Maple Syrup Maven by Nick Segal

 

Genre: Children, Picture Book

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

Maddy loves maple syrup. She makes it her goal to produce the best maple syrup. The only problem is that Maddy only has the trees in her back yard. Her first attempt and making maple syrup is poor. She only has two bottles that she sells to her parent. However, the taste just isn't there. Maddy begins to encourage her trees by telling them how lovely they are.  Things change for Maddy because she has actually put love into her trees. 

This reminds me of the saying that love conquer's all.  She discovered love was the missing ingredient in the taste of her maple syrup. A lesson we can all learn.  This book not only has an uplifting message, but beautiful pictures to enhance it.

24 Hours The Trade by Annette Oppenlander

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Biography

Source: Purchased

The author has created a story about a time in her father Günter's life, while he lived under Hitler's rule. His father and older brother were both in the war. It was his responsibility to try to take care of his mother and younger brother. He would forage for wood and use their ration cards to try to find what little food they could. They were down to a slice of bread for each when Günter and his best friend Helmut met up looking for food. They were approached by a soldier who asked them to trade civilian clothes for his horse.  They were willing to take this risk to feed their families.

At the end of the story the author gives an update on what happened to her father. He talks about what hunger is like and how most of us will never really know or understand true hunger.  This was an excellent book. It is short enough that most of my reluctant readers will enjoy this biography. One of the best books I have read. 

Undivided by Neal Shusterman

 

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Source: I purchased a copy

This is the fourth and final book in this series. Connor is definitely a changed young man. That is all I will say about that. Cam, the young man who was a rewind, someone created from unwound parts has helped to bring justice to unwinds and rewinds everywhere. The government must now look at what they have done for years and decide if it is morally acceptable. Justice for those who didn’t survive and for those who were wronged. Neal Shusterman has kept this conflict about what is morally right in the forefront. He has given us a series that takes an issue still debated today and shows what happens when things are taken to the extreme. He shows how people justify things much the same way people justified what took place during the Holocaust. The story leaves so much for the reader to think about. This book  was so full of unexpected twists, sadness and happy events that made it a suitable and satisfying ending to the series. It also leaves the reader with a lot to think about.