Play to the Angel [Hardcover]

Maurine F. Dahlberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2000 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A budding pianist will not be stopped, even by Nazis

In February 1938, in Vienna, twelve-year-old Greta Radky is devastated to learn that her mother plans to sell the family piano. Greta's brother, a concert pianist, died the previous April, and her mother thinks of the piano as his. But Greta is an equally committed musician, and when she meets a mysterious piano teacher who agrees to work with her, she proves it. With his help the piano is saved, and inspired by his tiny angel doll, Greta practices furiously for her first recital. Then, on the day of the performance, the Nazis invade Austria. Suddenly Greta discovers her teacher's secret and knows that his life is in danger. Having stood up to her mother, Greta must now confront the Nazis...Maurine Dahlberg's fascinating first novel features an indomitable heroine in an unusual and subtle Holocaust setting.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Greta Radky, the 12-year-old heroine of this historical novel, has much to contend with: a burning desire to play the piano, like her recently deceased brother, Kurt; a widowed mother who, in her grief over Kurt's death, cannot bear to hear Greta even talk about music; and the recent move of her best friend, Erika, from their Viennese neighborhood to the U.S. As the story opens, in February 1938, Frau Radky precipitates a crisis by announcing her plans to sell Kurt's piano. As chance would have it, a piano teacher from Germany has moved into Erika's apartment, and his enthusiastic support gives Greta the confidence to persuade her mother to keep the piano. Greta knows that Herr Hummel, the piano teacher, has had to flee the Nazis; what she does not know, of course, is that Hitler will annex Austria within the month. When the SS come looking for Herr Hummel, he owes his escape as much to Greta's quick thinking and courage as to luck. First-novelist Dahlberg offers memorable passages about music and musicianship, and her plotting is solid. But some key characterizations (e.g., of Greta's mother) are unconvincing and the setting feels thin, especially in comparison with a book like Doris Orgel's The Devil in Vienna, which also takes place during the Anschluss. Although Dahlberg shows promise, this effort doesn't quite come to life. Ages 9-12. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Dahlberg's first novel examines the beginnings of the Holocaust in Vienna through the eyes of a 12-year-old aspiring concert pianist. Greta's father left the family when she was three, and her brother, a promising concert pianist with hemophilia, has recently died. In the shadow of an increasingly dangerous Nazi Germany, Greta lives with her mother, a dress designer working for a Jew. Grieving and worried about finances, the woman ignores her daughter and seems painfully unaware of her musical dreams. Greta is devastated by her mother's plan to sell their piano, until a new neighbor with a mysterious past agrees to give the girl free lessons and convinces her to keep it. When she eventually discovers that her beloved teacher is actually Karl von Engelhart, a renowned pianist who used his fortune to help Jewish artists leave Germany, Greta helps him flee to Prague. Dahlberg re-creates the time and place aptly, touching on the economic climate and recounting the infiltration of Nazism into Austria. Meanwhile, the narrative incorporates the protagonist's worries about not having a best friend and purchasing her first bra, missing her brother, and longing for her mother's attention. While the unusual Holocaust setting is well drawn and rings true, Angel is first and foremost a novel about a girl who pursues a dream and learns to believe in herself.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 186 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1St Edition edition (August 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374359946
• ISBN-13: 978-0374359942
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,586,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I don't remember a time when I didn't write! Even before I learned to write words, I drew picture stories. My sister and I read a lot and were always writing stories for each other. We also spent a lot of time playing make-believe--we were everything from horses to princesses--so I got plenty of experience "being" someone else and developing plots. When I was ten, I learned to play flute. Music, reading, and writing became my main activities outside of school.

I continued writing over the years, but I didn't sell any manuscripts until, after reading many World War II memoirs, I got the idea for Play to the Angel. I had never tried writing a book set in another time and place, and at first I was afraid to try. But as the story came together in my head, I knew I had to tell it. I loved researching and writing it. I found that writing a historical novel lets me "be" someone else in another time while still having my own life in today's world.

I was born in Fulton, Missouri, and went to college in Texas. I've lived a number of other places, including a village on a mountaintop in Germany. Now I live in Northern Virginia, with my husband, Randy, and our cat, Daphne, who's an Egyptian Mau. In addition to writing, I'm a full-time editor for a research corporation. Evenings and weekends, Randy and I are musicians. We play in a concert band and a German band, and often play in pit orchestras for local community theater groups.

Right now I'm working on an adult novel set in present-day Scotland. I have a lot more ideas for books I hope to write, both for adults and for young readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A memorable, heartwarming book that leaves a lingering glow., September 13, 2000

By 

Virginia Fairchild (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Play to the Angel (Hardcover)

The characters, especially Greta and Herr Hummel, are strongly drawn and sympathetic. The story is nicely paced and gives readers a good idea of everyday life in Vienna on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Although the political situation is the backdrop for the story, the main focus is on Greta herself--her emotional vulnerability, resourcefulness, determination, integrity, and personal growth.

The book touches on a number of issues important to teenagers, especially girls: mother-daughter interaction, sibling rivalry, school friendships, development of self-confidence, and physical changes associated with growing up. Broader issues include Greta's loss of a beloved brother, her dawning political awareness, and her courage in the face of evil. Readers are also given deep insights into the development of a young musician: the teacher-student relationship, the overcoming of stage fright ("let the music drive away the fear"), and the discipline and determination required for success as a performer.

