The Children of Willesden Lane

Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival

By: Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen

Narrated by: Mona Golabek

Based on the true story of her mother, Mona Golabek describes the inspirational story of Lisa Jura's escape from Nazi-controlled Austria to England on the famed Kindertransport.
Jewish musical prodigy Lisa Jura has a wonderful life in Vienna. But when the Nazis start closing in on the city, life changes irreversibly. Although he has three daughters, Lisa's father is only able to secure one berth on the Kindertransport. The family decides to send Lisa to London so that she may pursue her dreams of a career as a concert pianist. Separated from her beloved family, Lisa bravely endures the trip and a disastrous posting outside London before finding her way to the Willesden Lane Orphanage.

It is in this orphanage that Lisa's story truly comes to life. Her music inspires the other orphanage children, and they, in turn, cheer her on in her efforts to make good on her promise to her family to realize her musical potential. Through hard work and sheer pluck, Lisa wins a scholarship to study piano at the Royal Academy. As she supports herself and studies, she makes a new life for herself and dreams of reconnecting with the family she was forced to leave behind. The resulting tale delivers a message of the power of music to uplift the human spirit and to grant the individual soul endurance, patience, and peace.

Critic reviews

"A deeply moving and heartfelt tale...brings tears to the reader's eyes...a testament to maternal love."
—Washington Post Book World

""Uplifting...vivid."—Publishers Weekly

The strength of the human spirit when faced with tragedy and heartache.

Beautiful and touching story. Brought me to tears many times. I was inspired by the strength of the human spirit.

Wow

This book is AMAZING!! I loved it! I’m speechless! It’s just so incredible! The music was incredible and so beautiful! Just wow.

-SEA age 11

Read this

It’s a beautiful story ….It was obviously a work of love that has resulted in a worthy book of history.

A Moving Memoir

For music lovers, and everyone, this is a heart-moving story of the German Jewish children of World War 2 allowed to leave for the mostly-safer Briton. It focuses on one child who, inspired by her mother, aspires to be a concert pianist. This audio version contains lots of music and other bits of historic happenings in the background. Once I started this book, I could not put it down.

Thank you

A very deep bow of gratitude for sharing your mother's story with so much tenderness 🙏🙏