This story takes place in 1943 in Amsterdam during the German Occupation. Hanneke works for Mr. Kreuk, the undertaker who sends her to deliver contraband from the black market. During one of these deliveries, Mrs. Janssen asks her to find a girl who had been hiding her pantry but disappeared. She was wearing a blue coat. Hanneke's search soon brings her to the Resistance and her eyes are opened to the horrors the Germans are bringing upon the Dutch Jews. I listened to it. Natalia Payne's narration was beautifully done. The German and Dutch names I'm sure were a challenge. This is a powerful work of historical fiction. At the end of the novel, Hesse gives a historical perspective sorting out what was based on historical fact and what was from her imagination. There are many great novels about the Holocaust, especially for teens. This book belongs on that list.
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Beartown is a small dying town in the forests of Sweden. The people of the town are hoping the junior hockey team will win the semi-finals and go on to the finals. Then perhaps, a hockey academy will be built in Beartown, and then shopping centers and a convention center would follow. When the unimaginable happens off the ice, the whole town is affected including its future.
There are a lot of characters in this story from the players, coaches and their families, parents, President and the General Manager of the Beartown Hockey Club, sponsors... All play a role in the story. Some characters you will love, others you will not. I strongly recommend this book to those who are hockey fans and those who like stories about small towns. Josie Moraine is a recent high school graduate who lives in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1950. She has a tough life as the daughter of a brothel prostitute. She lives above a bookshop owned by author Charlie Marlowe and works at the shop with Charlie's son, Patrick. In the mornings, she cleans Willie Woodley's - uh, place of business. On New Year's Eve, a gentleman from Memphis comes into the book shop to buy two books: a book of poetry by Keats and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. While purchasing the books, the gentleman encourages Josie to go to college - something she never gave much thought about before. The following day she learns that he had died. This is a fantastic read. There are so many complex characters from Willie, Charlie, Jesse, Patrick, and the oh, so creepy Mr. Lockwell. Josie is such a strong character, although I am certain she would not consider herself that. I recommend this novel to more mature teens and adults. Sacajawea and William Clark tell Jean Baptiste Charbonneau of their adventures exploring the West during the Corps of Discovery. It delves into Sacajawea's capture and travels to the Mandans where she met her husband and later William Clark and Merriwether Lewis. In alternating chapters, they tell Pomp of their adventures going to the Pacific Ocean and back. I listened to this novel which was read by Nicolle Littrell and Michael Radkin. They read as if they were actually speaking to Pomp at Clark's home in St. Louis. At the beginning of Clark's chapter, there would be a journal entry from Clark or Lewis. At the beginning of Sacajawea's chapter there was a short American Indian myth or legend. Students who are fans of historical fiction and adventure will enjoy this novel. Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes from her beloved aunt who had died of cancer. The first one has $1000 and instructions to get a plane ticket to London. Each envelope has her do something out of her comfort zone but in the process, she gets to know who her aunt was and a bit more about herself.
This was a fun adventure. You had no idea what her aunt is going to have her do next. During her adventure, she meets people who knew her aunt like Richard who works at Harrods, and others like playwright Keith who didn't know her aunt, but goes along for the ride. Ginny has a lot of guts to go on an adventure like this without many supplies or money and she goes through a lot - both good and bad - on this trip, but along the way, she learns some valuable life lessons and grows throughout the story. An enjoyable read. In London, 1983, Susan Arkshaw goes on the search for her father when she suddenly finds herself among magical fighting booksellers who keep watch over the mythical Old World of England from intruding with the modern world. Merlin is a left-handed bookseller which means he is a fighting bookseller. Vivien is a right-handed bookseller (the intellectual ones). Together they try to protect Susan during their quest. I thought this was a fun fantasy. There's a lot going on with plenty of action. Fans o f Garth Nix will enjoy this book. Carl Smith chronicles the Great Chicago Fire and its aftermath. The fire began on October 8, 1871. Conditions were horrific for a big fire with it being very dry and a warm wind. Chicago firefighters were already exhausted from a fire the previous Saturday night that took out four city blocks. Smith goes into detail as to how people escaped the flames and how it was able to spread so quickly. He then goes into the politics of the aftermath, including how the fire impacted the mayoral election and the opening of the 1893 Colombian Exposition. I found this book fascinating especially with the fire raging. Smith used many primary sources from the Chicago History Museum, including links in his footnotes. For those of you who have lived in or around Chicago and have an idea of how Chicago politics work (or doesn't work), you will not be surprised at the politics that were involved after the fire was out. Those who have an interest in Chicago history should read this book. Mariana's father is running for President of the United States. She thinks he'll make a great president, she feels the pressure of being the daughter of a candidate after a disastrous television interview and misinterpreted pictures are released. However, when a class she is in begins to question her father's support of a wealthy businessman who is polluting the water in their state, she begins to question his position.
This was an enjoyable read. Mariana not only has to endure a lot but she learns about herself and starts forming her own opinion on things. This graphic novel takes place in 1946. The Lee family moved from Chinatown to Metropolis and is soon under attack by the Klan of the Fiery Cross. Superman comes to the rescue and is exposed for the first time to a strange green rock. This was a good story about dealing with prejudices and racism. It is based on the Superman radio serial "Clan of the Fier Cross" which was first broadcasted in the 1940s. It's a coming-of-age story in terms both Roberta Lee and Superman are realizing they are limiting their potential. At the end of the story, Gene Luen Yang discusses the history of Asian American immigration and discrimination as well as the history of Superman. I don't think too many people outside of the Pacific coast region realize how the KKK terrorized Asian Americans in the West. This novel in verse tells the story of Camino Rios and Yahaira Rios. Camino lives in the Dominican Republic. Yahaira Rios lives in New York City. Neither knows the other exists until their father is killed in a plane crash and they learn he had two families. This is a beautifully written story about grieving while dealing with another whole bunch of emotions after learning about a father's secret life. Both girls are likeable, strong characters. |
AuthorMr. Andrusyk is a school librarian at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, Illinois. Past Book RecommendationsClick here to view a listing of Mr. Andrusyk's list of favorite authors, series, fiction, and nonfiction. Archives
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