Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Book reviews for the young and the old. This site reviews children, teen, and adult books with a few interesting things thrown into the mix. Check out the labels on the right hand side for specific genres or topics.
The details in this book truly make it an interesting and informative read. It has a great message and can teach you a lot about what happened during the war between the Japanese and Americans. The portrayal of emotion in the characters makes you feel like you can clearly understand what is going on in their perspectives.
This book is about two boys from different sides of the war in 1945. Ray, who is a young U.S marine and Hideki, who is drafted into blood and iron corps. Both questioning if they will make it out alive, and if so, what will it take.
To wrap up, I really enjoyed this book. It has a similar format to other war books I have read but the plot Is unique and entertaining. I would recommend this book to people who find interest in books about historical conflicts or to someone who just wants to learn more about stuff like that.
"Allies" by Alan Gratz is a story that follows multiple characters/narrators during the events of World War 2. The main narrator is Dee, a sixteen year old American soldier in the invasion of Normandy,France, code-named Operation Overlord.
Dee and many of the other narrators get confronted throughout their war efforts but work around it successfully with the help of their new allies and friends. All of the narrators contributed to the Allied success of WWII and most end up meeting each other throughout the book, which I thought was a cool feature.
I'm not sure I would have survived in any of the narrators' shoes, because all of their situations seemed to have lots of pressure and intimidation along with it. I would recommend this book to people interested in WWII because it gives a lot of perspective of what it was like being involved in the war. Overall, I really liked the book and it exceeded my expectations because the details and characterization were so well thought out and was overall a nice read.
Books about the Cold War have been my favorite for years.
Very little is written about it for teens. They know almost nothing. I jumped
at the chance to read this book so I could get it into the hands of my
students. We have Kate who is. and American. As the daughter of a diplomat she moves
a lot. This time they are in West Berlin. She meets Amy, whose father is a
diplomat stationed on the east side of Berlin. Amy spends a lot of time at Kate’s
house. Kate goes to visit Amy and meets
Michael. Michael and his sister are barely surviving on the east side. Of
course Kate and Michael meet. This is dangerous for Michael and his sister as
the Stasi watch everything.
I enjoyed this book because the author is the daughter of a
diplomat who had similar experiences to that of Kate. I enjoyed this also because I worked with two
teachers and taught their daughter. They would tell me stories of living in
embassies around the world, especially Russia.
Their daughter at times was clueless as to how things actually worked in
those countries because they were sheltered from a lot of the things people in
those country went through, all because they were a diplomat’s child. I highly recommend this book. I believe it
should be on every high school shelf. I
won a copy from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Giveaway.
I love reading books set in the time period of WWII. Then you add in a young girl named Frankie
and a ghost named Pearl, whose stories alternate and you have the setup for a
great book. The thing that really sets this book apart from so many other of
this time period is the difference between the treatment of males and
females. There are so many things a female
is expected to do just because of her gender. Yet we have a story here to show
how strong the female can be and how they rise above the expectations for the
time period. We also look at the difference in treatment between those who have
money and those who do not.
Frankie is living in an orphanage. The story takes place in America.
This surprised me because I figured as a World War 2 book it would have taken
place in Europe. However, this was a refreshing detail. Frankie, her sister and
brother all live in an orphanage because their mother is dead and their father
can’t afford to take care of them. I got
angry at the fact that their father meets another woman, whose children are
also in the orphanage, and they get married. The marriage wasn’t the issue. It
was the fact their father was moving out west and taking his new wife and her
children and their brother with them. The only reason the brother went was
because he had aged out of the orphanage. Another unique aspect of this
orphanage was the way they separated the boys and girls. Girls were required to
take care of the dinner dishes from the boy’s side, but not allowed to talk or
acknowledge them without repercussions.
Some of the nuns came across as just looney or sadistic. The storyline is engaging and kept me reading. A bonus for me was learning that this is
based on the true life story of the author’s Mother-in law. A strange book, yet engaging. I will say it
was difficult in the very beginning to keep the two perspectives straight. If
you stick with it, which I say you should, you will soon find yourself so
invested you can’t stop reading it. So
glad to have read and recommend this book.
