Destined to Live

By Ruth Gruener 

     This book packs a powerful punch!  Although it is a fairly short read it is full of intense situations and detail!  The book had me celebrating each triumph and afraid of each near death experience.  Ruth and her family were definitely very fortunate to not fall into the German's hands, but how they survived is inspirational.  What moved me most was the occasional addition of wise words of wisdom, for instance "We never know how the way we behave toward another person may come back to affect us at a different time."  A seemingly small act of kindness is what kept Ruth and her family out of the German clutches.  

     Ruth begins the story explaining that she was very young at the beginning of the holocaust, that her family was rather wealthy as the owners of a local candy store.  As the German's insidious power invaded Poland, Ruth and her family slowly began to loose much of their freedom.  They had to give up all of their wealth, their furniture and their apartment, finally being forced to move into the ghetto.  Her father was able to find work outside the ghetto, which is how he convinced a friend to hide Ruth for many months.  When things became to dangerous for that family, Ruth was reunited with her parents and hid with the Oyafs until the end of the war.  That is not the only remarkable aspect of their story, how they found their way to America and all of the steps they had to make in order to make it here, wow!  

     I enjoyed this book, it flowed nicely and was very powerful.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.  My biggest criticism is that the book was broken into rather large chunks that were hard to break up, for smaller quick reads.  I think smaller chapters over parts would have been better.  I feel that this book would be good for 4th thru 8th grade and would be enjoyed by boys and girls.  This is a very good book and would be a good addition to a class library and a entertaining read for anybody.  

Links 

Ruth Gruener - Author

Lvov during the Holocaust

Holocaust Survivors

The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die

By April Henry

     Another dark and thought provoking tale by April Henry.  This one is a new twist, still in the Portland Oregon area, but a whole new cast of heroes.  Meet Katie (Cady) who comes to and does not know anything, not even her name.  She quickly comes to the realization that she is being held against her wishes and the gentlemen who have her want her gone.  One of her captors leave and one large man is supposed to dispose of her.  But Katie, moving on instinct evades and injures her guard.  She returns to the cabin, to seek clues as to her identity and grab supplies.  She leaves in the unknown mans car, just hoping to get away from the cabin.  Will she be able to figure out who she is, why they want her dead or just what is going on?  

     What follows is a daring escapade, where Cady, with help from a new friend, discovers her identity.  But dare she believe all of the news stories is she a crazed drug addict who wants to end her own life?  That is the image that the internet is putting out there.  Even when all fingers are pointing at Cady for killing Officer Dillow, Ty sticks by her side, just knowing that she is lost and is in desperate need of help.  Ty sticks by her side even when another adult appears to want to help Cady.  He wants to finish what he began and make sure that Cady is safe and no longer in danger.  The surprising twists in this book will keep you guessing and turning the page!  

     This is a fairly quick and entertaining read, with a lot of cliff hangers and interesting plot twists.  It really highlights how much dependence we put on the internet and how tenuous our health could be.  We always hear about possible epidemics or pandemics, but when you are the one that can stop it would you be able to step up and save the day, especially with out your memory?  I am giving this book a 4 out of 5, it is a little mature and dark, and would say it is appropriate for ages eighth grade and up.  

Links

Author - April Henry

CDC

Hantairus

Virologist

 

Beneath

By Roland Smith 

     This is a fast and fantastic read. This is a very interesting tale of two brothers with an incredible bond.  Would you go to the ends of the Earth if you thought your sibling was in danger, would you be able to face your biggest fears?  This story illustrates what extreme lengths people will go to in order to protect or save someone they love.  

     Meet Pat, a young man that is missing his older brother, Coop.  Their home has fractured and Coop has left Pat to his own defenses.  Their parents seem disinterested and have moved beyond their relationship, into what they think they want in a family.  Pat is struggling in this new reality, that is until he receives a communication from his quirky brother.  What follows is a string of recorder conversations, that end abruptly.  When Pat does not hear from Coop, he begins to panic and finally decides to follow Coops clues and help his brother.  Since his parents are inattentive, he just has to wait for an opportunity to get to New York.  

