The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree

by Lucille Abendanon

Overview

Batavia, Dutch East Indies, 1942.

Emmy has the voice of an angel but hasn’t sung a note since a family tragedy. With war looming, her father plans to ship her off to a singing school in England for safety. But all Emmy wants to do is stay in Batavia with her best friend, Bakti, even if it means putting up with her snooty classmate, Violet. Then the Japanese army invades—and as war erupts in the Dutch East Indies, Emmy’s world falls apart.

When her own actions sabotage her chance to evacuate the island, Emmy is captured and confined in the Tjideng prisoner-of-war camp with other women and children. Separated from her family and friends, and silenced by her grief, Emmy will need all her strength to survive the war, find her voice, and reclaim her freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631638206
Publisher:	North Star Editions
Publication date:	01/23/2024
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.50(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 15 Years

About the Author

Lucille Abendanon has always lived a life on the move. When she was twelve, she swapped the English countryside for the tropical east coast of South Africa. Since then, she has been fortunate to call many places home—from the magic of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, to the wonders of Bangkok; from the minarets of Istanbul to the canals of the Netherlands. She now lives back in the United Kingdom with her husband, three boys, and three chickens beneath the branches of an ancient oak. She has three nationalities, which makes the question “where are you from?” difficult to answer. Lucille holds an MA in International Studies, and when she’s not writing books, she writes about living abroad and raising multicultural kids on the move. The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree is her debut novel and is inspired by a lifetime of conversations with her Oma Emmy, who was a prisoner of war in the Tjideng internment camp during World War II.

Editorial Reviews

"[E]ngaging narrative that broadens readers’ understanding of the geographic reach of World War II." —Kirkus Reviews

“Steady pacing and well-developed characters with credible flaws round out this harrowing, high-stakes tale, based on Abendanon’s grandmother’s experiences.” —Publishers Weekly

“Abendanon has written a searing story of captivity, based loosely on her own grandmother's life, that is notable for its verisimilitude and vivid setting. It brings history to life.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Abendanon brings a whole new perspective for readers who clamor for WWII stories, such as Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War That Saved My Life . . . . An absolute must-have in all middle grade collections.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

“Abendanon presents the nuances of colonialism through the eyes of a child initially unaware of her privilege until it is taken away. Through Javanese secondary characters, readers see the growing resistance to colonial occupation, whether by the Netherlands or Japan. Within the camp, Emmy emerges as a strong presence as she takes on leadership roles, confronts the guilt she feels for the accident that led to her mother’s death, and rediscovers her joy in singing. Readers will cheer for her during her journey to herself in the worst of times.” —Historical Novel Society

“This book is beautifully written and is a perfect addition to any middle grade classroom or library. . . . The horrors of the prison camp are told in authentic voice and are appropriate for middle grade readers. With so many WWII stories, having the perspective of Batavia, or current day Indonesia, is an important perspective.” —Children's Literature

"What an extraordinary book!...This whole book sparkles with life, even as it relates horrific happenings....[Remarkable] in every way. I can't say enough good things about it. It should be in every library in the USA." —IBPA Book Award Judge

"[B]eautifully written and riveting from beginning to end. Based on the memories of the writer’s grandmother, the World War II story is suspenseful and heartrending, and one that is still relevant today." —IBPA Book Award Judge

From the Publisher

2023-10-21
Eleven-year-old, Batavia-born Dutch national Emmeline Abendanon has been unable to sing since her mother’s death.

Despite the looming threat of the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), Emmy refuses to leave for vocal training at a prestigious school in England. She clings to the familiar, including Javanese best friend Bakti, the son of a family servant. But Emmy soon learns uncomfortable truths about her life of privilege and the systemic discrimination and exploitation non-Europeans like Bakti face under colonial rule. When the 1942 Dutch surrender results in Japanese occupation, Emmy ends up in the Tjideng prisoner-of-war camp for women and children, where she must find the strength and will to survive. Drawing from her grandmother’s account of living in what is now Jakarta and surviving Tjideng, debut author Abendanon weaves a compelling narrative that highlights the experience of many white European and Australian prisoners of war. Yet, despite cultivating Emmy’s awakening to a broader view of her position in the Dutch colonial hierarchy, the ending oversimplifies and elides critical nuances. The narrative also suffers from a lack of cultural texture, failing to convey the setting’s ethnic and religious diversity. The author’s personal and historical notes add some context but fall short in communicating the broader history of the Dutch state, the Indonesian archipelago under the Dutch East India Company, and the Indonesian independence movement.

A flawed but engaging narrative that broadens readers’ understanding of the geographic reach of World War II. (map) (Historical fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews