Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Puffin Canada (2019), 288 pages
Description
A violin and a middle-school musical unleash a dark family secret in this moving story by an award-winning author duo. For fans of The Devil's Arithmetic and Hana's Suitcase. It's 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers -- and the death of her beloved grandmother -- Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she's been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather's attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner -- strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.… (more)
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2022)
Red Maple Award (Nominee — Fiction — 2021)
The Willow Awards (Finalist — 2020)
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (Finalist — 2020)
Rocky Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member PinkPurlandProse
Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, Kathy Kacer, and Eric Walters for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Broken Strings. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Shirli is starring in her middle school play. This year the
This story is for both children and young adults. I would be very comfortable with a child of 10 or 11 reading this. It does contain stories of the Holocaust, but nothing so graphic that it would be inappropriate. If you have a sensitive child, you might want to read this first just to be sure they wouldn’t be bothered by any of the stories. These are two heavyweight authors. Kathy Kacer has a lot of experience writing Holocaust stories for children and writes sensitive, thoughtful storylines. Eric Walters is a prolific children’s writer who writes incredible adventure stories and also has dealt with the Holocaust subject matter in his novels.
I loved this story. There are so many elements that make it heartfelt and meaningful, without becoming cheesy or forceful in its message. The relationship between Shirli and her grandfather is beautiful. You can see why her Zaide opens up to her about the war. There is a sweet romantic storyline between Shirli and Ben, who is her co-lead in the play. They lightly touch upon 9-11 and the aftermath effects of a community trying to heal. This story has a rich text and as a teacher, I would have a lot of material to use. There are themes of racism, antisemitism, and war along with intergenerational relationships, family and school. My mind is racing with ideas of how to use it in a classroom setting.
At the heart of this beautiful story is one that most children will enjoy reading. For children who don’t know about the Holocaust, it is a wonderful introduction. Shirli is a sweet, kind, likeable character, the grandfather is funny and all the supporting characters add something to the story. Every character goes through some kind of growth and yet, it all blends so nicely that the story never gets convoluted or off track. This was an outstanding read for me and timeless, something that I think can be read for years and years to different generations.
Shirli is starring in her middle school play. This year the
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production is Fiddler on the Roof. Shirli has a close relationship with her Zaide and visits him every week. She suspected that he might have some things in his attic that would be helpful for the play. Maybe some old dresses, shawls, or aprons. Her Zaide said she could use whatever she thought would be helpful. But when she was digging around up there she made an amazing discovery. She found a violin. She couldn’t believe that it was her grandfather’s. He never listened to music or attended any of her performances. Shirli knew that he had some bad memories from the war and he never liked to talk about it. She also discovered a poster with a picture of a family and if she wasn’t mistaken it was her grandfather when he was a child! Having discovered a long hidden family secret is not easy. But through love and understanding, family can help heal a tragic past. This story is for both children and young adults. I would be very comfortable with a child of 10 or 11 reading this. It does contain stories of the Holocaust, but nothing so graphic that it would be inappropriate. If you have a sensitive child, you might want to read this first just to be sure they wouldn’t be bothered by any of the stories. These are two heavyweight authors. Kathy Kacer has a lot of experience writing Holocaust stories for children and writes sensitive, thoughtful storylines. Eric Walters is a prolific children’s writer who writes incredible adventure stories and also has dealt with the Holocaust subject matter in his novels.
I loved this story. There are so many elements that make it heartfelt and meaningful, without becoming cheesy or forceful in its message. The relationship between Shirli and her grandfather is beautiful. You can see why her Zaide opens up to her about the war. There is a sweet romantic storyline between Shirli and Ben, who is her co-lead in the play. They lightly touch upon 9-11 and the aftermath effects of a community trying to heal. This story has a rich text and as a teacher, I would have a lot of material to use. There are themes of racism, antisemitism, and war along with intergenerational relationships, family and school. My mind is racing with ideas of how to use it in a classroom setting.
