Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Archived Content

This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page.

Annotated Award-Winning Titles

Cover of Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach

Sheila A. Egoff Children's Prize
(West Coast Book Prize Society)
For the best book by a British Columbia author
Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach
Barbara Nickel
Toronto: Penguin Canada,
2005. 193 p.
ISBN 0143050788
Ages 12 and up

Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach
Source

How can beautiful music link two lonely girls whose lives are centuries apart? When Catharina Bach heard her father compose the Concerto for Two Violins, she felt her life would change forever. This very shy daughter of famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach was too afraid to even talk to or look at her papa. Only her loving mother understood her. Catharina was holding back on her dream of singing and learning music.

A continent and centuries apart, Hannah Waters, still grieving from her mother's death, is practising her violin. She must learn the Concerto for Two Violins for a recital in her new school; through the magic of music she is connected to Catharina every time she plays the piece. Their voices cross time to engage in an internal dialogue.

Hannah gives strength to Catharina when her mother suddenly passes away. In return, Catharina supports her friend with musical insight. They share their personal tragedies and find solace in music. It is a beautiful story for music lovers.

Barbara Nickel is the award-winning author of The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart; she also writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction pieces for various magazines.

–JP