Alias Anna by Susan Hood

Gene:  Middle Grade, Biography

Source: I own a copy

I knew I couldn’t get through Spring Break without reading at least one Holocaust book. I had five selected. This is the one I got to. We learn that this book came about when Zhanna’s granddaughter had to write about her grandparent’s history and any major thing that had happened in their life. The story is co-written by her son Greg Dawson, whose daughter sent the letter.

Zhanna Arshanskaya was a child when she, her sister, mother and father and grandparents were sent on a death march. Her father was a candymaker and played violin. He helped his daughters Zhanna and Frina develop a love of music, playing the family’s piano. They were sent to a music conservatory until Jews were no longer welcome.  Their father offers a bribe to one of the guards while on the march to look away so his daughter Zhanna can step out of the line. A while later she was joined by her sister. They changed their names to better blend in. Zhanna became Anna and Frina became Marina.  The help from a Christian family, an orphanage and believe it or not the Nazis themselves helped them to survive. This is a story that must be read and recommended to students everywhere. I strongly recommend it.

Make sure you check out all of the resources at the end of the story. There are websites, books, etc to help you learn more.

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Source: I own this book

I think I am drawn to books with characters who are on the autism spectrum because I have a grandson who is on the spectrum. I have taught many students that fell somewhere on the spectrum and it has been a pleasure. I was even more thrilled to see that I can keep this book on my shelf.  If you don’t know what I am talking about go back and read my posts for January 19 and March 20.

I love the main character in this story. Rose has what I call autism quirks. She loves homophones. If you don’t remember what they are they are words that sound alike but have different spellings and different meaning. An example would be “write/right, or the title rain/reign”.   I have met parent’s like Rose’s dad who don’t understand or want to understand their child’s “condition”. Often they are in denial that their child is different, or they blame someone else for their child’s condition. In Rose’s case she is often left at home while her dad goes out drinking.  Then there is her teacher.  I wanted to scream at her and ask why she was a teacher.  I have loved teaching every autistic child I have had. I have learned so much from them.  Rose has an ally, her Uncle Weldon. He is more like a father to her than her on dad. Of course she has her best friend in the world her dog Rain, who goes missing. Rain was a stray her dad brought home to her. This book is emotional and hard to put down. I would definitely recommend it to my students if for no other reason to help create empathy in them. 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery
Source: I own a copy

Yea! This is a book I can keep on my shelves at school. Especially since this is another that one of my students told me I needed to read over Spring Break.  I have always loved ghost stories so this was perfect for my very first Victoria Schwab book. Yes, I will have to go back and check out her other books.  We have Cassidy, the child of Ghost Hunter parents.  The funny thing is they are clueless that their daughter can talk to ghosts. Her best friend Jacob is a ghost. Cassidy had a near death experience when she drowned. Ever since she can pull back the veil betwee the two worlds. Cassidy travels  to Scotland for the filming of her parent's show where she meets Lara. Lara seems to be just like her. 

Since I have a very bad habit of getting overly excited and spilling all the good things in a story, I will stop right there. I'll let you read all about her wonderful adventures in Edinburgh, Scotland. Let’s just say that this is not the end of Cassidy’s story. The author has two other books in this series and I will soon be reading and reviewing them. They too are in our system and can stay on my shelves.