It’s 1941, and the United States hasn’t yet declared war. Augusta “Gusta” Neubronner is waiting on board a bus departing for Springdale, Maine with her father when he suddenly must flee from the law, leaving her to complete the journey alone. It’s a terrifying time for the eleven-year-old, who has traveled all the way from New York City. She drags her beloved French horn to her grandmother’s house and is welcomed into their menagerie of orphans. Hoping to place at least second in a music contest, Gusta, her cousin Bess, and friend Josie form the “Honorary Orphan Band” with a ukulele, the French horn, and a jar of beans.

As Gusta waits for news of her fugitive father, she adjusts to farm life and discovers surprises like new eyeglasses and homing pigeons. She also must contend with nasty classmates and some shocking family secrets. When the fallout from those secrets threatens to destroy her loved ones, Gusta decides to take action. Her father’s background as a labor organizer gives her courage, not only to stand up for injustices happening in Springdale, but also for herself.

A heartwarming tale that reminded me a little bit of Little Women, in tone and writing style, but that definitely has a charming voice of its own.

Following multiple plot lines, similarly to how life is actually, the novel evokes a multitude of themes and lessons for any middle grade kid (and for adults too). From being selfish to doing what's right, from friendship to workers' rights, from poverty to immigrants, and the list goes on. While dealing with such hard themes, the book manages to have humorous moments too, but also warm emotional moments that might bring a tear or two.

Presenting a childhood of the good old times before video games, we get to meet different kids with such distinct personalities. The characters are so well-crafted, each representing a fully fledged person no matter how little their role in the story. Some children just how much parents’ opinions can influence and affect the way they think and react, but how they are also capable of their own opinion - kids are smarter than we give them credit!

The world setting is amazing. Thanks to the craft of the author, the reader is emerged into the world instantly and becomes part of the characters' life. All the details of that time transport you instantly there that you forget about smartphones or Netflix!

I hope Anne Nesbet and this novel will soon become a classic and be read by every kid in the world!

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.

Oh my goodness... This book. I did not expect to love this as much as I did. This is some of the highest quality middle grade I have ever read. Gusta, the protagonist, was shy, sweet, and brave. I adored her. The themes that were explored were so well done, in a way that can connect with adults as well as middle grade readers. Themes include patriotism as a cover for prejudice, music, and the question of "Who is a real American?" I highly recommend this!

This book stole my heart! I have hesitated a long while after reading it before writing this review, because my words feel small and insignificant compared to the magnitude and depth of this lovely middle-grade piece of literature. My review could simply be, “Go out and buy this book now!” and that lone sentence would encapsulate my excitement, or I could write paragraphs on paragraphs and still not be able to fully show my appreciation for Anne Nesbet’s latest work. So, I’ll settle for somewhere in between that one sentence and a novel of my own to express myself.

Set in 1941, we meet main character Gusta Newbronner alone on a bus, traveling from bustling New York City to the solitude of northern Maine. Gusta has a secret – many secrets, in fact, and we learn them one by one as Gusta shares her story. And oh, what a story it is!

Gusta is a ball of extremely relatable anxiety due to the many secrets she carries, from little ones like her near-sightedness to bigger ones like her father’s mysterious disappearance and the warrant out for his arrest. The world is at war and with a name like Newbronner, not everyone thinks Gusta belongs in Springdale, Maine. One classmate, in fact, sets out to prove that Gusta is no “true American” at all.

Like all great stories, this one is a timeless look at so many facets of life: the importance of community, the weight of secrets, the love of family, and what it means to truly belong somewhere — and how you discover where that is.

This is a story so full of magic and hope that I wasn’t able to put it down until I knew how it would end. I was delighted to learn after I’d finished the book that pieces of it were based on Nesbet’s mother’s own life in Maine. There were so many unique and thoughtful little details throughout that Gusta Newbronner jumped to life on the page, and so finding out she was based significantly on a real person made so much sense and made this tribute to the author’s mother all the more beautiful. This is a book I’ll be re-reading for years to come, and I can’t thank the author enough for introducing me to Gusta, her little band of orphans, and the fictional, whimsical town of Springdale, Maine.