     As Christmas break approaches, Pat heads to New York, to find his brother who has gone under.  To an individual who has claustrophobia, going under seems terrifying.  The only definitive clue he has is a PO Box, which he keeps under surveillance.  He quickly discovers that someone is emptying the PO Box that is not Coop.  Pat has to follow him and convince him to help him find his brother.  The man is Posty, and he lives a double life:  one a banker, the other is a member of the community.  The Community is a group of individuals that live under the streets, by their own rules.  Coop has been there, but has gone farther under the city into the Deep.  Does Pat dare to follow him into the depth of New York underground?  Does he need to be saved?  Will they come out alive after meeting the LOD, and venturing into the POD?  The only way to find out is to read the book.  

     This was a very interesting book, I am going to give it a four out of five stars.  Just because it is a little unbelievable, at least out of the realm of what I believe is plausible.  I do believe that anybody in fourth grade up through eighth grade would find this a very enjoyable book.  It has a little bitter of everything!  

Links 

Author - Roland Smith

Beneath New York City

In the Shadow of the Sun

By Anne Sibley O'Brien 

     This book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence.  It is a very intriguing and thought provoking tale.  The author does a remarkable job of transporting the reader into a different time, culture and environment.  Really, makes one wonder what would they do if it was them, would you be able to survive and stay ahead of the soldiers.  Would you be a Mia, Simon or their father?  

     Mark Andrews takes his two children with him on a trip into North Korea.  They are forewarned and given a long list of rules.  Mr. Andrews has traveled here before as a food relief worker and somehow embroils himself in a faction power struggle.  Unknown to them they are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.  Mark is arrested as Mia and Simon find incriminating images on a gifted cell phone.  They know that the only way to help their dad is to get the images out of the country.  They endeavor to allude the North Koreans on a harrowing escape across the country towards China.  This proves to be very difficult since Simon is a tall blond American while Mia, who is adopted, is from South Korea.  With little knowledge of the language, next to no money, no food how are they supposed to travel the distance to safety without being seen and captured?  It takes some luck, ingenuity and a lot of courage plus a little bit of help from surprise sources.  

     This was an excellent story, I loved the information given at the beginning of the book, very helpful in reading the tale.  Giving the background knowledge led to more understanding and a better appreciation of the dangers.  What I did not get 100% was some of the North Korean view point, it did not always connect to Simon and Mia.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5, just for the disconnect.  I did really enjoy this book, it made me question what happened to some of the supporting characters.  This book is good for 5th grade students and up and encourage anybody to buy their copy today.  

links

Author - Anne Sibley O'Brien

Current guidelines to travel into North Korea

History of North Korea

Hidden Figures

By Margot Lee Shetterly

     After I heard about this group of courageous women I could not wait to read the book or watch the movie.  I am sad to say that the book is rather dry and reads like informative text.  These beautiful, brave women fought long and hard.  This book spent a lot of time dwelling on the news of the time of WWII and Civil Rights, and rarely gave one a glimpse into the lives of these women.  

     Hidden Figures follows four women and how they became part of Langley and computers for the United States.  Their drive and determination to  be recognized and productive members of NACA and NASA is noteworthy.  It is very eye opening that they even had the opportunity, especially when Civil Rights had not occurred.  I was surprised by a lot of the historical information,  but sorely missed some of the personal details about their day to day lives.  These women were incredible, mothers, wives and mathematicians.  It totally blows my mind they were able to make these extraordinary difficult computations, no matter they race or gender.  Not only that but the day to day struggle proving that they were capable, so inspirational.  

     Although I appreciated this book, I wish it would have a little more personal detail.  It was a fairly simple read and think that anybody over fifth grade would enjoy the information.  I am giving this book a 3 out of 5 stars.  If you are someone that enjoys history and would like a window into the home front during and after WWII, pick up your copy!

Links

Margot Lee Shetterly - author

Langley

Real computers

     

Somewhere There Is Still a Sun

By Michael Gruenbaum

     This book really epitomizes the idea of waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Misha is a young Czech boy, carefree, wealthy when the German's rose to power.  As his life begins to change, his Jewish heritage is the catalyst for rules that make no sense, at least to young Misha.  Long before entering the Jewish Ghetto, the writing was on the wall, no school, no fruit, no walking on certain roads, no playing in parks, the list goes on.  Is childhood and his comfortable life is slowly eroded, but with spirit and strength of will, Misha and most of his family will survive.  

