Around midnight, early October 1944. Riga. A Latvian father and his six-year-old son flee their home and the land of their birth for an uncertain future. The world is at war and their journey will be perilous. Life throws the dice – and for Martins Saldais the toss was unlucky. Yet one thing sustained him: his promise to his young wife on her deathbed that he would always look after Juris, their baby son. Six years later, facing deportation or worse, Martins and Juris fled their homeland. Their refugee journey was often horrifying. Constantly anxious and at times starving, they travelled some 800 kilometres through war-torn Europe – around half of that on foot – to reach the safety of the British zone in Germany. In mid 1949, after a four-year wait in Displaced Persons camps, they were heading for Australia. Despite the trauma of their refugee experience, their persistent poverty, and the difficulties they faced in adjusting to a new country, a new language and a new way of life, Juris (George) became everything his father could have hoped for. His success was enabled by his father’s sacrifice and unconditional love. And by a promise made long ago. A memoir that is at times harrowing, confronting and sad, but ultimately redemptive. It is a testament to what love can enable in the face of relentless hardship.

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. “I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music. When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.

Susie Dantzig presents a new and clever approach to learning to play the violin that is unlike any other instructional manual. Using wit, wisdom, and charm, Susie Dantzig introduces us to Val the Violin, an engaging leader for young, budding musicians who are beginning to explore their hidden talents. The author's unique teaching method introduces students to reading music as well as playing techniques. An introductory guide incorporates images and photographs to help new players identify parts of the violin, learn how to hold the violin and bow, and understand musical symbols. Val the Violin guides students in studying the violin, starting with the lowest note, the open G, and progressing in a logical, step by step fashion through the highest string, the E string. Basic music theory concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as notes and tempo, are presented in a simple and whimsical style that is relatable and easily understood by young children. Fun facts and tips are included throughout each lesson, which ends with exercises that incorporate fun, popular songs. The book is structured so that the student learns one lesson each week and practices the exercises in that lesson 30 minutes each day. Val guides the student through each lesson with assistance from a parent or teacher. If the student is unable to practice during the week or is unable to move on to the next lesson, previous lessons can be reviewed and repeated. The author wrote this book with over 10 years of experience teaching private lessons to children as young as 2 years old. In those years of teaching, the author witnessed a lack of material geared for young children, especially material that teaches the student to read music as well as play. Consequently, the author developed methods to successfully teach these young students to do just that, as well as teach them concepts that she wished her teachers taught her. This book is meant to instruct pre-school and early elementary school aged children the basics of the violin and music theory. In addition to teaching students how to play the violin and basic music theory, Val the Violin is also a valuable resource that students can revisit for reference as they become more advanced musicians. The author includes a helpful reference guide that teaches the students how to figure out the key signature of a piece of music, a page of simple scales, and a glossary of all of the musical terms, symbols, and concepts introduced in each of the lessons. Always remember, music is a lifelong activity and this book provides a strong foundation for children as they embark on their musical journeys.

The spellbinding memoir of a violin virtuoso who loses the instrument that had defined her both on stage and off -- and who discovers, beyond the violin, the music of her own voice Her first violin was tiny, harsh, factory-made; her first piece was “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.” But from the very beginning, Min Kym knew that music was the element in which she could swim and dive and soar. At seven years old, she was a prodigy, the youngest ever student at the famed Purcell School. At eleven, she won her first international prize; at eighteen, violinist great Ruggiero Ricci called her “the most talented violinist I’ve ever taught.” And at twenty-one, she found “the one,” the violin she would play as a soloist: a rare 1696 Stradivarius. Her career took off. She recorded the Brahms concerto and a world tour was planned. Then, in a London café, her violin was stolen. She felt as though she had lost her soulmate, and with it her sense of who she was. Overnight she became unable to play or function, stunned into silence. In this lucid and transfixing memoir, Kym reckons with the space left by her violin’s absence. She sees with new eyes her past as a child prodigy, with its isolation and crushing expectations; her combustible relationships with teachers and with a domineering boyfriend; and her navigation of two very different worlds, her traditional Korean family and her music. And in the stark yet clarifying light of her loss, she rediscovers her voice and herself.