What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sound of Life and Everything
A fascinating speculative historical fiction debut set in 1950s California—perfect for fans of When You Reach Me.
Twelve-year-old Ella Mae Higbee is a sensible girl. She eats her vegetables and wants to be just like Sergeant Friday, her favorite character on Dragnet. So when her auntie Mildred starts spouting nonsense about a scientist who can bring her cousin back to life from blood on his dog tags, Ella Mae is skeptical—until he steps out of a bio-pod right before her eyes.
But the boy is not her cousin—he’s Japanese. And in California in the wake of World War II, the Japanese are still feared and despised. When her aunt refuses to take responsibility, Ella Mae and her Mama take him home instead. Determined to do what’s right by her new friend, Ella Mae teaches Takuma English and defends him from the reverend’s talk of H-E-double-toothpicks. But when his memories start to resurface, Ella Mae learns some shocking truths about her own family and more importantly, what it means to love.
Twelve-year-old Ella Mae Higbee is a sensible girl. She eats her vegetables and wants to be just like Sergeant Friday, her favorite character on Dragnet. So when her auntie Mildred starts spouting nonsense about a scientist who can bring her cousin back to life from blood on his dog tags, Ella Mae is skeptical—until he steps out of a bio-pod right before her eyes.
But the boy is not her cousin—he’s Japanese. And in California in the wake of World War II, the Japanese are still feared and despised. When her aunt refuses to take responsibility, Ella Mae and her Mama take him home instead. Determined to do what’s right by her new friend, Ella Mae teaches Takuma English and defends him from the reverend’s talk of H-E-double-toothpicks. But when his memories start to resurface, Ella Mae learns some shocking truths about her own family and more importantly, what it means to love.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2015
17 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Krista Van Dolzer
5 books60 followersI'm a stay-at-home mom by day and a children's author by bedtime. I live with my husband and four kids in Layton, Utah, where I watch too much college football and look for my dead people online. I'm the author of THE SOUND OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, May 2015), DON'T VOTE FOR ME (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, August 2015), and EARTH TO DAD (Capstone, Fall 2018) as well as the forthcoming THE MULTIPLYING MYSTERIES OF MOUNT TEN (Bloomsbury Children's, Winter 2019).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 11, 2014
I think I'm kind of obligated to give this book five stars, but I do love Ella Mae. I've never had to stretch to find her voice; it was always just there.
December 9, 2014
Ella Mae is a tough, smart girl in WWII-era California whose family is grieving deep loss and trying to carry on. Her aunt has given her cousin's dog tags to a doctor who claims he can regenerate people using just their blood. The man who's regenerated isn't her cousin, though--he's a Japanese man.
The concept is totally amazing, and the story addresses love and family and friendship (on several levels!) and prejudice all from the perspective of a kid I think young readers will find relatable and strong. A moving, funny, and totally inventive story with a strong voice!
The concept is totally amazing, and the story addresses love and family and friendship (on several levels!) and prejudice all from the perspective of a kid I think young readers will find relatable and strong. A moving, funny, and totally inventive story with a strong voice!
September 29, 2014
I read an early draft of this book, and I LOVED it! The plot is so clever and you just love Ella-Mae. Can't wait to read the final draft! Krista is so TALENTED!! :D
June 22, 2015
It's 1953 and WWII has been over for 7 years. In fact, for most of 12-year-old Ella Mae Higbee's life. Her older brother Daniel had been killed in the war in Europe and her cousin Robby Clausen died in the Pacific at Iwo Jima. And while Ella Mae's mother has accepted the death of her son, her Auntie Mildred hadn't accepted that her Robby was gone for good. In fact, she still holds on tightly to Robby's bloody dog-tags.
So when Auntie Mildred heard about a scientist who could re-create a person with just a few drops of their blood in his laboratory, she was ready to welcome Robby back from the dead. There was just one problem - the person who was resurrected using Robby's bloody dog-tags was a young Japanese man. How had a Japanese boy's blood ended up on Robby Clausen's dog-tags? Hysterical, Auntie Mildred, along with Ella Mae and her mother leave the laboratory.
But the lab wants someone to take custody of the Japanese man, whose name is Takuma Sato, and since Auntie Mildred didn't get the son she wanted, it was up to Ella Mae and her mother to bring him home with them, much to the chagrin of Mr. Higbee. By now, Auntie Mildred is convinced that it was Takuma who killed Robby and refuses to speak to her sister for taking care of him.