At the heart of this beautiful story is one that most children will enjoy reading. For children who don’t know about the Holocaust, it is a wonderful introduction. Shirli is a sweet, kind, likeable character, the grandfather is funny and all the supporting characters add something to the story. Every character goes through some kind of growth and yet, it all blends so nicely that the story never gets convoluted or off track. This was an outstanding read for me and timeless, something that I think can be read for years and years to different generations.
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LibraryThing member lindamamak
Shirli discovers how important music can be to an individual and discovers more about her grandfather than she thought.
LibraryThing member NadineC.Keels
Shirli doesn't land the role she wants in her junior high school's upcoming play, Fiddler on the Roof, but she does get to partner in the production with cute, popular Ben. While looking for props to use in the play, Shirli finds an old violin in her grandfather's attic, not knowing the
I had quite the experience with this middle grade read. It addresses a dark subject (evidenced by the barbed wire and Star of David on the cover) without having the depressing overall texture/mood of dry gloom that I find in other novels that go to such painful places. Yet, I wasn't sure for a while if I'd finish this book. The style and phrasing had an unoriginal feel to me, and I wasn't finding the heroine or her young peers to be particularly interesting.
But the unfolding of Shirli's grandfather's part in the story had me intrigued. His poignant role began to bring the story together and, effectively, to strengthen the other characters. The read became richer as I went along, taking history and the need to recognize the value of all humanity, weaving it with Shirli's personal journey and heritage, and culminating in a beautiful, redemptive finish that tugged on my soul.
The plot held no big surprises for me, but it eventually pulled me in so well that I finished this novel in one sitting—something this reader doesn't do every day.
___________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
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instrument's connection to a tragic family secret in Broken Strings by authors Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer.I had quite the experience with this middle grade read. It addresses a dark subject (evidenced by the barbed wire and Star of David on the cover) without having the depressing overall texture/mood of dry gloom that I find in other novels that go to such painful places. Yet, I wasn't sure for a while if I'd finish this book. The style and phrasing had an unoriginal feel to me, and I wasn't finding the heroine or her young peers to be particularly interesting.
But the unfolding of Shirli's grandfather's part in the story had me intrigued. His poignant role began to bring the story together and, effectively, to strengthen the other characters. The read became richer as I went along, taking history and the need to recognize the value of all humanity, weaving it with Shirli's personal journey and heritage, and culminating in a beautiful, redemptive finish that tugged on my soul.
The plot held no big surprises for me, but it eventually pulled me in so well that I finished this novel in one sitting—something this reader doesn't do every day.
___________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member ErstwhileEditor
I am pleased to award Broken Strings by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer 5/5 stars. The two interlaced storylines, one about a middle school performance and the other about the hidden past of Shirli Berman’s family are rendered in pitch-perfect prose. The warmth of the Berman family and the first
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storyline allow the authors to present information about the Holocaust to young readers in a way that it isn’t as traumatic as it otherwise would be. Yet, what is said about the Holocaust is totally factual. I highly recommend this book. In fact, although I am an adult, I plan to look for other books by Kathy Kacer, and I await more books by Eric Walters. Show Less
LibraryThing member SJGirl
When Shirli earns a role in her middle school’s production of Fiddler On The Roof, a search of her grandfather’s attic for props leads to him revealing two traumatically intertwined aspects of his life, his talent for the violin and his experience in the holocaust.
I liked the decision to reveal
There were times the book felt repetitive with Shirli relating things to her parents, her friends, or her grandfather that the reader already witnessed. While I could see where it was necessary for her to talk things through (and a good message that you may feel better about things if you share your troubles with someone), it’s just that occasionally it felt somewhat disruptive to the momentum of the story to have things re-hashed.