     Misha's parents were well aware of the propensity of the German's of attaining Jewish riches, and planned accordingly by secreting much of their wealth to London, or friends in Prague.  As his comfortable life empties, he keeps telling himself, what else can be taken?  When they are forced to move into the old part of town into a small apartment, Misha remains content, hey he has his family with him.  One serious test of his faith is the loss of his father at the hands of the German's.  Then when the rest of his family and Misha are transported to Terezin at first he feels devastated.  Misha is fortunate, he has been separated from his mother and sister and placed in a children's dorm, room 7 to be exact.  He is forced to attend the program (school) and is introduced to the other inhabitants of the room, including its leader Franta.  

     Terezin is a concentration camp, more of a holding center for families being sent "east".  Franta is a gifted teacher, educating well beyond the classroom.  He is strict about the boys keeping themselves, clothing, beds and bathrooms very clean.  Knowing full well that filth harbors disease.  He also encourages the youngsters in his room to work together as a team, be punctual, never call each other names etc.  Only through working together in harmony may they one day beat the Germans.  Misha is content in his new reality, he likes his room mates and loves when they can play soccer or work on plays together.  As time marches on, periodically pink slips will go out to families that need to be transported to the east, groups and families are removed from Terezin some to never be seen again.  

     Through a little bit of luck and a whole lot of grit, Misha and his family avoid transport to the East, and are still in Terezin when survivors are sent back to Terezin, emaciated, bald and a bare semblance of who they were.  They are there when the Russian tanks roll in and when the Red Cross take control of Terezin.  Misha's return to Prague is at once joyful and poignant.  He is glad to be alive but is well aware that many of his room mates were not so fortunate.  Out of the 80 plus boys that spent time in room 7, only 11 survived, pretty devastating odds.  That bond that was forged by Franta has survived the test of time and the "boys" still meet up occasionally. 

     I really enjoyed this book, even though the content was deep it maintained a sort of youthful, naivete, a belief that things can get better.  Misha learns to take joy in the simple things, finding a soccer ball, stealing a dinner roll, or a tin of sardines.  I also appreciated the history of Terezin, there were many different concentration camps, by far the worst was Auschwitz, but anything that takes away freedom is deplorable.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and thinks anybody above 5th grade will enjoy this book.  

Links 

Author - Michael Gruenbaum

Terezin

Brundibar - the Children's Opera

Prague - Post WW2

     

     

Lights Camera Disaster

By Erin Dionne

     I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting book, totally enjoyable.  An entertaining tale about our hapless heroin Hester, Hess for short.  She is on the verge of failing the eighth grade and losing all of her friends with the real possibility of repeating the year.  Hess has a learning disability, which curtails her ability to organize and function in the classroom.  She tries so hard to maintain her focus, but why can't the world be viewed through her camera?  When she is working on her movies and with her friends she is able to focus and is driven to stay on task, how can this be translated to her school work.  

     Just as everything is about to implode around her, her grades are at a new low, her friends are angry and she can not participate in the Hoot;  help comes from unexpected corners.  First of all, the drama teacher offers some insightful words of advice, she reminds Hess that she is the director or her own story (life).  Basically, that Hess is in charge of her actions, the focus that she uses in her films can be utilized in her real life problems.  Secondly, her brother gives her the genius idea of putting her notes and study as if she is prepping a movie, using a story board for organization.  These revelations prove to be the switch that Hess needs.  

     What is so amazing about this book is the insight that it gives the reader to the differences in many of its readers.  Not everyone learns the same way, not everyone has the capability of retaining information in the same manner.  Middle school can be a very rewarding but exhausting time.  A students growth and their potential are limitless, being able to express and learning in different modes is invaluable.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and think that all students above the fifth grade will enjoy this funny but touching tale.  

Links 

Author - Erin Dionne

Executive Function Disorder

Coping methods for Anxiety