I enjoyed this entire series. This is a fitting end to it. We find Felix's past and present reconnecting through a young boy named Wassim. Felix, in helping Wassim, realizes that even though he has always held out hope for mankind to be better than they were when he was a child, witnessing the atrocities of the Holocaust, there is still so much hatred and prejudice in the world. But maybe he can help change Wassim's life a bit. This is a series I have not only recommended to my students, daughter and granddaughter, but one I will read from beginning to end this coming school year. Why? Since I have all of them I want to read straight through. This is one roller coaster of a ride series. I definitely recommend it to everyone.
I have owned this book for a long time. As we neared the end of the school year and I had packed away my books for the year, I found this book. It had been left on one of my bookcases. I decided to take it home then give it to my grandson to read. I am so glad it was left behind. I loved this book.
Running Boy receives his adult name at the naming ceremony and hopes that will end the bullying by Tiger. He is also eager to join Osceola's group to fight against the injustice being done on the Seminoles and other Native Americans. Tiger doesn't consider him a true Seminole because his mother was Seminole and his father was white. That is why he was given his father's name, Will Cypress. His uncle agrees he is a man now and can decide on his own to join Osceola. He reminds him to remember who he is. He isn't just a Seminole he is also white. His uncle tells him that things are not always as black and white as we think.
Will understand these words when he meets a woman and her three sons who help him hide out and point him in the direction of Osceola's camp. The few days he stays with them he learn what it means to be both white and Native American. He learns what his uncle means when he says he belongs to both worlds and he learns to accept who he is as a man and what it means to "do the right thing."
During World War II Eva Abrams and her family live in France. She was born there, but her parents came from Poland. Eva, on her home one day is stopped by a friend and warned she and her family need to get out of France. Over dinner she tells her parents. Her mom believes that things will change because the Jews have done nothing to the Germans. Her father tries to tell her that fliers have been placed under their door for a couple of weeks and that it is possibly a ploy by the Germans. After her mom has retired to her bed, Eva’s father joins her in the library. He makes her promise him that if something happens to him and her mother that she will get out. He has already paid for fake papers. She promises. She and her mother are watching the children of a neighbor who had to take care of her sick mother. The irony is the mother can’t stand them because they are Jews. She hears a knock down the hall and watches as her father is arrested by the Nazis. She finds herself in a position where the man her father paid has not completed the job because he fears what will happen to him and his family if he is caught helping the Jews. He reminds Eva that her father told her one day her artistic talents would help her. He convinces her that she can complete the forgery of the documents. She is determined and does just that. She and her mother escape. She finds herself in a position to help children using her talents.
This is the fictional story of
forgers who helped people by forging documents for them. The author tells a compelling
story that you can’t put down. Your emotions are so high you feel as if you
have been transported back in time and are working alongside Eva. This is a must read for people who love to
read about World War II. I loved the fact that I learned something new from
reading this fictional book.
Student Reviewer: Langdon
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
“The Plot to Kill Hitler” by Andy Marino, book one, is a
thrilling story set in Berlin in the year 1943. The main character Max, a
twelve year old boy, and his sister Gerta, age thirteen are living with their
mom and dad in Berlin. At this time, Berlin, Germany is under Nazi Control.
This causes Berlin to get air raided
every night by the allies. One cay Max and Gerta discover their parents are a
part of an anti-Nazi rebel group and they are dragged into it. Their parents don’t
agree to this demand, but the leader of this rebel group does. Once Max and
Gerta went on their first mission they noticed a suspicious man seeming to
follow them. Max acts normal walking away but takes a long way home Will Max
escape?- To sum it up, “The Plot to Kill Hitler,” by Andy Marino, is a
thrilling story about love, conspiracy, and mystery.
This book is based on the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. “I
Survived the Hindenburg Disaster: is about Hugo and his family taking a four
thousand mile journey across the ocean to save his four year old sister Gertie.
While living in Africa she contracted Malaria and had become very sick and needed to go back to America. Tis
trip was no vacation to Hugo. He was
worried for his sister. Because he had always wanted to fly on the Hindenburg
he was amazed he was finally flying on it. Once on the Hindenburg Hugo and his
family dropped off their bags and explored it.
