The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival

Mona Golabek · Lee Cohen

Jul 2007 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

Based on the true story of her mother, Mona Golabek describes the inspirational story of Lisa Jura's escape from Nazi-controlled Austria to England on the famed Kindertransport.
Jewish musical prodigy Lisa Jura has a wonderful life in Vienna. But when the Nazis start closing in on the city, life changes irreversibly. Although he has three daughters, Lisa's father is only able to secure one berth on the Kindertransport. The family decides to send Lisa to London so that she may pursue her dreams of a career as a concert pianist. Separated from her beloved family, Lisa bravely endures the trip and a disastrous posting outside London before finding her way to the Willesden Lane Orphanage.

It is in this orphanage that Lisa's story truly comes to life. Her music inspires the other orphanage children, and they, in turn, cheer her on in her efforts to make good on her promise to her family to realize her musical potential. Through hard work and sheer pluck, Lisa wins a scholarship to study piano at the Royal Academy. As she supports herself and studies, she makes a new life for herself and dreams of reconnecting with the family she was forced to leave behind. The resulting tale delivers a message of the power of music to uplift the human spirit and to grant the individual soul endurance, patience, and peace.

Ratings and reviews

I love the book... but in 2016 OR 2017 something I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE A MOVIE COMING OUT AND I'VE BEEN WAITINGGGGGGGGG I GOT THE BOOK WHEN I WAS IN 4TH GRADDDEEEEE

I love this book. When I was in fifth grade, we had to read it as a class, and I was the first one finished. VERY GOOD BOOK, MUST READ!!!:-)

It made me get in tears thank you mona golabek for writing this book

About the author

Mona Golabek is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, internationally celebrated concert pianist, and star of the one-woman show The Pianist of Willesden Lane.