Signs of Survival

I somehow heard of Signs of Survival: A Memoir of the Holocaust by Renee Hartman and Joshua M. Greene and got it from the library. The book description reads, "As Jews living in 1940s Czechoslovakia, Renee, Herta, and their parents were in immediate danger when the Holocaust came to their door. As the only hearing person in her family, Renee had to alert her parents and sister whenever the sound of Nazi boots approached their home so they could hide. But soon their parents were tragically taken away, and the two sisters went on the run, desperate to find a safe place to hide. Eventually they, too, would be captured and taken to the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. Communicating in sign language and relying on each other for strength in the midst of illness, death, and starvation, Renee and Herta would have to fight to survive the darkest of times."

This was a great read. The accounts of Renee and Herta are from oral histories they recorded about their experiences in the Holocaust. Because of that format, it was different than a novel is written and so not quite as engaging, but it was a very quick read and a powerful story. It was also an approachable story that showed the horrors of the Holocaust without it being too much for children. I think my sensitive 11-year-old could handle this read just fine. Renee and Herta are pretty incredible people who endured so much, and I'm glad I read their story.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The War I Finally Won

Emmeline and I recently read The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley for the girls' book club I run. (I had read it previously, but she hadn't.) She read the sequel afterward, so I decided to re-read it too: The War I Finally Won. Here's the book description: "When Ada’s clubfoot is surgically fixed at last, she knows for certain that she’s not what her mother said she was—damaged, deranged, crippled mentally as well as physically. She’s not a daughter anymore, either. Who is she now? World War II rages on, and Ada and her brother, Jamie, move with their guardian, Susan, into a cottage with the iron-faced Lady Thorton and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded home is tense. Then Ruth moves in. Ruth, a Jewish girl, from Germany. A German? Could Ruth be a spy? As the fallout from war intensifies, calamity creeps closer, and life during wartime grows even more complicated. Who will Ada decide to be? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?"

This is such a beautiful read. I didn't remember all the details from the last time I read it, so it was fun to re-read. I loved the return of all the characters from book one, and I love how the author creates such well-developed characters. The book was full of difficult things that Ada and the other characters had to face, but I loved watching Ada grow and change. I also loved the ending so much. Such a good read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Christy

I read Christy by Catherine Marshall for book club. It is a historical fiction book originally published back in the 60s, and I'd heard of it for years but was excited to finally take the time to read this classic. Here's the book description from Amazon: "In 1912, and against the wishes of her parents, nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston leaves her life of privilege and ease to become a missionary teacher in an impoverished and isolated valley in the Smoky Mountains. The job turns out to be more difficult--and rewarding--than she had anticipated, as she comes to know and care for the wild mountain people with their fierce pride, terrible poverty, dark superstitions, and their yearning for beauty and truth.Her faith is severely tested--by her students and by the suffering of the people she comes to love. When her dearest friend is taken by a typhoid epidemic, Christy questions the sovereignty and power of God.And when two remarkable young men fall in love with her--the pastor who is drawn to her courage and independence, and the non-Christian doctor who is drawn to the light of Christ shining through her--her heart is torn between love and desire."

I loved this book! It made me so glad to be in this book club because it's a book I probably would never have read otherwise. The story was super engaging (and even more fascinating because it was based on the real experiences of the author's mother). The author made the characters feel so real. I also loved the Christian/spiritual side of things--so many deep thoughts and meaningful experiences scattered throughout the book. Such a great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

A Bird Will Soar

I learned about A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers because it won the Schneider Family Book Award (for children's books with a character with a disability). The book description reads, "Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home—a fact Axel wishes his mother understood. Deep down, Axel knows that his mother is like an osprey—the best of all bird mothers—but it’s hard to remember that when she worries and keeps secrets about important things. His dad is more like a wild turkey, coming and going as he pleases. His dad’s latest disappearance is the biggest mystery of all. Despite all this, Axel loves his life—especially the time he spends with his friends observing the eagles’ nest in the woods near his home. But when a tornado damages not only Axel’s home but the eagles’ nest, Axel’s life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly his dad is back to help repair the damage, and Axel has to manage his dad’s presence and his beloved birds’ absence. Plus, his mom seems to be keeping even more secrets. But Axel knows another important fact: an eagle’s instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves."

