Student Saturday: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Student Reviewer: Logan C.
Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction

The setting of this story is on a deserted island where Jacob goes to try to figure out his grandfather's secret, after his grandfather's death. The setting is in different times. Jacob is sixteen and befriends the peculiar children. The major plot points are his granddad is made out to be crazy, and has always told Jacob amazing stories. When Jacob goes to the island he realizes that they weren't just stories, they were memories. He realizes that the monsters that were after his granddad are real and after him and the peculiar children still.

A connection that I had with this book is that I'm curious like Jacob. I would recommend this book because although it's suspenseful it feels like Jacob is mature and smart enough to be successful at anything. I think it's really cool how the author took real pictures from the past and invented a whole imaginary world with them.

The Last Witness by Jerry Amernic

Genre: Adult, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

The year is 2039, and Jack Fisher is the last living survivor of the Holocaust. Set in a world that is abysmally complacent about events of the last century, Jack is a 100-year-old man whose worst memories took place before he was 5. His story hearkens back to the Jewish ghetto of his birth and to Auschwitz where, as a little boy, he had to fend for himself to survive after losing his family. Jack becomes the central figure in a missing-person investigation when his granddaughter suddenly disappears. While assisting police, he finds himself in danger and must reach into the darkest corners of his memory to come out alive.

My Thoughts:

Once again we are reminded that if we try to sanitize history, as so many of our school history books do, the we are sure to repeat it.  That is not always a good thing. From the minute I read of the first killing I was hooked.  What is so amazing is that this book is set in the future, not too far from present time, yet we have all heard people say the holocaust didn’t happen.  Are we doomed to repeat history?  Maybe. I hope that if we ever have such an event that I can show as much courage as Jack did as a child and as an adult.  I was able to connect with his granddaughter’s passion for learning about his history not only because I love history, but because I too am a teacher.  I learned a long time ago that almost all teachers strive to continue to learn something new. The fact that someone would kill to keep the truth of the holocaust quiet is so realistic and frightening.  This is a book I will definitely recommend to my friends, especially those who are teachers.  These are lessons that should be taught in schools.  I would definitely read anything else this author wrote as this was an excellent piece of writing.

Maya & Filipppo See Impossible Things in the Garden City

Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review

From Goodreads:
Embark on an exciting adventure with Maya and Filippo as they travel around the globe on board the Fun Princess - a cruise ship full of surprises. Discover their fascinating ports of call, join them in activities at sea and explore the remarkable world they create for themselves through their thoughts and feelings.

The children dock in Christchurch. Before getting off the ship, at the youth club, they draw things they would like to see in the future. Their fellow passengers think Maya and Filippo are crazy until all of them see some things they had never expected.

My Thoughts:
In this adventurous book we find our traveling friends visiting the city of Christchurch in New Zealand. The nickname for this city is the Garden City.  While Maya and her brother wait to dock they join other kids in drawing pictures of things they hope to see.  When they share their pictures with the rest of the kids they are told that their pictures are silly and that they are impossible.  This does not discourage Maya or Filippo.  Read the book to see what wonderful things they find in the Garden City.  
As always this is a wonderful book that teaches you about a special place.  This book like the others in the series has a wonderful message.  Just because someone tells you something is impossible doesn't mean you need to believe them.  No one knows everything.  You will be surprised at what you can find in the world.
This is another great story to share with the grandkids.  Go and get yours now.