Joan’s Comments (group member since Jan 14, 2018)

Joan’s comments from the Munoz Ryan author study group.

I read the book "Becoming Naomi Leon". This was another great book. I teach Elementary EL so this book would be great for my 3rd-5th graders. After we read the novel I would have my students map a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. We would also discuss and analyze the characters. I think it would be fun for the students to find out the meanings of their names and the backgrounds of them. So many great things that could be done with this book.

I think she is definitely starting to get comfortable of where she is at. She changed so much throughout the book and really started to realize what was the most important. It wasn’t having money and servants but it was having her mother healthy and her grandmother back with them. Another excellent book!! I am really enjoying this author so much!

Just more and more heartbreak for Esperanza. She is learning so many new things and has had to overcome being humiliated when she does not know how to do certain things. She is maturing more and more everyday and has been put into a position where she has many responsibilities. She has had to do things on her own since mama is so sick. Thank goodness she has people there that can and are willing to help her. I like the closeness of her and Miguel. I wonder what will become of the two of them? She is definitely realizing that it is up to her to help her mama and to help get her grandmother there. I am anxious to keep reading to see what ends up happening.

Yes, Esperanza lived a lavish life at the beginning. That is all she knew. I liked how close she was with her father and how he taught her to listen to the earth. Such a sad development in the story when she lost her father. Her Uncles were unreal to her mother and her. I’m glad they chose to leave that awful situation even though it had to be so hard to go somewhere with so many changes and so many uncertainties. I am also anxious to see how her character evolves throughout the rest of the story. I think she will figure out what to do when faced with different situations. It may take her some time to adjust but I feel that she will. She will follow her mother’s lead and do what she needs to do to get things done.

Loved the ending of the book. It was great how she tied everything together in the end. At first I was frustrated how we were left hanging at the end of each section but once I finished the book I realized that it was perfectly written. This was one of my favorite books that I have ever read! My heart was definitely happy that everyone and everything turned out so well and how they all were tied together at the concert. Listening to it made the music come alive. This music teacher loved the music aspect of the story!!!

Poor Ivy. She was so excited that she already knew someone at her new school only to find out that she would be attending a different school that was just for immigrants. It was very sad that she didn't get to be with her friend Susan. Susan's family just assumed that Ivy's family knew that there were two schools and I think they really did feel bad when they realized that they had no idea. Ivy was so far advanced and still couldn't attend Susan's school. So far this has been my favorite section. I am anxious to see what happens in the second part of this section. I have really no idea what is hidden in the house. Excited to find out!

I also wasn't surprised the first family didn't take them which was definitely better for them. It sounded like that family wanted to see how much work they could get out of them, especially Mike. I wasn't sure what Mr. Howard's alternative motive was but I was hoping that it would be a good situation for the boys. It was disappointing how Mrs. Sturbridge was not interested in the boys. I understand that they weren't what she was expecting so it was hard for her but still .... I think the boys were willing to do almost anything to stay together. Mike so looked out for Frankie. What a great big brother he was. Huge responsibility for him!! Many similarities in both stories. Very different but also many things that were the same. I really like how the author has included a harmonica in each of the sections. It has an important part in each section and seems to have magical powers. It seems to help the characters get through difficult times. I can't wait to find out what happens to Mike. I think he will be ok and they will continue on their journey.

It was hard to not know what happened to Friedrich and the rest of his family. I was thinking that I wasn't going to like the next section because my mind was still on Friedrich. It didn't take long and I was just as hooked on this part. The two brothers were easy to like and to worry about. What a great bond they had with each other. I think this is definitely the same harmonica because it is also so special and has so many neat qualities. Both stories have children as their main characters. Both have struggles even though they are quite different. I hope these boys are adopted together by a loving family because they both so very much want that.

Hi! I am a K-5 music teacher and a K-5 EL teacher. This is my 25th year teaching in Jamestown. 😄

I don't think the father was thinking about Jewish/German either. He just wanted to help Friedrich with his audition and to give him the best possible chance to get in to the music school. I feel like Anselm was just doing what was expected of him, to get more people to the meetings. I don't think he had any idea of what Friedrich had planned. What a great book!

Yes, I think Fredrich's father did the right thing taking him out of school. How wonderful that his father's coworkers were so accepting of having Fredrich there at the harmonica factory. Fredrich has a true musical gift and to be able to spend his time there was comfortable for him. He didn't have to worry about being teased and bullied. I am anxious to see how the harmonica plays into the rest of the story. How he could go into the warehouse without being frightened to find where the sound was coming from was quite amazing. Obviously it had quite a hold on him.
I think Elisabeth was just searching for something since her childhood was spent doing things that she was asked to do since their mom had died. That had to be tough. It was sad how her new choices affected the rest of her family. Hopefully she will at some point realize what a huge mistake it is and find her way back to her family.
I had no idea that Nazi's tried to do away with people who had any deformity, even if they were German. I wonder what father will decide to do after meeting with the doctor.

Very interesting beginning. If I hadn't read these comments I probably would have skipped to chapter one. Such a unique way to begin. The black vs the white pages was a great way to separate the present time vs the fairy tale. I am really looking forward to reading this book.