The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet is an interesting book, not only the story itself but how to categorize it. Full disclosure, I am a 37 year old mom who read it. I enjoyed it, but when I try to figure out how to rate it I run into a problem. Much of what I enjoyed watching develop in the book came from the foreshadowing that Nesbet did mentioning bits and pieces of our main character's father's involvement with unions, and his German roots, as well as topics of national loyalty. I feel like I have a average or above average grasp on American history so as those things were mentioned it heightened my concern for the characters. I'm not sure this would be true for the average youth reader of the book. I would love to see this read in class, it would lead to so many discussions that could not only help teach about what took place in our countries history but also challenges we face today.

Gusta is a likable main character and her adventure to Springdale, Maine is filled with friends, enemies, family, Milk Wars, and the ghost of a long gone sea captain. Gusta may just be a 5th grader, but she has been taught to stand up for her beliefs and won't let her age get in the way of that. She will also learn to see the world in a new way both figuratively and very literally. The other children and adults in the book range from wonderful and inspiring to evil, but each is a fleshed out character in my eyes.

I would recommend this book highly as a classroom read, for anyone interested in history and adventure, adults who enjoy middle grade books, or anyone who wants to learn how to make sure to use your one wish wisely.

The Orphan Band of Springdale is a middle grade novel written by Anne Nesbet. I always read the middle grade novels I receive with my oldest daughter, so I was excited about the opportunity to share another book with her.

Gusta Neubronner arrives in Sprindale, Maine to stay with her mother’s family. She wants nothing more than to fit in with her new classmates, but she immediately stands out when she fails an eye exam on the first day of school. Gusta has always known that she needs glasses, but she always used coping mechanisms like memorization to “pass” the test. Glasses are a luxury that she doesn’t think her family can afford.

Gusta also stands out because of her “foreign” name. It’s 1941, and her school is engaged in activities that highlight what it means to be a Real American, and what they as children can do to be patriots. Gusta wants to do her part, but she is also struck by the injustice that she sees around her. Her father is actually on the run from the authorities for his role in labor organization.

Gusta’s most treasured possession is a French horn that once belonged to her father. She learns that such a beautiful instrument might be worth as much as $100, and she knows that she could use that money to help pay for an operation for her Uncle Charlie, who hurt his hand in a factory accident. But can she part with her beloved horn?

It should be noted that this story takes place early in 1941, so the country has not officially entered WWII, but America is definitely preparing for war, hence the emphasis on patriotism. As an adult reader, I appreciated the allegorical parallels to our current climate, but my daughter did not pick up on this.

I would absolutely recommend The Orphan Band of Springdale to middle grade readers. This book is a nice blend of whimsy and melodrama. Gusta wants to do what’s right, but it’s hard to change the attitudes of small town people who are slow to accept new ideas. My daughter and I both enjoyed reading this together, and we’re looking forward to checking out more of Nesbet’s books in the future!


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book.

It’s 1941, the U.S. is about to enter World War II, and eleven year old Gusta is alone on a bus. Away from home. Away from her parents. Moving toward people and a place that she’s never known.

“The Orphan Band of Springdale” was heartwarming and refreshing—the perfect read to usher in the spring. The main character, Gusta, won me over from the start with her fierce determination and her loyal spirit. Despite her dire circumstances and an unknown future, she stands firm on what she knows to be right. Gusta is a character children and adults alike will all want to emulate. Even in the midst of uncertainty, confusion, and temptation, she stays true to the person she wants to be.

Near the beginning of the novel, readers learn that Gusta has terrible eyesight. Whether because of embarrassment, poverty, or ignorance, she has never sought help for the blurred world around her. With the aid of Mr. Bertmann, the oculist, Gusta finally gets the eyeglasses she so desperately needs. I loved the way Gusta’s understanding of the world transformed along with her eyes. In the beginning, everything was veiled in uncertainty, mystery, and fear. As she learned to see with her eyes and her heart, Gusta saw people more clearly—their insecurities, mistakes, fears, and good intentions. Her newfound insights gave her the courage she needed to embrace her identity as her own.

