The Children of Willesden Lane: A True Story of Hope and Survival During World War II

by Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen, Emil Sher (Adapted by)

A young readers' edition of an important and inspiring true story of hope and survival during World War II.

Fourteen-year-old Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who hoped to become a concert pianist. But when Hitler's armies advanced on pre-war Vienna, Lisa's parents were forced to make a difficult decision. Able to secure passage for only one of their three daughters through the Kindertransport, they chose to send gifted Lisa to London for safety.
As she yearned to be reunited with her family while she lived in a home for refugee children on Willesden Lane, Lisa's music became a beacon of hope. A memoir of courage and the power of music to uplift the human spirit, this compelling tribute to one special young woman and the lives she touched will both educate and inspire young readers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Education, World War II, War

272 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a heart breaking and eye opening insight into yet another child's experience having to live away from home during WW2....so many families torn apart and the sorrows dealt with; the adjustments for the children been taken to live elsewhere to possibly give them a chance to live. Amazing story even as it grieved my soul with the unimaginable upheaval and anguish experienced by millions because of Hitler and his henchmen creating havoc and despair.

Well worth reading!

[Sara J Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not a memoir, y’all. Mona wrote this book to tell her mother‘s story. Lisa Jura survived the holocaust because of the saving grace of England and the Kindertransport.

I really like this book and I encourage my students to read it. The beginning of the book is set in Austria, so students get a small taste of the Nazis treatment of Jews. Chapter 2 includes Kristallnacht. The book includes enough details that they can visualize the event, without being too traumatic.

From there Lisa departs on the train goes to England and faces all of the challenges of being alone, wondering about her family, trying to make her way, and survive war. I like the way that Mona tells the story almost as historical fiction. It reads like a novel. And many of my students mistake it for that.

I like that it is accessible to higher elementary and up and that it has a “happy“ ending. I love the motif of music from the front cover to the very last page and the use of third person, which Students don’t see as often these days.

Overall it’s a good book, and I always enjoy it every time I’ve read it.

[Hope (Heaton) Yeagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this as a read aloud with my students. Great story for middle schoolers to learn more about the holocaust. Enjoyed hearing the perspective of someone who survived the holocaust as a child as a part of the kinder transport and living as a refugee in the UK.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely cried my way through this story. I can't imagine all the sacrifices these people made to take care of displaced Jewish children and all the parents that waved goodbye to their kids and never saw them again. It makes you hug your loved ones a little tighter and love a little deeper while never taking for granted what you have been given.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Children's Books group, theme 'non-traditional family.' Note that I'm reading the young readers edition.
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oops, forgot to review. I did enjoy it and learned a lot.

[Catherine Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Add .5

I feel I have a pretty good grasp of what European Jews had to endure during the Nazi regime of World War II, but this is the first time I've experienced the Kindertransport story of Jewish refugees who escaped to England. This testament gives a different perspective of the obstacles the children who were separated from their families had to overcome in their efforts to make it through the war. Mona Golabek deftly tells the story passed down from her mother Lisa about the latter's experiences after she escaped Vienna in 1938. I am interested in reading the "adult" edition to see how much more in depth Golabek tells this story of a not-so-well-known part of history.

[Michael Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The writing style is virtually perfect. The plot felt true to life, and emphasized the struggles that people experienced at the time. The characters are thoughtfully written, with each one playing a unique and substantial role in the novel. Not one character is unnecessary nor wasted. The author’s incorporation of Lisa’s music as a medicine for the harsh realities she faced in the book ties the whole novel together. It was absolutely a page turner, and throughout the whole novel I was eager to know what would happen next. Whether you like historical fiction or not, you will absolutely love this novel.

[Susan Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was donated to our school, and all of the 8th graders will be reading it soon. It is going to be a great unit for them. The story is powerful and poignant and an introduction to the sadness, isolation, and separations that swept Europe during ww2. There is loss and grief while also showing relatable coming of age experiences of first loves and figuring out one's path.

[nat h · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book within two days and then proceeded to go to the “show” of it at the near end of January.
Everything about this book strikes me. Great writting, description etc. Also had the privilege to meet & talk with the author of this book, amazing woman. would definitely recommend giving this book a read.

[Ronald E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story about fourteen-year-old Lisa Jura, a musical prodigy who aspired to become a concert pianist; however, when Hitler's armies advanced on pre-war Vienna, Lisa's parents were forced to make a difficult decision. Able to secure passage for one of their three daughters through a rescue effort that relocated Jewish children to Great Britain, they chose to send Lisa.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful nod to the sustenance music can provide to those who are far from home and in fear for their loved ones and the future. A wonderful piece of history told through some of those who were were brought to England by the Kindertransport.

[Charlotte Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book a whole lot. i read it for school and i thought i wouldn’t like it at all but i couldn’t put it down at all! i recommend this book.

[Hayden Hughes]

ok

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! I didn't realize it was a youth book when I checked it out, but I enjoyed it.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good autobiography of ww2

[keisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

clair de lune

[sophie maltbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Claire Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows the journey of the main character Lisa as she finds a new life for herself at the age of 15 when her parents and little sister have to go to the concentration camps, but she was able to escape to Great Britain. Her parents choose to send her cause she is a musically gifted child with the piano and her parents wanted her to be able to continue playing, so she ends up living in a hostel with other kids in the same boat as her.

[Zenith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a beautiful story. The world around her was constantly changing, chaos erupting from every aspect of life due to the war. But she found and had created, not only for herself but for others suffering the same as her, love, hope, and order amidst the chaos with her skill & love playing the piano.

[Bethany Venn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww this book made me cry 😓😓