ABO UT THE AUTHOR
\nPam Muñ\;oz Ryan is an American author and the 2026 U.S. n ominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She is the aut hor of Echo\, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirku s Prize. She has written over forty books\, including the novels Esper anza Rising\, Becoming Naomi Leó\;n\, Riding Freed om\, Paint the Wind\, The Dreamer\, Echo\, and Mañ\;analand. She is the author recipient of the National Educa tion Association&rsquo\;s Civil and Human Rights Award\, the Virginia Hami lton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature\, and is twice the recipi ent of the Pura Belpré\; Medal and the Willa Cather Award.
\nH er novel\, Esperanza Rising\, was commissioned as a play by the M inneapolis Children&rsquo\;s Theatre and has been performed in many venues around the U.S. including The Goodman in Chicago\, and the Majestic Cutle r Theater\, in Boston.
\nOther selected honors include the PEN USA A ward\, the Amé\;ricas Award\, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor\, and the Orbis Pictus Award. She was born and raised in Bakersfield\, Californ ia\, (formerly Pam Bell) holds a bachelor&rsquo\;s and master&rsquo\;s deg ree from San Diego State University and lives near San Diego with her fami ly. Many of her stories reflect her half-Mexican heritage.
\nRead mo re about the author here.
\nABOUT THE BOOK
\nLost and alone in the forbidden Black Forest\, Otto meets three mysterious sis ters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a p rophecy\, a promise\, and a harmonica.
\nDecades later\, Friedrich i n Germany\, Mike in Pennsylvania\, and Ivy in California each become inter woven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives\, binding them by an invisible thread of destiny. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father\, protecting a brother\, holding a family together. How their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo will r esound in your heart long after the last note has been struck.
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