The Singing Tree (Newberry Honor Book) [B1094]

1944 HCDJ 7th printing of the 1939 classic Newberry Honor young adult historical fiction novel, with a worn jacket and cover and clean text pages (see photos). Summary from a recent GoodReads review: "Wow. This one really got to me. This book was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1940 (published in 1939). It is a sequel to The Good Master and is set two years after that book. In this sequel, World War I arrives and life on the Hungarian plains is altered for everyone. The men go to war, the women must keep the home front going, and Jancsi and Kate, who are both around thirteen at the start of the book, must grow up in many ways. The family farm, just as in the last book, gathers many new members (eighteen more than were there by the end of the last book) - people from the local area who need help, six Russian prisoners to help with the farm work, grandparents, six German children being sent away from the fighting in Germany. It is touching to see how Jancsi and his family so easily welcome all these people, and what kind of life they can create in a place where everyone is equal and respected (even prisoners from the other side of the war). There is a lot said in this book about anti-Semitism attitudes that were widespread at this time, and the author does everything she can to discourage it. Anyway, the book is just beautiful, hopeful, sad at times, but ultimately really, really hopeful about the human condition and the state of the world."

From other recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Incredible. Seredy has such a powerful way with words and characters. What a valuable perspective for us to read from as well - a warm, hope-filled Hungarian farm during the dark days of WWI. One of our family's favorite read-alouds ever."; "In this captivating tale, the characters' traits and personas run deep and rich. A middle school age and older reader will find incredible insights into how war can affect a person from the physical to inside the mind, and back out again. Where love is allowed to flow, healing can take place. Give this book a chance, and you will receive many insights and even inspiration."; "Charming story of a family's life on a farm in years prior to and during WW1 in Hungary."; "The thoughts and emotions of the last conversations about war are just so poignant and heartbreaking, to think of their future from our past. Why do we as a people tend towards war and not peace?"