While exploring, Hugo found a girl his age named Marty. They became good
friends and talked about their adventures around the world. They talked for
hours and even met each others’ family. The next day at breakfast Hugo, Marty
and their families sat together and chatted about all sorts of things. A Nazi
officer walked through the dining room. Everyone froze in fear as he started
talking about how a U.S. spy had stolen a top secret Nazi document and was now
on the Hindenburg. Marty’s Dad, who rode on the Hindenburg regularly said they
had seen no spy activity but would be on the lookout. The Nazi said something in
German and left. I feel everyone should check this book out, especially if they
wat to read the end.
All in all, “I Survived the Hindenburg: is a short read for
all ages. It’s an amazing story based on a true event in history, meaning you’re
reading a good story and learning at the same time.
This is definitely an inspiring story. Aharon and his brother are attacked by a group of boys who hate Jews. They hit his brother in the head and throw dirt in his eyes. Someone comes to help them. Someone who is not a Jew. We learn there are consequences for people who stood up for the Jews. This is a simple yet powerful story. This is something I want to read to my students when we talk about the difference between bystanders and upstanders during World War II. It should read this in class whenever the Holocaust is going to be taught.
This is such a powerful book. I love this author's work and the fact that she writes in verse. This is the story of the Roanoke Colony that disappeared. Alis and her family have just landed. She can't wait to meet up with her Uncle, who had sailed away to this strange place. When they arrive, they find the village empty except for some bones and a burned-out building. The natives seem friendly at first. Soon, tensions rise between the two parties.
This is much more than just a history lesson. This is a story of resilience, of friendship and how sometimes doing the right thing means making hard choices. We meet Kimi, a Roanoak Native, and Alis, one of the settlers. She is the only girl in this group. When she meets Kimi for the first time, a bond is made, and now it will be tested.
I am glad I made this one of my first reads of the new year. It was worth it.
This review is written by my student Axel L.
The book, "Ground Zero" by Alan Gratz talks about a boy named Brandon who is with his father in one of the Twin Towers. They both go to floor one hundred and seven where his father works. The dad took Brandon with him because he wanted to show Brandon where he worked and what he did.
One of the most important points in the book was when Brandon got stuck in an elevator after the plan crashed into the tower. The book makes the scene so realistic. Another important scene is when Brandon was trying to help a small group of people escape from a different elevator. When he tries the elevator falls all the way down. This was another realistic look at what happened to people on 9/11.
A connection I made was reading the book and seeing it from Brandon's point of view and watching things on the news about how other people helped each other escape. This is a great book and I would recommend it to everyone
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The
opinions expressed here are my own.
I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t wait for Christmas
to come to watch “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. After reading this
book my feelings toward the author have been tainted. While I saw him as a wonderful and successful
writer, I never knew who he was. To understand who he was you must understand
the Victorian time period he lived in.
Imagine you have married the man of your dreams only to have
him blame you for everything that he doesn’t like in your marriage. Imagine
your young sister who lives with you to help you with your children, suddenly
sides with your husband. You are removed
from your home, while your sister and your children stay with your husband.
This is for the most part a fictionalized account. We know
for a fact that Charles Dickens was separated from his wife. We also know that
even though he wrote terrible things about her. She kept her mouth shut. Part
of this I believe was because she loved him, and part of it was because that is
the way things were handled during this time period. Women pretty much had no rights. She was publicly humiliated through his
writings. Up until her death she pretty much kept quiet. Yet she made sure her
daughter received letters Charles had sent her to be sent to the Smithsonian.
It was her way of letting the world know he really wasn’t all that bad. She believed this until her death. Maybe that
is what helped her survive this situation.
Even though this story took place in the 1800’s this could
be anyone’s story today. I believe that is why it is such a good book. It is so
applicable to present time. A great book
to be read by anyone wanting to know more about the real Charles Dickens.
Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Adventure
Hugo, his sister Gertie, their parents and their dog Panya are going to America on the Hindenburg. They had spent the previous year in Kenya. Hugo’s parents are scientists. They have loved it there, but Gertie got malaria. They have only the hope of new medicine in America to save her life. On the Hindenburg, Hugo and his family are introduced to the man in charge of the Hindenburg and his daughter. There are Nazi soldiers on board because they are looking for a spy. All of this is tense enough. When the actual event happens you get a small feel for what it was like inside the Hindenburg when it burst into flames and hit the ground. All of this took a little over thirty seconds. I was handed this book by one of my students and told I needed to read it over Spring Break. I am glad I did. I highly recommend it.
Genre: Middle Grades,
Historical Fiction
Source: I own the book