Echo

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015

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Themes

The Power of Music

Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy all face situations in which they feel shame, fear, and confusion. In Nazi Germany, Friedrich is ostracized for his appearance. Music is his escape from the world, and when he plays the enchanted harmonica, he feels a sense of empowerment. When his father is imprisoned in Dachau, he finds unexpected reserves of bravery within himself, and hatches a plan to escape. Likewise, Mike faces shame because of his poverty, and fear because he may be separated from his brother. His harmonica helps him to channel his sadness and hope and gives him the courage to make a plea to Eunice. Finally, Ivy is worried about her brother Fernando, offended by her treatment as a Mexican-American, and unsure about whether to disclose the Yamamoto’s secret room. Emboldened by her belief in her musicianship, she weathers the difficulties at home and at school, making the best of all the situations in her complex life.

For all of these characters, music is a way to process difficult feelings, to comfort themselves in moments of shame or despair, and to gain the courage and confidence necessary to stand up for themselves and their families. The harmonica helps these characters to discover the reserves of strength inside themselves. Even after parting with the instrument, this strength lives on, as we learn when we discover their fates as adults.

The Effects of Intolerance

Friedrich’s youth in Nazi Germany acquaints him with Nazi intolerance of Jews, as well as individuals with disabilities and unique appearances. In America, Ivy learns about hatred towards Japanese Americansand experiences racial intolerance firsthand when she attends a segregated school. Although Mike does not encounter issues of racial intolerance, as a poor orphan, he is exploited by the orphanage meant to protect him, as well as shamed for his appearance.

These three young characters acutely feel the effects of prejudice, and all of them experience shame. Friedrich and Mike experience hotness and physical discomfort, and Ivy feels “dirty” after she hears her schoolmaster’s words. All of these scenes emphasize that intolerance is not abstract: it harms people, especially young people.

It is worth noting that Nazi intolerance is contrasted with U.S. wartime prejudice. While Friedrich must escape Nazi Germany and go the rest of his life without seeing his sister, Ivy continues to live in the U.S., where her school is eventually integrated. She is able to take pride in her heritage and her nation, whereas Friedrich is not.

Children Misunderstanding Adults

While each child protagonist must grow up fast and show significant bravery, they also misunderstand some aspects of the adult world. Friedrich accidentally tips Anselm off to his family’s escape plan, Mike misunderstands Eunice’s intentions, and Ivy misjudges the purpose of the Yamamotos’ hidden room.

In all of these cases, dramatic irony operates in the text: reactions of other characters give the reader hints that the young characters are missing something. While these imperfect understandings result in little harm within the text, they do highlight these young characters’ socio-intellectual limits and overall inexperience in navigating the social mores of the adult world.

The Bonds Siblings Share

Otto encounters three sisters in the woods, and the main characters of the text all have one sibling: Friedrich has an older sister, Elisabeth; Mike has a younger brother, Frankie; and Ivy has an older brother, Fernando. In this book, siblinghood is a strong and almost unbreakable bond.

Eins, Zwei, and Drei take great comfort in each other’s presence, and all of the other characters in this text also have strong bonds to their siblings. However, they must evaluate those bonds against other priorities and desires. Ivy acts in the way that her brother has told her to, while Mike takes care of Frankie, often sacrificing himself for his brother’s good. Friedrich, by contrast, must break with Elisabeth when he rejects her embrace of Nazism, even though he hopes to reconnect with her in the future.

Growing Up Fast During Wartime

All of these characters have to follow their own initiative to solve problems and save their families. Friedrich plans for his family to escape to Switzerland, in order to escape the Nazis; Mike plans to keep Frankie safe; and Ivy looks for the truth about the Yamamotos, in the face of prejudice against Japanese Americans due to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Despite their young ages, the harsh realities of life force these young people to take things seriously, think logically, and make the best choices available to them.