Customer Reviews

Play to the Angel

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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

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.

I loved this book. I liked it because the history did not have anything to do with the book intil the end. It is about a girl named Greta who is living in Austria at the time of the rise of Nazi Germany. She loves to play piano, but her mother does not want her to play because it reminds her of Greta's deceased brother who was very good at piano. Greta is a very shy girl and not very brave, but that made her a good character to read about.

When I picked this book up from the library I was not sure it would be one that I would enjoy,but I was surprised how into the story I got and could not put it down! I am not going to tell all the details of the book but I will just say that if you want a book that will not only capture you mind but your heart as well than you will enjoy this book and even be sad when it ends cause you just want to keep reading!

Maurine F. Dahlberg.... wow can you ever write. This is one of my very favorite books of all time and I swear that I have read WAY to many books. Right now I am doing an Independant Novel studu on it and have to do a bibliography on you. I can't seem to find information but kids and/or Adults if you ever need a good book to read, I suggest you pick up a Play to the Angel and dig in!

" Austria 1938. War is coming. But Greta only cares about her music." What if suddenly you were practicing in your piano professor's apartment. When a loud banging comes from the door. You open it to see starched uniforms, shiny boots, pistols, swastikas, and lightning bolts. The Nazis are at the door.

This was just one of the many scenes from Pay to the Angel. Where words of cheerfulness and depression burn a seeping image in your mind. This author really sets the scene. Maurine Dahlberg wrote the magnificent and extraordinary novel.

Greta Radky loves to play the piano. But her mother does not want her to play. She threatens to sell the piano. But luckily, a piano teacher moved into the apartment not far away. Se learns how to play the piano from a Herr Hummel. But while at a party with her friends Mutti (the mother) finds out! But in a last desperate attempt by Herr Hummel and Greta, she decides... to keep the piano. So Greta plays better and better and eventually she is invited, by Herr Hummel, to a Recital at a huge musical academy, in front of a large audience! She had never done this before. And more than anything she wants Mutti to come. But at the end of the recital she is not there. When she leaves the academy, she why Mutti had not come. The Nazis had taken over Austria! But that's all I'm going to tell (I hate Spoilers).

One day, Greta was practicing on Herr Hummel's piano Sunday morning. Herr Hummel was never at his apartment room come Sunday morning. So he had given Greta a spare key to the room. Then a knocking came from the door. Too loud to be Mutti, Herr Hummel, or any of the neighbors. She opened the door, and the hall was filled with Nazis. Then they swarmed the room, tearing it apart, looking for signs of the unidentified Herr Hummel.

The theme to the book is that things aren't what they seem. Like cold- hearted Mutti, turns out to be, happy, loving, caring Mutti. And like Herr Hummel's identity. And how no one seemed to think that the Nazis would invade Austria.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books with mystifying people. And anyone who loves to read about history. This is a very creative story. If you wish to find out about Herr Hummel's secret past, Mutti's true feelings, and the story of Greta Radky, you will have to read Play to the Angel.

When I started to read this book, I was captivated. It is interesting and provides a good insight to musical life to someone who is musically challenged. I thought Herr Hummel, or Karl Von Engelhart, was very well-done and interesting. When I finished this book I suddenly wanted to go to Austria and see what it was like. The only thing I didn't like was it ended on a cliff-hanger, and I really tortured myself thinking about if Greta ever saw Lore or Erika or Karl von Engelhart (Herr Hummel) again.

One thing I disagree with in the review above: they say that Doris Ogel's The Devil in Vienna is better than Play to the Angel. It is not! I read about half of TDIV and I was totally bored and disinterested, although I finished it. It was shallow and the emotions of Inge were very undeveloped. Though I'm getting off the subject. Read Play to the Angel and you won't be disappointed!

I loved this book. I read it all in one day.

In this book, Greta is a twelve-year old who wants to be a concert pianist but doesn't have the courage to reach her goals. She has a musical prodigy brother who had recently died, and her mom discourages her love of music. Then Greta meets Herr Hummel, who helps her to believe in herself and present her music to the world. But those happy times don't last; the Nazis soon take over and Greta is overwhelmed with the staggering truth of her piano teacher. I loved the ending of this book. It wasn't the 'happily ever after' sort of ending. But I shan't spoil it for you;)

After reading it, I really wanted to visit Austria and see all those buildings and the musikverein. The author who wrote it had a good sense of Austria and Austrian customs (ie. instead of naming people Mr. Hummel and Mrs. Schaffer, they are addressed as Herr Hummel and Frau Schaffer). I also liked way the author portrayed Greta in this book. The fact that Greta's brother had just died, coupled with the last chapter of this book, gives it a shine of nostalgia and rememberance that makes it a magical reading experience.

I highly recommend people who are just learning about the Holocaust to read this book. It wasn't gory or overly-bloody, and has a good moral behind it: always believe in yourself!

Greta Radky loves to play the piano. In Vienna, Austria, in 1938, the shadow of Hitler and Nazi Germany is looming. Greta's brother, a talented and promising young pianist has recently died. She finds comfort sorting through his music, Scarlatti, Schumann, Bach, Chopin and Clementi. Her mother's grief is so deep that she cannot stand listening to Greta practice and is talking about selling the piano. Greta finds the strength to pursue her talent with the support of the mysterious Herr Hummel, a wonderful piano teacher who recognizes her gift. This book is a sensitive story of hope and courage in dangerous times. The author's knowledge of music and musicians gives the story authenticity. This is the kind of story that inspires young readers to study music. I LOVED this book.