sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Gusta's parents are having money difficulties, so they are sending her to her maternal grandmother's orphanage for the summer. While she starts the long bus journey with her father, the two get separated when the police come looking for him to arrest him. Gusta holds onto the teachings of her mother and the strong passion for unions from her father. She must learn how to live in a small town, instead of New York City like she is used to. Gusta takes solace in playing her french horn and wants to use it to earn money for her uncle's hand operation. After finding out that her uncle was injured on the job, Gusta does what she can to make the mill pay and to also earn money for the operation.
The characters were well-developed and interesting. I thought this was a unique period piece set during WWII. This would be perfect for those who love The War that Saved My Life.
The characters were well-developed and interesting. I thought this was a unique period piece set during WWII. This would be perfect for those who love The War that Saved My Life.
nicmedia123's review against another edition
5.0
I predict The Orphan Band of Springdale will be on the short list for a Newbery. This beautifully written novel for children is a timeless story that will resonate with readers of all ages. 11 year-old Augusta "Gusta" Hoopes Neubronner has been put on a bus by her foreign-born labor organizer father, August Neubronner, as he is pursued by the authorities. She does not know what has happened to him, and she must travel to Grandma Hoope's home in Springdale, Maine on her own.Grandma Hoope's also houses orphans and wards of the state in her home. Her mother has stayed behind in New York City. Her only companion is her beloved French horn. Gusta perseveres and overcomes many obstacles as the new kid at school, as the the prejudices and suspicions of a small town press down upon her and others, she must also learn to see the world in a new way because the school nurse finds that she desperately needs eyeglasses. Gusta keeps her spirits up by following the just and moral lessons taught to her by her parents, but learns that sometimes you need more than one person on your side when everything goes wrong. This novel is set during WWII, when suspicion was cast upon new immigrants and outsiders to our country (in this case - against German immigrants). It addresses the themes of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance of people for who they are and not where they are from. It also teaches valuable lessons about workers' rights and the labor movement. This novel also teaches readers about staying positive in order to achieve goals and overcome adversity. This novel is recommended, and I strongly feel would be a great read even for teens studying American history. It will be a valuable addition to every school library. Recommended, must read. This will win many awards.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
4.0
Likes: I adored this book. It’s well-written, and I appreciate the skill that went into crafting it. There are a lot of different threads in this story. The plot goes in a thousand directions, but the author manages to pull it all together in the end. I’m impressed. Since there’s so much going on, this novel could have easily become a confusing mess.
Even though this is historical fiction, it’s timely. It’s one of those historical books that demonstrate how history never dies. In the US, we’re still dealing with the same stupid garbage that we’ve always been dealing with. We’re still having conversations about who’s American and who deserves to be in this country. We’re still judging immigrants without knowing anything about their lives. This novel shows that you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about people. Just because a German man likes cameras and pigeons doesn’t mean he’s a spy.
The main character, Gusta, is a sweet, mature eleven-year-old. She’s quiet, but she’s brave. She has strong friendships and tries to let justice, love, and fairness guide her behavior, which makes her a compelling character to read about. Also, I could relate to her eyeball struggles. Even my eye doctor was shocked at how terrible my vision is. It was nice to read about a character who has the same problems as me.
If you read this book, don’t skip the author’s note at the end. It explains that this story was inspired by the author’s mother’s life. It’s interesting to learn about the real person behind the fiction.
Dislikes: Underdeveloped secondary characters. Gusta’s bully, Molly, is especially flat. I didn’t believe Molly’s sudden change in behavior. She spends 300+ pages being awful to Gusta (and everybody else), but then she changes her mind and decides to be nice. It’s nice that she’s not a jerk anymore, but why?
This novel is great for adults, but I think kids would struggle with it. It’s a big book, and it reads like a big book. The plot is plodding. There is a lot of exposition and not a lot of action. There are so many plotlines that it sometimes feels directionless. I think kids would get frustrated.
The Bottom Line: If you’re an adult (or a patient child) who loves well-written historical fiction, I recommend giving this one a try. I enjoyed it.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
Even though this is historical fiction, it’s timely. It’s one of those historical books that demonstrate how history never dies. In the US, we’re still dealing with the same stupid garbage that we’ve always been dealing with. We’re still having conversations about who’s American and who deserves to be in this country. We’re still judging immigrants without knowing anything about their lives. This novel shows that you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about people. Just because a German man likes cameras and pigeons doesn’t mean he’s a spy.
The main character, Gusta, is a sweet, mature eleven-year-old. She’s quiet, but she’s brave. She has strong friendships and tries to let justice, love, and fairness guide her behavior, which makes her a compelling character to read about. Also, I could relate to her eyeball struggles. Even my eye doctor was shocked at how terrible my vision is. It was nice to read about a character who has the same problems as me.
If you read this book, don’t skip the author’s note at the end. It explains that this story was inspired by the author’s mother’s life. It’s interesting to learn about the real person behind the fiction.
Dislikes: Underdeveloped secondary characters. Gusta’s bully, Molly, is especially flat. I didn’t believe Molly’s sudden change in behavior. She spends 300+ pages being awful to Gusta (and everybody else), but then she changes her mind and decides to be nice. It’s nice that she’s not a jerk anymore, but why?
This novel is great for adults, but I think kids would struggle with it. It’s a big book, and it reads like a big book. The plot is plodding. There is a lot of exposition and not a lot of action. There are so many plotlines that it sometimes feels directionless. I think kids would get frustrated.
The Bottom Line: If you’re an adult (or a patient child) who loves well-written historical fiction, I recommend giving this one a try. I enjoyed it.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense? I have a blog for that.
thomasmannia's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely book with a lovely plot and lovely characters. I have no complaints.
markma's review against another edition
3.0
I had very high expectations for The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet, as I love middle grade books and historical fiction. But this book did not meet those expectations. This book follows Gusta as she is sent to live with her Grandmother in Springdale while her father flees the country, accused as a communist, and her mother finds a job. Her prized possession is her French horn which is part of her family heritage, but in the letter sent to her grandmother her mother suggest selling it if they run low on funds. At her new school and her new home Gusta struggles to be true to herself but also figuring out what she thinks is the right things to do. This book took on a lot of topics, like what it means to be an American but I felt like it did not go as in-depth as it could have.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
Picked up this one, thinking of the time my two kiddos recruited a violist to play with them at our state fiddle contest. I was delighted to be in tears so quickly!
The MC's relationship with her french horn is beautiful. As a family of string players, I had never considered how hard it must be to make the horn play the correct notes, or to feel it vibrate in your bones.
The story tackles poverty, workers' rights and fear of German "aliens" right before the U.S.'s involvement in World War II. Characters navigate the complex social and familial ties and norms of the time period in a way that is true to heart.
Wonderfully well done!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
The MC's relationship with her french horn is beautiful. As a family of string players, I had never considered how hard it must be to make the horn play the correct notes, or to feel it vibrate in your bones.
The story tackles poverty, workers' rights and fear of German "aliens" right before the U.S.'s involvement in World War II. Characters navigate the complex social and familial ties and norms of the time period in a way that is true to heart.
Wonderfully well done!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
mslibrarynerd's review against another edition
5.0
I am a sucker for kids stories that feature labor organizing and a strong message against fascism.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
5.0
I was prepared to endure this one because I had to read it, but I generally don't like historic fiction. But I adored Gusta and this whole story! Gusta has a great voice and I loved her spunk. I learned things about 1941 and the impact of the war on America even before we were drawn into it. This pulled all sorts of emotions out of me. This would be a hard book to describe briefly because there is SO MUCH going on. It might be too much - or too long - for some readers to hang with it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!