“The Orphan Band of Springdale” is a work of historical fiction that translates beautifully to the issues of our world today. Readers are encouraged to consider what it really means to be “American” and, in small ways, the sacrifices faced by refugees fleeing from war. Gusta and Mr. Bertmann face prejudice and injustice simply because their family heritages trace back to Germany—a most unfortunate fact for those living during the World Wars. While treated like aliens, Gusta, Mr. Bertmann, and Georges (an endearing friend of Gusta’s), prove that true integrity resides in the heart, not in nationality, citizenship, or a name.

I loved every moment of this heartwarming story. Its atmosphere, setting, characters, and message are ready and waiting to be enjoyed by readers of every age!

The Orphan Band of Springdale, set in 1940's America, as World War II rages in Europe is Gusta Neubronner's story. Left behind by her father on a bus, eleven year old Gusta moves into her grandmother's orphanage. While there, the nearsighted, snaggletoothed girl learns about family, sacrifice and the bitter taste of prejudice. Central to Gusta's story is the French horn that is "the bravest part of her - her sweet, large, secret, brassy voice".

Gusta is one of my favorite child protagonists in a long time. I was filled with tremendous admiration for the character that Nesbet has created. It is also ultimately refreshing to read a book that will simultaneously ignite in children a curiosity for history while creating awareness about prejudice. I particularly enjoyed reading how the kids dealt with discrimination and of the wonderful bond between them all. The Orphan of Springdale is powerful, necessary and very well written.

If you're looking for children's fiction that is realistic and will help kids develop empathy, courage and awareness, then The Orphan Band of Springdale is highly recommended!

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 in Springdale, Maine, bringing with her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn. 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.
I really enjoyed this book, which has not got a very intriguing plot, but just the lovely story of a girl, in the middle of something boiling as war, living in an orphanage, trying to fit at school as a foreigner, and giving sights of her patriotism and fair rights for workers, which at that time, were very scarce. The setting before WW2 gives us the atmosphere and makes the simple story not become dull.
Thank you Candlewick Press for sending an ARC and let me enjoy this heartwarming story.
The book will be released April 10th, 2018

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a complex book. This book is so much more than a middle-grade book. The story takes us to Maine (and to be honest pretty much the reason why I wanted to review this book in the first place, I am only slightly obsessed with everything Maine). Springdale is a small, non-coastal, working-class town. We find ourselves on the eve of US's involvement in WWII - the townspeople worry about unregistered aliens, being drafted, and the first signs of communist ideas such as union uprisings. Gusta's papa is a fugitive with union ideas and a German background. Gusta's mama is holding down the fort in New York City. Gusta was sent to live in Springdale with her grandma who runs an orphanage. There she searches for a special coin that her sea captain great-grandfather hid.

During the story, we follow Gusta as she gets used to living away from her mom and dad, tries to fit in with her new peers in her new school, and constantly searches for that wish-granting coin all the while she is growing up and learning that adults aren't always rational, that they aren't always fair, and that they aren't always good!

I loved this book. While reading, I tried to remember if I ever had read such a deep middle-grade novel when I was the target age and I couldn't come up with an example. And even if I had, I probably would've had to admit that it went over my head a bit. I am glad that authors now challenge kids of all ages to think and muddle their way through complex storylines and plots. I also think that this book will reach older audiences that other middle-grade books probably wouldn't. All in all, this is a great novel and well worth your time.

Gusta and her dad, a labor organizer, are on a bus traveling from New York to Springdale, Maine together. Her father unexpectedly disappears and Gusta must finish the journey alone. With her cherished French horn and a letter to her grandmother from her mother, when the bus arrives in Springdale, Gusta trudges through the cold weather to her grandmother's orphanage.
This is a fine, well-written, historical fiction for middle grade kids. Gusta has so many fine qualities. She bravely relocates to a new home in a new state. She attends a school where the students and teachers are strangers to her. She faces the absence of her parents, and so wants to help her uncle get the surgery for his damaged hand. She faces injustices and verbal attacks on her person and integrity. There are secrets, wish coins, and diaries of a sea- faring grandfather. This is a wonderful story that left me with a good feeling when it ended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Candlewick Press through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Orphan Band of Springdale is about the adjustment of young, plucky, standard middle grade heroine Gusta Neubronner to life in a small town just before the United States's entry into the Second World War. The story is about everyday life with very few large mysteries, mostly about the decisions and tribulations Gusta faces in Maine, from anti-immigrant prejudice to deciding whether she must sell her beloved possession to help her uncle. She makes friends with the girls that live at her grandmother's orphanage and her cousin, Bess (who is rather forgotten and underdeveloped), with who she forms a band. The WW2 setting serves to add atmosphere and greater depth to what would be an otherwise dull book. There is a tad of magical realism in this book regarding a magical Wish, but it does not play much into the book except as a minor side-plot. In fact, this book does not have a typical overarching conflict, only a large amount of small, from Gusta's grappling with her father's outlaw situation to the trouble a local German doctor is facing to stay in the country. The writing holds interest in the myriad of characters, though some, like Bess and the factory owner, were rather underdeveloped. Interestingly, the author based this book on the experiences of her grandmother in this time.

