“Music does not have a race or a disposition! Every instrument has a voice that contributes. Music is a universal language. A universal religion of sorts. Certainly it's my religion. Music surpasses all distinctions between people." – Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Echo tells 3 main stories: Friedrich, Mike and Ivy. All are children of preteen age, they all live in different times, places and circumstances. We get to read each one of their stories separately, and the power of music is what connects their stories in ways you wouldn't have guessed. Each character has a discrete story that could stand on its own, but all of them are linked through time and distance by a harmonica. I know, but don’t question it—just go with it! That’s the beauty of middle grade literature; you can start with a humble harmonica and end up with a symphony that stays with you long after the last note/page.
