Echo

ALERT ONE SMALL SPOILER AHEAD. Wow. I know that Echo is billed as “YA” but this “OA” really loved this book. I do recommend the Audible version, the harmonica/other music is haunting, I can’t imagine the story without it. I can easily imagine a family listening to this book of four/five interwoven stories night after night. It’s set in tough times/situations -- pre-holocaust Germany, an orphanage, post-Pearl Harbor California -- and parents of younger kids should probably review first to make sure it’s appropriate -- but (sorry, here’s that small spoiler) importantly, no one IN the stories dies, although each story deals with hard times/losses. Still, it’s a hopeful, loving, life-goes-on, we-can-do-this kinda book, truly enjoyed it.

Christopher Paul Curtis (author) states on the back jacket of this book, "This is a beautifully crafted story...it has mystery, adventure, and a powerful sense of hope and heart. A masterpiece." No one can review this book any better than that! I am not one who reads all kinds of things, especially not fantasy. Nor do I choose books just by "top" reviewers. Also, I had just finished a story that moved me beyond anything I had ever read before. So, I was determined to try this thinking that I would be safe from all of that...WRONG. This story is very moving, very real-to-life with fantasy swirling all around you. For those that reviewed it as being confusing...give it another shot because you will figure it all out...just keep reading. That's what great challenging books do...they make you embrace every fiber of your being. This is now one of my favorite books.

Classified as magical realism, I loved Echo's light touch, but most of all I was impressed with the book’s beautiful structure.Echo tells the stories of three young people in the WWII era, who are connected by, well … an enchanted harmonica. Now, as weird as that sounds, it is an amazing tale, full of music and heartbreak, pathos and redemption.The whole thing is bracketed in an original fairy tale. The ending is one of the most satisfying I can remember. Don’t let the harmonica-fairy tale thing throw you. This book is swoon-worthy.

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!

I read this book with my twins, 12 years old, and I could NOT put it down. My twins were complaining because it was the end of summer and this was their 4th book. But they, too, enjoyed it. We are waiting for everyone to finish so we can discuss it. I laughed and cried; but, most of all, enjoyed the ending.

My now 6th grader loves this book. She read Esperanza Rising in 5th grade, for school, and talked non-stop about how much she enjoyed that book, so I bought Echo for one of her summer reading books. It’s a winner! bought Echo because I thought she may like it since it’s written by the same author, but I noticed it’s a well liked book as it is. She told me I would like it as well, so I’m next. Maybe I’ll add to this review when I’m done, but I know for sure that one 11 year old girl loves it!By the way, Esperanza Rising is a wonderful book that I highly recommend for young people, especially during these challenging times with the virus and changing economy (for some) etc.

I just finished this book. It is an enchanting, beautiful, and riveting story, set in WWII, with changing locations and main characters. It starts out very simply with a childish fairy tale tone, but that quickly changes. Although it is full of action, it is sensitively written with characters that are almost too real. It was hard for this mama to read at some points, giving me a lump in my throat, and yet it was not gratuitously sentimental. I will be putting it on my novel list as a choice for the literature papers students write in Semester 2.

This was an interesting book that we began listening to on our way across the Nevada desert traveling from California to Boise Idaho. The book is quite long (9 C.D.s), so we weren't able to finish the book on our trip. The kids really enjoyed the storylines. This book has several stories that are artfully woven together at the end of the book--be patient and wait for it! After we returned from our trip, we spent the next several weeks listening to the book as a family instead of watching TV in the evenings. It was enjoyable, educational, and taught good values. It's a family friendly book, my kids are aged 8-12.

This was a gift for my girlfriend. She was very pleased with it; this book has excellent reviews on Goodreads, one of the best new books.I don't usually review anything I buy from Amazon, but this book deserves​ more than just 1 review with 4 stars.

This review is from my 10 yr old daughter who just finished reading it.Me and my father read this book, and we really liked the story. It includes some historical events, like reference and discussion about the period of Hitler and the Nazis who started the World War 2 and also Pearl Harbour. It even includes the struggle of kids who have outstanding talents, but can’t get the freedom and opportunity to show it. The author beautifully develops the story of three different kids who really love music. Each story has really fun and tempting events that depict the rise and fall, and twists and turns of one’s life. Ultimately, all three stories merge into a single concert where each main character, Friedrich Schmidt, Mike Flannery and Ivy Lopez, have a different role to play. Overall the story very well conveys the message that maybe at the end things will come out better than you had anticipated.The author, Pam Munoz Ryan, maintains interest of the reader by building suspense at the end of the journey of each character, forming questions in mind and gets you thinking “what will happen next?”. The writing is rich and helped me build vocabulary further. All the elements of the story were really mixed well with a pinch of love and family. I just want you to know that you really should read it!

Will make you feel strong emotion at the . Echo has three stories in it and at the end it has a small additional part that lets you know what happens with characters in future. The stories have different historic backgrounds with an important storyline. The book has a unique flow in it.

Echo is an amazing book for all the music lovers out here. It is amazingly weaves the life of three different people, their life struggles during WW2 and how they all found solace in music of the same harmonica passed down to them.

Delivered in good condition.

Ótimo

Bad

Nice

Story and plot are well written.

Very enjoyable

Beautiful book.Real treat

分厚くハードカバーだったため高価だったが、とは言え20ドル、スピリチャルな世界、現実のヒトラー時代のドイツ、大恐慌時代のフィラデルフィア公害、ニューヨークのど真ん中を舞台に在米の日本人の運命も交え大きな舞台が回る優れた作品、引き込まれた。