A young boy rebels against piano lessons. His grandfather has a story to tell him abount the importance of learning to play an instrument.

The story toldl by his grandfather is about a young orphan, Jonathan Harker, who plays his ragedy violin to those on the street who stop to listen to him. He becomes accidently stowed away on the Titanic where by chance he meets Wallace Hartlery who is hired to provide music to people on the Titanic. Soon, Jonathan is taken under wing by Wallace Hartley. The story of Wallace Hatley is true. As the Titanic, a beautiful ship, hit and ice berg and was doomed to sink, Wallae Hatley encouraged his men to stay on the ship and play beautiul music as the ship was sinking.

Sadly, the magnificent ship, was dramatically sinking, bravely Wallace Hartley continued to provide music to those who were terrified rearding what was happening, around them some were getting in boats, while others are floating and dying in bitter cold water.

This is a uniquely different book by the author Patricia Polacco, whose previous books were her personal events throughout her life. Patricia Polacco is an award-winning writer who produced many books. ( )

Prolific picture-book author and artist Patricia Polacco, who usually draws upon her own personal and familial history in her many titles, turns in The Bravest Man in the World to the pages of history, spinning a heartbreaking but uplifting fictional story based upon the real-life figure of Wallace Hartley, the violinist and band-leader who led his fellow musicians in playing, as the doomed ship Titanic sunk. Related long after the fact to his grandson, this is the story of an orphaned Irish boy who inadvertently stows away upon the Titanic, and is taken under the wing of Wallace Hartley, who recognizes his musical talent. Finding caring adults after a period of neglect and hardship, the boy is delighted... only to find himself torn away from one of his new beneficiaries, when the ship hits an iceberg, and begins to go down...

I found myself moved to tears as I finished The Bravest Man in the World, contemplating the role of courage and faith in supporting humanity, when faced with terrible events, and certain death. Although aware that the Titanic band continued to play, while the ship went down - something depicted in numerous books and media - I didn't know that they were famous for concluding with the hymn, Nearer My God, to Thee, or that the band leader, Hartley, left behind a loving fiancee, who gifted him the violin he played. When so many were no doubt giving in to despair, or were trying to find some way to force themselves onto the all-to-few lifeboats, Hartley and his band faced the reality of their own imminent deaths, and found a way to offer comfort to their fellow humans, also facing that difficult experience. I was also struck, as I so often am, by the fact that women and children were given priority on the lifeboats, leaving the men to die. This was a deeply moving book, and I am glad to have read it. I would recommend it to older picture-book audiences - perhaps second grade and above? - who enjoy biography, history, and historical fiction, or who have an interest in the Titanic. ( )

I love Patricia Polacco’s books. I’ve read all of them. The ones that usually touch me most are books based on her own life/her family history, but there are a few I’ve loved that are not about her, both fiction and non-fiction. This is one of them. It almost brought me to tears. I’m always eager for the next Polacco book and I’ve always been fascinated by the Titanic tragedy, so I had high expectations for this book.

This is another (mostly?) non-fiction picture book. I’ve put it on both my fiction and non-fiction shelves. (On the cover it says a story inspired by Wallace Hartley and the Titanic.) What a great way to introduce children to the brave violinist Wallace Hartley and the sinking of the Titanic!

This story is a tribute to Wallace Hartley, a man who played his violin to comfort passengers and crew as the Titanic sunk, made famous in many books and films.

I found it incredibly touching, both Hartley’s story and also the stories of nine year old orphan Jonathan and of Mrs. Weeks, and of how their paths joined and changed their lives forever. It’s one of those stories that can give you some faith in human nature, and not just because of the main event either.

Some of the words I wondered if they were in the vernacular back then but maybe so. I looked it up and the word damned goes back centuries.

I really liked most of the illustrations. They captured well life in Ireland and on the Titanic before and after hitting the iceberg and the experience of being on the lifeboats as the ship sunk. My quibble about some of the illustrations is that the boy looks too old (not only 8 or 9) and in one picture looks almost like a monster. A few of the pictures didn’t work for me, but overall they were wonderful. Vibrant and with a feeling of immediacy, some full of detail, great facial expressions, and a great use of colors for the story.

At the end of the book there is an author’s note about Hartley and his violin though I’m a little confused about how the violin and valise were recovered, and I guess the full account is not known. Included is a photo of the violin and a photo of Wallace Hartley. I assume it was taken not too, too long before his death. He looks so young.

4-1/2 stars

Highly recommended for readers/listeners who have enjoyed picture books by Patricia Polacco, are interested in music and playing the violin/any instruments (and children who struggle to practice their instrument), have interest in the sinking of the Titanic, and anyone who enjoys orphan tales, or looking for inspirational stories and stories about real life heroes. I think that children will like how this book is set in the present, with a story being told about the past.

I can’t wait for more books by this author/illustrator. I’m especially eager to read more heartfelt ones, and most of her books qualify. ( )