Review Detail

‘Symphony for a Broken Orchestra: How Philadelphia Collected Sounds to Save Music’ by Amy Ignatow, illustrated by Gwen Millward, shows how the power of music, even through unconventional means, can bring about newfound possibilities.

When it is discovered that schools in Philadelphia are chock full of broken instruments, it is quite upsetting. Children can’t play, or even learn how to do so. So, the community comes together to try to make something out of nothing, to fix what was broken by not merely fixing the instruments, but by creating a symphony written specifically for the broken instruments.

One of the more beautiful themes of the story is that just because something is broken doesn’t mean that it can’t also be beautiful. Creativity, innovation, persistence, and encouragement play a huge role in making this story, based on a true tale, come alive. An “about the book” section at the end as well as a note from Robert Blackson, the artistic director of Temple Contemporary who brought Symphony for a Broken Orchestra into being, help readers gain a better understanding of the purpose of the story and why it all matters.