Tuesday, November 30, 2010

When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznick

Reviewed by Miss Dewey at Orenda

Five paw prints. When Marian Anderson was a girl she began to sing. Actually, most people who knew her would say she was born singing. By the time she was in elementary school she was already the youngest member of the People's Chorus in Philadelphia. She was so small, she had to stand on a chair to be seen. Her voice was so good the people in her church helped pay for her singing lessons and they offered to help pay for her to attend a professional music school. There was just one problem. Marian was black and black students were not allowed to even apply to attend the school, no matter how musically talented they were. But her friends and family didn't want her to give up her dream of singing so she was given a chance to sing before the famous music teacher, Giuseppe Boghetti. He was stunned by how wonderful her voice was and promised that after training with him for two years, she would be able to sing "anywhere for anybody". And after two years he was right. She was able to travel and perform with famous musicians in front of some of the wealthiest and most influential people, including European royalty, all over the world. There was just one problem. It didn't matter how talented or famous she became; when she was back in the United States, she was still treated poorly by some people simply because she was black. Luckily, she didn't let that stand in the way of following her dreams. This was a great book, not just because it was about an African American growing up during the time of segregation, but by showing people she could doing something just as well, if not better, than a white person. Not only did a poor child grow up to become famous, but it shows that no matter who you are, if you work hard at something you enjoy, then you can be very successful. To learn more about Marian Anderson visit, http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/anderson. To read more books by the author and illustrator visit, http://www.pammunozryan.com/ or http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/.
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19 comments:

Emma S.--5S said...

What I liked most about this book is that the character didn't give up and the book proves that dreams can come true to any kind of person.

Avery S--5S said...

I liked that the story was about singing and she sang for kings and queens!

Julia M.-5S said...

I liked the book when marian sang because it was about singing and I love to sing alot plus it was a very good book to read.

Tyler E.--5S said...

What I liked about most about the story was at the end when Marian sang at the Metropolitin Opera House in New
York City.

Thomas R. 5S said...

I liked most when Marian sang at the Metro Politin oprea house in New York City.

Julia M.--5S said...

I liked that it was about singing because i like to sing.Also i liked that she sang at all different places such as the metropolitin oprha house in New York City.Also I learned that you should never judge a person by there color. Even if the person is a different color they are all the same it doesnt matter about there color. I am very greatful that we dont have racism today. But all and all i really enjoyed this book!

Kate H--5S said...

I liked how Marian got to acomplish her dream and how it taught a very valuable lesson to all ages about choosing people by color.

Jacob M. 5S said...

I love this book, "When Marian Sang". My favorite part of this book is when Marian accomplished her lifelong dream: To sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Mitchell W.--5S said...

The thing I liked the most about the book is when she sung at the Metropoleton Oprah house to all the whites and the blacks, who finnaly got to see her sing.

grace.s-55s said...

what i liked about this book is it showes how peaple treated blacks.It also showes how you should never ever give up you should keep on trying.Most empotant you should never miss treat a person beacause of there color, beacause they just might just do somthing amazing.

Jessica P.--5S said...

I liked most about this book the end when she got to sing at the Metipollian Ophra House.

Christina V. 5S said...

I liked when Marian got to sing in the Metapoliton house.

Johnathan Pailley 5S said...

That Marian never gave up and most of her dreams came ture.

Nicky E.--5S said...

The thing I liked the most about this book was whenMarian traveled the world to sing for people.

Jasmine V. ---- 5S said...

I liked every thing about this book;I liked it how marian sang every were:for royalty, for both blavk and whit. I expeshaly liked how every one ; the presedents wife, and ather people helped her when poeple wold not let her sing in a place. this book is grate for all ages.

Pauly H. 5S said...

The thing I liked most about this book was the fact that Marian never gave up and always believed in herself.

Griffin O.--5S said...

I thought it was amazing that she sang in front of so many people. Also that a famous musician would drop every thing and teach just her. She must have a very big and loud voice. i also liked the part when she sang in front of the kings and Queens of Spain. And lastly I liked the part of the book when she sang at the chuch.

Michael H.--5S said...

I liked, That it was about a African American girl but she struggled in the hard times to be a singer.

Julia M.- 5S said...

Julia M.--5S said...
I liked that it was about singing because I like to sing.Also I liked that she sang at all different places such as the metropolitin oprha house in New York City.Also I learned that you should never judge a person by there color. Even if the person is a different color they are all the same it doesnt matter about there color. I am very greatful that we dont have racism today. But all and all I really enjoyed this book!