Can;t Look Away

By Donna Cooner 

     This is a extremely interesting read.  It was very eye opening, shedding light on the invasive beast that we have created with social media.  Today's youth no longer have the worries of popularity with in their immediate friends or schools, they are attempting popularity on a much wider scale.  When fashion icon, Torrey, looses her younger sister in a tragic accident, her avid followers can't ger enough of this real life drama.  Torrey and her parents even move out of the state to attempt to adjust to a life without Miranda.  

     Torrey is transplanted into the Texas community.  She feels that all eyes are upon her, used to being in the spotlight and popular, she thinks she knows how to be welcomed by the Queen bee and her underlings.  Blair, rules the schools social scene and one has to be welcomed into her social circle in order to become teen royalty.  Torrey knows how to walk the walk, she knows what she has to do to be accepted, but she is struggling with her sisters death and being pulled by the very attractive Luis and her cousin Raylene.  If she follows her mind she will be accepted, but if she follows her heart... HAPPINESS!  Luis becomes an incredible friend and sounding board, through his heritage and dealings with his family business.  His father is the owner of the local funeral home.  Luis hopes to follow in his foot steps and is very supportive of Torrey.  She finds some solace in collecting and keeping some of Miranda's belongings close to her, but she knows she has to let them go in order to deal with her sadness.  

     The book builds nicely to the climax, with Torrey having to make a definitive choice between Blair (and popularity) and Luis.  I am going to be honest, a lot of this book Torrey is very unlikeable.  She is very superficial and concerned about appearances, going as far as ignoring Luis when Blair or her underlings are around.  She is very cold and methodical in her quest for popularity.  Only when she realizes what is important do you learn to like our fashionista.  

     This book is a good read and entertaining, but I am only giving it a 3 out of 5 stars, for two reasons first of all it is very gender specific.  Second of all, it did drag a bit with the back story.  With that being said I feel that this book is a very emotionally mature story.  I think that young girls in 7th grade and higher would enjoy the content and how Torrey strives to be popular.  It is a good story but very sad.  

Links 

Author - Donna Cooner

Coping with the death of a loved one

Social Media Addiction

     

The War Below

By Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch 

     I love that this book and this author go beyond what one thinks they know about the plight of Europeans during and after World War II.  In the story "Making Bombs for Hitler", you meet two children that are surviving their ordeal in a German Concentration Camp, Luka and Lida become fast friends and learn to depend on each other in order to live.  This is the tale of Luka after he escapes the camp and how he hides, survives and tries to make it home.  

     He is very fortunate in that he stumbles upon a farmer and his wife that nurse him back to health and points him in the right direction.  Than as he stumbles to where he thinks is safety a young girl, Martina, finds him and teaches him how to remain safe from capture.  As the two of them elude soldiers they develop a close friendship, so when they stumble upon a hidden hospital and resistance fighters they willingly join the cause.  

     During Luka's time with the resistance, he learns a lot, and he is able to hone his medical capabilities, he becomes integral to his group and saves many lives.  As the war turns, however, and he looses Martina to a gunshot, he thinks he has to move on and continue on his quest to return home.  One of the adults in the resistance convinces him he should go out and share their story of what they have been able to accomplish.  Luka relents and heads away from home.  As he travels he notices an increasing number of people that have been dislocated and are homeless and have no place to go.  He follows along and finally reaches a camp run by Americans.  The Americans are trying to reconnect family members and communities, they provide food, clothing and other necessities.  For a long time Luka wanders the camps looking for family members or his friend Lida.  So when the day arrives that someone says they know her, he makes a point of hunting her down.  As he reconnects with Lida he is filled with love.  This love is put to the test when a Russian Soldier approaches Luka during school and says that his father is looking for him in Kyiv.  Luka is heartbroken when he hears the truth.  He rushes back to Lida and the reader is left with a deep hope that they remain together.
     What is amazing about this book is that it evokes images, sensations and feelings in a simple and concise manner.  All too often when hearing, learning or discussing World War II and German Concentration camps and the plight of many Europeans the emphasis is on the Jewish Holocaust.  I am in no way trying to minimize the horrors that were inflicted by the Germans, but this opens ones eyes to the atrocities on the entire continent and points out both perpetrators and victims.  I give this book a 4.5 out of 5, it was outstanding and would encourage anybody over 5th grade to enjoy this book!

