The Sound of Freedom

Anna and her family have only one hope left to escape certain doom. It's 1936 and life is becoming dangerous for the Jews of Krakow. As incidents of violence and persecution increase day by day, Anna begs her father to leave Poland, but he insists it's impossible. How could he give up his position as an acclaimed clarinetist in the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra? When Anna and her father barely escape from a group of violent thugs, it becomes clear that the family must leave. But how? There seems to be only one possibility. Bronislaw Huberman, a world-renowned violinist, is auditioning Jewish musicians for a new orchestra in Palestine. If accepted, they and their families will receive exit visas. Anna and her grandmother boldly write to Huberman asking him to give Anna's father an audition, but will that be enough to save them? This poignant story is based on real events in pre-war Poland and Palestine. After saving 700 Jews and their families, Huberman went on to establish what later became the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Against an ominous background of the impending Holocaust in Europe and the first Arab-Israeli war, The Sound of Freedom still manages to remind the reader of the goodness in the world.

Author: Kathy Kacer
Publisher: Annick Press
Published: 03/13/2018
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.60w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781554519705
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.3
Point Value: 7
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 516610 / Sound of Freedom


Award: Sydney Taylor Book Award - Notable


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2018
School Library Journal 02/01/2018 pg. 80
Booklist 03/01/2018 pg. 67

About the Author
Kacer, Kathy: - Kathy Kacer is the author of more than twenty books for young readers. A winner of the Silver Birch, Red Maple, and Jewish Book Awards in Canada and the U.S., Kathy has written unforgettable stories inspired by real events. Her books have been translated around the world.