Dreams of Silver (The Silver Music Box, 2) Paperback – November 13, 2018

Dreams of Silver: A Novel is by Mina Baites and translated by Alison Layland. This book is a sequel to The Silver Music Box. it is the story of young Jewish girls who are separated at a young age when brought to England on the Kindertransport. The young sisters were separated without much thought to their being sisters. This was something that happened fairly often as people were not able to take in more than one child or didn’t want one as old as nine or as young as a year old. Whatever the reason, the two sisters were separated with the older one giving her younger sister a silver music box. The music box had been specifically made by their grandfather for their own father when he was just four. Margarethe had loved that box so at four, her Father gave it to her to keep. She had taken it everywhere with her. Now, she was giving it to her little sister to keep. Maybe it would bring them back together.After the war, Paul Blumenthal had gone to England to try to find his little girls. His wife had been killed before he had been taken to the camps. His Mother had gone to Cape Town before the war got started. All he had left was his girls; but he was unable to find them. The authorities gave no preference to parents who had survived the Holocaust. Finally, he had to give up. He also went to Cape Town; but never gave up hope. Eventually, his younger daughter found herself back to the family. It was only then that she learned she had a sister. She was determined not to give up on finding out what happened to her sister. Though the authorities said she had died, Lily was determined to find out as much as possible about her. This meant going from Cape Town to Europe, to London, and finally to Switzerland. She followed every scrap of information.The book is a really good one and really takes you into the life of children who only want to survive and be reunited with their families.

I had very much enjoyed the first book in the series (The Silver Music Box). This book completes the circle. Won't say more to avoid spoiling it for other readers. The author lets the reader have a good idea of the conclusion relatively early in the book, leaving the characters in the dark. If you identify with the characters (as I did), this technique worked well. If you liked the first book, the second is definitely worth the effort to read. However, if you have read neither, it is critical to read the first one first to get the full flavor and emotion of the story.

Heartfelt, strength and life continuing despite loss and sorrow. Beautifully written. I felt strong emotions as I read the words of this family coming together.

This is the second book and you must read the first one. It astounds me that everything in these stories actually happened. That it is actual history. As a story, it of course has a happy ending but for so many there was only horror. How can we as humans ever see another as less than ourselves!? These stories are going to stick with me... hope for my own happy ending though I know I my struggles will never be as hard. May all peoples seen as different or less than, know themselves to be more than what others think and may those others realize we are all the same. We are one. Thank you Mina for piercing my heart. And I'm really glad for the 2nd book, I didn't know there was another but was very happy there was more. Bless you.

I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel to The Silver Music Box, picking up in South Africa where the previous book ended. The author has done a wonderful job crafting this story over the tremendously difficult task of finding one’s children or family members separated by the war. There is a double play back as the story accompanies Lillie seeking information on her older sister from Red Cross Records in England and the difficult time Lillie’s Grandmother has in South Africa dealing with Apartheid’s treatment of blacks. The journey for this book begins South Africa and moves to England and eventually leads to Ireland. A beautifully crafted emotional story. Too many families actually lived these challenges due to the brutal Nazi regime.

I read this book in 2 days. Loved the characters and how they were developed. I learned that this was based on some truths which made it even more special. You will enjoy this book.

Although the first novel, The Silver Music Box, moved slowly in the beginning, the sequel hit the ground running. A read could read this novel by itself, bit would understand the characters better if the novels were read in order.So many themes are covered in this novel, but have taken on different clothing. Ethnic and racial segregation change color in Cape Town from olive to black, but s hatred is the engine that moved both the Jewish segregation and apartheid.The book moved quickly and it seems that every chapter begins some drain to cry or cringe. Sisters have been separated, the truth withheld, identities were changed for profit all for "the child's best interest". But, despite all of that, memory, music, and love's power triumph.

It pained me to give this book only 3 stars, and I did so only because this book and its predecessor (The Silver Music Box) really need to be read together.I had read the first volume months ago and loved it. It was obvious even then that there was more to this story. When I started reading this book, I realized that I needed to refresh my memory. So, that’s exactly what I did.Then, I immediately read “Dreams of Silver” and was completely taken in by the story. Anyone who reads “Dreams of Silver” without “The Silver Music Box” is doing themselves and the author (Mina Baites) a disservice.Together, these two books are an exceptional read. Any reader who is interested in family connections (their own or others) should read these two volumes together. Thank you, Mina Baites!I’ve thought about going back to change my rating, but without Book 1, other readers would definitely question my judgement!Maybe I should give the two books 10*s. **********