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A Sky Full of Song
This heartwarming, beautifully written middle-grade historicalnovel about an untold American frontier story is destined to be a cherished classic.
North Dakota, 1905
After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it.
For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult, as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
North Dakota, 1905
After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it.
For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult, as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2023
19 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 20, 2023
Why haven’t I read any of the author’s work before? I am quite disappointed with myself!
This is such a well written story about a young girl, Shoshana and her family struggling during the time of progrom which happened to attacked Jewish homes. As a result their family had to leave their village and had to follow strict rules that allowed them limited movement and access to opportunities, forcing boys and men to become army for the tsar.
I find the writing outstanding which expresses coming of age and trauma with sensitivity. My heart got broken but also my heart got healed then and there because of the amazing writing.
This story is heartbreaking but also quite comforting to read while reading about the family dynamics and the sibling relationship.
However, I would like to warn the young readers about some parts which depict assault towards a minor and animal cruelty.
The story ends on a wholesome note which I really appreciate when it comes to books for young readers.
Thank you,Union Square Kids, for the advance reading copy.
This is such a well written story about a young girl, Shoshana and her family struggling during the time of progrom which happened to attacked Jewish homes. As a result their family had to leave their village and had to follow strict rules that allowed them limited movement and access to opportunities, forcing boys and men to become army for the tsar.
I find the writing outstanding which expresses coming of age and trauma with sensitivity. My heart got broken but also my heart got healed then and there because of the amazing writing.
This story is heartbreaking but also quite comforting to read while reading about the family dynamics and the sibling relationship.
However, I would like to warn the young readers about some parts which depict assault towards a minor and animal cruelty.
The story ends on a wholesome note which I really appreciate when it comes to books for young readers.
Thank you,Union Square Kids, for the advance reading copy.
May 9, 2023
I would have loved this book when I was 11, 10, 9, 12 even more that I did now. It’s a book I would have buried myself in and not abandoned reading until I finished it. I love it now too. It’s a special book. I will check out this author’s other books.
This is kind of a cross between the Little House on the Prairie books and the All of A Kind Family books
The book shows antisemitism in ways more intense than the books from my childhood but I think it is at an appropriate level for middle grade readers. The book started with an attack for being Jewish in Ukraine and showed plenty of instances of anti-Jewish feelings in North Dakota.
The conditions in North Dakota at that time were brutal (and fascinating to read about!) but the right to own land and freedom from violence, though not from prejudice, makes emigration make sense.
There is useful and interesting history information included in the author’s note including links to learn more about the Dakota people and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, and also the history of the Jews in the Russian Empire and the Pale of Settlement. This book is obviously well researched and sources are listed in the back of the book.
I loved the way the family relationships were shown. They seemed completely authentic, and I especially enjoyed the relationships between the older daughters and the younger daughters. The cat is great. The dog is great. There is a horse. There is the prairie. There is the fiddle music. There is Channukah and it ends up having a crucial part in one scene in the story. All of the characters seem real. Family members, friends, the teacher, local people in both North Dakota and Ukraine. This was a book that was easy to get into and hard to put down. The writing is lovely. The storytelling is compelling. The characters and relationships ring true.
What felt slightly off to me is some of what 11-year-old Shoshana knows and a couple of the terms she uses when she uses them. Even though the flaws of the family members are definitely shown, they do seem maybe just slightly too good. There is also the obvious attempt to educate about Judaism and the Dakota, though I wish there had been more about the latter. I think for the target audience they’re not going to nitpick any of the things that I did. I would not have even noticed them as a child.
All the way through I debated about giving it 4 or 5 stars and I’m still conflicted.
4-1/2 stars, and I’ve changed my mind and decided to round up to 5. It’s just too good for a 4 only. I started with rounding down to 4. For me this is exactly a 4-1/2 star book so I’m letting my younger self make the final decision. Yes, I loved the book and I don’t think that I’ll change my mind again.
Highly recommended for people who enjoy children’s historical fiction stories, historical fiction prairie stories, stories about Jewish families, and most 9-12 year old readers. This would also make a perfect read aloud for classrooms and for families. There is a lot readers/listeners might want to discuss.
This is kind of a cross between the Little House on the Prairie books and the All of A Kind Family books
The book shows antisemitism in ways more intense than the books from my childhood but I think it is at an appropriate level for middle grade readers. The book started with an attack for being Jewish in Ukraine and showed plenty of instances of anti-Jewish feelings in North Dakota.
The conditions in North Dakota at that time were brutal (and fascinating to read about!) but the right to own land and freedom from violence, though not from prejudice, makes emigration make sense.
There is useful and interesting history information included in the author’s note including links to learn more about the Dakota people and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, and also the history of the Jews in the Russian Empire and the Pale of Settlement. This book is obviously well researched and sources are listed in the back of the book.
I loved the way the family relationships were shown. They seemed completely authentic, and I especially enjoyed the relationships between the older daughters and the younger daughters. The cat is great. The dog is great. There is a horse. There is the prairie. There is the fiddle music. There is Channukah and it ends up having a crucial part in one scene in the story. All of the characters seem real. Family members, friends, the teacher, local people in both North Dakota and Ukraine. This was a book that was easy to get into and hard to put down. The writing is lovely. The storytelling is compelling. The characters and relationships ring true.
What felt slightly off to me is some of what 11-year-old Shoshana knows and a couple of the terms she uses when she uses them. Even though the flaws of the family members are definitely shown, they do seem maybe just slightly too good. There is also the obvious attempt to educate about Judaism and the Dakota, though I wish there had been more about the latter. I think for the target audience they’re not going to nitpick any of the things that I did. I would not have even noticed them as a child.
All the way through I debated about giving it 4 or 5 stars and I’m still conflicted.
4-1/2 stars, and I’ve changed my mind and decided to round up to 5. It’s just too good for a 4 only. I started with rounding down to 4. For me this is exactly a 4-1/2 star book so I’m letting my younger self make the final decision. Yes, I loved the book and I don’t think that I’ll change my mind again.
Highly recommended for people who enjoy children’s historical fiction stories, historical fiction prairie stories, stories about Jewish families, and most 9-12 year old readers. This would also make a perfect read aloud for classrooms and for families. There is a lot readers/listeners might want to discuss.
September 8, 2023
Oh, my, where to begin?
Setting: (Beginning)-Ukraine, 1905, then North Dakota Territory
A large Jewish family escapes the persecution in their country by immigrating to North Dakota. The eleven-year-old middle daughter finds the new life to be quite different than she expected, in positive and some negative ways.
This would be a wonderful teaching tool for middle-grade classrooms. It touches on the subjects of immigration and Ellis Island, anti-semitism, and the forced removal of Native Americans from their lands.
I must echo what several other reviewers have said; if you’re a fan of the Little House books, this is a must-read! It also reminded me of the American Girl books about Kirsten, an immigrant child from Sweden.
Here’s an idea that popped into my head while reading that might be a good classroom activity: a Venn diagram comparing/contrasting Laura Ingalls Wilder and Shoshanna, for those who have read about both. (Every once in a while the former teacher in me just re-surfaces!)😀
Excellent historical fiction! The author’s other novels are winners, too!
Setting: (Beginning)-Ukraine, 1905, then North Dakota Territory
A large Jewish family escapes the persecution in their country by immigrating to North Dakota. The eleven-year-old middle daughter finds the new life to be quite different than she expected, in positive and some negative ways.
This would be a wonderful teaching tool for middle-grade classrooms. It touches on the subjects of immigration and Ellis Island, anti-semitism, and the forced removal of Native Americans from their lands.