The pages abound with delightful passages, including the following examples:

"The longer I played, the more the piano seemed an extension of myself, instead of a separate thing that I moved my fingers on." [p. 84]

"The two horrid-looking études bared their teeth, daring me to try them." [p. 108]

"I felt as if I had a sign on me that said, LOOK! GIRL WEARING FIRST BRA!" [p. 111]

"Only a few little clouds, as light and delicate as a Viennese waltz, drifted across the deep turquoise sky." [p. 135]

"I was in perfect control, making some notes as wispy as a bird's breath, others as crisp as winter stars." [pp. 142-3]

Although intended for teenagers, this novel will also be enjoyable for older readers, who will be reminded of best-loved books from their own school years.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars review, March 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Play to the Angel (Mass Market Paperback)

Greta was a piano player in Vienna, Austria in 1938. Her brother Kurt died about a year before and her mother is starting to get insane migraines. But those wont stop Greta from dreaming of becoming a famous pianist. She is different from all the girls in school. And now that her best friend Erica has moved to America, she truly feels alone sometimes. Even her neighbor Frau Vogel can't help her that is until she tells Greta about a piano teacher that lives in the apartment next door. She goes to the apartment one day but no one is there. She walks in to find a beautiful grand piano. She takes out some music and begins to play when Herr Hummel startles her. They eat and start to talk. By the time Greta leaves she has agreed to take piano lessons from him for free. She keeps this a secret from her mother for a while but when Herr Hummel brings up that he wants Greta to play at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts. Greta begins to practice music from Scarlatti and Mendelssohn for her recital. Finally the day of her performance comes. Her and her mother had gotten in a fight earlier that day but Greta had hoped that she could still make it. To her surprise her mother didn't arrive. When the recital was over Greta and Herr Hummel were rushed back to Herr Hummel's apartment where they found Frau Vogel and Greta's mother with an injured ankle. Apparently the Nazi's had invaded Austria and while Greta's mother was running out of the shop where she works she sprained her ankle. Soon one of Herr Hummel's old students Rudolf Beck, who Greta and Herr Hummel had seen while they were in the city, has sent the SS for Herr Hummel. Greta is in Herr Hummel's apartment when the SS came in tearing the place up looking for things. That is when she finds out that Herr Hummel is actually famous pianist Karl von Englehart, and that he is wanted for helping Jews escape the Nazi's. When the SS men leave Greta remembers the money and passports in Herr Hummel's desk and takes them across town to the Academy where he is with one of the directors. He tells Greta that he is going to Prague and that he will contact her when he is safe. Later Greta receives a letter from him saying that he is on his way to America. Greta and her mother escape the Nazi's by going to live with family in Switzerland. This book is good for students who like to learn about the affects of WW2 and who study music. This book shows students that no matter what they can always make their dreams come true.

In the beginning of the book Greta has suffered a great lose in her life, her brother Kurt, who also played piano, died and her mother is becoming very irritable. Her mother used to always have fun with them and enjoy listening to Kurt play the piano but now every time Greta touches it she says she has a headache and wants to rest. Also her mother almost sold the piano and Greta began to greatly doubt she could ever become a concert pianist.

Greta also doesn't fit in with many girls in her school. For one of her papers she has to write about the best day of her life and she writes about one where she spends it alone playing the piano but her fear of being made fun of lowers her self esteem and makes her nervous about her upcoming recital.

After her recital Greta realizes that many people believe in her and that she can accomplish anything she wants to. Her mother risked dying to see her play at the Academy and Herr Hummel risked being captured by the Nazi's to help her succeed with her playing. And she even makes a new friend, Lore, who likes her for who she is and what she does. Greta realizes she has nothing to be shy about and that her brother would be proud that she is accomplishing what he couldn't.

This book can truly teach students many things about the world around them and themselves. I recommend this book to students of all ages that would like to learn more about the piano or more about the affects of war on people.


T.Shene

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Resolute Pursuit of a Dream, January 15, 2003

By 

F. Hamilton "[e-mail]" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Play to the Angel (Mass Market Paperback)

A great story well told -- what more could a reader want? _Play to the Angel_, which takes place in Vienna in 1938, is narrated by twelve-year-old Greta Radky. Greta's older brother had been a promising concert pianist, but now that he has died, her mother is threatening to sell their piano.

Early in the novel Greta tells why the piano is so important to her: "I [played the piano] because it satisfied something inside me, the way a bowl of hot soup satisfied my stomach or a breath of fresh air satisfied my lungs. But the something it satisfied was deeper than my stomach or my lungs. It was the part of me that made me *me*."

Without preaching, _Play to the Angel_ provides a powerful example of a resolute heroine pursuing a dream in the face of obstacles -- in the closing chapters, the Nazi occupation. Greta receives lessons that are valuable to any performer: On nervousness: ". . . you must give the music in you a chance to chase away the fear instead of letting the fear chase away the music." Similarly, Greta is taught about two kinds of musicians -- one, which uses music to present his skill to the world, and the other, which uses his skill to present the music.

Maurine Dahlberg's first novel, _Play to the Angel_ has been nominated for the Mark Twain Award for 2002-2003.