Maria von Trapp and Her Musical Family

by Cheri Blomquist

Since its world premiere on Broadway in 1959, The Sound of Music has captivated millions of people around the world. After it was turned into an Oscar-winning movie, the singing von Trapp family became household names in America. While many know about their heroic resistance to Nazism and their narrow escape from German-occupied Austria, few are familiar with the true story behind the musical. In this New Vision Book, the dramatic history of Maria von Trapp and her musical family comes to life for young readers. Based on her best-selling autobiographies and a memoir by one of her daughters, this novel is part epic adventure and part spiritual testimony to God''s faithfulness. Beginning with her birth on a train and the loss of her parents, and ending with her vital role at the family-run lodge in Vermont, this story shows how Maria learned to trust God at every difficult step in her life and to see his guiding and protecting presence at every turn.

Genres: Childrens

285 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2021

About the author

Cheri Blomquist is a freelance teacher and author, as well as the mother of four daughters and one son. She earned her English education degree in 1994, and she has been part of the homeschool community since 2005 as both a homeschool parent and a teacher for various tutorial programs. One of those programs led to the development of her online course, The Denim Beret Writing Program.

In addition to her work in education, she has written fiction, poetry, and other materials for various programs and publications, such as The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and SchoolhouseTeachers.com.

Currently she lives near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she continues to homeschool, write, and teach. You can learn more about her and her work on her website, Once Upon a Pen. She also maintains a YA book review website, What’s In It?: The Concerned Parent’s Guide to Young Adult Literature at http://www.wiilitguide.com/.

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this marks the tenth work I have read in the Vision Books for Young Readers Series, 7 in the currently in print books from Ignatius Press and three of the older out of print volumes. This one has been out for a few years, and I have had the eBook for a while, but had not got around to reading it yet. It is part of Ignatius’s expansion upon the original titles called New Vision Books. A few years back I did some research on the Vision Books for Young Readers and from the books I have read can state that they are great reads for teens, young adults and adults. This is an excellent read and I understand that Ignatius has several other titles in the work to expand the series. But let us return to this specific volume. The description of the book is:

“Since its world premiere in 1959, the Broadway hit (and movie) musical The Sound of Music has captivated millions of people around the world. Almost everyone knows of the aristocratic von Trapp family, the young postulant Maria who brought music back into their lives, and their harrowing escape from Hitler's evil Third Reich. But few know the incredible true story behind the musical.

In this new Vision Book, that dramatic story is at last told for young readers, based on Maria's bestselling autobiographies and Agathe von Trapp's memoir. Part epic adventure and part spiritual testimony to God's constant faithfulness, this story of the family that became one of the most beloved choirs in history is a page-turner to the very end.

Trusting in God at every difficult step, the von Trapps gradually rose to world-wide fame, finding their place in America and eventually a new identity as American citizens. The harrowing story of their many adventures and ultimate glorious success is one you will never forget!”

And the author bio states:

“Cheri Blomquist is a freelance writer and teacher with a degree in English Education and the Bible. She directs the Denim Beret Writing Program through her website Once upon a Pen. She has also written courses, articles, poems, and stories for The Old Schoolhouse and other magazines.”

The chapters in the book are:

Prologue
1. When Father Didn’t Come
2. A Heart Hardened
3. Return to Jesus
4. Coming Home to Aigen
5. Guitar-Playing Governess
6. Visit from a Princess
7. Closed Door, Opened Window
8. A Change of Destiny
9. A Surprise Performance
10. Shadow Over Austria
11. Escape to America
12. Minstrels of Ellis Island
13. The End of the Beginning
14. Home Sweet American Home
Epilogue
But What About . . . ?

Few people I know have not seen either a play version or the movie The Sound Of Music. In fact since I started reading this I have asked many, and do not know anyone unfamiliar with the popularized version of the story. This book in part sets the story straight and give us far more information on Maria, the tragedies in her early life, and of the family for many years after their escape. It was very hard to read about her early life and what she suffered at the hand of her uncle. It truly is amazing to watch the change in her after an encounter with a well-known priest. And to Watch the family grow and live by faith. As I was reading this I was telling my daughters about it and both the 17 year old and the 13 year old plan to read the story. As well as their aunt in her fifties.

The story is very well written. It is deeply moving. It will inspire and challenge readers of all ages. I plan on reading all the books in this series that are in print and as many of the out of print that I can track down. This is another great book in a wonderful series. My only complaint is that only about a third of the books are available in digital formats, with my dual form of dyslexia and my son’s eye tracking issues eBooks are our preferred format. Fortunately I pick up the eBook of this one shortly after it released, even if it took me a while to get around to reading it. These books are written for a Middle Grade Readers, Teens and Young Adults in mind, but this one and the others I have read are great for readers of all ages.

I can easily recommend this book and series for any home, church, or school library. An excellent book in an amazing series!

This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year, I read Maria by Michelle Moran and loved it so much. I felt starved for more of the Von Trapp Family. I particularly wanted to read more about their time in America. I’d purchased this book a couple of years ago and had forgotten about it until I read Maria. This book covered a lot of the same moments, but also more.

The book follows the Von Trapp Family, starting with Maria’s childhood days through to later in her life in America. While it’s mainly focused on Maria’s perspective, there are also a number of chapters that lean more toward Georg’s perspective, especially in the earlier chapters.

As this book is geared toward younger readers, almost everything is kept on the surface with a bigger focus on faith and spirituality. I appreciated this, as the religious elements of the Von Trapp’s lives are frequently watered down to appeal to a more secular audience (which is a cross between funny and frustrating to me, given Maria was nearly a nun and faith was at the center of their lives and career). However, I do wish there had been more historical context included (particularly World War II). The age group that would be reading this book can certainly handle it.

I’m a bit sad now that I’ve run out of Von Trapp fiction! I’ll cherish this reading experience because I started the book during an overnight trip to the Von Trapp Family Lodge.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Easy to read. Written so upper elementary students could likely read it but it is also appropriate for an adult. It covers the highlights of Maria von Trapp’s life beginning with her birth and going into her old age. This book would also be good family reading, read a chapter at a time. The real life story is very engaging and differs from that in The Sound of Music. Also along life’s challenges it speaks of God’s providence and of their Catholic faith.

[Sarah Winslow]

This was fine. I won't go back to it or anything, but it was a quick read and I got a fuller picture of the story behind the Sound of Music.