The Orphan Band of Springdale
by Anne Nesbet
Candlewick Press
Candlewick
Children's Fiction , Middle Grade
Pub Date 10 Apr 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Orphan Band At Springdale through Candlewick Press and Netgalley:


1941 and America is on the brink of War ! Gusta's life changes when her Father a foreign born labor organizer has to flee the country. Gusta has been sent to live at an Orphanage run by her Grandmother. Nearsighted, snagged-toothed Gusta comes to town carrying her most valuable possession, a French horn.


Will Gusta be able to keep the French Horn she loves so much? Will she be able to fit in?

Will Gusta's Family be able to find the money to repair her Uncles Mangled hand?


I give The Orphan Band At Springdale five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Writing: 5 Characters: 5 Plot: 4
Children's fiction -- middle grade

New (to me) word: hibernaculum — a place in which a creature seeks refuge, such as a bear using a cave to overwinter.

I loved this book — a perfect middle school read!

Gusta Newbronner “loses” her father on the bus ride from NYC to Northern Maine. She will be staying with the grandmother she has never met and living in Grandma Hoopes’ orphan home. The time is 1941 and there is general tension around foreigners. The tension is even higher around Gusta’s father who is not only a foreigner, but a union organizer as well. While Gusta sees her father as brave, courageous, principled, and fighting injustice, others see him simply as a foreign fugitive.

The story is full of real and (to me) lovable characters — her grandmother and aunt, the various children staying in the orphan home, new found cousins, and even the two children who represent opposing sides in “the Dairy Wars” in her classroom. Originally shy and unassuming, Gusta comes into her own as she learns to stand up for what she believes in and to fight injustice in whatever way she can. In the meantime she is making friends, getting to know her family and joining the Honorary Orphan Band (playing the French Horn — she appears to be a bit of a prodigy).

The writing is excellent. In addition to delightful language (see examples below), we are treated to intriguing descriptions of the process of egg cleaning (far more unpleasant than I would have ever guessed), the thrill of playing the French Horn, oculism in the 40s, pigeon photography (as in they are trained to take the photos), and magical stories from Gusta’s great-grandfather, the sea captain. I absolutely loved the description of what it was like for Gusta to see clearly for the first time when she was able to get glasses. Masterfully done.

The novel has that genuine feel of a true story — unsurprising as it is a fictionalized account of the author’s mother’s life, supported with extensive research using the local paper archives. I would add this to any middle grade reading list.

Some of my favorite lines…

“The winter must have been picking at the scabs of that road for months.”

“Gusta’s mother was omnivorous when it came to words”

“For a moment, Gusta stood there, just saving the feeling of having someone in the world who was already glad today about seeing her tomorrow.”

“And the heaviness inside Gusta, where all the secrets festered, thickened and increased.”

“She knew from stories that wishes wriggle and cheat — if they even exist at all.”

“It was like she coated all her meanness with a hard-sugar layer of wholehearted sincerity.”

“Georges made the happy sound of someone who has just become a part of the great unfolding history of pigeon photography.”

Note: I received this book from the author/publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This had a lot of elements 10-year-old me would have just eaten up: 1940's setting (loved me some WWII fiction), orphans, and a slightly quieter/reserved main character. In fact, if nothing else, I appreciate the fact that this story didn't focus on a loud, bubbly character- younger me would have relished and been excited to see a character like Gusta. So maybe this is a case of "wrong place, wrong time" and this book should be sent back in time 15 years so I could really really enjoy it. Because as it is, I thought this was good but not great.

My main issue was the fact that the story seemed slightly disjointed at parts and there were a lot of subplots to keep track of- trying to find her great-grandfather's wish, the impending war and the topic of patriotism, Gusta's absent father and being sent away from her New York City home, starting a band to compete in the town fair showcasing Gusta's beloved french horn, the idea of unionizing and connections to socialism (kinda heavy for any book, but especially a middle grade read) and just general trying to fit in/growing up/being a kid in an adult world issues. And these are all super important and very fitting and need to be voiced. However, I wonder if I would have connected with this book better if only some of the plot points had been focused on.

