The Awakening of Sunshine Girl

By Paige Mackenzie

     This is the second book in the series, we continue in the story of 16 year old Sunshine and her transformation into a luisearch Her mentor/ father has finally approached her and whisks her off to his Mexican fortress to further her training.  She leaves behind her close friend Nolan and her Mother, Kat.  The damp humid jungle envelopes Sunshine as she is alone with her father and one other person on the campus.  

     The more time she spends with Aiden, her father, the more questions arise.  She knows that he is working on resolving the rift and that there was a disagreement between him and her mother, the depth of the dispute and the half truths abound as Sunshine slowly develops her undiscovered and unique powers.  She finally, discovers what caused the rift and how she is in the midst of a species extinction, namely hers.  When she discovers that her mother wanted to eliminate her and that Aiden was harboring spirits.  Sunshine finally breaks and runs from the fortress, trying to get back to Nolan, who is being tortured by her birth mother, Helena.  

     Sunshine is unaware how unique and powerful she is, she has untapped power and is very unique among her species.  She rushes back to Nolan to try to save him from the clutches of Helena.  Aiden shows up trying to dissuade Helena from eliminating Sunshine, trying to explain that Sunshine can be the answer, the solution to the rift.  

     This is another very entertaining book, another great read.  Although, there is no strong connections to the real world, I enjoyed this book a great deal.  I am giving this book a four out of five stars and can not wait to read the next book in the series The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl.  

Links

Demons?

Mysterious Places?

Crow

By Barbara Wright 

     This is a thought provoking historical fiction novel.  Enter into Southern United States 20 years after the Civil War and follow Moses in his coming of age journey of self awareness.  Moses is a young, intelligent man.  His parents are hard working;  his mother is a maid and his father is a reporter for the only daily black paper.  His father has had every opportunity, he has been to college and truly values the Constitution, the power of the vote, that knowledge is power and that facing your problems proves the depths of your character.  Moses is being raised, in part, by his Grandmother, Boo Nanny.  A former slave who looks at the world through old eyes, that believe in the old slave ways and omens.  Moses balances his life and tries to steer clear of white supremacy groups.
     As the racial tensions in the area continue to escalate, Moses, his family and their freedom are put in jeopardy.  Moses just wants to be a kid and enjoy the hot summer months.  His father still encourages him to broaden his horizons and continues to educate Moses.  His best friend Lewis is slowly drifting away as he has a bike and Moses can not get the money together for a bike.  As Moses begins to loose touch with his best friend, he befriends an unlikely individual.  His dad's job at the newspaper becomes ever more dangerous, especially, when Mr. Manley writes an editorial that inflames that white populace.
     As the state moves towards the November election, tension hit a high.  Mr. Manley flees Richmond, the "Red Shirts" are threatening the black population and Moses's freedom dwindles.  The frightening activity of the white supremacy groups keep many from voting, there is a riot and Moses' dad is requested to remove himself from office.  How Moses grows through these events, matures and help those around him is well worth the read.
     This is a very good historical fiction, I believe it portrays a very realistic image of the United States during the time of the Crow laws.  This would be a very good classroom book, and I enjoyed the section in the back of the book that allowed for lesson extension.  It has some mature inferences so would have to be in a class 6th grade and up.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  This is a very worthwhile read and i did enjoy my copy.

Links

Patricia Wright - Author

Jim Crow Laws

Antebellum Period

The Red Shirts

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

By Paige Mackenzie 

     This is a nicely crafted coming of age story of a young sunshine, who acquires powers at the age of 16.  Sunshine is adopted by the woman that found her at the hospital, Kat, a neonatal nurse.  Even though they are technically Mother and daughter, they are so much more, they are best friends.  Sunshine will do anything for her mother, even move across the country so Kat can have the job of her dreams!  

     Shortly after Sunshine's 16th birthday they move to a damp and creepy part of the state of Washington, where it always seems to rain.  Sunshine is affected by the dreary weather and something else.  The first night in their rented home is eventful at least for Sunshine, who hears footsteps on the floor above them.  She is convinced the house is haunted, but Kat will not believe in any of that nonsense.  Sunshine then tries to prove her claims by taking photos and collecting data.  She hopes on her first day of school, that she will be able to utilize the dark room and process her film and prove to her mother the strange occurrences that are happening in their home.  

     Sunshine was nervous on her first day of school, new school, kids and teachers, but she was looking forward to her art class and developing her film.  Imagine her disappointment when she discovers that there is no photography or dark room at her new school.  But in walks somebody that she can not take her eyes off and he is sitting right next to her.  This boy becomes her friend and protector and they work together to save Kat.  Sunshine girl has no idea who or what she is and as she grows into her powers and faces the unbelievable she may find a first boyfriend, save her mother and come to terms with her unique abilities.
     This book was a pleasure to read, a very enjoyable page turner.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and believe it is appropriate for students 7th grade and up.  Even though the main character is female, it does not exclude male readers, especially with the topic being haunting and spirits.  This is an incredible coming of age tale pick up your copy today.