I must echo what several other reviewers have said; if you’re a fan of the Little House books, this is a must-read! It also reminded me of the American Girl books about Kirsten, an immigrant child from Sweden.
Here’s an idea that popped into my head while reading that might be a good classroom activity: a Venn diagram comparing/contrasting Laura Ingalls Wilder and Shoshanna, for those who have read about both. (Every once in a while the former teacher in me just re-surfaces!)😀
Excellent historical fiction! The author’s other novels are winners, too!
April 8, 2023
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
A Sky Full of Song is a new classic for the middle grade genre, depicting a necessary viewpoint in the pioneer west: that of Jewish immigrants, fleeing pogroms in Ukraine. Shoshana's viewpoint depicts intense awe and love for her new home, love for her large family and cats, and fear of the racism and violence that caused them to flee their old home--only to find that the same darkness exists in America. This is the sort of deftly-done book that manages to be cozy and yet also horrible, because some truly terrible things happen, but those horrors are balanced by hope and love. The writing is lovely, too. The author channels Willa Cather in a wonderful way.
A Sky Full of Song is a new classic for the middle grade genre, depicting a necessary viewpoint in the pioneer west: that of Jewish immigrants, fleeing pogroms in Ukraine. Shoshana's viewpoint depicts intense awe and love for her new home, love for her large family and cats, and fear of the racism and violence that caused them to flee their old home--only to find that the same darkness exists in America. This is the sort of deftly-done book that manages to be cozy and yet also horrible, because some truly terrible things happen, but those horrors are balanced by hope and love. The writing is lovely, too. The author channels Willa Cather in a wonderful way.
October 21, 2024
What if a Jewish girl grew up on the North Dakota prairie in the early 1900s? What kind of challenges will Shoshana face after they immigrate from Ukraine to North Dakota? As Shoshana adapts to her new life, she and her family will be faced with decisions about staying true to their Jewish faith.
May 12, 2023
A Sky Full of Song is a moving, enlightening, and important middle grade book about immigration, prejudice, and life on the prairie. Featuring a smart 11-year-old protagonist, this one will appeal to younger middle grade readers who enjoy historical fiction. Kids will have so many questions about the day-to-day lives of Shoshana and her family. This will make a great book for classroom readalouds.
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/a-sky-...
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/a-sky-...
February 16, 2024
A Sky Full of Song is in one of my favorite contemporary middle grade niches: spins on Little House. I can’t recall the last time I read a middle grade novel about a Jewish family in the US that wasn’t set in a city!
There are nods that LHOP readers will catch. A Sky Full of Song felt fully differentiated, yet with nods to Wilder's books, set around 30 years after LHOP and written around 70 years later.
I loved the close but realistic family dynamics. I hope for a sequel to deepen some of those plotlines and to learn what happens! There is lots of potential for more stories, about Shoshana or her siblings. I also appreciated Shoshana's encounter with her friends' Christian beliefs, and that Meyer let the situation rest in its tension and didn't try to fix everything. It felt more natural that way, though it was necessarily awkward and unresolved. I admire authors who are brave enough to do that.
Content warning: the book begins with a violent antisemitic incident in Ukraine and antisemitism recurs throughout the book (including an assault by her classmates), but Shoshana reflects on it carefully.
There are nods that LHOP readers will catch. A Sky Full of Song felt fully differentiated, yet with nods to Wilder's books, set around 30 years after LHOP and written around 70 years later.
I loved the close but realistic family dynamics. I hope for a sequel to deepen some of those plotlines and to learn what happens! There is lots of potential for more stories, about Shoshana or her siblings. I also appreciated Shoshana's encounter with her friends' Christian beliefs, and that Meyer let the situation rest in its tension and didn't try to fix everything. It felt more natural that way, though it was necessarily awkward and unresolved. I admire authors who are brave enough to do that.
Content warning: the book begins with a violent antisemitic incident in Ukraine and antisemitism recurs throughout the book (including an assault by her classmates), but Shoshana reflects on it carefully.
November 25, 2024
This book touched me in various ways. First of all, it made me more aware of what immigrant life was like, especially from the viewpoint of a child. In this case, it was a Jewish family that was fleeing the Russian Empire (the area now known as Ukraine) to the prairie of North Dakota. (In real life, over 2 million Jews from Eastern Europe fled to America from 1870-1920.) Even though the 11-year-old protagonist found joy in her new freedom and the beauty of the plains, fitting in socially was challenging. There was this inner turmoil around striving to 'blend in' versus being proud of coming from a courageous and caring family. Secondly, I loved the descriptive writing of Susan Lynn Meyer. Listen to her description of the prairie: "I loved the birds in their long lines far overhead. I loved the fire flaming in the clouds fading down into night. I loved the edge of cold in the fall air, the way it filled me down to my toes, with a tingling, wistful energy." The prairie and family life of A Sky Full of Song, reminded me of Laura Ingalls Wilder books yet with important cultural struggles addressed.
March 17, 2024
"My hand wobbled a little as I touched the shames to each of the little tallow candles. The wicks caught, one by one. Their tiny lights reflected, dancing in the windowpane, lighting up the still-swirling snow outside.
I imagined each flame sending its light out onto the vast prairie, this place where, before us, no one had ever lit a menorah before. Each light seems so fragile, as if the slightest wind would blow it out. And the winds here in North Dakota were ferocious.
But the lights of the menorah, all together on this last night of the holiday, burned strong. They stood for the way Jews carried on.
For the way, wherever we went, we held onto who we were."
This was a fascinating look into homesteading life on the North Dakota prairie in the early 1900s told through Shoshi and her family; a Jewish family who emigrated to the US to escape harsh treatment and violent attacks in the Ukraine under the rule of the Russian empire. They came to North Dakota, in particular, to take part in the Homestead Act of 1862 where they could live and farm the land, therefore earning it as their own. However, the land was not devoid of people. It was also at this time that the US government coerced the Dakota nations to relocate, but did not keep up their end of the bargain, forcing the Native peoples to reservation land with restricts on fishing and hunting causing many of the nation to suffer and starve. That is all the historical backdrop as our story begins. Truly stark and harsh and unforgiving.
Much of this story is Shoshi's coming of age, learning more about herself and her own strengths, learning more about her cultural & religion heritage, and coming to be proud of what makes her unique and different rather than choosing to blend in. It is also deeply a family story and the ties that bind them - parents and siblings. And finally, the harsh climate and difficult labor that homesteading involves. I learned a lot about dugout homes that many lived in during this time as wood and other building supplies were hard to come by.
There was SO much to love about this story and the unique storyline that it entails, but I also found much of it to be heavy and melancholic in overall tone and feel. Although, thankfully, the novel does end on a hopeful & uplifting note. And certainly did not appreciate the language that is presented in the novel, towards the end, that was totally inappropriate for this age audience. Overall, I rated this 3.5 stars and I do recommend it, but I think I just got something different than my expectations. Still really enjoyed it though. And I love the cover!
I imagined each flame sending its light out onto the vast prairie, this place where, before us, no one had ever lit a menorah before. Each light seems so fragile, as if the slightest wind would blow it out. And the winds here in North Dakota were ferocious.
But the lights of the menorah, all together on this last night of the holiday, burned strong. They stood for the way Jews carried on.
For the way, wherever we went, we held onto who we were."
This was a fascinating look into homesteading life on the North Dakota prairie in the early 1900s told through Shoshi and her family; a Jewish family who emigrated to the US to escape harsh treatment and violent attacks in the Ukraine under the rule of the Russian empire. They came to North Dakota, in particular, to take part in the Homestead Act of 1862 where they could live and farm the land, therefore earning it as their own. However, the land was not devoid of people. It was also at this time that the US government coerced the Dakota nations to relocate, but did not keep up their end of the bargain, forcing the Native peoples to reservation land with restricts on fishing and hunting causing many of the nation to suffer and starve. That is all the historical backdrop as our story begins. Truly stark and harsh and unforgiving.
Much of this story is Shoshi's coming of age, learning more about herself and her own strengths, learning more about her cultural & religion heritage, and coming to be proud of what makes her unique and different rather than choosing to blend in. It is also deeply a family story and the ties that bind them - parents and siblings. And finally, the harsh climate and difficult labor that homesteading involves. I learned a lot about dugout homes that many lived in during this time as wood and other building supplies were hard to come by.
There was SO much to love about this story and the unique storyline that it entails, but I also found much of it to be heavy and melancholic in overall tone and feel. Although, thankfully, the novel does end on a hopeful & uplifting note. And certainly did not appreciate the language that is presented in the novel, towards the end, that was totally inappropriate for this age audience. Overall, I rated this 3.5 stars and I do recommend it, but I think I just got something different than my expectations. Still really enjoyed it though. And I love the cover!
July 12, 2023
My cousin, Sophia, and I read A Sky Full of Song, by Susan Lynn Meyer, and we both found numerous flaws with both the story and the main character, Shoshanna, a young Jewish pioneer. We didn’t find her to be relatable or even likable. The book drowned its own message with too many woke topics like extreme bullying, the injustice of periods, sexism in the family, and mistreated immigrants, none of which were resolved. And, most importantly, there wasn’t any real hope offered, which left both the readers and the protagonist feeling defeated. In this review we’ll be covering each of these issues to show exactly what A Sky Full of Song missed.
Although the author included beautiful descriptions of the North Dakota land surrounding Shoshanna’s home and the title implied that the beauty of midwestern America would become a comfort and resolution to the numerous conflicts the book attempted to juggle, it ultimately resolved none of the conflicts within the work. While the protagonist was upset about how unfair periods are, how her mother never favors her, how hard it is to have a different religion than anyone else, how mean the bullies at school are, how much she misses her home country, how hard it is to live in America, how unfair the government was to the Native American tribe that used to live in their area, and how her brother teases her, the author only resolved the issues between her and her brother. She explained that Shoshanna had merely forgotten how they used to tease each other, and after remembering that he meant no harm when he teased her, she teased him back. After reading this apt resolution, we were hopeful that the other conflicts would be resolved, as well.
Unfortunately, they were not. Instead, the book ends with the protagonist Shoshanna still wondering whether or not she should offer forgiveness to the bully who apologized for mistreating her. Although she decides not to hide her culture and beliefs from her friends, she mainly does this to appease her sister, Libke, and to smooth over the division between them. Meanwhile, her frustration with the partiality her mother supposedly shows to her brother, the anger she feels on behalf of the Lakota people, her extreme discontent with both her old and new home, and her outrage at discovering that only girls have periods, remain unaddressed. The author drops these issues half way through the book.
Not only were these topics randomly dropped, but the book as a whole offered no hope for the reader or change for the protagonist at all. Life was hard, and only going to get harder.
Pioneering at that time and place was very difficult, especially for immigrants who would struggle to cross both cultural and linguistic barriers to set up a permanent home in the West. It is important that we tell stories about individuals growing up in unusually hard settings (as this story did). But the reader was never offered the resolution that hope brings. Not only is this unsatisfying, it is also inaccurate. The pioneer spirit was a very real, powerful thing that transformed the mostly empty wilderness of midwestern America into a prosperous farmland. Immigrants were especially poignant displays of such spirit and determination. The depressed spirit of Shoshanna, who consistently complains about the difficulties of her old home while also mourning the challenges she faces in America, is in sharp contrast to unbeatable optimism of those in her generation.
Laura Ingalls, for instance, survived three years of locusts destroying her family’s only income, an incredibly difficult winter that starved her village for seven months, and being consistently bullied in her school while keeping a pioneer spirit stronger than ever.
Another example would be the fictional story of Lyddie, who was sold off as a servant to pay her family’s debts. She dreamed of a day when the farm would be paid for, her father would return, and the family could live together and work on the farm again. Instead her family fell apart, her closest friends fell ill, and she lost the only people she could depend on. She watched the life she longed for crumble before her eyes after years of tedious work to achieve it. Yet the final words of her novel were filled with hope that she would determine her own destiny and never fear anyone. She would finally be independent, even if it meant letting go of the dreams that she knew now would never come to be.
Western Americans, immigrant or not, were highly adaptable and strong because of it, and the author showed none of this in either her protagonist or the other characters. Instead, it seemed as though it was Shoshanna’s right to complain about the injustices around her, and her injured spirit was never addressed as a flaw. Rather, it was referred to as an inevitable result of the difficulties she faced, rather than a hurdle she had to overcome to achieve happiness.
Overall, Shoshanna came off as whiny and unrelatable, giving the reader no reason to stick around for the rest of the story. She complained about the myriad of problems in her life but never got around to actually fixing them. And the one quality that could possibly redeem this book, the theme of hope, love, and a hard-working spirit, was missing too. We need children's stories that remind future generations of the strength, hope, and determination that built this country. Unfortunately, A Sky Full of Song is not one of them.
Although the author included beautiful descriptions of the North Dakota land surrounding Shoshanna’s home and the title implied that the beauty of midwestern America would become a comfort and resolution to the numerous conflicts the book attempted to juggle, it ultimately resolved none of the conflicts within the work. While the protagonist was upset about how unfair periods are, how her mother never favors her, how hard it is to have a different religion than anyone else, how mean the bullies at school are, how much she misses her home country, how hard it is to live in America, how unfair the government was to the Native American tribe that used to live in their area, and how her brother teases her, the author only resolved the issues between her and her brother. She explained that Shoshanna had merely forgotten how they used to tease each other, and after remembering that he meant no harm when he teased her, she teased him back. After reading this apt resolution, we were hopeful that the other conflicts would be resolved, as well.
Unfortunately, they were not. Instead, the book ends with the protagonist Shoshanna still wondering whether or not she should offer forgiveness to the bully who apologized for mistreating her. Although she decides not to hide her culture and beliefs from her friends, she mainly does this to appease her sister, Libke, and to smooth over the division between them. Meanwhile, her frustration with the partiality her mother supposedly shows to her brother, the anger she feels on behalf of the Lakota people, her extreme discontent with both her old and new home, and her outrage at discovering that only girls have periods, remain unaddressed. The author drops these issues half way through the book.
Not only were these topics randomly dropped, but the book as a whole offered no hope for the reader or change for the protagonist at all. Life was hard, and only going to get harder.
Pioneering at that time and place was very difficult, especially for immigrants who would struggle to cross both cultural and linguistic barriers to set up a permanent home in the West. It is important that we tell stories about individuals growing up in unusually hard settings (as this story did). But the reader was never offered the resolution that hope brings. Not only is this unsatisfying, it is also inaccurate. The pioneer spirit was a very real, powerful thing that transformed the mostly empty wilderness of midwestern America into a prosperous farmland. Immigrants were especially poignant displays of such spirit and determination. The depressed spirit of Shoshanna, who consistently complains about the difficulties of her old home while also mourning the challenges she faces in America, is in sharp contrast to unbeatable optimism of those in her generation.
Laura Ingalls, for instance, survived three years of locusts destroying her family’s only income, an incredibly difficult winter that starved her village for seven months, and being consistently bullied in her school while keeping a pioneer spirit stronger than ever.
Another example would be the fictional story of Lyddie, who was sold off as a servant to pay her family’s debts. She dreamed of a day when the farm would be paid for, her father would return, and the family could live together and work on the farm again. Instead her family fell apart, her closest friends fell ill, and she lost the only people she could depend on. She watched the life she longed for crumble before her eyes after years of tedious work to achieve it. Yet the final words of her novel were filled with hope that she would determine her own destiny and never fear anyone. She would finally be independent, even if it meant letting go of the dreams that she knew now would never come to be.
Western Americans, immigrant or not, were highly adaptable and strong because of it, and the author showed none of this in either her protagonist or the other characters. Instead, it seemed as though it was Shoshanna’s right to complain about the injustices around her, and her injured spirit was never addressed as a flaw. Rather, it was referred to as an inevitable result of the difficulties she faced, rather than a hurdle she had to overcome to achieve happiness.
Overall, Shoshanna came off as whiny and unrelatable, giving the reader no reason to stick around for the rest of the story. She complained about the myriad of problems in her life but never got around to actually fixing them. And the one quality that could possibly redeem this book, the theme of hope, love, and a hard-working spirit, was missing too. We need children's stories that remind future generations of the strength, hope, and determination that built this country. Unfortunately, A Sky Full of Song is not one of them.
March 15, 2025
Review is coming
September 14, 2025
Beautifully written book about family, immigration, prejudice and life on a North Dakota prairie in the early 1900’s. Highly recommend this book for all ages.
April 5, 2023
ARC via Edelweiss+
This beautiful middle grade historical fiction is set in North Dakota in 1905, approximately twenty-five years after becoming a state, and approximately twenty-five years before the homesteading era officially came to an end. It is a time that isn't as often covered related to pioneers, and it is great to see a story bringing it to life, especially one that highlights the Jewish pioneers who settled across the Great Plains. As a historian of North Dakota history and Great Plains history, I need to comment on the fact the author consulted such excellent sources in her research on the experiences of Jewish pioneers, and the general pioneering experience in North Dakota. They're listed at the end of the text, and I highly recommend examining them as well, as they are well worth the read.
For a middle grade book, it certainly doesn't shy away from tough topics from antisemitism, to girls getting their first monthlies, to bullying and the trauma that emerges from being targeted for being different, and becoming confident in one's identity and background despite being different. The topics are written in an incredibly approachable manner, and create an environment for conversations on topics that aren't always well-addressed for middle schoolers.
As a North Dakotan, I connected to this book on an almost spiritual level. The author did a fantastic job of bringing the beauty and serenity of the prairie to life. The descriptions of the prairie and its day-to-day aspects, the good and the difficult, were amazingly authentic, and I could feel the appreciation she's gained for the prairie from her words. As Shoshana describes how she's come to love North Dakota, she echoed the exact same reasons why I love the prairie:
Overall, it's a story of new beginnings in a new land from the perspective of a girl who's faced such hatred in her life just for her faith. While facing hardships from the land and adversity from others, Shoshana comes to learn that while the path of new beginnings isn't easy, the beauty of new beginnings shine through when given the chance, as long as you stay true to yourself.
This beautiful middle grade historical fiction is set in North Dakota in 1905, approximately twenty-five years after becoming a state, and approximately twenty-five years before the homesteading era officially came to an end. It is a time that isn't as often covered related to pioneers, and it is great to see a story bringing it to life, especially one that highlights the Jewish pioneers who settled across the Great Plains. As a historian of North Dakota history and Great Plains history, I need to comment on the fact the author consulted such excellent sources in her research on the experiences of Jewish pioneers, and the general pioneering experience in North Dakota. They're listed at the end of the text, and I highly recommend examining them as well, as they are well worth the read.
For a middle grade book, it certainly doesn't shy away from tough topics from antisemitism, to girls getting their first monthlies, to bullying and the trauma that emerges from being targeted for being different, and becoming confident in one's identity and background despite being different. The topics are written in an incredibly approachable manner, and create an environment for conversations on topics that aren't always well-addressed for middle schoolers.
As a North Dakotan, I connected to this book on an almost spiritual level. The author did a fantastic job of bringing the beauty and serenity of the prairie to life. The descriptions of the prairie and its day-to-day aspects, the good and the difficult, were amazingly authentic, and I could feel the appreciation she's gained for the prairie from her words. As Shoshana describes how she's come to love North Dakota, she echoed the exact same reasons why I love the prairie:
"I loved the endless space around us, the wide openness of the prairie. I loved the vast flat land, growing cooler as winter came on. And I loved the wind. Murmuring, crooning, moaning, wailing. If North Dakota was one thing, it was wind. The wind that made me feel so alive, so free. . . . I also felt the beauty around me here. The undulating stretches of the prairie. The flaming sunsets. The vast, free space to run. The sweet smell of dried grasses. The exhilarating power of the wind."
Overall, it's a story of new beginnings in a new land from the perspective of a girl who's faced such hatred in her life just for her faith. While facing hardships from the land and adversity from others, Shoshana comes to learn that while the path of new beginnings isn't easy, the beauty of new beginnings shine through when given the chance, as long as you stay true to yourself.
September 11, 2025
Wow, I loved this book. I felt so connected to Shoshana, an 11-year-old Jewish refugee who has fled pogroms in Ukraine with her family to start a new life on the North Dakota prairie. Shoshana is excited about starting life in a new home, but she so misses the cat she left behind. When she spies a kitten at a train station, she swiftly scoops him up. Shoshana's personality so reminds me of my daughter! Social, cat loving, and quick to speak her mind. However, after witnessing her mother get attacked in Ukraine, and noticing the new kids at school are just as prone toward stereotyping Jews, Shoshana decides it's better to fit in than to stick out as Jewish. Her older sister disagrees, and thinks they should be proud of their Jewish heritage and family.
The early 1900s prairie setting was so well done. I enjoyed reading about the dug out home, and the ways the family made it homier. Shoshana also makes the connection between how unfair it is the Dakota peoples who once lived there have been forcibly removed, and compares their experiences with her own. While I know a lot of people my age learned to love prairie fiction through Little House on the Prairie, for me, it was Sunfire Romance: Jessica. It is probably incredibly problematic, but I felt myself return to that early fascination with living in a hill and the wide open skies that I had as a child while reading this middle grade.
There are some difficult to read scenes with racism and physical violence, including the very opening scene, which some kids might have trouble reading. Might be good to read the opening chapter with an adult for some kids.
The early 1900s prairie setting was so well done. I enjoyed reading about the dug out home, and the ways the family made it homier. Shoshana also makes the connection between how unfair it is the Dakota peoples who once lived there have been forcibly removed, and compares their experiences with her own. While I know a lot of people my age learned to love prairie fiction through Little House on the Prairie, for me, it was Sunfire Romance: Jessica. It is probably incredibly problematic, but I felt myself return to that early fascination with living in a hill and the wide open skies that I had as a child while reading this middle grade.
There are some difficult to read scenes with racism and physical violence, including the very opening scene, which some kids might have trouble reading. Might be good to read the opening chapter with an adult for some kids.
January 31, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Shoshanna and her mother and four sisters are in Liubashevka, Ukraine, and her father and older brother Anshel have emigrated to North Dakota because life is becoming increasingly difficult for Jewish citizens in the early 1900s. When life becomes too dangerous in Ukraine, the family is fortunate enough to be able to join the men on their claim in the US. The boat trip is rough, and Shoshanna is angry with her mother that she couldn't take her cat, although she does find one in the port that she manages to smuggle onto the train. The father has a dugout, and while it looks odd to the girls, he assures them that it has advantages in the winter and summer. Shoshanna and her older sister Libke are able to attend a local school, and their teacher is very nice. Some of the other students, however, are not. Some are actively cruel, like Irene and her brother Clive (whose parents run the general store) who give them a hard time for being Jewish, and use a variety of slurs against them. Some, like Evie, speak out of ignorance and repeat what they have heard at church. Evie's mother doesn't quite understand why Shoshanna's mother wouldn't want to attend a church and meet "good Christian people", although she brings food to the family and greets them warmly. There are lots of chores to do on the claim, and moments when the prairie seems to actively want to kill the inhabitants; the school children are caught in a blizzard, and Evie and Shoshanna barely make it to the dugout. As Christmas approaches, the children at school are excited about decorations and the program, but Libke doesn't think she and Shoshanna should take part in singing songs about Jesus. Shoshanna wants to fit in, and doesn't see a problem with it. Clive continues to bedevil the girls until the family helps him save his horse.
Strengths: My essential fandom is Little House on the Prairie, but in recent years that series has been problematic. This is a good alternative, and has many shout outs to the original, from the father's fiddle playing, to the mean store owner's daughter, to decorating the dugout, but all of these are given a particularly Ukrainian twist. Instead of Ma's china shepherdess, we have a samovar! The reason I loved books about pioneers was the details about another way of life, and we have lots of good ones about the school, the way food was cooked, and fun details like the fact that pickle juice removes ice! The issue of the native Dakota being treated unfairly is addressed, and paralells are drawn between the persecution Shoshanna faced in Ukraine and the way the Native Americans were stripped of their land.
Weaknesses: I would have enjoyed a little bit more information about what life was like for the family in Liubashevka, so that I could have been as nostalgic for it as Shoshanna was. I'd be down for Little House in the Ukrainian Woods!
What I really think: I know that there are many, many problems with pioneer tales when it comes to Native American experience, but this is a great book to showcase the pioneering spirit. Add this to Prairie Lotus as a good alternative to Laura Ingalls Wilder's work, or as an introduction, if you have time to explain the problems in those books to the readers. This shoudl definitely win the Sydney Taylor award!
Shoshanna and her mother and four sisters are in Liubashevka, Ukraine, and her father and older brother Anshel have emigrated to North Dakota because life is becoming increasingly difficult for Jewish citizens in the early 1900s. When life becomes too dangerous in Ukraine, the family is fortunate enough to be able to join the men on their claim in the US. The boat trip is rough, and Shoshanna is angry with her mother that she couldn't take her cat, although she does find one in the port that she manages to smuggle onto the train. The father has a dugout, and while it looks odd to the girls, he assures them that it has advantages in the winter and summer. Shoshanna and her older sister Libke are able to attend a local school, and their teacher is very nice. Some of the other students, however, are not. Some are actively cruel, like Irene and her brother Clive (whose parents run the general store) who give them a hard time for being Jewish, and use a variety of slurs against them. Some, like Evie, speak out of ignorance and repeat what they have heard at church. Evie's mother doesn't quite understand why Shoshanna's mother wouldn't want to attend a church and meet "good Christian people", although she brings food to the family and greets them warmly. There are lots of chores to do on the claim, and moments when the prairie seems to actively want to kill the inhabitants; the school children are caught in a blizzard, and Evie and Shoshanna barely make it to the dugout. As Christmas approaches, the children at school are excited about decorations and the program, but Libke doesn't think she and Shoshanna should take part in singing songs about Jesus. Shoshanna wants to fit in, and doesn't see a problem with it. Clive continues to bedevil the girls until the family helps him save his horse.
Strengths: My essential fandom is Little House on the Prairie, but in recent years that series has been problematic. This is a good alternative, and has many shout outs to the original, from the father's fiddle playing, to the mean store owner's daughter, to decorating the dugout, but all of these are given a particularly Ukrainian twist. Instead of Ma's china shepherdess, we have a samovar! The reason I loved books about pioneers was the details about another way of life, and we have lots of good ones about the school, the way food was cooked, and fun details like the fact that pickle juice removes ice! The issue of the native Dakota being treated unfairly is addressed, and paralells are drawn between the persecution Shoshanna faced in Ukraine and the way the Native Americans were stripped of their land.
Weaknesses: I would have enjoyed a little bit more information about what life was like for the family in Liubashevka, so that I could have been as nostalgic for it as Shoshanna was. I'd be down for Little House in the Ukrainian Woods!
What I really think: I know that there are many, many problems with pioneer tales when it comes to Native American experience, but this is a great book to showcase the pioneering spirit. Add this to Prairie Lotus as a good alternative to Laura Ingalls Wilder's work, or as an introduction, if you have time to explain the problems in those books to the readers. This shoudl definitely win the Sydney Taylor award!
March 20, 2023
Having recently finished “A Sky Full of Song” by Susan Lynn Meyer, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Union Square Kids!
This is a lovely and powerful story with so many messages for readers; no matter what their age may be.
It is important to not be ashamed of who you are or where you are from. Learning to love a new home, even one as harsh as a “Nordakota” prairie, was eventually made easier by remembering the past and adjusting to the new. From raspberry jam tea and fiddles, to pickle brine, blizzards and a fierce little black and white kitten; this story of embracing culture and change is one worthy of adding to any collection.
This is a lovely and powerful story with so many messages for readers; no matter what their age may be.
It is important to not be ashamed of who you are or where you are from. Learning to love a new home, even one as harsh as a “Nordakota” prairie, was eventually made easier by remembering the past and adjusting to the new. From raspberry jam tea and fiddles, to pickle brine, blizzards and a fierce little black and white kitten; this story of embracing culture and change is one worthy of adding to any collection.
August 14, 2025
I listened to this on audiobook. It was well done. A story of a Jewish family who left Ukraine under harsh Russian rule. They immigrated to North Dakota and became homesteaders. There they began anew, but still faced prejudice. I liked how the author also included the story of the Dakota, and how they were dispossessed and persecuted way before Shoshanna and her family arrived. It was a different perspective from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
December 17, 2023
I quite enjoyed this historical fiction about homesteading and pogroms in the Russian Empire. It’s a relatively new bit of history for me. I loved Shoshana and her family. I also loved Shoshana’s journey in learning to love herself, her culture, and being true to who she is. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
February 27, 2024
Middle-grade historical fiction set in early 20th century North Dakota. Shoshana and her family are Jewish immigrants, coping with all that is new in America. Lovely story, enjoyed this very much.
November 26, 2025
This had some very interesting parts, but overall, it needed more closure. Even though the character mentions it, so I wondered what would happen after it ended.
January 7, 2023
Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder will enjoy this book!
February 28, 2023
A Sky Full of Song by Susan Lynn Meyer is a heart-touching tale of a family migrated to North Dakota, America. The plot of the story is mesmerising. The narrator of this story is Shoshana, a member of this family. Susan has very powerfully conveyed the feelings and sentiments of a girl and her family living in Liubashevka in Ukraine, then a part of the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th C. The picturesque village life and the family’s home are beautiful.
The story starts in 1905 with a scene of a violent attack. Shoshana, her mother and her sisters become victims of this attack which were then becoming frequent on Jewish people, their homes and their business. Her father and her brother, Anshel, have already left for North Dakota to work and arrange a settlement for their family. Shoshana and her family are about to leave this village to join them. The reader can feel a kind of mixed emotions running through the whole family. A sadness to leave their beautiful home and a curiosity to start a new life in a totally strange country.
The author has beautifully carved the emotions of Shoshana. Her love for her family, for her kitten Ganef, whom she is supposed to leave behind and for her beautiful village. The hardships the family faces during migration touch the reader’s heart. It makes the reader realise the value and respect of one’s home. Even during migration, it was heartbreaking to see how Jews were treated by some people.
The start of a new life in North Dakota in a dugout feels like turning the page to the second half of this book. The past seems to be left behind by Susan, with only some flashbacks of their home in Liubashevka, sometimes crossing the family’s path.
The most admiring part of this story is how patiently and with a brave heart, the family adjusts to the new environment. And especially with people around. The scene at Mr. Huber’s general store again makes the reader feel the respect and value of one’s self and their family and home. The story continues with interesting emotions rolling in and out. Shoshana and her elder sister Libke's affection are heart-touching. The feeling of the reader gradually shifts from curiosity to a smooth flow when life for Shoshana and her family changes.
They become friends with a good neighbour. Evie, and her family are a welcoming change in their life. The theme of the whole story is “never to forget your true identity, who you are, and from where you belong.” The affection for animals and having faith in their love to respond is very powerfully portrayed.
The language in the book is simple and approachable to the reader. The fiddle and the song played by Shoshana’s father and later by Shoshana herself are of great significance and connect with the main theme of this story.
A Sky Full of Songs is an amazing book with a heartfelt narration. As one goes deeper into the story, one surely admires Susan’s powerful and imaginative skills to pen this story out of one of the pages of history. I recommend this book to a general audience. Young people will particularly enjoy reading this book. It has a strong message in it and is worth taking note of it. An amazing read.
The story starts in 1905 with a scene of a violent attack. Shoshana, her mother and her sisters become victims of this attack which were then becoming frequent on Jewish people, their homes and their business. Her father and her brother, Anshel, have already left for North Dakota to work and arrange a settlement for their family. Shoshana and her family are about to leave this village to join them. The reader can feel a kind of mixed emotions running through the whole family. A sadness to leave their beautiful home and a curiosity to start a new life in a totally strange country.
The author has beautifully carved the emotions of Shoshana. Her love for her family, for her kitten Ganef, whom she is supposed to leave behind and for her beautiful village. The hardships the family faces during migration touch the reader’s heart. It makes the reader realise the value and respect of one’s home. Even during migration, it was heartbreaking to see how Jews were treated by some people.
The start of a new life in North Dakota in a dugout feels like turning the page to the second half of this book. The past seems to be left behind by Susan, with only some flashbacks of their home in Liubashevka, sometimes crossing the family’s path.
The most admiring part of this story is how patiently and with a brave heart, the family adjusts to the new environment. And especially with people around. The scene at Mr. Huber’s general store again makes the reader feel the respect and value of one’s self and their family and home. The story continues with interesting emotions rolling in and out. Shoshana and her elder sister Libke's affection are heart-touching. The feeling of the reader gradually shifts from curiosity to a smooth flow when life for Shoshana and her family changes.
They become friends with a good neighbour. Evie, and her family are a welcoming change in their life. The theme of the whole story is “never to forget your true identity, who you are, and from where you belong.” The affection for animals and having faith in their love to respond is very powerfully portrayed.
The language in the book is simple and approachable to the reader. The fiddle and the song played by Shoshana’s father and later by Shoshana herself are of great significance and connect with the main theme of this story.
A Sky Full of Songs is an amazing book with a heartfelt narration. As one goes deeper into the story, one surely admires Susan’s powerful and imaginative skills to pen this story out of one of the pages of history. I recommend this book to a general audience. Young people will particularly enjoy reading this book. It has a strong message in it and is worth taking note of it. An amazing read.
October 2, 2023
A middle grade book about a Jewish girl who emigrates to the Dakota territory from Ukraine/Russian empire.
The story addressed themes related to emigration in general (keeping one’s identity vs assimilating) and issues of Jewish identity and anti-Semitism in particular and their persistence in Christian-dominated America.
Things are neatly packaged up/resolved at the end — too neatly IMO, even for the target audience of 10-12 yos.
The story addressed themes related to emigration in general (keeping one’s identity vs assimilating) and issues of Jewish identity and anti-Semitism in particular and their persistence in Christian-dominated America.
Things are neatly packaged up/resolved at the end — too neatly IMO, even for the target audience of 10-12 yos.
February 8, 2024
2023: I was quite happy when I came across this book, I had high hopes it would feel like the "Little House" series that I grew up on and love. And in many ways, it does feel just like Little House. Same flavor, and similar situations of living on the Priarie and making a new life in the middle of nowhere homesteading.
However, there was less warmth and more frustration. This story is from a Jewish family's perspective of feeling their home country to make a new life in America and while there were moments of joy and hope, there's a heavy emphasis on the realities of prejudice, racism and bullying. And while I'm always supportive of bringing even ugly things in history to light, I felt that this book was a bit of a miss -- it seemed so heavily focused on those themes with very little if any resolve, that it took any of the light out of the story for me. The writing also left a lot to be desired. It was straightforward, flat and at times boring. There was nothing interesting to note in the author's writing style.
Shoshana, the main character, wrestles with wanting to belong, to fit in and questioning her Jewish heritage to the point of causing a deep rift between her and her older sister. There's some resolve in that situation, but the story ends rather quickly and abruptly without much resolve in relationships as well as their family story.
I wanted to love this story, but having finished it, I found myself wondering what to think. The story feels like it was incomplete and unsure exactly what the author's intention was besides raising awareness of Jewish families who migrated to America during growing persecution in Russia. I think it would have felt more authentic if there was more daily life on the prairie and about Shoshana's family itself rather than emphasising people's constant reactions and persecution of their family both in Russia and in North Dakota.
For those who love "Little House" it might be worth a read for a different perspective, however, there are some intense themes of bullying and abuse (grabbing a girl holding her down and touching her head looking for her "horns" they believed Jews to have), a girl telling Shoshana that Jews killed Jesus and therefore they did, and also directness about monthly periods which should be normalized, but be aware if you plan on reading this aloud with your children, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
Overall a new perspective of life on the Prairie for a Jewish family that just felt like it was lacking warmth and heart and hope that I value in a story filled with hardship and evil from others.
Things to note: discussions about periods and girls getting their monthly cycle. bullying. boy pretending to pee in front of the class. discussions of Jews's role in killing Jesus. one very unnecessary use of g-d d-m.
However, there was less warmth and more frustration. This story is from a Jewish family's perspective of feeling their home country to make a new life in America and while there were moments of joy and hope, there's a heavy emphasis on the realities of prejudice, racism and bullying. And while I'm always supportive of bringing even ugly things in history to light, I felt that this book was a bit of a miss -- it seemed so heavily focused on those themes with very little if any resolve, that it took any of the light out of the story for me. The writing also left a lot to be desired. It was straightforward, flat and at times boring. There was nothing interesting to note in the author's writing style.
Shoshana, the main character, wrestles with wanting to belong, to fit in and questioning her Jewish heritage to the point of causing a deep rift between her and her older sister. There's some resolve in that situation, but the story ends rather quickly and abruptly without much resolve in relationships as well as their family story.
I wanted to love this story, but having finished it, I found myself wondering what to think. The story feels like it was incomplete and unsure exactly what the author's intention was besides raising awareness of Jewish families who migrated to America during growing persecution in Russia. I think it would have felt more authentic if there was more daily life on the prairie and about Shoshana's family itself rather than emphasising people's constant reactions and persecution of their family both in Russia and in North Dakota.
For those who love "Little House" it might be worth a read for a different perspective, however, there are some intense themes of bullying and abuse (grabbing a girl holding her down and touching her head looking for her "horns" they believed Jews to have), a girl telling Shoshana that Jews killed Jesus and therefore they did, and also directness about monthly periods which should be normalized, but be aware if you plan on reading this aloud with your children, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
Overall a new perspective of life on the Prairie for a Jewish family that just felt like it was lacking warmth and heart and hope that I value in a story filled with hardship and evil from others.
Things to note: discussions about periods and girls getting their monthly cycle. bullying. boy pretending to pee in front of the class. discussions of Jews's role in killing Jesus. one very unnecessary use of g-d d-m.
April 10, 2023
For those who remember Little House on the Prairie fondly, despite its flaws, and were thankful for Linda Sue Park’s Prairie Lotus, here is another historical fiction book with homesteading, hard work and family at the center. Shoshana’s father and older brother were first to leave a Tsar rule Ukraine for America to create a home for the family free of Russian tyranny and anti-semitism and now, in 1905, the rest of the family is joining them in North Dakota. Readers will learn of the Homestead Act of 1862, the manipulation of the Dakota people to take over their land, and much more from the time period. The historical facts are entwined in the story of Shoshi and her struggle to fit in with the other students in school despite the distinct differences in language and religion and her growing love of the prairie and the music of not only her Papa’s violin, but the very sky and land around her. Warm and heart-felt, A Sky Full of Song has much to offer and will support history objectives in the middle grades as will as entertain lovers of the historical fiction genre. Meyer shares traditions from the Jewish culture in a beautiful way that will generate pride in the hearts of Jewish readers and develop appreciation in those who are not Jewish. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the brief episode of violence is critical to the plot.
Thanks for the print arc, Union Square Kids and Susan Lynn Meyer.
Thanks for the print arc, Union Square Kids and Susan Lynn Meyer.
March 21, 2023
Stories about the 1820s through 1924, where Jews made their way to America, are to be treasured. This historical event started a massive surge of immigrants at the start of the 20th century. Author Susan Lynn Meyer has weaved a beautiful story, with this at the background. The book, starting in 1905, tells a tale of a young girl, Shoshana, and her Jewish family, going through persecution, economic hardship, and discrimination as her family goes on the grueling journey to the “Golden Land” of America. Shoshana and her sister share a transitional, coming-of-age story with us readers, which capture our hearts, and take us all to a time and place in historical fiction we cannot forget. Praise to this heart-warming story, and to Meyer for writing this book. Five of five stars!
Thank you to Union Square Kids - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square Kids via NetGalley for this arc. I voluntarily read it and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Union Square Kids - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square Kids via NetGalley for this arc. I voluntarily read it and all opinions are my own.
February 6, 2025
Perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and L.M. Montgomery, this novel is surely destined to become a future classic and I loved reading every sentence. Drawing parallels between indigenous peoples of America before it was settled by Europeans and being driven away from your homeland simply because you are different, this book tells the story of the American frontier in a new light, exploring the struggles that Jewish pioneers had to face when journeying from one end of the world to the other, and the fight for the right to settle in a new, vastly open place to call home.
December 15, 2024
After reading this beautifully written book, it is easy to see why A SKY FULL OF SONG is a winner of the Sydney Taylor Honor Award, Western Writers of America Spur Award, Will Rogers Medallion Award, and the New York State Historical Society Children's History Book Award Finalist.
This is a heartwarming and heart-aching story. The book starts in Ukraine, part of the Russian Empire, in 1905, with eleven-year-old Soshana, her mother, and her sisters needing to escape their small village due to the violent attacks on the Jewish people living there. Jews were the subject of many harsh laws that restricted and limited their movements and imposed laws that forced young Jewish boys into the Tsar's army for 25 years.
Shoshana Papa and her older brother fled Ukraine to start a farm in North Dakota, but after her mother is attached to the village by the pogrom, she writes to let them know they need to get out of Ukraine and sail to America. The reader sees the heartache of leaving most of their cherished possessions behind, including their loveable cat, and how happy they are when they see the Statue of Liberty. But before they are even off the ship, they are met by a group of boys who pick on Momma, rip off her best scarf, and toss it in the ocean. I love that Soshana finds a hungry kitten on the dock, sneaks it into her bag, and hides it on the train from New York City to North Dakota.
Children will love this family. They are all loving and very courageous. Kids will be shocked when they see where they have to live. There are no trees on flat prairie plains, so they have to live in a dugout in the ground, where the floor and the ceiling are dirt. Kids will cringe when dirt drops into Soshana's soup. There is so much to learn from reading this book. Teachers can create many lesson plans around this book. The writing is so good children will get sucked into life on the prairie, and unless you live in that area, it will enlighten readers about the dangers of living where all you can see is grass.
I live in the North East, and we have blizzards. I drove in a blizzard, where I could only see the red taillights of the car in front of me. But I never imagined what a blizzard looked like when there weren't any telephone poles or buildings without lights to mark your way. My heart was in my throat when Soshana and her friend had to walk miles in the storm, not knowing if they were going the right way. I had never heard of a horse dropping over when its hot breath turned the snow into ice that clodded its muzzle and stopped it from breathing.
There is a lot of tension to keep every reader's attention. This is a very timely book with so much anti-semitism starting up around the world and so many immigrants coming into our country. Although this is a middle-grade book, adults will love it, too.
And the end of the book is beautiful. I love how Soshana tells the reader, "The North Dakota beginning, making a living on this hard land where not everyone wanted us, this beginning was difficult, no doubt about it. But life stretched out before us, as wide open as the North Dakota Prairie."
"Beginnings were beautiful too." (referring to her new home and her family coming together)
"If you held onto who you were." (referring to her wanting to fit in with the other girls in her class)
"If you played your own music." (referring to her playing Papa's fiddle and not being ashamed of her family)
"If you kept your own light burning." (referring to the Menorah and its importance in the book)
I also loved the cover of the book. It immediately caught my eye and made me want to read it. To sum things up, I loved the writing, the characters, and the rich story that tugs at the reader's heartstrings. I am so glad I read this book.
This is a heartwarming and heart-aching story. The book starts in Ukraine, part of the Russian Empire, in 1905, with eleven-year-old Soshana, her mother, and her sisters needing to escape their small village due to the violent attacks on the Jewish people living there. Jews were the subject of many harsh laws that restricted and limited their movements and imposed laws that forced young Jewish boys into the Tsar's army for 25 years.
Shoshana Papa and her older brother fled Ukraine to start a farm in North Dakota, but after her mother is attached to the village by the pogrom, she writes to let them know they need to get out of Ukraine and sail to America. The reader sees the heartache of leaving most of their cherished possessions behind, including their loveable cat, and how happy they are when they see the Statue of Liberty. But before they are even off the ship, they are met by a group of boys who pick on Momma, rip off her best scarf, and toss it in the ocean. I love that Soshana finds a hungry kitten on the dock, sneaks it into her bag, and hides it on the train from New York City to North Dakota.
Children will love this family. They are all loving and very courageous. Kids will be shocked when they see where they have to live. There are no trees on flat prairie plains, so they have to live in a dugout in the ground, where the floor and the ceiling are dirt. Kids will cringe when dirt drops into Soshana's soup. There is so much to learn from reading this book. Teachers can create many lesson plans around this book. The writing is so good children will get sucked into life on the prairie, and unless you live in that area, it will enlighten readers about the dangers of living where all you can see is grass.
I live in the North East, and we have blizzards. I drove in a blizzard, where I could only see the red taillights of the car in front of me. But I never imagined what a blizzard looked like when there weren't any telephone poles or buildings without lights to mark your way. My heart was in my throat when Soshana and her friend had to walk miles in the storm, not knowing if they were going the right way. I had never heard of a horse dropping over when its hot breath turned the snow into ice that clodded its muzzle and stopped it from breathing.
There is a lot of tension to keep every reader's attention. This is a very timely book with so much anti-semitism starting up around the world and so many immigrants coming into our country. Although this is a middle-grade book, adults will love it, too.
And the end of the book is beautiful. I love how Soshana tells the reader, "The North Dakota beginning, making a living on this hard land where not everyone wanted us, this beginning was difficult, no doubt about it. But life stretched out before us, as wide open as the North Dakota Prairie."
"Beginnings were beautiful too." (referring to her new home and her family coming together)
"If you held onto who you were." (referring to her wanting to fit in with the other girls in her class)
"If you played your own music." (referring to her playing Papa's fiddle and not being ashamed of her family)
"If you kept your own light burning." (referring to the Menorah and its importance in the book)
I also loved the cover of the book. It immediately caught my eye and made me want to read it. To sum things up, I loved the writing, the characters, and the rich story that tugs at the reader's heartstrings. I am so glad I read this book.
February 24, 2024
For all of you adults and teens and older middle grade readers who have loved Little House on the Prairie and hoped for a wider perspective on that time period and setting, I have a lovely book for you today!
A Sky Full of Song is the story of a Jewish family that flees persecution in Ukraine to make a new life on the North Dakota prairie. The middle child of five, Shoshana struggles with fitting in in her new school and new life, and wonders if it would be best to hide their Jewish heritage from her new schoolmates and friends.
Here’s the publisher’s description:
After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it.
For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult , as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
My take:
This book is spectacularly written; highly compelling, deeply moving. I loved learning more about what it would have looked like for a Jewish family to transport their customs and traditions to the New World. Shoshana is a complex and very likeable character, and I loved the big family interaction with her siblings (super cute literary toddlers are my favorite).
I would give a content warning before you hand this to young readers who loved Little House and want more of the same. The content is definitely more intense than anything you’d encounter in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, particularly the depictions of the violent persecution Shoshana and her family experience both in Ukraine and North Dakota. There are also a few scenes revolving around Libke getting her first period, and she and Shoshana are very scared until their mother explains what’s going on; while ultimately their mother’s explanation is very positive, I wouldn’t want my young reader to read the “scary” descriptions if we hadn’t had a chance to discuss this together yet. (I did wonder why the mother in the book wouldn’t have prepared Libke for her first period, and it seemed a little bit forced to add drama.) I’ll be handing this off to my 12+ readers, but your children may be ready at a different age.
A Sky Full of Song is the story of a Jewish family that flees persecution in Ukraine to make a new life on the North Dakota prairie. The middle child of five, Shoshana struggles with fitting in in her new school and new life, and wonders if it would be best to hide their Jewish heritage from her new schoolmates and friends.
Here’s the publisher’s description:
After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it.
For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult , as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
My take:
This book is spectacularly written; highly compelling, deeply moving. I loved learning more about what it would have looked like for a Jewish family to transport their customs and traditions to the New World. Shoshana is a complex and very likeable character, and I loved the big family interaction with her siblings (super cute literary toddlers are my favorite).
I would give a content warning before you hand this to young readers who loved Little House and want more of the same. The content is definitely more intense than anything you’d encounter in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, particularly the depictions of the violent persecution Shoshana and her family experience both in Ukraine and North Dakota. There are also a few scenes revolving around Libke getting her first period, and she and Shoshana are very scared until their mother explains what’s going on; while ultimately their mother’s explanation is very positive, I wouldn’t want my young reader to read the “scary” descriptions if we hadn’t had a chance to discuss this together yet. (I did wonder why the mother in the book wouldn’t have prepared Libke for her first period, and it seemed a little bit forced to add drama.) I’ll be handing this off to my 12+ readers, but your children may be ready at a different age.
March 20, 2025
"There are no cats in America..." (An American Tail). This book relates. Apparently, there were no cats on the prairie of North Dakota in 1905 and the mice reigned until one cat was brought there.
The title "A Sky Full of Song" refers to the main character learning to play the fiddle and feeling as though the music fills the sky.
Three stars because not all of the issues are resolved in the book. Also, I had high expectations from the blurb and the author's book Black Radishes was a five star for me.
The blurb about this book appealed to me because it is about a Ukrainian family immigrating to America in the early 20th century. I was disappointed that it didn't feel Ukrainian or Russian. The native language of the main character's family is Yiddish, not Ukrainian or Russian. Their culture is Jewish without a trace of Russian or Ukrainian culture. The book refers to how they were treated in the old country (pogroms) and has some references to nature (trees, etc.). It seemed strange to me that the main characters refered to their home as Ukraine rather than Russia. Ukraine had been part of the Russian Empire for more than a century. I did notice that the main characters' surname is Rosumny, which is a real Ukrainian surname. It's a great name; it's Ukrainian for 'intelligent'. Other than the surname, they could have been a Jewish family from anywhere else.
The family in the book is comprised of: Shoshana, age 11, her sister Libke, age 14, her brother Anshel, age 17 and twin sisters Perle and Tsivia, age 3. The mom is Mirele and the dad is Shmuel.
Historical value:
The author's note mentioned the Pale of Settlement and the Homestead Act of 1862.
Content considerations:
Keeping secrets, bullying, discrimination, describing a period, swearing.
Quotes:
"Papa said America was a safe place for Jews. And for their cats. I thought that last bit. It wasn't in his letter." Pp. 8-9
"I would almost have wanted to go on riding the train forever, to have stayed in this strange world that wasn't anyplace, just the space in between." P. 29
"'And then the Jews killed him' said Irene confidently. 'No! The Jews did not!' I knew that wasn't true. Mama had told me long ago, back in our village, when peasants were saying the same thing. 'The Romans killed Jesus. Jews not in charge! Jews never, not ever, kill people... This is not a true thing Christians say, that Jews kill Jesus.'" P. 179
The title "A Sky Full of Song" refers to the main character learning to play the fiddle and feeling as though the music fills the sky.
Three stars because not all of the issues are resolved in the book. Also, I had high expectations from the blurb and the author's book Black Radishes was a five star for me.
The blurb about this book appealed to me because it is about a Ukrainian family immigrating to America in the early 20th century. I was disappointed that it didn't feel Ukrainian or Russian. The native language of the main character's family is Yiddish, not Ukrainian or Russian. Their culture is Jewish without a trace of Russian or Ukrainian culture. The book refers to how they were treated in the old country (pogroms) and has some references to nature (trees, etc.). It seemed strange to me that the main characters refered to their home as Ukraine rather than Russia. Ukraine had been part of the Russian Empire for more than a century. I did notice that the main characters' surname is Rosumny, which is a real Ukrainian surname. It's a great name; it's Ukrainian for 'intelligent'. Other than the surname, they could have been a Jewish family from anywhere else.
The family in the book is comprised of: Shoshana, age 11, her sister Libke, age 14, her brother Anshel, age 17 and twin sisters Perle and Tsivia, age 3. The mom is Mirele and the dad is Shmuel.
Historical value:
The author's note mentioned the Pale of Settlement and the Homestead Act of 1862.
Content considerations:
Keeping secrets, bullying, discrimination, describing a period, swearing.
Quotes:
"Papa said America was a safe place for Jews. And for their cats. I thought that last bit. It wasn't in his letter." Pp. 8-9
"I would almost have wanted to go on riding the train forever, to have stayed in this strange world that wasn't anyplace, just the space in between." P. 29
"'And then the Jews killed him' said Irene confidently. 'No! The Jews did not!' I knew that wasn't true. Mama had told me long ago, back in our village, when peasants were saying the same thing. 'The Romans killed Jesus. Jews not in charge! Jews never, not ever, kill people... This is not a true thing Christians say, that Jews kill Jesus.'" P. 179
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