Indeed, Takuma becomes the unwitting catalyst for long held resentments and hatred in Ella Mae's small California town. While he doesn't remember much about his life before he died, for some who are still coming to terms with family members lost in the war, he brings up their hostile feeling towards the Japanese in general. For others, like the Reverend, the fact that Takuma was created in a lab makes him an abomination on the eyes of God.
Even as tempers flare, even as they are ostracized by family, friends and neighbors for taking in Takuma, Ella Mae and her mother stand firm in their belief that they did the right thing. At school, Ella Mae's cousin and best friend Theo turns his back on her, though when she and Takuma are gone after by the class bully, Theo does get help.
Little by little, Takuma begins to remember his former life, but after a few months, he also begins to physically fail. As he grows weaker and weaker, he starts to draw pictures from the war. Soon the truth about how his blood got on Robby's dog-tags become evident in his drawings. But will Auntie Mildred and everyone else in town be able to accept that what happened on Iwo Jima just didn't happen exactly the way they had thought it had?
The Sound of Life and Everything was an interesting book. It's not often that I get to read speculative fiction that has anything to do with WWII with the exception of time travel books, so this was a welcomed addition. The early 1950s was a time when people were becoming aware of DNA thanks to people like Linus Pauling, Francis Crick and James Watson, all mentioned in the novel. But the science isn't the real focus of the story, merely the means to a way of opening up questions of racism, of forgiveness and of replacing ignorance with knowledge.
I thought Ella Mae was a feisty protagonist in this coming of age story, which is told in the first person by her. Sometimes, though, she is a little too quick with her fists, and yet, she is also a thoughtful young girl willing to admit when she is confused by events and attitudes. She willingly takes Takuma under her wing, teaching him English and showing him her favorite spots to hang out. And when her older cousin Gracie takes over the teaching job, there are some pangs of jealousy.
Ella Mae's mother is wonderful. A deeply religious woman, yet she doesn't hesitate to take on the minister when he refuses to let the Higbees into church with Takuma. And though she acknowledges science, her faith will always be in God, even when it comes to Takuma. But, best of all is how she treats Ella Mae. It's nice to read about a mother who isn't crazy or distant or mean. She is right there in Ella Mae's life, and it's clear she loves and respects her daughter, even when she is mad at her.
The Sound of Life and Everything reads so much like realistic historical fiction, I had to keep reminding myself that it is speculative historical fiction - and while that is the best kind of sic-fi, this is a novel that should appeal to almost anyone.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
So when Auntie Mildred heard about a scientist who could re-create a person with just a few drops of their blood in his laboratory, she was ready to welcome Robby back from the dead. There was just one problem - the person who was resurrected using Robby's bloody dog-tags was a young Japanese man. How had a Japanese boy's blood ended up on Robby Clausen's dog-tags? Hysterical, Auntie Mildred, along with Ella Mae and her mother leave the laboratory.
But the lab wants someone to take custody of the Japanese man, whose name is Takuma Sato, and since Auntie Mildred didn't get the son she wanted, it was up to Ella Mae and her mother to bring him home with them, much to the chagrin of Mr. Higbee. By now, Auntie Mildred is convinced that it was Takuma who killed Robby and refuses to speak to her sister for taking care of him.
Indeed, Takuma becomes the unwitting catalyst for long held resentments and hatred in Ella Mae's small California town. While he doesn't remember much about his life before he died, for some who are still coming to terms with family members lost in the war, he brings up their hostile feeling towards the Japanese in general. For others, like the Reverend, the fact that Takuma was created in a lab makes him an abomination on the eyes of God.
Even as tempers flare, even as they are ostracized by family, friends and neighbors for taking in Takuma, Ella Mae and her mother stand firm in their belief that they did the right thing. At school, Ella Mae's cousin and best friend Theo turns his back on her, though when she and Takuma are gone after by the class bully, Theo does get help.
Little by little, Takuma begins to remember his former life, but after a few months, he also begins to physically fail. As he grows weaker and weaker, he starts to draw pictures from the war. Soon the truth about how his blood got on Robby's dog-tags become evident in his drawings. But will Auntie Mildred and everyone else in town be able to accept that what happened on Iwo Jima just didn't happen exactly the way they had thought it had?
