasn’t even met. It makes you wonder how these kids can even stand to think about someone other than themselves when their situations are so dire. Their hearts must be so ginormous.

I don't want to talk too much about the historical and magic realism contexts of this novel but know that Pam Ryan Munoz knows what she is doing. This novel may not be about the historical events but the historical setting is NEVER forgotten. It's what affects all of these young kids' lives.

The stories of these three young kids are moving and heartbreaking but at the same time, they offer hope. They show us that not all is lost even when things look like they are never going to get better.

This book is so important and so beautiful and I don’t know what else to say except that you all need to read this. I went into this book knowing I would love it since Ryan is one of my favorite childhood authors and all I can hope is that when you read it, you'll love it just as much as I did.

**Note that an ARC of the book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

Ryan has written a story of four people, who don’t know each other but have had the same harmonica in their possession. Frustrating as you read it, because each person’s story just stops and the reader is left wondering what the heck just happened…that is until you get to the end and you cry because it came together so beautifully. Each “owner” of the harmonica has had to face huge challenges from the Nazis in Germany, to the fear of separations from a brother in the process of adoption during the Great Depression, to living in the unequal world of education for Hispanics in California during World War II. Ryan has written a book in which fantasy and historical fiction meld perfectly.

Love it! I'm a teacher and currently getting my masters in literacy education. This book is great for engaging students and showing cultural diversity and discussing topics that even adults have trouble being open about