Overall, I liked this book and found the storytelling to be well done. This is based on Nesbet's mother's life and you can tell there is a lot of love and care put into this book. I would have loved this book as a kiddo and I'm sure other younger readers will quite enjoy this as well. I have my few quibbles but it certainly doesn't detract from the overall success of the book.

Fantastic historical fiction. Anne Nesbet has hit it out of the park once again. Highly recommended.

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. The year in the synopsis (1941) threw me off and I went into this book thinking World War II and the Holocaust and after the last book I read (and reviewed), I was not looking forward to that. But luckily, while The Orphan Band of Springdale definitely has its sad moments, it is, at its heart, an uplifting, lovely story. Gusta is such a sweet, curious character that it is kind of impossible not to fall in love with her. But before I get too carried away, let's get to the review!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
It’s 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta’s life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. But in a family that’s long on troubles and short on money, how can a girl hang on to something so valuable and yet so useless when Gusta’s mill-worker uncle needs surgery to fix his mangled hand, with no union to help him pay? Inspired by her mother’s fanciful stories, Gusta secretly hopes to find the coin-like “Wish” that her sea-captain grandfather supposedly left hidden somewhere. Meanwhile, even as Gusta gets to know the rambunctious orphans at the home, she feels like an outsider at her new school — and finds herself facing patriotism turned to prejudice, alien registration drives, and a family secret likely to turn the small town upside down.

Gusta Neubronner is the daughter of a labor organizer father and a storytelling mother. But times are tough for her family. Her father is on the run and her mother must stay in New York to make a living. So, Gusta has to go off to live with her grandmother who she's barely met. Her father puts her on a bus by herself and she figures out her way to her Gramma Hoope's house (I would have been lost in a minute). What Gusta finds once she gets to her grandmother's house is quite unexpected. Her grandmother opens her home to children who have nowhere else to go. Gusta. being an only child, starts off overwhelmed but soon becomes acquainted with how the house works and makes friends with Josie (who we later find out a huge secret about. NO SPOILERS) and her cousin, Bess, who lives down the road. Oh, and I almost forgot, the whole trip to her grandmother's Gusta is carrying her french horn. It is Gusta's one love in life ( besides her parents, of course). She loves the sounds it makes and the songs she can play that her father taught her. Gusta (hilariously) plays union and labor songs. Gusta does all she can to not lose her horn. She is a truly amazing character.

Once Gusta starts going to school, she soon finds out the blurry vision she has gotten used to over the years can be fixed. But, because Gramma Hoopes cannot afford the glasses she needs, Gusta must work for the eye doctor, Mr. Bertramm. Gusta is pretty damn good at math, so she does his books. The scene where Gusta tries on her glasses for the first time is definitely one of my favorites. She'd gotten so used to everything being blurry that once she can see clearly she starts to see things in a different light. Some things are too harsh that she ends up having to look away or take her glasses off. 

Even though we don't see much interaction between Gusta and her father, it is still shown that Gusta admires and is close to her father. She plays the songs he taught her, tells people things he told her, and spouts off his ideas to the people in town when she sees things are being done wrong. No joke, she tells Mr. Bertramm that he needs to pay her more because her father told her about the minimum wage (another one of my favorite scenes). Even though she doesn't see her father for the span of the book, he still has a presence because of Gusta and her memories of him.

Gusta and her mother are also close but in a different way. Where her father tells her about the ways of life, her mother tells her stories and helps engage Gusta's imagination (to her father's chagrin). Gusta's mother also visits her eventually at Gramma Hoope's house which allows them to bond even further. 

Let's get to the title. Gusta, Josie, and Bess decide to form a band to enter in the competition at the local fair. Josie comes up with the name because she thinks she's an orphan, Gusta doesn't have her parents at the moment, and Bess has only her dad. So, to Josie's logic, that makes them the Springdale Honorary Orphan Band. Josie sings, Gusta plays her French horn, and Bess shakes a jar of dried beans (this would be my instrument as well lol). They perform a couple times throughout the book and, at least in my head, are the cutest thing ever!

One final piece of this book that is important to know is the relationship between Gusta and wishes. When she finds out she's going to her Gramma Hoope's house, she remembers a story her mother used to tell her about her grandfather. He sailed to all kinds of places and on one excursion he found a bunch of coins. When you wish for something on one of the coins, your wish comes true. Well, Gusta could use some wishes, so she makes it her mission to find one in her grandmother's house. You'll have to read the book to discover if she's successful or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Anne Nesbet writes the voice of 11-year-old Gusta perfectly. Writing in a realistic child's voice is incredibly difficult but Nesbet seemed to do it effortlessly. The tiny details Gusta notices (the dogs in her classroom, the trees on her way to the lighthouse, the bats, etc,) are really what brought her to life for me. I also enjoyed anytime Gusta quoted something her father said or did. I have a union/labor father and some of the songs and ideas sounded too familiar. Overall, the writing and the characters in this story are very enjoyable. I'm giving The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet 4 out of 5 stars.

The Orphan Band of Springdale came out April 10, 2018.

Thank you, NetGalley and Candlewick Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Orphan Band of Springdale has everything in it you would expect in a great middle-reader book. Enough intrigue to keep you guessing, enough innocence to be realistic (and appropriate) and a group of characters that are not only realistic, but full of heart.

This book which is set just prior to WWII is wholeheartedly recommended. A great plot that talks about the era and social conditions without being heavy handed or manipulative to the reader.

Reading the author's note at the end just made the book seem even more real and special.

Five stars through and through.

This was a lovely historical fiction. Gusta is a likable girl, supported by interesting secondary characters. There aren't any edge-of-your seat moments, but it is a story you want to finish. The ending is a bit tidy, but not too much so. If you're looking for a World War II era historical fiction with a female protagonist that's a little less dense than The War That Saved My Life, this might be a good choice.

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. (Unfortunately I actually received the copy after the book had been published so I was not able to review it prior to publication. However, I am happy that I found the title on Netgalley so I was able to read it!)

The Orphan Band of Springdale is classified as a Children’s book, directed toward middle school aged children. The cast of characters fits this classification as the central character is Gusta, a girl in Grade 5 who is uprooted from her home in New York and deposited on her own at her grandmother’s home for children in Springdale Maine. She arrives with little more than a small battered suitcase and a French Horn that keeps bruising her legs while she carries it. But this horn is her ‘voice’ and is her most precious possession.

The year is 1941 and while the war has been raging in year for a couple of years, it is starting to affect the United States as well. Gusta’s last name is Neubronner, and the German connection only leads to the suspicion. It doesn’t help that her father is a union organizer who has been causing grief and is so on the run from authorities.

Gusta’s grandmother is a no nonsense woman who has kept together her home for children through hard work and a lot of jam making. The jam making has paid off with many Blue Ribbons from the local fair. She has little time for music or frivolity and when Gusta and a couple of the other girls at the home start to play and sing, Gramma Hoopes shuts them down. But that’s where Josie hatches the plan for the Springdale Orphan Band—because if they can enter the fair and win even a Reb Ribbon then they could be real—as real as jam!

Through all of this, Gusta does her best to fit in while remembering her father’s teaching that she has to stand up for what is right while still keeping in mind her mother’s love for fairy tales and the possibilities of Wishes being granted. Wishes can be sneaky, though, so it is important to look out for any loopholes that can negate what is being wished for!

This book is well written. The characters come to life through struggle, relationships and overall, a desire to do what is right while navigating the obstacles the world throws at them. Definitely recommended for middle school or anyone who enjoys a good story with well written characters.

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me a copy of “The Orphan Band of Springdale” by Anne Nesbet in exchange for my review. I loved reading this story from the get-go! Omg, is there anything this book didn’t have? Magic coins? Check. Carrier pigeons taking photographs? Check. Family secrets, scandal and intrigue? Check, check and check!

