When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, Yanek Gruener did what he could to hide in a country surrounded by Nazis. This only lasted for a short time before he found himself in a concentration camp, struggling to survive. Based on the true story of Jack Gruener, the reader follows him one horrifying situation to another. This was a hard story to read. I know I take the blessings in my life for granted, and I need stories like this to remind me how easy my life is. Hiding in the floor, running full out, begging from his worst enemy - you understand the price that one paid to survive in one of the worst times in history. Lest we think this only happened with the Nazis, you have only to read stories of Soviet gulags in Between Shades of Gray or Japanese prison camps in World War II in Unbroken to see what happens when we lose our humanity and deceny. We need to read these stories to appreciate what we have and to appreciate each other.
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Christopher Robin loves nothing more than to hear stories of Edward Bear or Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore. Winnie-the-Pooh calls himself "a bear of very little brain," but he has a great heart for his friends. He will do whatever he can to make them happy, even the gloomy Eeyore. The only thing that can stop his generosity is his stomach and his need for more honey. After watching Christopher Robin and Goodbye, Christopher Robin and hearing from a friend how charming Winnie-the-Pooh was to read, I knew I had to try out this time-honored classic for myself. This truly is a charming story. Like Charlotte's Web, the book is frequently seen as a book for children, and it is, but I think there is something there for everyone. You almost appreciate it more when you are older. This makes me want to reread one of my favorite childhood books, Little House on the Prairie. You will want to read the first six books in the series before reading this review. Alone and without Dumbledore, Harry has a great task before him. He must round up all the rest of the horcruxes and destroy them to finally defeat his nemesis, Voldemort. With only Ron and Hermione at his side, Harry sets out to do what seems impossible, but can he do it before Voldemort and his Death Eaters track him down? The last book of the Harry Potter series does not disappoint. Over seven hundred pages, Rowling keeps her reader turning each page to see what will happen next. Her characterization and plot twists are still as spot on as in the beginning. I have to admit that I appreciate her novels more as the series continue. Rowling almost never drops a character, and you will see characters that seem minor or "done" reemerge in a way that fits their character and the entire story arc of Harry Potter. Some of the characters will not last until the end, but the ending did give me a satisfactory sigh. Viji and Rukku...always together. Viji loves her sister and her Amma (mother). She doesn't understand what Amma continues to stay with Appa even after he continues to abuse her. When Appa breaks Amma's arm and then hits her and Rukku, Viji knows it is time to leave, to find a place where she and her sister will be safe. I decided to join the Global Read Aloud this year, and there are two options for middle grades, Front Desk and The Bridge Home. I chose to read the shorter one first, and this is the one that stole my heart. The love the two sisters share is so sweet, and the way they include the two homeless boys in their new family makes you smile and cry at different times. This is a look at a different culture that many of my students are unfamiliar with. It's a culture I find myself unfamiliar with as well. To appreciate those whose life is so different than can open your heart and make you that much kinder. At least, that is my hope for my students as we finish this book together. Miles is in trouble at school. He left the classroom without permission to use the restroom. But he didn't really need to use the restroom. His problems are much bigger than that. His spidey senses are tingling, and it happens every time he enters Mr. Chamberlain's classroom. Miles Morales is Spider-Man. I was expecting this to be more about Miles becoming Spider-Man. However, he spends more time in the classroom than being Spider-Man. Some of the scenes were exciting, but I saw where Reynolds was going long before the reveal. If you like the Miles Morales from Marvel Comics or the movie, Into the Spider-Verse, you will probably enjoy this as well. I'm sure I missed a lot because I was not as familiar with his character, and I needed more backstory. For a fan though, this will probably be an easy and engaging read. Because of language and politics, this is in the YA section of my classroom library. Malala believed that girls had the right to an education. For that belief, she was shot on the bus going home from school. No one knew if she would live, but she did and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner at the age of 17. In the United States, where everyone has the right to education, we find it hard to believe there are places where children have to pay or may never have the chance to learn. We struggle to understand why women would be treated so much differently than men. Malala's story is important to read, but it also capitivating to hear how she had courage despite the danger she faced. I love to read about someone who is able to overcome difficult circumstances, realizing that my own struggles can seem small in comparison. For more about Malala, you can check out her website. https://www.malala.org/ Pearl Harbor changes everything for the United States. Everyone feels it. Colton knows that he will have to become the man of the house when his brother, Danny, leaves for war. But then war comes to them first. While the two brothers are fishing, a German U-boat attacks, and Danny's life is in danger. Colton wants to help his country even more with Danny in the hospital, and so he takes his brother's place, keeping his age a secret. What Colton doesn't realize is that no one is ready for war at any age. Being a Social Studies teacher, I was surprised that I had not learned about the German submarine attacks on the east coast of the United States during World War II. It Cameron is a gamer extraordinaire. His social interaction comes almost completely online as they team up for one game after another. The couch has an imprint of his seat from hours upon hours of gaming. His time as a serious player comes to a screeching halt when he forgets to take the meal out of the oven, and his house is set on fire. Hilarious from beginning to end. Korman has you rolling with laughter from the beginning. From one crazy story to the next, you will be following the characters as they try to get what they want from a club that really doesn't exist. If you have enjoyed any of Gordon Korman's books, you should definitely check this one out. There is also a sequel that recently came out called Level 13. Tommy has always looked up to his dad. His dad taught him how to play football, and he always looks to the sideline to see if his dad is there to cheer him on. When his dad doesn't come, Tommy knows why. His dad is a firefighter, and though he is proud of his dad, he can't help worrying that one day his dad won't come home. Then the worst happens. Tommy wonders how he will ever measure up to his dad's legacy as he becomes the man of the house. Lupica does a nice job of blending in football with the real struggles of a teenager who is facing loss. I can't imagine losing a parent so early in life. There is a real weight on Tommy's shoulder that is palpable in this book, but he realizes he can't do this on his own. I know I like to think of myself as independent, but none of us can handle life by ourselves. This story brings that to life. Her sister is the most popular girl in the country, but Frey is a secret. She is the identical twin of her sister, Rafi, but her father doesn't want anyone to know Rafi has a twin. Frey is his ace in the hole. She is Rafi's body double to make sure nothing happens to the heir. When Rafi is invited by the Palafoxes, another first family, Frey must go in her place, but can Frey keep up the act of being her sister when she rarely interacts socially. This book starts with a bang. The first scene shows off Frey's skill with handling an assassination attempt. Bullets are flying, and people are dropping. Westerfeld wants to grab your attention and not let go for the rest of the book. The only problem is that it is over 400 pages, and I think the author could have cut some of it out. However, I enjoyed the suspense, the adventure, the characters, the romance, and the twist at the end. |
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June 2021
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