Broken Song

The next book from National Jewish Book Award-Winner, Kathryn Lasky, who won the title for her book, The Night Journey, Broken Song once again delves into the world of Reuven Bloom, a 15-year-old Jewish boy, living in Russia at the turn of the 20th Century. Reuven lives with his father, mother and two sisters in a small village in The Pale, which was the only part of Russia where Jews were allowed to settle at the time. His love of music, and in particular his love of playing the Ceruti violin, which he had been given by his Uncle, who had in turn been given it from the ring Baron for whom he was a tailor. Music occupied all of Reuven's time, when he was not playing it, he was thinking about it. And so, life was good. Until the word spread that the Cossack soldiers had destroyed a nearby village, forcing all of the young men to join their army. Reuven's family is quick to hide him in the small potato hole in their floor, and when the Cossacks finally arrive, he can do nothing as he hears them ransack his family house and slaughter his family. When he finally does come out of hiding, he discovers that baby sister Rachel has been hidden from the soldiers when a press fell over, and trapped her inside. Uninjured, but scared, Reuven now had the huge responsibility of taking care of this little child, as well as himself. But where would he go? His uncle had told him of a cousin in Vilna, and Reuven and Rachel sets off on the long and perilous journey to safety. Along the way, Reuven meets some who want to help him, and some who want to harm him. Will he reach his ultimate goal of reaching Vilna, and then following his uncle to America? This book gave an excellent insight into the struggle of the Jewish community in Russia at the turn of the 20th Century, and would be ideal for a school curriculum reading book for young teens, because, as well as being educational, it also raises some interesting questions which could be debated in the school environment. Armchair Interviews says: A well-written story of one boy's struggles to survive.

As a follow-up to her National Jewish Book Award-winner THE NIGHT JOURNEY, author Kathryn Lasky has written a companion novel titled BROKEN SONG --- a fictional narrative based on the early life of her grandfather, Joseph Lasky, at the turn of the 20th century. Broken out into four distinct sections (Russia: 1897; Russia: 1900; America, Ellis Island, New York: 1904; and Epilogue), this moving account of a young musician and his eight-year journey to escape his oppressive, anti-Semitic Russian homeland and find freedom in America, not only entertains, but also addresses a number of important issues that are still relevant in today's worn-torn society, in language that is suitable for middle-grade readers. Russia: 1897. Fifteen-year-old Reuven Bloom and his family live in the Pale of Settlement --- the "Jewish area" of Russia consisting of twenty-five provinces that include Ukraine, Lithuania, Belorussia, Crimea, and part of Poland. Life in the Pale is less than idyllic as supplies are minimal and the threat of attack by the Cossacks is constant. Despite these setbacks, however, the Blooms have managed to build a closely-knit family unit fortified by trust, religious faith, and a strong dependence on the community. Reuven's devotion to playing the violin is outdone only by the love he feels for his family. But on the sixth night of Hanukkah, when the village is ransacked and his family is brutally murdered in front of his eyes, Reuven and his baby sister, Rachel, must leave all they know and embark on a treacherous journey that will hopefully lead them to safety. Russia: 1900. Following a number of life-threatening encounters and just as many narrow escapes, Reuven and his sister are miraculously united with their cousin, Lovotz Sperling, a well-known and respected leader of the Bund --- the Algemayner Yidisher Arbayter of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, also known as the Jewish Worker's Federation. Taking Reuven and Rachel under his wing, Lovotz provides them with shelter and promises to send them to America along with his wife and children. But when Lovotz is murdered, Reuven makes a difficult decision to sacrifice his own freedom and his love for music in order to continue Lovotz's work as a revolutionary firebrand. Over the course of the next few years, Reuven climbs the ranks to become one of the Bund's greatest assets and a key player in the fight against Jewish persecution. America, Ellis Island, New York: 1904/Epilogue. In 1904, Reuven is ultimately reunited with Rachel and Lovotz's family in America. In time, he falls in love, gets married, and begins playing the violin again as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic. At the novel's conclusion, Reuven finally has risen above his past and attained the three things he's always wanted: freedom, fame, and a family. Music references frequent the pages, and a brief Historical Note is included for context. There are moments (especially towards the end) where the storytelling feels a bit too