Okay, don’t get fooled from my previous remark thinking that this is some kooky story of pigeons taking photographs of magic coins. The story is actually very heart-warming and fast paced with wonderful characters. Firstly, my heart went out to Gusta as her father leaves her in the bus to Springdale. Since her arrival in Maine, Gusta adapts many changes like getting used to a new town and a new family. She also overcomes obstacles of being teased in school and getting into a feud with a prominent figure.

In addition to the main character, the supporting characters are extremely charming and each one of them have a trait that you can root for (except the villain). In fact, I pictured the cast of Little House on the Prairie to the characters in this story. This is how I pictured the cast in my mind:
• Gusta is Mary Ingalls
• Josie is Laura Ingalls (an older version with the same personality)
• Georges is Albert
• Molly is Nellie (well, a brainier version of her)
• Miss Hatch is Miss Beadle
• and Mr. Kendall is the male evil version of Mrs. Olsen.

Furthermore, the author sets the story line during the time of World War II, but doesn’t get too preachy on the history facts. There are some references to the Nazis, and even a shout out to Amelia Earhart. Significantly, the pacing was good, and the story lines remained fresh without a dull moment. Moreover, the story not only has a consistent theme, but a lot of quirky subplots to it. My favorite part was when Gusta tries on her new glasses and sees the world as brand new. I also loved her scenes with Josie and how they support each other during the tough times.

So why did I give it only 4 out of 5 stars? Honestly, it is all because of that dastardly Mr. Kendall! In general, this man is so despicable, he makes Nelly Olsen look like sweet Snow White. After the way he horribly treats Gusta and her family, I was so furious that nothing unfortunate happened to him. Undoubtedly, it made me angry and feel like bad people do get away with everything sometimes. I would have given it 5/5 stars if there had been repercussions on Mr. Kendall to make him a better person.

Overall, this is a charming book that I encourage you to read (if you haven’t done so already).

I will not. be reviewing this book for my blog since I only review books that I can heartily recommend. In a big difference to the norm, I found the beginning slow, the middle fascinating, and the ending unsatisfying. Primarily, the ending left me shaking my head since the mother seemed to be the resolution coming out of the blue whereas Gusta seemed hardly to have missed her through the body of the book.

Thank you for letting me read. I enjoyed the middle half a great deal.

Gusta's father is a labor organizer who was born in Germany, and as WWII sweeps across Europe, Americans are increasingly tense--and Gusta's father becomes a wanted man. When he has to flee, Gusta is sent to stay with her maternal grandmother in Maine, while her mother stays behind in New York to keep her job. Gramma Hoopes runs an orphanage, and while Gusta quickly comes to like everyone at the home, things don't go as smoothly at school, where her extreme nearsightedness and her German heritage raise the hackles of some. Gusta finds comfort in playing her French horn, her only memento from her father, but when she's given the chance to sell it and pay for a surgery to help her injured Uncle Charlie, Gusta wonders if she can let go of something she loves so dearly to help her family.

Dang! This book is FANTASTIC! For starters, how can you not love a book that gives you such awesome phrases as "the general effect being that of a short, human-shaped icicle"? The writing is terrific and fresh, not the same old cliched phrases. Gusta just stole my heart--she's such a serious girl, so concerned about others, and I just adored her as the narrator. She's so interesting, with her survivalist attitude (she has gotten by without needed glasses for years, and she doesn't even mind because she doesn't want to cost anyone money), her willingness to speak up for and help other (even people she doesn't necessarily like), and her wisdom (she's very aware of the labor movement, for example). She's just this brave, good, kind little person. Secondary characters are great as well--we don't get a whole lot of depth with them, but the glimpses we do get are just terrific. (I love Georges!) The details are so interesting and make the book so real--like a patriotic health contest being run in the school. It really takes you back to 1941 and what life was like. There are terrific themes and topics to discuss, such as the labor movement, loyalty, "alien" foreigners and what it means to patriotic, family relationships, etc. There's a lot of depth here, but it's not overly weighty. I was really surprised when I found out the book is 448 pages (I read the Kindle version), because it flew by for me. This is an easy 5 stars from me.

