The Silver Music Box is a lovingly crafted family heirloom gifted from a father to his small son as he leaves for war but it becomes a tool to bridge the gaps of war and separation in a multigenerational tale. The Silver Music Box reminds readers of an additional perspective of war for the German citizens because of this family's nationalism and service in WWI and the turmoil and suffering they endured as Jewish descent business owners in WWII. I found this story to be an emotional journey with an amazing but believable story line and well-developed characters.

If there was ever a "gentle" book about war (two wars, actually, The Great War and World War II), this is it. An uplifting book about war? This is it. I read it with my 11-year-old granddaughter. Tragedies. Horrible tragedies. But the book exudes such hope throughout. I will not spoil the ending because everything does not turn out for the best but it does turn out better than hoped or expected. And the centerpiece is a small, bird-shaped music box made by a Jewish jeweler for his little son before the jeweler volunteers for WWI--to show he is a good German. The exquisite bird is passed down through the family and helps reunite those who remain after the horrors of World War II.

A lovely saga of life during this timespan. I like the method of moving through the years and enjoyed the outcomes of the tale. Definitely one to read.

I enjoyed this book. The message is poignant and especially for me, an ex South African. I was riveted in the first half of the book and then felt it petered out a bit. However, this didn't detract from the fact that I had to read to the end. There have been so many books written about the Holocaust but the interaction between Jews and Gentiles was something that I hadn't touched on. There was also just the right amount of brutality in the book.

It is 1914 in Germany and Jewish silversmith Johann Blumenthal is going to join up to fight. He makes an intricate and beautiful music box for his young son Paul to remember him by should he not return from the war. He engraves on it, “For Paul with love.” The worst happens, and Johann does not return home. His wife Lotte helps those who need it during these times of troubles, whether they are Jewish or not. She goes out to peoples’ home and assists them in any way she can.

His son Paul treasures his music box and later in his life converts to Catholicism, as does his wife-to-be. Paul is a silversmith as well. But as the Nazis take power things do not go well for Paul and his family. Shunned by their community because they converted and by their fellow Jews also for their conversion, they are in a very difficult situation. Business in the shop is very bad and Paul’s wife Clara is harassed.

Clara’s father is driven out of practicing medicine. Thing are going from bad to worse in Germany, with nowhere to turn. Paul’s shop is destroyed.

Interspersed with the ongoing story are excerpts from Paul’s diary. He speaks of the battles, the futility, the wretchedness and the conditions under which they must try to fight the war.

Paul, Clara and their daughter flee Altona to the countryside. Paul has obtained forged passports in the names of Peter, Charlotte and Emma. They stay and work at a farm until one of the workers informs the authorities. They are on the run once more, and Charlotte is pregnant again.

Fast forward to 1963 and we meet Lillian. Her parents recently were killed in an automobile accident. She inherited a small box. In it is a letter and a small silver music box. In the letter, her Mum explains that she came to them when she was two years old on the Kindertransport. The silver music box was a gift to her from her elder sister when they were separated. The adoption papers do not list ant names, just “parents missing.”

Lillian and her friend Sam embark on a several months journey to find Lillian’s relatives. The silver music box is the key clue and provides Lillian and Sam several clues. They then journey to Germany and other places where they have success. The ending is a little sappy, but poignant.

This is a very well written, plotted and translated novel. It speaks not only to the horrors of being Jewish in Germany in the 1930’s, but also speaks of hope and family. The ending is a little sappy, but poignant.
I truly enjoyed the book and will certainly look into more of Mina Baites’ books.

I want to thank NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read and enjoy.

I loved this book from page one.
Well written. Well researched.
I was engaged with the characters, and felt like I was there with them.
To be honest I would of loved a happier ending but you don't have everything. Well done.

The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites
Cast of characters are highlighted at the start of this book.
Love learning new things: silversmithing and the family business. Love the design work discussed.
We find Johann and he's making a special music box for his son Paul as he has to attend to some things that will take him away from home....
He meets with other family members as they discuss the war.
Johann will sign up to fight in the war-in another country to help the Jews.
Love how his wife wants to help out to help those in need-she will cook and serve at the synagogue. Story advances to when Paul is 19 and treasures his music box.
His father had died in the war...he will convert to Catholicism and then marry Clara who's also converting...
His passion is also a silversmith and the shop continues even after Wall Street collapse...being shunned because they are Jews but live as Christians.
Love how they hold out for as long as they can-losing jobs, no customers....
What I like about this book are the descriptions-they are so deep and detailed you feel you are there, in the trenches and hunched over the work table.
Love what the silver music box stands for and how it's passed from one to another over time, generation after generation.
Resourced and references listings at the end along with an author bio. Would read more from this author because they have done their homework with the facts making it an enjoyable story also.
Received this review copy via AmazonCrossing via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites
This is a story of a Jewish family and the actions they had to take to try and survive in Germany leading up to the Second World War. Many years later a young woman is given a silver music box that leads her on a journey to find her family. I enjoyed this book, parts of it were very sad and hard to imagine. I found it an interesting story. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.