Links 

Author

Battle of Kyiv (Kiev)

Russian Prison Camps

Resistance during WWII

Brown Girl Dreaming

By Jacqueline Woodson

     This book is a beautiful surprise.  Many people have told me that they love this book and I now know why.  It is extraordinarily well crafted, the voice is honest and the imagery transcends time.  This is an incredible narrative through the craft of poetry.  In this tale you meet the Woodson family as they grow and move from their Ohio home, to South Carolina and than New York during in the  1960's.  A time when this country went through the civil rights movement and emotions were charged. 
     Jacqueline is the youngest of the Woodson family, initially, and as such feels constantly challenged by her older siblings.  Both Odell and Hope are seemingly very intelligent one loves science and the other can lose themself in a good book.  Young Jacqueline wants to be a writer, but the process of getting her beautiful stories on paper is a struggle.  At first, she does not know how to write, than she struggles finding words that she knows how to spell, so her writing does not flow nor is it fluent. 
     As time marches and the Woodson family moves from Ohio to South Carolina, to live with their grandparents, whom they love a great deal.  Jacqueline and her siblings learn to love the heat of the deep south, though they do not understand all of tension between everyone.  They are forced to become Jehovah's Witness, by their grandmother.  They love their grandfather, whom they consider their daddy.  Their mother leaves them in her parents care while she travels to New York looking for a job that could support their needs.  When she finally returns to bring them to the big city with her, she brings a baby, Roman.  Jacqueline misses her South Carolina family and dislikes their new home and the cold dreary New York weather.  This new time in her life brings her her best friend Maria and opens her up to new experiences, public school.  Yet the still spend their summers in South Carolina with their aging grandparents.  Daddy's health is beginning to wane as a life time of cigarettes takes a toll on him.  As Jacqueline ages she learns more words and how to spell and she is finally recognized as a writer. 
     I love this book, it was a nice read and it flowed beautifully.  The use of powerful poetry worked well with the imagery that the author projected.  I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 stars and feel that it is appropriate for fourth grade and up.  The content about discrimination, although beautifully done and not graphic at all needs to be above third grade.  What I appreciated the most about this book is the multiple layers to each chapter and the ease of the read, very enjoyable.  If you have not done so, pick up your copy today. 

Links 

Author Jacqueline Woodson

The history of the Civil Rights movement in South Carolina

The History of New York city

Chains

By Laurie Halse Anderson 

     The introduction to a trilogy about the birth of a nation.  Chains is an in your face tale about the harsh realities of slavery.  In this book you meet Isabel and her young sister as they are being sold after their owner has died.  Their mother has passed away a year earlier and Isabel feels that she is responsible for Ruth who is small and  "touched".  They are purchased by a Tory and his wife that are moving back to New York. At the docks they are met with resistance and a search that almost uncovers their secret.  

     The first day in New York, Isabel is told to go fetch the water from the Tea Well.  Since she is new to the city she is escorted by Curzon another enslaved individual.  As they walk to the well, Curzon tries to encourage Isabel to help the Patriots by spying on the loyalist couple, her owners, the Locktons.  Although, Isabel is not content in her current situation, she refuses to do anything that may endanger her or Ruth's lives.  As the siblings settle into the busy city life, tensions mount as rumors of a possible English attack rise.  Isabel is serving Master Lockton and his loyalist friends when they talk about bribing Patriots close to Washington, and feels that this may be a way to get freedom for her and her sister.  

     Everything that Isabel does is in an effort to get freedom and save her sister.  She endures hardship and beatings, a false arrest and detainment, a branding at the hands of her masters.  After the branding of the letter I onto her face she is recognizable by everyone.  So when she starts helping the patriots prisoners, including, Curzon she incites the wrath of Ms. Lockton.  She is strictly forbidden to help the patriots, yet Isabel contrives to be their saving grace and continues to bring food to the unfortunate lads.  Is she able to gain her freedom, can she save Curzon and find her sister?  

     I found this book very entertaining if a little bit hard to read easily.  I am giving this book a 3.5 stars out of 5.  It is a literary work of art just a bit difficult to read, just because of the amount of detail and back story that is required in a tale of this scope.  This is a great way to deepen the understanding and knowledge of the American Revolution and the plight of African Americans through out history.  This is definitely a story worth reading and a tale that needs to be told and remembered.  

Links

Laurie Halse Anderson - Author

African Americans in the Revolutionary War

New York during the Revolutionary War

Wonder

By R.J. Palacio 

     This is a great heart warming tale.  It is definitely an awesome feel good read!  I totally enjoyed this one of a kind story.  In this story you meet August Pullman as he prepares to enter school as a fifth grader.  He has never been to school due to health issues and has been home schooled up to this point.  His family is super supportive of him and still baby him a lot, but who can blame them.  He has a severe facial deformity and has had many health related issues since before he was born.
     To help the transition into a mainstream school, the Director of Beecher Prep. calls three students to meet Auggie over the summer.  They are reluctant but agree to give him a tour of Beecher Prep.  One of these becomes a new friend, one becomes his biggest tormentor and the third only does what is appropriate.  On the first day of school August is very nervous and is basically ostracized by the entire school.  Nobody wants to be the friend of the weird looking kid.  Things begin to look up when Summer decides to join Summer at his cafeteria table.
     Throughout the school year, Auggie is bullied by Julian and the popular boys.  They develop a game called the plague, they leave mean letters in his locker, they even start bullying his friends.  Slowly through being kind, August starts winning over his classmates and becomes a friend to all.  Auggie and his family have a lot to deal with, the death of their dog, among other things. 
     Since this is such an incredible read, I do not want to spoil your enjoyment of this inspiring tale.  I definitely give this book a solid recommendation with a 5 Plus star rating.  This is an incredible book and a great teaching tool, on acceptance and empathy! 