The Sound of Life and Everything was an interesting book. It's not often that I get to read speculative fiction that has anything to do with WWII with the exception of time travel books, so this was a welcomed addition. The early 1950s was a time when people were becoming aware of DNA thanks to people like Linus Pauling, Francis Crick and James Watson, all mentioned in the novel. But the science isn't the real focus of the story, merely the means to a way of opening up questions of racism, of forgiveness and of replacing ignorance with knowledge.
I thought Ella Mae was a feisty protagonist in this coming of age story, which is told in the first person by her. Sometimes, though, she is a little too quick with her fists, and yet, she is also a thoughtful young girl willing to admit when she is confused by events and attitudes. She willingly takes Takuma under her wing, teaching him English and showing him her favorite spots to hang out. And when her older cousin Gracie takes over the teaching job, there are some pangs of jealousy.
Ella Mae's mother is wonderful. A deeply religious woman, yet she doesn't hesitate to take on the minister when he refuses to let the Higbees into church with Takuma. And though she acknowledges science, her faith will always be in God, even when it comes to Takuma. But, best of all is how she treats Ella Mae. It's nice to read about a mother who isn't crazy or distant or mean. She is right there in Ella Mae's life, and it's clear she loves and respects her daughter, even when she is mad at her.
The Sound of Life and Everything reads so much like realistic historical fiction, I had to keep reminding myself that it is speculative historical fiction - and while that is the best kind of sic-fi, this is a novel that should appeal to almost anyone.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
This review was originally posted on The Children's War
April 19, 2015
This was fantastic. Newbery-caliber stuff. Honest and heartbreaking, and oh, did I adore Ella Mae and her mother.
May 14, 2020
Elle Mae has got to be one of my favorite characters! She’s sweet and spunky. The author did such a good job of portraying a child’s perspective as sometimes they think they understand something and other times full on recognize they don’t have a clue. She felt deeply and made me feel deeply as I read this. It’s an interesting narrative on how people treat people compared to how we should and the confusion that sometimes comes as we try to figure that all out. It’s definitely science fiction by nature, but there was so much more to it.
Read
February 24, 2015One of the magical things about this book is how it frames a seemingly outlandish scenario (the cloning of a full-grown man in the 1950s) in the deceptively simple idea: What if it happened to my family? By narrowing in on one girl, her family, and the small community, we see so much of the bigger picture of the world. Ella Mae navigates a hugely complex situation with the frank clarity of a child who has two choices demonstrated by her parents: generosity and love, or fear and withdrawal.
And that's where another of the magical things about this book lies: there is no authorial judgment for those who aren't quite brave enough (yet) to step out of fear and into love. (Though Ella Mae certainly has opinions! :) Generosity and love can be hard and scary, and watching Ella Mae struggle with her choices is good practice for all of us. It's a beautiful element. (And difficult to write about without spoilers! :)
The lovely simplicity of this book creates room for a multitude of emotions. And, yes, there were tears at the end--as well as hope. "After all, pain was for remembering--and so were pork links."
And that's where another of the magical things about this book lies: there is no authorial judgment for those who aren't quite brave enough (yet) to step out of fear and into love. (Though Ella Mae certainly has opinions! :) Generosity and love can be hard and scary, and watching Ella Mae struggle with her choices is good practice for all of us. It's a beautiful element. (And difficult to write about without spoilers! :)
The lovely simplicity of this book creates room for a multitude of emotions. And, yes, there were tears at the end--as well as hope. "After all, pain was for remembering--and so were pork links."
February 10, 2015
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book a couple of years ago, and now I've just finished the ARC. It was absolutely as fantastic as I remembered--so full of heart, wisdom, and voice. Ella Mae is a spunky, unforgettable heroine, and the plot of this novel is just so original and creative that it blew me away all over again. This one is clearly going to be at or near the top of my list of middle-grade reads for 2015.
January 10, 2018
It was good. But it wasn't really good, let alone amazing. Maybe I've read too many deep, descriptive YA novels lately and not enough Middle Grade. :P
The writing style flowed nicely, but there was hardly enough detail. I didn't really feel the setting at all. The science fiction didn't blend smoothly with the historical fiction. The ending was a bit rushed and disappointing - Ella Mae's speech was NOT something a 12-year-old would realistically come up with (let alone off the top of her head.) Things moved really, really fast too... but I appreciated the quick read. :)
I'm giving this book 3 stars, however, because theme is very important to a story, and the author executed her very important theme wonderfully. Maybe The Sound of Life and Everything fell short in more ways than one. Maybe it didn't suck me in like I always want stories to. But the lessons on prejudice were well-executed. I'll give it that!
