"Students who like historical fiction are fascinated by the main character's struggles and her hope for a new beginning."
Denise Stone, Orchard Knob Middle School
What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper is the Hamilton Book of the Week nominated by Orchard Knob Middle School. After losing her family and everything she knew in the Nazi concentration camps, Gerta is finally liberated, only to find herself completely alone. Without her papa, her music, or even her true identity, she must move past surviving and on to living her life. In the displaced persons camp where she is staying, Gerta meets Lev, a fellow teen survivor who she just might be falling for, despite her feelings for someone else. With a newfound Jewish identity, Gerta never knew she had, and a return to the life of music thought lost forever; she must choose how to build a new future.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon
from Amazon Readers
From Amazon.com:
"...will leave readers gasping."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Generously illustrated with Stamper's haunting spot images and larger scenes, all in deep brown hues that evoke profound emotion, the book is a strong addition to the bookshelf of Holocaust fiction."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
To check out more recommended books in the Hamilton Book of the Week at https://www.hcde.org/parents___students/suggested_reading.
Hamilton Book of the Week seeks to move Hamilton County Schools closer to district goals found in the Future Ready 2023 action plan. We hope to encourage kids to read more books for fun by sharing books popular at area schools.
Goals more students reading will address include:
- Reading improvement will increase the number of students on-track or mastering English language arts
- Improve the district ACT score to a district average of 21
- Reach the target goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2023