In 1941, eleven year old Gusta's life is turned upside down when her father disappears and her mother sends her to live in rural Maine with her grandmother and a house full of wild, fun loving orphans. Homesick as she can be, Gusta's perception of the world slowly changes as she learns to love her mother's family. She's given a pair of eyeglasses from a gentle optician with a fondness for pigeons. She gains great confidence and sees the effect of music on her community through her talent on the French horn. And she grows to own an understanding of life's harsher realities and she faces a small community whose world is on the brink of war.

A wonderful and touching book, I highly enjoyed "The Orphan Band of Springdale". The writing is personable and accessible and the characters grow close to the reader's heart. The sticky situations Gusta finds herself in are realistic and sad, and resolutions (or the lack thereof) are true to life. I can highly recommend this as great middle grade historical fiction.

Thank you to @netgalley and Candlewick Press for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. “The Orphan Band of Springdale” was published April 10th, 2018...I highly recommend a copy for the children in your life...your own personal library.

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.

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

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Expected Publication: April 10, 2018

Cleanliness: Very Clean (Middle-grade fiction. Topics to consider: orphans, fugitives, bullying, war, injury, and lying.)

Who knew a book about World War II could be so extremely sweet and beautiful?! I loved this book so much! A lot of it made me think of The Penderwicks and A Series of Unfortunate Events mushed together.

The author's writing style is absolutely perfect for middle-grade fiction, but it's also a nice read for adults. A lot of tough subjects (e.g. war, loss of family, unfair treatment by authority, inequality, Nazis) were presented and dealt with nicely, but in a kid-friendly way. It was so realistic and down-to-earth with just a little sprinkle of the magic of childhood.

It is a story (at its root) about a girl, with her beloved French horn, who discovers how one little kid can make a big difference, even in a war-stricken world.

The Orphan Band of Springdale was adorable, interesting, sad, and meaningful all at the same time, and I loved it.

~I was sent a free ecopy of this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press 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.

The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet 

*I've received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest book review*

Eleven-years-old Gusta finds her self-solo in a bus heading to her grandmother's orphanage while her mother is working in NewYork, her father a labor organizer is on the run and WWII is about to explode. 
She's in a new town and couldn't be more of an outsider in both school and her grandmother's house but alongside her is her most prized possession her French Horn. She formes a band with her cousin and new friend all while fighting down the secrets that she promised to keep hidden and trying to live up to her new community's expectations.


This was a cute, sweet book. I felt like reading daily events about little children living in a war period without actually being in a place of battle but still affected by it.

I see myself being friends with Gusta she was very mature, friendly and loyal. All the characters in the book were relatable but, the truth it is we could have gotten more details about each and everyone because most relationships in the book were unique and had a strong base. 
Especially since a good chunk of this book was super stretched.

I learned for the first time that someone had actually tried to put auto cameras on pigeons to take pictures from the sky!!! *mind blown*

Her uncle's wounded hand was probably the story that moved me the most, it projected a true human injustice. 

I think the story could've had more depth yet at the same time it pointed big issues.

This book was sweet and enjoyable but unfortunately nothing else.

Three Stars.

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

What a lovely book!

This is an outstanding novel. I love how the author made Gusta such a believable and caring character. Anne Nesbet is a really good author — I mean, she tackled the pre-Cold War issue and the WWII amazingly. I think it passes a message that desperately needs to be conveyed.
The whole town comes alive on the page. The characters are multidimensional and evolve during the whole novel. They really surprised me and that made me feel very happy.

I will write a more hearty and complete review once the publication date is closer to us. I can't wait to spread the love for this book in the bookish community!

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.