On today’s show, we’re talking with Sandy Tolan, author of Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land (Bloomsbury, April 2015). Tolan chronicles the life of Ramzi Aburedwan, a Palestinian boy who grew up to become a musician and start music schools in the West Bank. We’re also talking to contributing editor Erin Blakemore about Laura Bridgman, the deaf and blind woman who was an inspiration to Helen Keller.

Music this hour:

• “Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within
• “Elle va au Japon” by Nic Bommarito, from the album A Quiet Age
• “Private Hurricane (Instrumental Version)” by Josh Woodward, from the album Breadcrumbs