Echo

A magical harmonica touches the lives of three young children, all obsessed with music: a boy in Nazi Germany, two orphans in Philadelphia, and a Mexican-American girl who must deal with both Japanese internment and the segregation of Mexicans in California schools. The harmonica helps the children overcome adversity and find their way in life. A song that begins each section is important to the character’s journey, and the harmonica music is included. This award-winning book for grades 4-9 can be used to launch research, as a read-aloud, for a unit about human rights or history, and for a harmonica lesson. The book deals with issues of bravery, tolerance, and kindness.