Echo tells four different, enchanting stories from different times and places. It is a tale about sacrifice, family, friendship, and the unifying power of music. It is divided into four different parts: Otto's story in the late 1800s in Germany; Friedrich's story in 1933 in Germany; Mike's story in 1935 in Pennsylvania; and Ivy's story in 1942 in Southern California.
Students can create a plot diagram for Ivy's story in Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
Storyboard Text
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Echoby Pam Muñoz Ryan
IVY'S STORY
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EXPOSITION
CONFLICT
RISING ACTION
CLIMAX
FALLING ACTION
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RESOLUTION
Ivy lived in California with her mother, father, and brother Fernando in 1942. Her parents were migrant farmers and moved often. When WWII broke out, Fernando went to fight and the family missed him. Then Ivy learned they'd be moving to a farm where they may own land after the lease is up. Her parents were thrilled, but Ivy was sad to leave her favorite teacher, best friend, and the opportunity to play in her school band with her new special harmonica.
Ivy’s family moved to the new farm which they leased from the Yamamoto family. They had been forced to a concentration camp because of their Japanese heritage. The Lopez family cared for the farm in their absence so the Yamamotos wouldn't lose their property. Ivy looked forward to starting school with her new friend Susan Ward. However, she realized that she was forced to go to a separate school because of her Mexican heritage!
Susan's two brothers fought in the war and one had been killed in action. Susan's father was convinced that the Yamamotos were Japanese spies and insisted on searching the house for clues. Rather than find signs of espionage, they found a room full of instruments that were being stored for safe keeping for dozens of Japanese American families forced to go to the concentration camps.
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Ivy joined the school band and her teacher encouraged her to take up the flute. Kenny Yamamoto, who had joined the army, came to visit the farm to sign papers for the Lopez's lease. He was grateful they would care for the farm in his family's absence. Ivy felt compelled to give Kenny her special harmonica when he left for war. One day, she spotted a telegram messenger at her door, which meant bad news!
Luckily, Fernando was only wounded in action. He came home and eventually married a teacher from the combined school that Ivy's parents had worked to desegregate. The Yamamotos came home after the war and were able to regain their farm. Kenny Yamamoto had miraculously survived the war thanks to the lucky harmonica! Ivy pursued her music and became an accomplished flute player.
At the end of the story, in 1951, Ivy is a new young flute player for the Empire Philharmonic in New York. She is giving a performance in Carnegie Hall and in the audience cheering her on is her dear friend, Kenny Yamamoto.