A digital copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really liked this story about Gusta, a girl abandoned by her father on a train to Maine. Gusta ends up at her grandmother's house. Her grandmother has taken in quite a few kids who don't have anywhere else to go, so even though Gusta has never met her grandmother, she's welcomed. Gusta's dad is fugitive (he's German and a socialist during World War 2) so Gusta has moved around a lot and is accustomed to keeping secrets. It turns out that her whole family has a lot of secrets and as the story unfolds, so do the secrets. This one is beautifully written and had me in tears more than once! This will make a great addition to any library-it's such an interesting perspective on World War 2 historical fiction. I know my students are going to love this one.

Historical fiction set during WWII. Gusta, the protagonist, makes the best out of hardships and a forced separation from her parents. Very sweet book.

If you like The Penderwicks, Estes, and any other classic middle-grade small town setting you will love this book.

This book is marked as being for middle school level, and therefore I have put it under that category as well. Though of course, I disagree with putting it in that limited a box and think it can be read by people of all ages. It is narrated by a child, and lets us view the world within her limited sight but even an adult can appreciate her story.

We are introduced to Gusta(short for Augusta which is in turn, short for August her father) who is on a bus heading on to a new journey. She is a unique child, intelligent and sensitive. She sees more than she is told, and retains even more. In her new life, she has her father's french horn and her mother's tales to keep her going.Her school gets uncomfortable as soon as it begins, because there is enough misinformation to go around and being discussed in homes to make even children edgy.The story is set in the time before WWII and suspicions and insinuations are rife in small town Springdale. Music seems to be an outlet and so is the hunt for the missing 'wish' her mother told her about.Along with the friends she makes and the new relations she has (re)discovered, she forges a new life. I am skipping a lot of information because mentioning those as well would take away a lot from the book itself. I haven't given a five-star rating for the last few books and I am very excited to give this one the full rating.

It has all the elements to touch the heart and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who likes well written work.

Orphans, secrets, Dairy Wars, and more. This book is a delight to read and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. There are surprises and twists throughout the book that make you want to know more and keep reading. Anne Nesbet does an excellent job of developing the plot, making you fall in love or hate the characters, and keep you wanting more.

A middle grade fiction story set in the 1940's. America has entered the war, but it's imminent. Children are being indoctrinated with over the top patriotism and suspicion of people with foreign sounding names. What makes a person a "real American"? In a time where people used suspicions of being a foreign agent and a communist were used as a way to break up unions, we're seeing this all from a more innocent view.

Gusta is sent to live with her grandmother who runs an orphanage in Maine. Her father, a union man is accused of being a communist and a rabble rouser. her mother can't keep her alone in NYC. Gusta tries to both keep a low profile but keep the fiery Union spirit her father instilled in her.

In a time where we hear fiery rhetoric on a daily basis with a very real possibility of war, this book is more timely than one would think. Definitely something kids should read.

This is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Gusta who moves in with her grandmother and aunt because her father is in trouble and her mother doesn't make enough to feed her. She finds herself not quite fitting in, having a very German name on the verge of World War II, needing glasses, and coming from a rather poor family. But, that doesn't stop her from dreaming. Her great-grandfather was a captain and once found a treasure chest of wishes; the story goes that he had just one left before he died, and it was hidden in the house. She plans to find it to make the perfect wish that will save her father, her mother, her maimed uncle, and herself.

There are a lot of topics explored here, but the one that especially resonated with me was the idea of being "other." Otherness is explored a lot within this story; Gusta arrives at a city she's never been to, lives with family she's never met, and has to try to fit into this new life, even though it's quite different from the one she left. There's also animosity towards immigrants and those who seem different. Sadly, this idea of not fitting in is something that I think will resonate with anyone at any time, who is any age. The animosity towards immigrants also rang all too true for today's time. However, it was nice to see it handled in a way that showed the shortsightedness of those making snap judgments.