Links 

Guardian Angels

Author - Paige Mackenzie

     

The Truth Game

By Anna Staniszewski

     This is a very entertaining tale of young Rachel as she embarks on her high school career.  She is hoping that this is going to be a new and exciting time for her.  She is entering high school, has a boyfriend, is beginning her dream job at a bakery and might be on television.  But Rachel's school does not start off all that great.  Her parents are separated, she rarely sees her boyfriend, her best friend is absorbed in her own life and barely has time for Rachel and of course her arch enemy works with her at the bakery  

     As Rachel's enemy, Briana, continues to sabotage Rachel at the bakery, she is also Evan's sister and Rachel tries to get along with her.  Briana is one of popular girls at school and Rachel would love to fit in with the rest of her classmates.  When Briana signs Rachel up for the Truth Game, she grudgingly gives it a try.  She quickly finds out that she is not that different from her classmates and reveals a lot of her inner secrets.  Things are going pretty good, her and Evan finally kiss, she is finally learning more at the bakery but all good things must come to an end.
     One day the Truth Game is hacked and everyone's secrets are shared with all of the participants of the application.  Rachel's budding relationships are destroyed and she is left floundering.  Her best friend and boyfriend are not returning her texts or calls and Briana is furious at her.  The only good thing is her building relationships with her parents and the faint possibility of meeting Chip.
     When a crisis at the bakery places Rachel in the spotlight and she needs help, she has no other recourse than to reach our to Marisol and Evan.  As only true friends would do, they rush to the rescue, but can Rachel repair the damage from her Truth Game reveals?  Is there hope for her relationships?
     I enjoyed this realistic fiction book a great deal and found it very plausible.  I am rating it as a four out of five stars and saying any young women in seventh grade on up would enjoy reading this great story.

Links

Author - Anna Staniszewski

Dangerous teen apps

Kids cooking competitions

Blood Will Tell

 

By April Henry 

     This is the second book in a series by April Henry.  Yet again we follow our three young Search and Rescue trainees as the venture towards certification.  This time they begin by searching and finding a young missing child followed the next day with an evidence search on a murdered young woman from Nick's neighborhood.  

     Unfortunately, Nick becomes the main suspect when his Familial DNA is discovered on the body.  That leaves the three young friends no other alternative to embroil themselves in another murder investigation.  Alexis and Ruby know Nick could never kill somebody, he vomits when he sees blood and they know something does not jive.  Nick's life is further up ended when he discovers that the father he idolized as a fallen war hero, is a murderer sitting in prison.  The noose of evidence further cinches as the DNA match is affirmed and the police converge on Nick's home to take him into custody, but NIck escapes out a window.  

     Who else to help Nick but Alexis and Ruby, in the mean time the murderer is convinced he has to kill again and frame Nick even more.  His victim of choice is one of the three musketeers.  Do the cops figure it our on time?  Do Nick, Alexis and Ruby live  through another murder investigation?  

     This is a murder mystery novel and definitely not appropriate for younger students seventh grade and up is the ideal ages, it does skew female, even with the main character being male.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars, it is entertaining but not really relatable for me.  

LInks 

Author: April Henry

Search and Rescue

Familial DNA

Making Bombs for Hitler

By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

     This historical fiction is set in Germany during World War II.  We follow a young girl and her journey of survival, at a time when many children were killed.  Lida looses her sister at the onset of the story and the driving force of saving her younger sister keeps her motivated and alive.  The rest of her family has been killed and this Ukrainian young girl learns quickly to lie about her age, to be usefull and not to trust her captors.  

     Through a quirk of fate she convinces the Nazi's that she is older than 12 and she is an accomplished seamstress.  She begins her journey in the laundry helping Inge with the wash and fixing frayed sheets and shirts.  Her skill keeps her warm and out of the metalworks factory where many of her barrack mates work.  She discovers that there is a hierarchy to the camp, and nationalities are treated differently.  Unfortunately, her Ukrainian heritage brands her as Russian and on a very low rung of the system.  Her food is minimal, often rotten and comprises of turnips, water and worms.  Her captors consider her to be Russian swine.
     Things change rapidly in a war torn country like Germany  Lida is removed from her "cushy" laundry job and begins making bombs with other young girls.  They are kept separate from most of the other prisoners and are constantly being watched to insure that they are making good bombs.  As the Allied forces comes closer, guardsmen and other captors begin disappearing into the countryside.  The girls are given more opportunities to sabotage the ammunition, which they gleefully do so.  Finally, the camp is over run and many of the children escape into the forest, Lida however is captured and forced to move once again.
     As the war comes to an end, Lida is finally freed from her captors and is immediately sent to a hospital for treatment.  After the hospital she is sent to the closest refugee camp, where she hopes to reconnect with family or other camp children.  She learns another hard lesson, to not let others know that she is from Russia.  The Russians plan on collecting as many former citizens as possible and reintroducing them into the country through Siberian work camps.  Even though she had been a prisoner, she is viewed as a traitor by her former country.  Lida continues to hope and pray that she will one day be reconnected with her sister and continues to search through the Red Cross.
     I really enjoyed this book, too often one forgets that the holocaust did not just affect Jews, that it targeted all enemies of Germany's regime.  We also loose track of the concept of the lasting consequences of war and the damage that is wrecked on families and children.  World War II was a tragedy on many fronts and it forever changed the lives of millions of people.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 and think that it is appropriate for fourth grade up to eighth grade.

