The Harmonica Summary and Reviews

The Harmonica
by Tony Johnston

The Harmonica
List Price: $15.95
Our Price: $9.20
You Save: $6.75 (42%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.31 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Tony Johnston
Illustrator: Ron Mazellan
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-02
ISBN: 1570915474
Number of pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing

Book Reviews of The Harmonica

Book Review: The Harmonica
Summary: 3 Stars

This book is essentially an earnest and well-illustrated poem, although it is difficult to imagine who might ever choose to read it. It falls under the category of "Illustrated Books About the Holocaust", but it is too depressing for youngsters, and too obscure for older students. The notes at the end tell us that the book was inspired by the true story of Henryk Rosmaryn, who survived a concentration camp with the help of his talent on the harmonica. The poem that constitutes this story relates the sorrowful tale of a contented, poor, but musical family that is destroyed by the Holocaust. Most of the lines are bleak, such as:

"Often, to keep from losing hope, I touched the harmonica,
cold inside my pocket.
I wept when I thought of my father and mother.
I awoke jolted from sleep. And I knew--
My parents were dead.
Then I played Shubert.
Played and played while my heart reeled.

The boy in the story plays Shubert on his harmonica for the camp commandant, who tosses him bread, and thus he manages to stay alive. There is also the hope that the boy's music has also managed to uplift the spirits of other prisoners at the camp. The illustrations are well done but dark, especially the painting of the commandant with his black dogs and whip. In general, a curious choice for publication in a genre that is saturated with too many dreary books of this kind. Recommended only for ages 12 -up who are interested in the Holocaust.

Children's Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in World War II Reading
SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 10) ImageSBD Dauntless Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 10)
by Barrett Tillman
Osprey Publishing; Published: 1998-11-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.18
Price in other shops: $20.95
Operation Barbarossa 1941 (2): Army Group North (Campaign) ImageOperation Barbarossa 1941 (2): Army Group North (Campaign)
by Robert Kirchubel
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2005-03-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.26
Price in other shops: $19.95
Hope Takes Flight (Originally A Time to Die) (American Century Series #2) ImageHope Takes Flight (Originally A Time to Die) (American Century Series #2)
by Gilbert Morris
Fleming H Revell Co; Published: 2006-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops: $12.99
Somewhere a Song (Daughters of Fortune, Book 2) ImageSomewhere a Song (Daughters of Fortune, Book 2)
by Judith Pella
Bethany House; Published: 2002-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops: $13.99
Memories of Survival ImageMemories of Survival
by Esther Nisenthal Krinitz, Bernice Steinhardt
Hyperion Book CH; Published: 2005-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.40
Price in other shops: $15.99
Apocalypse Crucible (The Left Behind Apocalypse Series #2) ImageApocalypse Crucible (The Left Behind Apocalypse Series #2)
by Mel Odom
Tyndale House Publishers; Published: 2004-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: $14.99
World War II Infantry Tactics (2): Company and Battalion (Elite) ImageWorld War II Infantry Tactics (2): Company and Battalion (Elite)
by Stephen Bull
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2005-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.60
Price in other shops: $18.95
Down to Earth (Colonization, Book 2) ImageDown to Earth (Colonization, Book 2)
by Harry Turtledove
Del Rey; Published: 2001-01-02; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.16
Price in other shops: $7.99
MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History) ImageMICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 2 (Stackpole Military History)
by Patrick Agte
Stackpole Books; Published: 2006-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops: $19.95
British Enfield Rifles, Lee-Enfield No. 4 and No. 5 Rifles, Vol. 2 (For Collectors Only) ImageBritish Enfield Rifles, Lee-Enfield No. 4 and No. 5 Rifles, Vol. 2 (For Collectors Only)
by Charles R. Stratton
North Cape Publications Inc; Published: 1999-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.95
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Little Boy Star: An Allegory of the Holocaust ImageThe Little Boy Star: An Allegory of the Holocaust
by Rachel Hausfater
Milk & Cookies Press; Published: 2006-04-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.03
Price in other shops: $16.95
Willy and Max: A Holocaust Story ImageWilly and Max: A Holocaust Story
by Amy Littlesugar
Philomel; Published: 2006-03-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.47
Price in other shops: $15.99
I Never Saw Another Butterfly ImageI Never Saw Another Butterfly
by Hana Volavkova
Schocken; Published: 1994-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.43
Price in other shops: $18.50
The Number on My Grandfather's Arm ImageThe Number on My Grandfather's Arm
by David A. Adler
Urj Press; Published: 1987-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.36
Price in other shops: $12.95
The Cats in Krasinski Square ImageThe Cats in Krasinski Square
by Karen Hesse
Scholastic Press; Published: 2004-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.78
Price in other shops: $16.95
Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) ImageLuba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards))
by Ann Marshall
Tricycle Press; Published: 2003-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $17.99
The Butterfly ImageThe Butterfly
Philomel; Published: 2000-04-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.51
Price in other shops: $16.99
Star of Fear, Star of Hope ImageStar of Fear, Star of Hope
by Jo Hoestlandt
Walker Books for Young Readers; Published: 1996-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.62
Price in other shops: $8.95
Erika's Story ImageErika's Story
by Ruth Vander Zee
Creative Editions; Published: 2003-08-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.76
Price in other shops: $15.95
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust ImageTerrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust
by Eve Bunting
Jewish Publication Society of America; Published: 1989-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.23
Price in other shops: $6.95