However, at the center is Gusta. This main character is so brave and strong and kind, I couldn't help but love her and her story. I would have read about her for pages and pages doing just about anything because I so much enjoyed reading about her thought process and seeing her struggle with wanting to make everyone happy. She has to deal with some incredibly grown-up situations and make decisions that are hard for adults to  make, and she does so with aplomb.

I could talk about this book forever. I love the idea of a great-grandfather leaving a magical wish, and Gusta's wholehearted belief that if she finds it, she could fix everything; I love the friendships Gusta makes, and their love for music; I love the idea of justice and fairness that pervades the children's thinking in this story. Everything about this book is lovely. It's incredibly detailed, and I felt as if I were teleported right back into 1941 and living there right along with Gusta. I am excitedly looking forward to Nesbet's future books, because she's going to be a household name if she keeps writing. Put this book in your classrooms, add it to your curriculum, put it in your libraries, and buy it for the children in your life. It's magical and charming and everything to love about middle grade.

E ARC from Netgalley



Gusta Neubronner is on a bus from New York City to a small town in Maine in 1941 when her father disappears. He is a union organizer, and has told Gusta a little bit about what to do if men come for him, but she just didn't expect it. At least she is on her way to her grandmother's house, and manages to arrive without other incidents. Her grandmother runs an odd sort of orphanage, so there is plenty of room for Gusta. She settles in to school, gets to know her cousin, and finally gets a much needed pair of eyeglasses. In order to pay for the glasses, she helps a German optometrist who keeps pigeons. As WWII heats up, everyone comes under suspicion, especially the optometrist and Gusta, who is unable to furnish a birth certificate to the school. Gusta plays the French Horn, and is glad to be approached by the high school band, but when her uncle needs an operation to repair damage done by the looms at his work, she sells the instrument to help pay for it. She also writes to a labor organizer in New York who worked with her father, hoping to get some representation for the uncle's case. Long held family secrets emerge, and eventually Gusta is able to make sense of her world.

Strengths: I am constantly fascinated by books involving Germans in the US during WWII, but aside from A Tiny Piece of Sky and Bunting's Spying on Miss Muller (1995), there aren't that many. This Nesbet's own mother's story, and the love that goes into the details is very evident. I would have adored this one as a child.
Weaknesses: A bit long (448 pages) for my students. The biggest reason WWII books circulate is for an 8th grade unit, and this could have had a few more details about life on the home front.
What I really think: May purchase this one if I have the money remaining to do so. This author's Cabinet of Earths and Cloud and Wallfish don't circulate particularly well. Again, perfectly fine book, and it may be great for your library.

The Orphan Band of Springdale is a middle grade fiction novel that was narrated through the lead protagonist, Augusta “Gusta” Neubronner, an eleven-year-old from New York who was sent by her parents to her grandmother in Elm Street, Springdale, Maine. Her father was supposed to accompany her on journey, but he suddenly vanished when they were in a bus in Portland. Gusta’s father is a labor organizer, thus the authorities were trying to capture him. Aside from this, his father is from a German descent and the story was set in the year 1941 when the Second World War was happening that time.

While Gusta’s father was trying to avoid being arrested, her mother was left in New York because of work. Hence, there was no choice for her parents but to send Gusta to her grandmother who has an orphanage in Maine. While in town, she got acquainted with her mother’s siblings Aunt Marion and Uncle Charlie Goodman, and his daughter Bess. She also became friends with Josie, the first orphan who arrived in the orphanage. Her friendship with Josie and Bess has led for the coming up with the idea of forming a band because they want to join the county fair contest for Blue-Ribbon Band that summer.

Aside from Gusta’s fun experiences while she’s in her grandmother’s hometown, she also got herself into distressing situations. She and Bess also accidentally discovered their family’s secret while trying to resolve their problem with Bess’ father, Uncle Charlie. Her nationality was also being questioned due to her surname, and because of who is father is.

The novel is intended for middle graders; however I reckon that it will be more appealing to young adults and even older readers. The Orphan Band of Springdale is a really captivating fiction that will be appreciated by anyone; so if you have time to check out this book, don’t miss the chance to read it and you will not be disappointed.

THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE by Anne Nesbet is a work of Historical fiction, written with middle-grade as the intended readership. It is  "... nightingale sweet and honey-smooth."

Anne Nesbet has beautifully mixed  music with history, family and a morality tale of doing what is right, no matter how difficult that may be.

Eleven year old Augusta Neubronner Hoopes is sent from her home in New York City to stay at her grandmother's house deep in central Maine.

From the very first chapter we learn that Augusta (who prefers to be called "Gusta") has a very heavy load on her shoulders.

Halfway through the trip from New York to Maine, her father disappears. It turns out that he escaped just before authorities searched the bus looking for him. Gusta's father was born in Germany and has been involved with the labor movement ever since arriving in the United States. Now, he is a fugitive from the law.

When Gusta arrives at her grandmother's house, all she has to her name is a small bag of clothes and her most prized possession - a French horn. That horn is not just decorative. Gusta can play it, and play it well.

Hearing a family legend that somewhere there is a magic wish "...in a box on a shelf..." Gusta would dearly love to find that wish and sets out to ferret out its location.

The longer she lives in the small town, the more problems she sees that need to be set right. Her father always told her that people needed to help each other whenever they could, and Gusta intends to honor his teaching - no matter how much it will hurt her to do so.

I love this. It is so refreshing to read a story in which solidarity is celebrated and where selfishness is discouraged. In today's world, it is all about "ME". Too many people worry only about themselves and ignore the consequences to others of their actions. In this regard, going back in time would be wonderful.

Sometimes it is necessary to look at the world through the eyes of a child who has not yet been beaten down by life. It is through Gusta's wonderfully flawed eyes that adult readers of this novel discover that everything can be boiled down to one of two choices ... Right or Wrong. This lesson may be a simple one, but it is one that is often forgotten. I am happy to say that "The Orphan Band of Springdale" has reminded me of that oh-so-true reality.

Anne Nesbet has touched on so many issues worthy of discussion in this book that it is easy to see this book in a middle grade classroom and a lively discussion taking place. I highly recommend this book to teachers of those grades (as well as to everyone else.)

Here is a partial list of some of the discussion worthy topics include:

* Work ethic in the past vs. work ethic in present day
* Hardscrabble lives
* Unions
* Injured Workers
* Patriotism
* Prejudice
* Government & health
* Music
* Money and lack of it
* Airplanes
* Bullying
* Glasses
* German in the USA
* Dairy Wars
* Purity - of milk and of birth
* Orphans
* Family loyalty
* The value of historic writings - such as the sketchbook and journal from the sea captain found in the attic by Gusta
* Selflessness
* Changes in technology from 1941 to present day
* And much more...

I sped through the reading of this book because I did not want to put it down. In fact, I spent two very sleepless nights devouring the pages and fully immersing myself in Gusta's world. Author Anne Nesbet has crafted Gusta's world with beautifully detailed descriptions and characters with such depth that they seem 100% real. It is patently obvious that the author has a distinct love of small-town Maine, and that love has seeped through onto every page of this delectable book.

I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and am planning to check out previous novels written by Anne Nesbet.

I predict that THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE will find its way onto the Bestseller list shortly after its official release date.

Super enjoyable and sweet but way better than just "sweet."

This book has a kind of Eleanor Estes or <i>Penderwicks</i> feel sometimes, centering on the pursuits and cares of children in a small town, but it's the early 1940s so the stakes are way higher than <i>Ginger Pye</i>. Xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment are on the rise, big business is fighting against labor organization, and Gusta's dad is on the run from the law. There is plenty of good will and kindness to stand up against the world's real darkness, and the characters are great and genuine.

3.4 Stars, rounded down to 3.*

The Orphan Band of Springdale opens with 11-year-old Gusta, suddenly and unexpectedly alone aboard a bus en route to her grandmother in Maine. It’s 1941, and the world is an unsure place...specifically for Gusta as the child of a German labor organizer at a time when foreigners are viewed with suspicion. Anne Nesbet beautifully captures the scenery of Springdale, Maine- bringing it more in focus as Gusta literally and figuratively begins to see the world around her.
It’s a sweet, charming story. A blend of historical fiction and social justice handbook. Gusta is a character of particular moxie and she’s lovable as she fumbles through her relationships and awakenings.