Review: The Girl Who Heard the Music by Marni Fogelson

 

Genre: Chilren's 4-8

Pages: 40

Published: April 4, 2023

The true story of award-winning pianist and environmental activist Mahani Teave and the beloved island she is helping to save.

Imagine living on a tiny island more than a thousand miles from any other inhabited place! That's where a girl named Mahani lived―on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. Mahani grew up taking music lessons on the island's only piano. She had the talent to become a great pianist, but pursuing that dream meant leaving the home she loved.

As Mahani toured the world as an acclaimed concert pianist, Rapa Nui stayed close to her heart. She knew the island struggled with problems like ocean trash and wondered how she could help. So she returned to Rapa Nui with a new dream―to build a music school! The unique building is constructed with recycled trash and has solar panels and a food garden. Now Mahani is helping build a more sustainable future for her island home―where the music continues.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This book gives some serious Moana vibes. The feeling of the story, the island name, the illustrations just all had me singing "I am Moana!" inside my head, because I was reading this in a public setting and people would probably think I'm crazy should they hear me singing that with no music. It's not even like the story felt like a knock-off of Moana, it is definitely its own story and very different in plot. But if you have a Moana obsessed child, I'd definitely recommend this book. 

The story itself was kind of motivational. I really can't imagine what it must be like living on a small island that sees such huge numbers of tourists. Living in Colorado near the mountains we see our fair share of tourists here, but we have means of getting rid of their garbage that people on an island apparently don't have. I feel like the book is kind of a reminder that we really need to be mindful of what we're doing to the world we live on, regardless of where we live, because even if the garbage isn't affecting us where we live, it might be affecting others. 

Overall I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Marni Fogelson is a children’s book author, lifestyle writer, and nonprofit professional. She has an insatiable love for reading and believes that books have a tremendous power to make us better humans. Marni lives with her husband, two children, and a very loud and affectionate hound in Philadelphia.

Mahani Teave is an award-winning concert pianist and environmental activist from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). She holds a master's degree from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music, has won numerous international music competitions, and her debut album, Rapa Nui Odyssey, launched as number one on the Billboard Classical charts. She is one of the founders of Toki Rapa Nui, a nonprofit dedicated to the island’s ecological and cultural preservation. She lives with her family on Rapa Nui, where she leads the Rapa Nui School for Music and the Arts.

Marta Álvarez Miguéns is a self-taught children’s illustrator. She was born in a small town in Galicia, Spain, and currently lives in La Coruña, Spain. She is the illustrator of Shark Lady (written by Jess Keating), which was named a 2018 Best STEM Book by the Children’s Book Council as well as a Best STEM Book by the National Science Teachers Association.