I have mixed feelings about the romance, it is sweet and uncomplicated so it would likely be well-suited for a young reader looking to dip their toe into a romantic story for the first time, however, for me, the more compelling secondary story and emotional arc came in the rivalry Shirli has with another girl. I liked the growth both girls experience and I would have welcomed exploring that story even further, it would have been interesting to see Mindi be the one who comes to dinner and who visits the grandfather (against Shirli’s wishes whereas Ben was quite welcome by her).
Far and away my favorite thing about this book was Shirli’s relationship with her grandfather, the mutual respect, the way they talked through any issue they had with one another, their rapport had such a heartwarming quality.
I received this book through a giveaway.
I liked the decision to reveal
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Zayde’s story little by little throughout the book rather than all at once. It’s such emotionally difficult subject matter that telling it in a piecemeal fashion is probably somewhat more digestible, especially for the younger readers this is intended for, and it also feels realistic that a person (Zayde) might need to re-open those wounds gradually. There were times the book felt repetitive with Shirli relating things to her parents, her friends, or her grandfather that the reader already witnessed. While I could see where it was necessary for her to talk things through (and a good message that you may feel better about things if you share your troubles with someone), it’s just that occasionally it felt somewhat disruptive to the momentum of the story to have things re-hashed.
I have mixed feelings about the romance, it is sweet and uncomplicated so it would likely be well-suited for a young reader looking to dip their toe into a romantic story for the first time, however, for me, the more compelling secondary story and emotional arc came in the rivalry Shirli has with another girl. I liked the growth both girls experience and I would have welcomed exploring that story even further, it would have been interesting to see Mindi be the one who comes to dinner and who visits the grandfather (against Shirli’s wishes whereas Ben was quite welcome by her).
Far and away my favorite thing about this book was Shirli’s relationship with her grandfather, the mutual respect, the way they talked through any issue they had with one another, their rapport had such a heartwarming quality.
I received this book through a giveaway.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Shirli dreams of playing the role of Hodel in her school’s production of Fiddler on the Roof, and is very disappointed to be cast instead as Golde, Tevye’s wife. In an attempt to get a better grasp on her part, she asks her grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, about their family history. Though
This is a good story, and an important one. It’s well-plotted, but I found the writing to be rather pedestrian: the dialogue is stiff in places, the tone often didactic. I’d recommend it to kids learning about the Holocaust, and to those who love theatre. I probably wouldn’t recommend it to adults, though, unless those subjects are specifically appealing.
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he’s initially hesitant to open up, when Shirli discovers an old violin in his attic, he eventually tells her his story, which is more heartbreaking than she could have imagined.This is a good story, and an important one. It’s well-plotted, but I found the writing to be rather pedestrian: the dialogue is stiff in places, the tone often didactic. I’d recommend it to kids learning about the Holocaust, and to those who love theatre. I probably wouldn’t recommend it to adults, though, unless those subjects are specifically appealing.
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LibraryThing member Withcurlsncocktails
Broken Strings is a layered and thoughtful, well written story of a girl who in the course of preparing for a role in her middle school play she discovers a family secret. This was my first Eric Walters book but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the writing and feel that it can be read by both
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young adults and adults. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
My heart! This was such a tearjerker for me. This middle grade novel set in the months following the fall of the Twin Towers wrecked me emotionally and I can't recommend it enough. 8th grade singer, Shirli Berman, wants to look forward to something positive in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack and
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the loss of her grandmother. She has her sights set on being Hodel in the spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof. When she is stuck playing Golde, the mother, she is at first disappointed but then realizes her "husband" will be the most popular boy in school. She may not get any solos but she can act and sing her heart out. As a Jewish teen, Shirli relates to the story of the musical, her grandfather was even from Poland not long after the play is set. She wants to really get into the part so she starts going over to her grandfather's house more and trying to get him to talk about his past, something he never does. Even her father (his son) doesn't know about all the terrible things he suffered through during the Holocaust. Shirli and her grandfather start bonding over the musical and start opening up to each other in very powerful ways. A wonderful, moving story. Show Less
ISBN
0735266247 / 9780735266247