"Echo" Book Review

1.      Bibliography

Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2015. ECHO. Ill. by Dinara Mirtalipova. New York City, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439874021

2.      Plot Summary

Echo has a unique introduction as the reader learns of a magical prophecy that sets the tone of the adventures of three main characters, all centered around a harmonica.  This harmonica is the main element of each story within the story and brings hope to each character as it crosses their path.  After the harmonica is introduced to the reader through the prophecy of setting three princesses free, it finds its way to a young boy during Nazi Germany with facial abnormalities.  He discovers the mysterious harmonica in an abandoned desk and finds much joy in playing it.  The harmonica is then shipped to our next set of characters in America, Mike and his brother who live in an orphanage and are being adopted.  Mike finds joy in music during difficult times but sends the harmonica off to its next destination, California, where it finds a girl named Ivy.  Ivy is a Mexican American and must go to a less fortunate school than her white classmates.  She discovers her love of playing the harmonica which brings her hope as she witnesses what life is like for Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.  All three of our main characters have a talent for music and all three experience the pain of injustice, the importance of hope, and the healing power music can have in one’s life.  The three path’s come together for a musical night and the reader is able to see how it all ties together. 

  

3.      Critical Analysis

Pam Munoz Ryan gives readers a fantasy novel with historical elements in this layered story that readers are thrilled to see come together.  Each protagonist, in each of their own stories, connect with readers in different ways but with a common theme.  The historical elements Ryan uses play at the readers emotions in that each time period and place has a major role in our history.  Ryan cleverly pulls readers in from the beginning as she does not begin her novel in a traditional format.  The fantasy element of Echo begins on the first page.  Readers then come across the title page that separates it from the rest of the novel.  This is a very long novel, however readers will find stories within the story to break it up.  The illustrations decorations by Dinara Mirtalipova add to the fantasy element of the text.  The pages of the book the prophecy is from is in different print that helps the reader be able to organize the text as they read.  Children will get pieces of history they will most likely want to explore.

4.      Review Excerpt(s)

Newberry Honor Book 2016

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Publishers Weekly – “Told in a lyrical, fairy tale-like style…Readers will be swept up.”

5.      Connections

*Make connections with characters from the novel such as Friedrich, with facial abnormalities with other novels with facial abnormalities like Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

*Pull other novels by Pam Munoz Ryan such as Esperanza Rising or The Dreamer and compare story elements.