Description
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 seven hundred 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 Bio
Kathy Kacer’s books have won a number of awards, including the Silver Birch and the Jewish Book Award. A former psychologist, Kathy now travels the globe speaking to children and adults about the importance of keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive. Kathy lives in Toronto with her family.
Prizes
- Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book CentreJoint winner 2018
- Bank Street of College of Education, Best Children’s Books of the YearJoint winner 2019
- Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Notable Book, Association of Jewish LibrariesCommended 2019
- Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young PeopleShort-listed 2019
- Top Shelf Fiction Award, VOYAJoint winner 2019
- USBBY Outstanding International Books ListJoint winner 2019
Review Quotes
“Another fine tale spun by veteran Holocaust children’s writer Kathy Kacer.”
— Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews, 11/18“A needed addition to any historical fiction collection that seeks to educate students about the Holocaust. This book could even be used in musical curriculum as a fiction connection . . . Highly Recommended.”
— School Library Connection, *starred review, 03/18“Well-crafted and heartwarming . . . an amazing story of perseverance and strength in the hardest situation possible.”
— CM Reviews, 02/15/19“A vivid portrait of how exhausting and distressing it must be for any minority group living under a repressive regime. It is also a striking illustration of the difficulties they face when starting over in a strange place.”
— Quill & Quire, 04/18“A fine historical fiction addition to all library shelves.”
— School Library Journal, 02/18“Written with deep sensibility and care, The Sound of Freedom is a good introduction to the horrors of the Holocaust for young readers. Brave Anna and her family make sacrifices, overcome grief, and find healing in connection, love, and the power of music. Highly recommended for readers aged 10 and up.”
— Historical Novel Society, 02/07/18“This straightforward tale of some lesser-known aspects of the time period provides a welcome spark of optimism.”
— Kirkus Reviews, 01/22/18“Agreeable read.”
— Booklist, 03/01/18“An interesting coming of age novel, well-written, and well researched.”
— The Children’s War, 07/28/18