I read a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This outstanding middle-grade historical fiction novel, set in small-town Maine during the early 1940s, tackles some big topics. Xenophobia, anti-immigration sentiment, union and labor rights organizations all play a role in the narrative that holds many parallels to modern day current events.

Gusta is an 11 year old girl who is sent to live with her grandmother in Springdale, Maine, after her foreign-born father is forced to go on the run because of his labor organizing efforts. Her grandmother runs a children's home, and we meet a motley crew that all reside under Grandma Hoopes's roof as Gusta adjusts to her changed circumstances. Underlying this tale that is both heartwarming and powerful, is The Wish. The Wish is supposedly a magic coin that her sea-captain grandfather hid somewhere, and Gusta hopes to find it and use the wish to help her family.

This is a story that teaches empathy and courage. Compassion and inclusiveness. Gusta is kind, intelligent, brave, and incredibly strong. The anti-immigrant storyline resonates today, and I could see this as an excellent book to use for an anti-bullying or diversity curriculum.

Heartwarming and brilliant! This isn't just a middle grade book, Everyone should read this! Beautiful writing. I love this story! I will be reading again, and I know my daughters will be re-reading it through their teen years!

It's 1941, and things are tense in the U.S. as the world is at war in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta is on the run with her father, a German labor organizer, heading toward Maine to stay with her grandmother, when her father disappears. Gusta shows up on her grandmother's doorstep with the clothes on her back and her beloved French horn. Her grandmother and aunt, who run an orphanage, take her in, and Gusta starts adjusting to life in a place very different from New York. American nationalism runs rampant in Maine, and Gusta's last name and status as a newcomer brings some suspicion with it, as does her talk about unions and workers' rights. Her uncle, a mill-worker whose hand was mangled at the factory, can't work, so Gusta takes it upon herself to approach the owner of the mill to ask him to consider helping with her uncle's bills. What Gusta doesn't realize is that her desire to do the right thing puts her at odds with the mill owner, who has a history of his own with her family.

There is such rich and relevant storytelling here. Gusta is a wonderfully realized character with a strong background in social justice: a background that makes her an outsider in her own country. She comes to Small Town America during a time when there of alien registration drives (it really happened) and extreme patriotism; when something as innocuous as a last name aroused suspicion. Gusta is hyper-aware of injustice and determined to do what's right, whether it's bringing union reps to her town or point-blank asking for compensation for her uncle's work-related injury. It's her unflinching sense of right and wrong that puts her at odds in her community - and her father's reputation certainly doesn't help. Thank goodness her tough but loving grandmother is there to lean on. The Orphan Band of Springdale moves at a good pace, has believable characters in relatable situations, and readers can easily draw parallels between 1941 and today.

An author's note reveals the very personal connection between the author and Gusta's story. Readers can download a discussion guide and author's notes from Candlewick's website. The Orphan Band of Springdale has starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Bulletin of the Center for Chidren's Books.

As World War II blazes through Europe and Hitler becomes a menace, Augusta "Gusta" Neubronner is sent to live with her grandma she barely knows in Springdale, Maine. Her father was escorting her but in Providence they became separated so she trudges on until she finds her grandmother's doorstep. She brings very few possessions but her treasured French horn as made the journey with her. As she learns her way in life and the new town will the French horn be able to save her and her family as family secrets start leaking out at the seams?

What a treasured read. The book is loosely based on the author's own mother's life as a child during wartime in Maine. You can see the trueness of the story shine through the words on the page. I was enthralled with this different aspect of a children's book during World War Two. As a reader you learn about Alienation registration and how children treated other children who seemed un-American based on their name or look. At times it reminded me of what is going on the America today with the immigration disputes among people.

This may be a children's fiction book but anyone who loves a good story, no matter the age, will find themselves cheering gutsy Gusta as she learns her way in life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candlewick Press through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.