Book Reviews

These are the first three books that I have read as part of my New Year's Resolution (OK, the first one I read earlier - so sue me!)

Quick book reviews – Children’s and Young Adult Literature

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” - Sherman Alexie
Semi-autobiographical story about a young Indian (and Alexie always refers to himself as an Indian) from the Spokane reservation who decides to go off “the rez” to go to high school. It is set in the present but you can tell that these are many of the experiences Alexie went through when he made the same decision. You can feel what it must be like to have a foot in the “white world” and a foot on “the rez” and the conflicts, both internal and external, that one would experience. There are great cartoon illustrations that lend a humorous insight to the words on the page.

“Number the Stars” – Lois Lowry
Copenhagen in 1943 has been occupied by the Nazis for three years. There are soldiers on every street corner. Annemarie Johansen is a 9 year old girl and Ellen Rosen is her best friend. The Nazis have made the decision to “relocate” the Danish Jews and begin the roundup on the Jewish New Year, 1943. Ellen’s parents make the decision to “hide” Ellen in plain sight – the Johansen family will pretend that Ellen is their daughter. The story isn’t just about two young girls living through Nazi occupation but about Denmark and the country’s resolution to save their Jewish countrymen.

“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” – Kate DiCamillo
Edward is a self-centered and arrogant china rabbit. The story follows Edward’s journey, both physical and emotional, after he is separated from Abilene (his 9 year old owner). Along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again. I first experienced this book in a 3rd grade classroom but it is a story for all ages. For my teacher friends, there is even a teacher’s guide with discussion points and activities: http://www.edwardtulane.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Yny%2bzUwaGF0%3d&tabid=76