The prologue (and epilogue) of this book are told in a folktale/myth kind of style which does a great job of setting the scene without making it feel like an infodump, and also nicely 'frames' the story, giving it a clear beginning and ending while also making it seem like part of something bigger. It gives the story a magical feel, in which not everything needs to have a logical explanation. This beautiful middle grade historical fiction is set in North Dakota in 1905, approximately twenty-five years after becoming a state, and approximately twenty-five years before the homesteading era officially came to an end. It is a time that isn't as often covered related to pioneers, and it is great to see a story bringing it to life, especially one that highlights the Jewish pioneers who settled across the Great Plains. As a historian of North Dakota history and Great Plains history, I need to comment on the fact the author consulted such excellent sources in her research on the experiences of Jewish pioneers, and the general pioneering experience in North Dakota. They're listed at the end of the text, and I highly recommend examining them as well, as they are well worth the read.

A land of ice and magic ruled by an evil Ice Queen is in many ways reminiscent of C S Lewis's now classic Chronicles of Narnia. A chosen child bonded with an eagle is also similar to the bond between Lyra and her daemon in Philip Pullman's hugely successful The Dark Materials series. Add to this a fast moving plot and a dusting of an almost forgotten magic and Sky Song has all the elements required for a fantasy adventure that will enthral and entrance middle grade readers. This is a story about an eagle huntress, an inventor and an organ made of icicles. But it is also a story about belonging, even at the very edges of our world . . . My thoughts: I really loved this one so much. I loved the [North Dakota] prairie feel. I loved the family dynamics. I loved the one room school house. The historical vibes were just my cup of tea. I thought it was a lovely coming of age novel. I loved the role of music in this one! The ending was so perfect.The snowy kingdom of Erkenwald was once a magical place—until an evil ice witch cursed the land and began stealing the voices of the kingdom’s people to strengthen her powers. Weaknesses: I would have enjoyed a little bit more information about what life was like for the family in Liubashevka, so that I could have been as nostalgic for it as Shoshanna was. I'd be down for Little House in the Ukrainian Woods! Abi Elphinstone grew up in Scotland where she spent most of her childhood building dens, hiding in tree houses and running wild across highland glens. After being coaxed out of her tree house, she studied English at Bristol University and then worked as a teacher in Africa, Berkshire and London. She is the author of The Dreamsnatcher, The Shadow Keeper and The Night Spinner; a series of fast-paced adventure books for 8-12 year olds which follow Moll, Sid, Alfie and a wildcat, Gryff, as they search for the Amulets of Truth to stop a group of sinister witchdoctors taking over their world. She is also the curator of the anthology Winter Magic.

The story begins after one of the lesser Sky Gods escapes from the glacier where she has been imprisoned. This evil Ice Queen gains control of the Tusk tribe, sowing discord and suspicion among the other tribes. She uses dark magic to create Winterfang Palace, a fortress made of ice, where she imprisons men, women and children, whose voices she must steal if she is to gain immortality. One of the imprisoned children is a girl named Eska. Trapped in her glass music box, she remembers nothing of her life before her enchantment. However, it becomes apparent that there is something unique about her voice that the Ice Queen is desperate to acquire. The author has beautifully carved the emotions of Shoshana. Her love for her family, for her kitten Ganef, whom she is supposed to leave behind and for her beautiful village. The hardships the family faces during migration touch the reader’s heart. It makes the reader realise the value and respect of one’s home. Even during migration, it was heartbreaking to see how Jews were treated by some people.

Filled with wonderful characters and stunning settings, Abi immediately transports her reader effortlessly to the harsh, wild landscape of Erkenwald where an evil Ice Queen is gradually stealing voices. A Queen intent on driving division between tribes, dissolving all trust and compassion until all are pitted against each other. At the heart of this warm, imaginative tale is a sense of the magic to be found in the wilderness. As Eska learns: “You have the wild on your side and the wild doesn’t play by ordinary rules.”