Links 

Author : R.J. Palacio 

Teaching Empathy in the Classroom

Treacher Collings Syndrom

Serafina and the Twisted Staff

By Robert Beatty 

     It is not too often that I say that a sequel is way better than the original, but I loved this book!  This book was highly entertaining and a pleasure to read.  The tale of the Twisted Staff begins shortly after the black cloak ends.  Serafina is in the forest and sees something she does not understand, the animals seem to be leaving the area, she is attacked by some large wolfhounds and she is saved by a mysterious boy, her mother and another mountain lion.  Her mother, a catamount, encourages her to return to the Biltmore Estate, she claims for her safety, but Serafina is sure that something is threatening her life, the estate and her loved ones.  As Christmas approaches the estate is filling with new guests and animals are going missing.  A detective enters the story, he is interested in what happened to Mr. Thornton.  He specifically asks to speak to Serafina and Braeden and is very curious about their actions on the night that Mr. Thornton went missing.  

    As more animals leave the Blue Ridge Mountains, Serafina looks to her Mother for more information.  Her mother is not to be found but the boy and her half siblings are around.  She hears that they plan on leaving the area with the other animals, in fear of the encroaching evil.  She finally talks to Braeden and they devise a plan on figuring out what is threatening their existence.  

   The animals that are still around are acting differently, they are going where they have never been before and they are attacking Serafina.  After a harrowing escape from the rafters above the ballroom, Serafina knows she has to do something drastic.  She goes out into the forest looking for answers finds, animals that have been caged, meets a man in a long cloak, and he magically takes away her breath and body.  After she is roused she returns home.  How is she going to overcome this new magic, how can she protect her loved ones and the Biltmore Estate?  Who is threatening the Blue Ridge Mountains?  

   This book is full of adventure, twist and turns and a flowing plot.  You hear more of the back story, surrounding the Biltmore Estate and discover who/what Serafina is intended to be.  I loved the story and the writing was phenomenal!  I could not put this book down, a real page turner.  Therefore, I am giving this book a 4.5 out of five stars and encourage all students grades 4 and up to check out it out.  

Links 

Author - Robert Beatty

The Vanderbilt Family

Blue Ridge Mountains

Irena's Children

By Tilar J. Mazzea

     This book touched me on several levels.  It is a very well written story about a time in history that I am sure many wish never happened.  With the uncertain times that we are currently embroiled, this book really opens ones eyes to the reality of racism, the danger of letting those in power go unchecked and how even the smallest defiance can make a world of change.  

     One is introduced to Irena, a student in Warsaw Poland at the beginning of World War II.  She has befriended many people at the University, including many Jews.  The encroaching German's have many concerned but no worried for their lives.  The small steps that the Gestapo utilized to immobilize the Jews, the ghetto and the erosion of their rights and humanity are frightening.  Many Jews planned on just making it through, never dreaming the depth of hatred that would fall upon their shoulders.  Irena is Christian, but since she works for the Welfare Department, she is enabled to enter the ghetto and move about freely.  She takes it upon herself to free as many children as possible from their German captors.  

     Irena manages a large network of resistance workers that help her move children to safety, whether it be orphanages, christian homes or into the countryside.  What is remarkable about her journey is that she maintained a very dangerous list, so that after the war, Jewish families may be reunited.  Irena did everything at great peril to herself and her loved ones, but she felt that she was not a hero, she was just doing what had to be done, for humanity.  Even when Irena is captured, she maintains her list and does everything she can to keep the children safely hidden.  She entrusts her list with a compatriot, and maintains silence through months of beating and threat of execution.  Zegota, another underground organization that helped Irena, finally manages to get free Irena and she goes into hiding.  Much of what she accomplished was through blatant disregard to the Germans, hiding in plain sight.  It is estimated that her network of helpers hid and saved over 2500 children.  This is incredible!  

     I know the aspect that really resonated in my heart is the constant lesson of doing what needs to be done, when a crime against humanity is occurring.  Not to sit idly and let something happen when you know it is not right.  To give a voice to those that can not speak or are afraid to speak.  All of the hatred that abounds in today's world, needs to be checked we need to be more accepting of each other, we do not want to relive another atrocity, let's learn from the past.  

     I love historical novels just for the lessons that be learned from the past, the are unapologetic and in your face.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars, I loved it, but I know over time, some of the details have been forgotten, and I missed those.  I loved the harrowing tales of how some of the children escaped and wished for more!  I think that this book is appropriate for all students in fifth grade and up.  Happy reading! 

Links 

Warsaw Ghetto 

Pawiak Prison

Concentration Camps

Author Tilar Mazzeo