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Sent to stay with her aunt in Prague and witness the humble life of an artist, Ilana Lopez—a biracial Jewish girl—finds herself torn between her dream of becoming a violinist and her immigrant parents’ desire for her to pursue a more stable career.
When she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her aunt’s cottage, she meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy named Benjamin, who died over a century ago. As Ilana restores Benjamin’s grave, he introduces her to the enchanted side of Prague, where ghosts walk the streets and their kisses have warmth.
But Benjamin isn't the only one interested in Ilana. Rudolph Wassermann, a man with no shadow, has become fascinated with her and the music she plays. He offers to share his magic, so Ilana can be with Benjamin and pursue her passion for violin. But after Ilana discovers the truth about Wassermann and how Benjamin became bound to the city, she resolves to save the boy she loves, even if it means losing him—forever.
With spellbinding verse prose, R.M. Romero channels the spirit of myth into a brilliantly original tale, inspired by her experiences restoring Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
May 10, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593558843
- File size: 115905 KB
- Duration: 04:01:28
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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October 1, 2022
Gr 9 Up-Her father escaped oppressive politics in the former Czechoslovakia. Her maternal ancestors survived Spain's religious persecution, landed in Cuba, then fled Castro's communists for Miami Beach. "So the last thing I expected/ was to be exiled/ by my own parents," 16-year-old Ilana laments when she's separated from friends, parties, but most importantly, her beloved violin. She's banished to Prague to stay with artist Aunt Zofie who promises, "Prague is a place/ where a girl your age/ can find herself." Ignoring the SAT-improving studies demanded by her parents, Ilana finds an abandoned Jewish cemetery, falls in love with a ghost, vanquishes a monster, and sets trapped souls free. Cuban American actor Carla Corvo commands Romero's lyrical novel-in-verse, becoming that rebellious teen discovering her autonomy, seeking justice where evil lingers. VERDICT Corvo proves herself an effective, complementary enabler of Romero's empowering coming-of-age tale.
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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