For Middle Grade, this is a good book. Nothing more, nothing less.
The writing style flowed nicely, but there was hardly enough detail. I didn't really feel the setting at all. The science fiction didn't blend smoothly with the historical fiction. The ending was a bit rushed and disappointing - Ella Mae's speech was NOT something a 12-year-old would realistically come up with (let alone off the top of her head.) Things moved really, really fast too... but I appreciated the quick read. :)
I'm giving this book 3 stars, however, because theme is very important to a story, and the author executed her very important theme wonderfully. Maybe The Sound of Life and Everything fell short in more ways than one. Maybe it didn't suck me in like I always want stories to. But the lessons on prejudice were well-executed. I'll give it that!
For Middle Grade, this is a good book. Nothing more, nothing less.
October 15, 2024
Fictional story about the realities of Japanese in America during WW2. Loss, love, and dealing with injustice.
February 3, 2016
It was so hard to figure out how many stars to give this book. I have a LOT of feelings about it.
First, the good: The writing is quite deft. The cover art. The concept! I had NO problem suspending disbelief in regard to the regeneration plot. I could easily see this as a film for a PG-13 or adult audience. Why PG-13 or adult? Well, that's where "the bad" comes in...
I'd really like to see someone with a more nuanced understanding of how minority characters have been treated in "white stories" over the years, because I think with some important tweaks, this story could have been much, much better. Because despite its treatment of racial prejudice in the states after WWII, this is a VERY typical white story.
The bad: Whoa nelly is this ever a story with a majorly problematic approach to complex issues of racism and prejudice. The Japanese character, brought back to life after having been killed at Iwo Jima by the narrator's cousin, is so flatly portrayed as an angelic Jesus-like figure that he seems completely unreal, and his entire narrative purpose is to provide Very Important Lessons and Character Development for the white characters. He hardly has a voice, and that is not just because he speaks limited English. The author only very briefly touches on the fact that he has been horribly, violently displaced from his home and family and the moral implications of that- it's waved away after one phone call the mother makes to the Japanese embassy. He is so very serene that he seems completely free of anger or the MASSIVE levels of confusion and displacement that any person in his position would have to feel. This Christ-like, beatific nature of his, that he is "too good for them," is reiterated throughout the book and robs him of any real humanity. When he inevitably dies at the end of the book it is clearly the grand finale in a redemption arc for the white and folksy-talking Ella Mae, her white family, and her white town, which is just gross.
First, the good: The writing is quite deft. The cover art. The concept! I had NO problem suspending disbelief in regard to the regeneration plot. I could easily see this as a film for a PG-13 or adult audience. Why PG-13 or adult? Well, that's where "the bad" comes in...
I'd really like to see someone with a more nuanced understanding of how minority characters have been treated in "white stories" over the years, because I think with some important tweaks, this story could have been much, much better. Because despite its treatment of racial prejudice in the states after WWII, this is a VERY typical white story.
The bad: Whoa nelly is this ever a story with a majorly problematic approach to complex issues of racism and prejudice. The Japanese character, brought back to life after having been killed at Iwo Jima by the narrator's cousin, is so flatly portrayed as an angelic Jesus-like figure that he seems completely unreal, and his entire narrative purpose is to provide Very Important Lessons and Character Development for the white characters. He hardly has a voice, and that is not just because he speaks limited English. The author only very briefly touches on the fact that he has been horribly, violently displaced from his home and family and the moral implications of that- it's waved away after one phone call the mother makes to the Japanese embassy. He is so very serene that he seems completely free of anger or the MASSIVE levels of confusion and displacement that any person in his position would have to feel. This Christ-like, beatific nature of his, that he is "too good for them," is reiterated throughout the book and robs him of any real humanity. When he inevitably dies at the end of the book it is clearly the grand finale in a redemption arc for the white and folksy-talking Ella Mae, her white family, and her white town, which is just gross.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2015
I love Ella Mae!! She's such brave, tough and independent girl, yet, she's still act like a girl at her age.
This novel combined historical, drama, family and sci-fi genre and it blended really well, especially how Ella Mae protected Takuma from everything that could be a danger to him. I couldn't help but wondering while reading this book, how the end would be. When I reached the final pages, I just sighed and said to myself, "What a story". This book could have a chance to be very boring and predictable, but it turned out to be a story that is hard to forget. This book also teaches about racism and how it is still very relevant today and how Ella Mae and his mother stood up for Takuma, aside from the neighborhood who clearly rejected Takuma. Post-WWII became the main theme that connected the story between Ella Mae and Takuma and how the family dealt with losing their family members in the war.
