Echo

Echo: Ryan, Pam Muñoz: 9780439874021: Amazon.com: Books

Bibliography

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. 2015. ECHO. Narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews, and Rebecca Soler. New York: Scholastic Audio. Unabridged. ISBN: 9780547228896

Plot Summary

Echo is about 3 children living in different places, during different time periods whose lives become connected through a mysterious harmonica. Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each face difficult personal and historical challenges. Thri stories intertwine together into one narrative about courage, family, and how music can heal.

Critical Analysis

Listening to Echo on Audible added a completely different depth to the story. Since music is woven into the plot, the unabridged audiobook captures that atmosphere perfectly. Each of the narrators do an incredible job bringing each of the children to life. The harmonica pieces, soundtrack movements, and layered vocals make the fantasy element feel more immersive that reading it in print. The sound quality of course is very clear, polished, and balances. 

Review Excerpts

Starred Review from Kirkus: “A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it's worth every moment of readers' time."

Connections

Listening to Echo on audio opens up a lot of classroom possibilities, especially since music is such a central part of the story. Students can explore how music help the characters develop emotionally through the different time periods. It can work well for lessons on point of view, since each narrator brings a unique struggle and setting.


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