Links

Children of the holocaust

Non- Jewish victims of the Holocaust

Images of Children during Holocaust - warning some images are graphic

Other books by the Author

Stolen into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northup

By Judith and Dennis Fradin

     A captivating true story of a free black man and how he was sold into slavery and his hard fought twelve years to freedom.  Solomon awakens in a slave pen in Washington D.C. and tries to explain that this is a mistake and he is a free man.  But all of his papers and money have been stolen and he is beaten.  He looses his name and his identity as he is moved further into the South.  His first name becomes Platt and his last name changes every time he gets a new owner.  

     Solomon is a skilled individual, a carpenter and an accomplished violin player.  Due to the economy in the south, he changes hands several times, going further from home with each transfer.  Eventually, he lands at he Epp Plantation in the backwaters of Alabama.  His first attempt of contacting his family to the North, becomes a near miss and he learns to be weary of those around him.  He needs to find somebody who is willing to risk aiding him.  Finally, a travelling carpenter comes to help build a new house, and Epps has Solomon help build the homestead.  As they work, Solomon comes to believe that he has finally found somebody that would be sympathetic to his plight.  Letters are sent back to New York in hopes that somebody will somehow prove that he is free and help set him free.  

     This historical book is a true story of Solomon Northrup and his quest for freedom.  I am not going to tell you the ending, kinda makes reading it necessary.  This is a shortened version of Solomon's own autobiography, "Twelve Years a Slave"  and as such skims over many of the details.  Which is why I am only giving this book a 3 out of 5 stars.  I found it a trifle young and believe it would be appropriate for students fourth grade and up.  I do believe older students would read and enjoy the actual original transcript.  

Links 

Slavery in America

Author : Judith Fradin

The Same but Different

By Holly Robinson Peete

    This unique look into a family that has been affected by autism is eye opening.  Not only is this well written it's honestly written and real world.  Meet a set of twins one of them has autism and the other is "normal".  What this well crafted story achieves is different aspects of the twins lives from both view points.  As the teen twins enter into a new school year they have a host of new challenges.  To hear both aspects of their school day interesting to say the least.  

     Charlie is autistic and has been held back to repeat his freshman year in highschool.  He hates transferring between classes, likes to wear his hoodie, his music and one of his sister's friends.  He is looking forward to not  being watched by his sister this year.  

     Callie is going into the tenth grade is smart and very protective of her brother.  She is almost maternalistic and often has to protect and mother her twin.  She resents, at times, how much of her life is centered around her twin and wants her independence  

     The two learn to get on their own, handle first dates, body changes, bullying and a family vacation.  The only downfall to this book is it left me wanting me more insights I wanted to read more about their year and how they moved forward throughout the year.  For that reason only I am giving this book a 4 our of 5 stars.  I think this book is appropriate for all students in seventh grade and higher.  If you've ever wanted insight into autism or just want a good read, this is the book for you.  

Links

Holly Robinson Peete's Autism page

Book One : My Brother Charlie

Inside Out and Back Again

By Thanhha Lai

     This touching story of Ha and her family as they flee the fall of Saigon and the encroaching communist regime is poignant and heart warming.  This  book offers the reader a rarely seen glimpse of American History.  Ha has grown up the the beautiful city of Saigon, even as the Vietnam war comes closer she values her freedom and small treats.  When the family is then forced to flee amid thousands on ships full of squalor, she comes to realize that her life is in for a dramatic change.  Forced to sit still on a crowded ship and reduced to small rations, she hopes to be picked up by a foreign freighter.  Finally, they are found by an American ship and are transported to the United States.  

     This is just the beginning of her journey, they must wait in a refugee camp waiting for somebody to be willing to sponsor her family and give them a job and home.  Families move in and out of the camp while they wait finally someone who is looking for an auto mechanic is willing to sponsor the family and they move to Alabama.  Fitting into rural America is hard when you are from Vietnam.  The family is forced to regress in school, since they do not know the language.  They are viewed as stupid and inferior.  They are forced to conform to Christianity in an attempt to be accepted.  Ha is bullied incessantly and finally fights back.  Slowly and surely with the help from an understanding teacher Ha begins to feel at home and befriend her classmates.  

     This is a beautifully written story in poetic verse.  It is an easy and quick read, but the content is middle school or above.  Although, it is suitable for either gender, it definitely skews feminine.  I loved this story and this view of immigration in the United States and give it a 4.5 stars  I loved this book and encourage anyone to grab a copy.  

Links

Vietnam War

Vietnam Immigration

Fall of Saigon

Thanhhia Lai - author