This was a nice story. I really liked Axel and his relationship with the animal rescue doctor, his friend Daniel, and his neighbors. I also liked seeing how Axel managed having autism and all the abilities he had despite having that diagnosis. The book was a little slow for me, and it took me awhile to get through it--but I liked it enough that I wanted to finish it. The book taught some valuable lessons to adults about how kids want to have important things explained to them rather than being left in the dark.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was ok)

Hope Springs

I saw Hope Springs on the new book shelf at the library and thought it looked like a book I would enjoy. Here is the book description: "Eleven-year-old Jubilee Johnson is an expert at three things: crafting, moving, and avoiding goodbyes. On the search for the "perfect place," she and her Nan live by their Number One Relocation Rule—just the two of them is all they need. But Jubilee's starting to feel like just two is a little too close to alone. Desperate to settle down, Jubilee plans their next move, Hope Springs, Texas—home of her TV crafting idol, Arletta Paisley. Here she meets a girl set on winning the local fishing tournament and a boy who says exactly the right thing by hardly speaking at all. Soon, Jubilee wonders if Hope Springs might just be the place to call home. But when the town is threatened by a mega-chain superstore fronted by Arletta Paisley, Jubilee is faced with skipping town yet again or standing up to her biggest bully yet. With the help of her new friends and the one person she never thought she'd need—her Momma—will Jubilee find a way to save the town she's come to love and convince Nan that it's finally time to settle down?"

This was a good read. I enjoyed the story and liked the characters and how things turned out. The book was a little bit cliche and at times seemed to "tell" too much rather than just letting the situations speak for themselves.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic

I read Ada Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic by Jennifer Niven for the first book in a new book club a friend started. Here's the book description from Amazon: "In September 1921, four young men and Ada Blackjack, a diminutive 25-year-old Eskimo woman, ventured deep into the Arctic in a secret attempt to colonize desolate Wrangel Island for Great Britain. Two years later, Ada Blackjack emerged as the sole survivor of this ambitious polar expedition. This young, unskilled woman--who had headed to the Arctic in search of money and a husband--conquered the seemingly unconquerable north and survived all alone after her male companions had perished. Following her triumphant return to civilization, the international press proclaimed her the female Robinson Crusoe. But whatever stories the press turned out came from the imaginations of reporters: Ada Blackjack refused to speak to anyone about her horrific two years in the Arctic. Only on one occasion--after charges were published falsely accusing her of causing the death of one her companions--did she speak up for herself."

This was a really interesting book. It was long, but I was able to finish it pretty quickly because the story was engaging, and I wanted to see how things panned out. The author did a great job portraying the various people involved, though I did consider that this is just one side of the story so I was definitely swayed in favor of some people (Ada) and against others (Stefansson). It was interesting to hear about the way they lived in the Arctic and how they tried to survive, and it was fun to discuss with friends at book club. Good read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Red, White, and Whole

I got Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca from the library after seeing it was one of the Newbery honor books for this year. The book description reads, "Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted—they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked—Reha means 'star' and Punam means 'moon'—but they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick. Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can’t stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She’ll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma’s life."

This book was so good! It was written in verse and was a quick, engaging read. At the beginning, I was just like, Oh, this is a nice read, but wasn't really sure if the book was super special or meaningful--but once I hit the climax of the book, I was hooked. The book was pretty heart-wrenching and had me full-on sobbing and repeating, "This is a terrible book" (even though it wasn't actually terrible). It was a beautiful read and definitely one I'd recommend to others. I loved the various characters and thought they were well-developed even for a short book, and I also thought the book taught some meaningful lessons.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)