I love this book and it clearly became one of my favorites book I read this year.
This novel combined historical, drama, family and sci-fi genre and it blended really well, especially how Ella Mae protected Takuma from everything that could be a danger to him. I couldn't help but wondering while reading this book, how the end would be. When I reached the final pages, I just sighed and said to myself, "What a story". This book could have a chance to be very boring and predictable, but it turned out to be a story that is hard to forget. This book also teaches about racism and how it is still very relevant today and how Ella Mae and his mother stood up for Takuma, aside from the neighborhood who clearly rejected Takuma. Post-WWII became the main theme that connected the story between Ella Mae and Takuma and how the family dealt with losing their family members in the war.
I love this book and it clearly became one of my favorites book I read this year.
January 30, 2016
Great premise (and great cover art), but a major disappointment on a number of levels. I have no problem with science fiction that is unrealistic (just to be clear on that front), but I do have a problem with a fictional 1950s California town that bears no relation to any real California town that ever existed in any era. The narrator talks in a cutesy-folksy voice that sounds like she's trying to channel Mark Twain. The characters act as though they've never seen an Asian person in their lives (did I mention they live in CALIFORNIA?). On top of that, the tone of the novel just doesn't work very well as it takes dizzying turns through wacky slapstick, weird science, down-home humor, and seriously intense messages about, well, the sound of life and everything. A lot of people really like this book, but ... I'm confused as to why. I'll be interested to see what this author follows up with, as this is a first novel.
May 16, 2018
The author of this book walked into our elementary's library and donated this book and another one she wrote. I'm so glad that I read this one. It was delightful and had a really interesting premise. The main character, Ella Mae is spunky, and it was fun to hear the story from her point of view. It also brought up some interesting things to think about and some serious issues as well. I look forward to hearing what some of the kids at school think about this one.
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #20 A book by a local author
2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge: #20 A book by a local author
March 14, 2015
A surprising and thought-provoking book that uses a speculative premise in a historical context, thus creating a fantastic springboard for discussion. Van Dolzer combines contemporary fiction with a touch of sci-fi much like Zilpha Keatley Snyder or Rebecca Stead have been known to do. In a weird way I was also reminded of Flowers for Algernon. This book make me wish I was still involved in kids' book clubs because I would have loved the discussion that came out of it.
October 18, 2015
What a strange book--I did not look forward going back to it each night, much to my chagrin! The author writes beautifully, but the story concept is a bit bizarre and I imagine hard for middle grade students to put into proper perspective. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief around the "mad science" portrayed in the book in order to revel in the author's intended messages around love and acceptance. But that's just me--go ahead and see what you think!
July 7, 2015
Interesting premise. A good look at prejudices for kids. Very strong young girl as the central character. I had some problems with the idea that a cloned person would be adult and have memories of a previous life, but it is just a fantasy after all.
July 27, 2015
Inventive. Love children's literature that makes you think.
March 31, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised after reading this title. It is a great book all on its own but I have a funny little quirk that if I am familiar with an author then somehow I have lower expectations. Silly me. The book was all that a historical fiction should be. Additionally, it covered a time that I've read very little about. This book takes place after WWII and shows the effects that the war had on a family in California.
Ella Mae lost a brother in the war as well as a cousin. There is a touch of science fiction in the book with the use of DNA. Sci-Fi is my least favorite genre, but it was not the focus of the book and was necessary to the plot. DNA is used to bring back Ella Mae's cousin but instead it produces a young Japanese soldier. The prejudices against the soldier in the wake of WWII was interesting. It was a heartwarming book about love and friendship. I also liked the look at family dynamics. I loved Ella Mae's mom and her spunky personality. I also liked that the students could see how Ella Mae's parents didn't see eye to eye but they made their relationship work. I'm delighted that I can recommend the book on its own merits and not just because the author is wonderful - but she is!
The author came by invitation to speak at our elementary school's PTA sponsored book club. We chose this book because the author's children go to our school and she is local, but she was great. Feeling left out? Read the "Author's Note." Many of the questions the students asked were answered in the author's note. Learning about the background of the story added to my enjoyment.
