Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Eel is hiding. He’s hiding himself, and a secret. He’s an orphan in London in 1854, and that is not an easy life. He works hard - started as a muckraker in the Thames River. That was not a fun job. Through a series of fortunate events, Eel was able to get a job as... Continue Reading →
Jessie plays his flute to earn extra money to help his family stay afloat. New Orleans in 1840 teems with sailors, many of whom were generous with their pennies when Jessie played for them. Then Jessie is kidnapped and dumped aboard a slaving ship. The captain wants his music skills to “dance” the slaves to... Continue Reading →
I recently read Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk with a book club. We all loved it so much that one of my friends decided to read all of Wolk’s books - and pass them on to me. (Thank you Jan! See also Echo Mountain.) Beyond the Bright Sea tells the story of Crow, a young... Continue Reading →
Felix has lived through quite a lot, as you can imagine any Jewish boy has during World War Two. Now that the war is over, he is struggling to survive in the midst of the destruction in Poland after the war. He has his best friend, and his work. But even though the war is... Continue Reading →
Overnight, Gerta finds her family divided. One night, her father and next older brother went to West Berlin to find supplies for her family. The next morning, she finds East German soldiers building a massive concrete wall, sealing her, her oldest brother and their mother inside East Berlin. Gerta tries to live her life, but... Continue Reading →
Sora Pak and her family live by a very strict set of rules. The family Bible is hidden under the floor. They must attend the local communist meetings. Their friends and neighbors keep disappearing. But they are afraid to leave their North Korean village. Until the war comes so close, they decide this is their... Continue Reading →
Heroes of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun may seem like strange reading for Christmastime. I found it to be the perfect book to read to remind me of all the blessings I have in the midst of a difficult year. This book highlights teens from around Europe and their stories of resistance... Continue Reading →
He has no memory of what happened. Or who he is. Because his past is blank, Brother Andrew decides to name him Alexander - Xan for short. So Xan joins the life of the Abbey, hoping that at some point he’ll remember what happened and find his real family. Shadow in the Dark by Antony... Continue Reading →
I was surprised to find that Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted) wrote a historical fiction novel, yet was willing to give it a try. Let’s just say my weekend to-do list is still waiting for me because I spent my time reading. Loma loves listening to her Bela’s bedtime stories, learning how to cook and... Continue Reading →
By all accounts Taro should be dead. The son of a samurai is always killed when his lord is defeated in battle. But Lord Takeda's soldiers decide to spare him, and take him with them. So Taro becomes a servant in the house of Lord Akiyama, learning how to be a servant. But when his... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 