Papa has built the family a house in true North Dakota tradition - a dugout. While the top of the home is above ground, the living quarters are dug into the ground to provide protection from the elements. Dugouts were also practical because trees for lumber on the prairie were scarce. The dugout is quite different than what the female family members were expecting. They set to work making it as homelike as possible. With their efforts and the great love of the family, it becomes a home as much as their home in Ukraine, just different. A large Jewish family escapes the persecution in their country by immigrating to North Dakota. The eleven-year-old middle daughter finds the new life to be quite different than she expected, in positive and some negative ways. At first, I found Flint very unlikable. He was awful to Eska! He didn't want to help her escape, he didn't want to teach her how to survive and - when she grew capable - he didn't want to admit to her that she was doing a good job! He's from a tribe that is basically 'Toxic Masculinity Central' where their only thoughts are to kill rivals with weapons, never show weakness or emotion and never allow yourself to think outside the box. (His tribe and brother hate that Flint is an inventor and won't allow him to use any sort of magic, despite how this could massively help them in a fight). Throughout the book, Eska has to undo this to make Flint a better person. I ended up sympathising with him; the way he was raised had obviously impacted him and he was far more likeable by the end. Yet personally I would rather read about a progressive male character rather than one who needs someone pointing out how troubling his thoughts and actions are.In “A Sky Full of Song”, Susan Lynn Meyer has wonderfully captured the beauty of the North Dakota prairie. I have lived in North Dakota all my life, and while the landscape in places has changed dramatically since 1905 when the book takes place, many areas of North Dakota retain that allure. Ms. Meyers' descriptive phrases gave Shoshanna's new homeland a wonderful radiance that I loved.

The strongest message for me, however, is around the value of diversity and the importance of accepting people for who they are. Both Eska and Flint are seeking acceptance but this message is most powerful by the simple inclusion of Blu in our trio of protagonists. Blu has Downs Syndrome but, unlike so many stories where one of the characters has a disability, the story is not about her dealing with her disability or overcoming it. Instead, she's simply a realistic and likeable character who is being herself and who is able to make her own contribution to steering the group successfully through the adventure. I loved the way the family relationships were shown. They seemed completely authentic, and I especially enjoyed the relationships between the older daughters and the younger daughters. The cat is great. The dog is great. There is a horse. There is the prairie. There is the fiddle music. There is Channukah and it ends up having a crucial part in one scene in the story. All of the characters seem real. Family members, friends, the teacher, local people in both North Dakota and Ukraine. This was a book that was easy to get into and hard to put down. The writing is lovely. The storytelling is compelling. The characters and relationships ring true. First broadcast online by BBC Cymru in March 2021 at GŴYL 2021 with guest vocalist Nadine Shah, Paraorchestra’s Death Songbook premiered live at Wales Millennium Centre with guest vocalist Gwenno as part of Llais on Saturday 29 October 2022. But that's only what powers a rip-roaring, fast-paced adventure with characters you can't help but root for. Eska is a strong heroine but faces doubts about her abilities, while Flint struggles to overcome his upbringing and learn to accept others (and himself). This story is heartbreaking but also quite comforting to read while reading about the family dynamics and the sibling relationship.

LoveReading4Kids Says

A magical wintry story filled with adventure, wonder and edge-of-your-seat excitement, this is the perfect read for fans of Michelle Harrison, Piers Torday and Emma Carroll. Belonging is not about knowing your tribe. It’s about trusting people whatever their tribe … There are many ways to belong.” For those who remember Little House on the Prairie fondly, despite its flaws, and were thankful for Linda Sue Park’s Prairie Lotus, here is another historical fiction book with homesteading, hard work and family at the center. Shoshana’s father and older brother were first to leave a Tsar rule Ukraine for America to create a home for the family free of Russian tyranny and anti-semitism and now, in 1905, the rest of the family is joining them in North Dakota. Readers will learn of the Homestead Act of 1862, the manipulation of the Dakota people to take over their land, and much more from the time period. The historical facts are entwined in the story of Shoshi and her struggle to fit in with the other students in school despite the distinct differences in language and religion and her growing love of the prairie and the music of not only her Papa’s violin, but the very sky and land around her. Warm and heart-felt, A Sky Full of Song has much to offer and will support history objectives in the middle grades as will as entertain lovers of the historical fiction genre. Meyer shares traditions from the Jewish culture in a beautiful way that will generate pride in the hearts of Jewish readers and develop appreciation in those who are not Jewish. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the brief episode of violence is critical to the plot. I must echo what several other reviewers have said; if you’re a fan of the Little House books, this is a must-read! It also reminded me of the American Girl books about Kirsten, an immigrant child from Sweden.