The Children of Willesden Lane

Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival

By: Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen

Narrated by: Mona Golabek

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen (P)2016 Hachette Audio

The strength of the human spirit when faced with tragedy and heartache.

Beautiful and touching story. Brought me to tears many times. I was inspired by the strength of the human spirit.

Read this

It’s a beautiful story ….It was obviously a work of love that has resulted in a worthy book of history.

Wow

This book is AMAZING!! I loved it! I’m speechless! It’s just so incredible! The music was incredible and so beautiful! Just wow.

-SEA age 11

Of Music and Loving and Longing

I have been fascinated by the Kindertransport ever since I first heard about it years ago. I was taught classical piano and a child and teenager, though I was not the caliber of player that Lisa was. That being said, I loved this book.
It neither bogs down with unnecessary musical information nor leaves behind readers who are not familiar with musical terms.
Lisa comes of age during WWII. She witnesses the Night of Broken Glass in Vienna and is sent to England on the Kindertransport, but her sisters and parents remain behind. After things don't turn out the way she hopes, she winds up at a Jewish boarding home for other refugee children and continues her musical studies through hours and hours of practices, even recklessly practicing during air raids.
Lisa's daughter both wrote and performed this book, and it is clear that she oved her mother deeply. Her words are easily accessible, her performance (though unpolished and with slightly flat dialogue) is pleasant to listen to. The recordings of important political speeches, or the songs that Lisa was playing, were much more enhancing to the story than the background of a crowded train station early in the book.
Overall, this book is important if you are interested in learning about coming of age during WWII, how love and loss and forces outside of your control change you. How music can transcend language and culture and tragedy, but also be a cruel taskmaster.
Well worth your time and credit.

Beautiful!!!

So inspiring! I cried a lot while I was listening to the story. Lisa was such an incredible woman. The story is very well conveyed, one can easily picture the various scenarios, places, people around Lisa.
Thanks to the author for writing and sharing this amazing story.
I highly recommend this book!

Thank you

A very deep bow of gratitude for sharing your mother's story with so much tenderness 🙏🙏

Inspiring and beautifully done

Although this could have been categorized as YA it was inspiring and so well done. The PDF accompanying the book is well worth the credit!

A Beautiful Memoir

I really loved this memoir! It was well written,and had a great narrator. It was a very touching story about a Jewish girl rescued from the Nazis in Austria. She was one of the more than 10,000 children of the Kinder transport in 1939. The book told of her courageous journey to become a concert pianist in London. Memorable Characters and a real historical feel for the Blitz and
WW2 England. The addition of the sound effects and the insertion of the classical music.at key points really enhanced my listening experience. It would make a WONDERFUL movie!

Amazing Performance

This is not just a beautifully told story but a performance you will never forget.

Best Audio Book I've ever listened to.

The story alone is moving, but the extra touches added to this audio book and the performance was spot on. I was brought to tears. A MUST read if the ever was one.