More From Michael Wenberg
Seattle Blues
When thirteen-year-old Maya Thompson is sent away to Seattle, Washington for the summer, she doesn’t know what to expect. While her daddy’s fighting in South Vietnam and her momma’s preoccupied with finishing her college degree, she’s been sentenced to spend her entire summer vacation with a stranger, a babysitter of last resort, a person she knows only by once-a-year birthday and Christmas cards—her grandma.
But nothing turns out quite as Maya—or anyone else—expects. Before the summer is out, she’ll make a few unusual friends and stumble across a treasure, a trombone once played by a long dead and forgotten grandpa. She’ll also discover that she shares more in common with her grandma than she ever imagined. Here’s what others have to say about story:
Praise for Seattle Blues
Music is a big part of this story, but the real tale being told is one of love, understanding and self-realization. This is not a book with magic, or chases or special effects. It is a novel, written for children, about human relationships.
—Sandy Shaller, Mr. Shaller’s Bookshelf
The heart of Seattle Blues is in the music, especially jazz. Wenberg lovingly crafts the pieces of Ruby’s history, and by extension Maya’s, leading to the startling realization that Ruby plays a significant role in Maya’s life.
—Courtney Jones (Booklist)
Seattle Blues by Michael Wenberg has rhythm in every page. It is a funny book for teens and adults. Hearing the story from Maya's point of view makes it fun to read. Michael Wenberg makes you believe the characters are real people, and they made the story much more interesting. The author also gives us a message that applies to everyone today. His message is to give places and new circumstances a chance. He conveys this message through Maya. With her stubbornness at the beginning, Maya changes and lets Seattle play her a blues song that she will never forget. I would definitely recommend this book to teenagers and adults because it is a beautiful piece of writing that is moving and gives a message that everyone should listen to.
—Flamingnet.com (14-year-old reviewer from Brownsburg, Indiana)
Michael Wenberg’s Seattle Blues is the story of a teenage girl taking the first steps to become a trombone musician in 1970. Though focusing on family drama and Maya’s coming to terms with a father missing in Vietnam, Seattle Blues contains plenty of references to the civil rights movement, especially after Maya saves an elderly man from a riot. Lots of great jazz history is also included; and the story is a lyrical, heartfelt look at an African-American girl’s experiences in the late 1960s.
—Lee Littlewood (Creators Syndicate Inc.)
“Michael Wenberg’s story plays like a great song—lyrical, heart felt, and full of character. I was swept away by Seattle Blues.”
—Patrick Carman, author of the New York Times bestselling Land of Elyon series.
Elizabeth’s Song
Elizabeth’s Song is the inspiring true-life story of Elizabeth Cotten, the legendary African American folk-singer and songwriter, who wrote the folk classic, "Freight Train" when she was just eleven years old. Here’s what others have to say about story:
“What a wonderful way to bring Elizabeth's legacy to new generations to come.”
—Bonnie Raitt
“This is a lovely story that tell us how Elizabeth Cotten first became interested in music.”
—Gordon Lightfoot
“An inspiring true story.”
—Pete Seeger
“Appealing and satisfying.”
—School Library Journal
“A great read—must have, got to own, marvelous addition to any library.”
—Linda Watkins, African American Literary Book Club