She was super patient with many of the student's questions and suggestions of how to improve her writing. LOL. I, along with the students, learned about her upcoming projects and how it takes about two years to get a book published once an author finished writing it. Crazy!
Ella Mae lost a brother in the war as well as a cousin. There is a touch of science fiction in the book with the use of DNA. Sci-Fi is my least favorite genre, but it was not the focus of the book and was necessary to the plot. DNA is used to bring back Ella Mae's cousin but instead it produces a young Japanese soldier. The prejudices against the soldier in the wake of WWII was interesting. It was a heartwarming book about love and friendship. I also liked the look at family dynamics. I loved Ella Mae's mom and her spunky personality. I also liked that the students could see how Ella Mae's parents didn't see eye to eye but they made their relationship work. I'm delighted that I can recommend the book on its own merits and not just because the author is wonderful - but she is!
The author came by invitation to speak at our elementary school's PTA sponsored book club. We chose this book because the author's children go to our school and she is local, but she was great. Feeling left out? Read the "Author's Note." Many of the questions the students asked were answered in the author's note. Learning about the background of the story added to my enjoyment.
She was super patient with many of the student's questions and suggestions of how to improve her writing. LOL. I, along with the students, learned about her upcoming projects and how it takes about two years to get a book published once an author finished writing it. Crazy!
October 5, 2019
This is an interesting story. Imagine being able to bring back the dead to life by using just their DNA. The twist to this story however, is that instead of an American soldier, a Japanese was 'reincarnated' in his stead. Assuming that the blood on Robby's dog tag was his own, Mildred was shocked to find out that it belonged not to her son but to an 'enemy' known as Takuma.
Thus begin the Takuma's second life as a hated outsider in California. However he's not alone. Ella Mae and her mom, Anna 'adopted' Takuma into their household and soon Takuma occupies both Ella Mae's heart as her best friend and as a consolation in place of her dead brother Daniel who also got killed during the war.
This whole book speaks of being human; to treat other human beings with kindness and equality regardless of one's race and nationality. It also tells on forgiveness, that it takes a humongous heart to forgive those who've hurt us. And ultimately it showcases how War divide us and further 'justify' our hate for each other due to the beliefs that has been fed by those who started War to satisfy their own greed for power.
Overall it's a great read with witty humor and touching edges, a story worth pondering about.
Thus begin the Takuma's second life as a hated outsider in California. However he's not alone. Ella Mae and her mom, Anna 'adopted' Takuma into their household and soon Takuma occupies both Ella Mae's heart as her best friend and as a consolation in place of her dead brother Daniel who also got killed during the war.
This whole book speaks of being human; to treat other human beings with kindness and equality regardless of one's race and nationality. It also tells on forgiveness, that it takes a humongous heart to forgive those who've hurt us. And ultimately it showcases how War divide us and further 'justify' our hate for each other due to the beliefs that has been fed by those who started War to satisfy their own greed for power.
Overall it's a great read with witty humor and touching edges, a story worth pondering about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
My eyes started to water. "Did it ever stop hurtin'?" I peeped. "After Daniel passed away?" She tucked one of my braids behind my ear. "No, it never did. But at some point in these last eight years, it did stop festerin'. Now it's a clean, smooth pain in the middle of my chest. I hardly ever feel it, only when I take a breath." She smiled like she'd just said something funny but I didn't feel like laughing. "Guess I have something to look forward to." "I guess you do," she said pushing herself back to her feet. "But can I ask you a question?" I didn't exactly nod, but I didn't shake my head, either. "Would you ever want it to stop hurtin'?" More quietly she added, "Would you ever want to forget?" Not in a hundred lifetimes. Grudgingly, I shook my head. "I didn't think so," Mama said. —pg 260
This book made me realize that as much as I wanted my dad to come back to life, I'd rather not because it would hurt as twice as when he left the first time when it's time for him to leave again. I used to wish to give him one more chance to live, but now thinking just about it crushes me—not just for me, but also for him.
I miss him a lot and through the years that we've lost him, time has not helped in healing. After all, pain is for remembering.
This book made me realize that as much as I wanted my dad to come back to life, I'd rather not because it would hurt as twice as when he left the first time when it's time for him to leave again. I used to wish to give him one more chance to live, but now thinking just about it crushes me—not just for me, but also for him.
I miss him a lot and through the years that we've lost him, time has not helped in healing. After all, pain is for remembering.
February 4, 2024
3.5 Stars
In this post-WW2 era middle grade novel, Ella Mae Higbee is a very logically-minded 12 year old girl. Her cousin Robby was a casualty in the war, and one day her Aunt Mildred starts talking about a scientist who claims to be able to bring Robby back from the dead with this pod-style technology. When the family starts working with the scientist, what comes out of the pod is not Robby, but a Japanese boy. Ella Mae knows she'll have to keep his existence and the story of how all this came about as secret as possible for his protection.
There's not much to the plot, this story is strongly character-driven. But Ella Mae's sass makes for a fun read, and I came to love Mama's true "mama bear" side, like when she goes into protective mode, saying things like, "You will put her down this instant or I will gut you where you stand." Or when she's explaining that losing someone you love never really stops hurting, but after awhile "it stops festerin'."
This is a good choice for introducing middle grade readers to the topic of racism and how to combat it.
In this post-WW2 era middle grade novel, Ella Mae Higbee is a very logically-minded 12 year old girl. Her cousin Robby was a casualty in the war, and one day her Aunt Mildred starts talking about a scientist who claims to be able to bring Robby back from the dead with this pod-style technology. When the family starts working with the scientist, what comes out of the pod is not Robby, but a Japanese boy. Ella Mae knows she'll have to keep his existence and the story of how all this came about as secret as possible for his protection.
There's not much to the plot, this story is strongly character-driven. But Ella Mae's sass makes for a fun read, and I came to love Mama's true "mama bear" side, like when she goes into protective mode, saying things like, "You will put her down this instant or I will gut you where you stand." Or when she's explaining that losing someone you love never really stops hurting, but after awhile "it stops festerin'."
This is a good choice for introducing middle grade readers to the topic of racism and how to combat it.
November 29, 2017
World War Two has ended and Ella Mae Higbee has had her fair share of loss. Her loved ones have been long gone and she has moved on. Her Aunt however, thinks she has found someone to bring her son back to life. But when the time comes for them to meet her son Robby again, all is not as it seems.
The human brought back to life wasn't Robby. It was a Japanese boy. Ella Mae knows he will be mistreated in the lab so she brings him home.
"The Sound Of Life And Everything" is a compelling story that shows what it really means to love. Readers who enjoy stories with loss and love will be interested to read this beautiful tale.
The human brought back to life wasn't Robby. It was a Japanese boy. Ella Mae knows he will be mistreated in the lab so she brings him home.
"The Sound Of Life And Everything" is a compelling story that shows what it really means to love. Readers who enjoy stories with loss and love will be interested to read this beautiful tale.
April 23, 2020
The Sound of Life and Everything was my comeback read after 2-3 years of not leisure reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it until the end. Unlike reading films, it reminded me of the visual freedom there is to reading and I especially enjoyed the world this book painted. It’s historical basis made it interesting enough to spark my interest and thus makes it different from others. Although I would not recommend this to those who obviously aren’t interested in this genre, it is a read waiting to be explored.
February 1, 2025
My student gave me this book for the holidays and I just got around to reading it! I LOVED Ella Mae, she is so stubborn and passionate about her opinions and what she believes is right in the world. Mama is such a strong female role model for Ella Mae, which just adds to it all.
This story is such a great blend of what I would call “lowkey Sci-Fi” and Historical Fiction and I LOVED IT. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own- but I want to read EVERYTHING by this author now!
This story is such a great blend of what I would call “lowkey Sci-Fi” and Historical Fiction and I LOVED IT. I wouldn’t have picked it up on my own- but I want to read EVERYTHING by this author now!
May 12, 2021
Loved Ella Mae as a character!! The beginning of the book was extremely slow but it builds up gradually. The wait was definitely worth it 🥺 My favourite quote from the book is “Sometimes a little good can grow out of a lot of bad”. I’ll forever remember it!
March 6, 2020
Interesting twist on history. Good lessons to be taught.
January 26, 2021
A middle grade book about racism. The topic is appreciated, and the story was...meh. I enjoyed it enough to finish. Gave it 2.5 stars, rounded up.
December 5, 2021
Overall, it was a good book. I definitely shed a few tears at the end and the way it ended concluded the story beautifully. It's not something that I would pick up again but I am glad that I read it.
July 4, 2024
This was very sweet and a unique twist for a historical that I really appreciated! I definitely lost momentum with this one and honestly kinda forgot about it at times… but otherwise a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews