The Children of Willesden Lane

The Children of Willesden Lane is a memoir by Mona Golabek, documenting the life of her mother, Lisa, from the time she left Vienna, Austria to the end of World War II. It has been adapted into a film and an organization formed in honor of the book, that is dedicated to empowering people with the arts

The Children of Willesden Lane
AuthorMona Golabek
Lee Cohen
LanguageEnglish
GenreMemoir
PublisherHachette Book Group
ISBN978-0-446-69027-0

Plot

Lisa Jura was a prodigy who hoped to become a pianist during pre-World War II Vienna. As Nazi attacks on Jews continue in her home country, her parents send her on the Kindertransport to London, England. Several days after arrival, she became a servant at a manor. Sometime later, though, she leaves the manor. Lisa then resides in a hostel for Jewish children on Willesden Lane, where she makes new friends. Continuing her interest in piano, she plays music, inspiring the other children through their problems. It's a story of kindness and love and compassion.[1][2]

Reception

Joanna H. Kraus from Common Sense Media rated The Children of Willesden Lane five stars.[3] BookTrust described the book as "eye-opening".[4]

In 2018 the book was translated into Polish and published as Dzieci z Willesden Lane by Wydawnictwo Austeria.[5][6]

Awards

The children's edition is a 2018 Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Book for Older Readers.[7]

Adaptations

A theater adaptation of the book, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, was adapted and directed by Hershey Felder.[8][9][10]

BBC Films and Empire of the Sun producer Robert Shapiro produced a movie version of the book released in 2016.

Legacy

The Hold On To Your Music Foundation has been created in honor of Lisa Jura. Its goal is to raise awareness of how arts can empower people through adversity.

References
  1. "Lexile & Quantile Hub".
  2. "The Children of Willesden Lane: A True Story of Hope and Survival During World War II". Jewish Book Council. May 21, 2017.
  3. Kraus, Joanna H. "The Children of Willesden Lane Book Review". Common Sense Media.
  4. "The Children of Willesden Lane". BookTrust.
  5. Golabek, Mona. "Dzieci z Willesden Lane | Lee Cohen, Mona Golabek". Lubimyczytać.pl (in Polish). Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  6. "https://katalogi.bn.org.pl/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991028571449705066&context=L&vid=48OMNIS_NLOP:48OMNIS_NLOP&lang=pl&search_scope=NLOP_IZ_NZ&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=LibraryCatalog&query=any,contains,Dzieci%20z%20Willesden%20Lane%20:%20pami%C4%99tnik%20muzyki,%20mi%C5%82o%C5%9Bci%20i%20przetrwania&offset=0". katalogi.bn.org.pl. Retrieved July 19, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  7. "The 2018 Sydney Taylor Book Awards Association of Jewish Libraries" (PDF). jewishlibraries.org. Association of Jewish Libraries. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  8. Wren, Celia (September 17, 2018). "Telling her mother's war story on stage with a piano". The Washington Post.
  9. "Review: 'The Pianist of Willesden Lane' a resonant tale of survival". Los Angeles Times. April 26, 2012.
  10. Charles Isherwood (July 22, 2014). "Theater Review: Repertory of Fear and Hope". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
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