The Children of Willesden Lane

By Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen

A young pianist's music becomes her lifeline amid war's chaos.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 4,101 ratings

224 pages· 37,199 words· Est. 5 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In war-torn Vienna, 14-year-old Lisa Jura's dreams of becoming a concert pianist are shattered. Sent to London alone via the Kindertransport, she clings to her music as a beacon of hope. Separated from her family, Lisa's journey unfolds in a refugee home on Willesden Lane, where her talent inspires others. Will her music be enough to reunite her with her loved ones? Discover a tale of courage, survival, and the transformative power of music in this moving memoir.

From the publisher

A young readers’ edition of an important and inspiring true story of hope and survival during World War II. Fourteen-year-old Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who hoped to become a concert pianist. But when Hitler’s armies advanced on pre-war Vienna, Lisa’s parents were forced to make a difficult decision. Able to secure passage for only one of their three daughters through the Kindertransport, they chose to send gifted Lisa to London for safety. As she yearned to be reunited with her family while she lived in a home for refugee children on Willesden Lane, Lisa’s music became a beacon of hope. A memoir of courage and the power of music to uplift the human spirit, this compelling tribute to one special young woman and the lives she touched will both educate and inspire young readers.

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