Reviews for Music for Alice

The average rating for Music for Alice based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-11-25 00:00:00 Noel Carden Rarely does a children's book invoke the kind of sincere reverence that is exhibited by Allen Say's breathtaking story, Music For Alice. Poetic imagery melds with quiet prose to produce a well-crafted and simply flawless book. Our protagonist, Alice, retells her life story- forced labor during the time of Japanese internment camps, the modest farm bought with government loans, the hard years when their harvests couldn't sell, and the years when Alice and her husband turned their portion of desert into a carpet of flowers. The illustrations are as realistic as they come- every wrinkle that lines a drawing of Alice's face is executed with precision and extreme care. The pictures, presented on a full page, reflect personal photos, and each accompanying page of text reads like a whisper, a modest blessing from those who came before us and lived much harder lives. Music For Alice is a necessary tale for a generation who feel entitled to comfort and obsess over following their passions. This book maintains that there is value in a well-lived life, no matter where it takes place, no matter the circumstances. Highly recommended for all elementary students.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-08-10 00:00:00 David Smith Lovely, spare illustrations of a Japanese woman's history of making the best of her interment experience. Doesn't dwell on the deprivations her race afforded her at that time, but instead shows the triumph of spirit that allows her to thrive, along with her husband, as they create a successful flower farm in the midst of war and loss.