Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys Reviewed by Ruthie C. Between Shades of Gray is about a girl, her mother, and her brother who get taken by NKVD soldiers in the middle of the night, torn away from their father and husband. The NKVD are Stalin’s secret police; Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del. This family, and many others, was taken for their skills; most of them were teachers. They go on a journey, away from Lithuania, through many places and finally into the Arctic Circle. The girl's name is Lina, her brother's name is Jonas, and her mother's is Elena. Lina has a cousin named Joana who is her best friend, and she meets a boy named Andrius, who becomes almost like family to her. This story takes place in 1941, the year where Stalin and Hitler began to fight for control of the countries in the Lithuanian area. Between Shades of Gray is set in many places. To highlight the large amount of camps and countries Lina and many others traveled, I have created a log of their journey.
Day 1: Kaunas, Lithuania
Day 3: Vilinius, Lithuania
Day 4: Minsk, Belarus
Day 5: Orsha, Belarus
Day 6: Smolensk, Russia
Day 21: Cross the Ural Mountains
Day 30: Omsk, Siberia
Day 42: Altai Labor Camp
Day 313: Biysk, Siberia
Day 319: Makarov Camp
Day 320: Banks of Angara River
Day 350: Ust Kust, Siberia
Day 380: Yakutsk, Siberia
Day 410: Cross the Arctic Circle
Day 440: Trofimovsk, North Pole
During her journey, Lina loses many people she loves and cares about, and must learn to overcome her feelings and keep herself alive. She also learns to take care of herself and others with limited resources and never to give up hope, that the sun would always rise in the east and set in the west, that she only had to make it through one more day. I would give this book a five star rating, and trust me, I am not one to overrate. It is beautifully written and perfectly plotted. Between Shades of Gray is a book with a strong, female protagonist with the will of a mule. This book is very high up on my favorite list, a very hard cut to make. I really found the needle in the haystack.
Between Shades of Grey, by Ruta Sepetys Reviewed by Maya S.
How would you feel if you were woken up in the middle of the night, and then taken to a dirty train station by evil police? That is exactly what happens to fifteen year old Lina Rimas and her ten year old brother and mother. In the middle of the night in Soviet Lithuania, they are awakened by NKVD officers and taken in a truck to a train station. Lina and her brother are confused- they never did anything wrong. However, Lina’s mother knows why they are arrested- their father is an independent thinker. Their father never did a thing wrong, but the NKVD are afraid he will rebel. They are packed in cars meant for cargo, and stay there for days. Lina meets a handsome young man, a girl that is convinced that her doll talks to her, and a cranky old bald man that has nothing on his mind but death.
Soon enough, they arrive in Siberia at a village. Lina and her family are forced into a little hut that is already occupied by a native. They must work hard and pay the woman rent at random times. Lina faces betrayal, starvation, sickness, hard labor, and deaths of her friends. She just wants out of the village where they are forced to work. But when a kind officer, maybe-true news, and a surprise visit from a doctor come into the family’s lives, they feel they just might make it.
I rate this book five stars because it was truly interesting. I learned about how the Soviets ruled and what they did. It was very descriptive, right down to the very last detail. I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.
Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman
Reviewed by Leah M.
Catherine Called Birdy is a great book. It is about a girl named Catherine, who is around 12 years old, and does not want to get married. Her (toad-like) father wants her to marry a rich man, no mater how rude, mean, or ugly he is. Catherine also hates her “lady lessons” with her mother. Her mother and the other ladies of the manor try to teach her how to sew, sit straight, and mind her manners. Catherine hates this. She wants to choose her own fate and future.
This book takes place in the 1200’s in England, close to London. At that time girls had to grow up and keep the house. They also were the ones to make remedies for the sick, sew blankets and clothing, and give the men children.
Catherine has a nickname, Birdy. She got the name from all of the birds she has. Birdy is very smart and will do whatever it takes to get rid of all the suitors that her dad invites. Whenever a rich suitor comes to her manor, she somehow gets the suitors to either get kicked out by her father or just leave by their own choice. She avoids getting married as much as possible.
I would give this book a 4 star rating because it starts out very slow and gets better throughout the book.
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
Reviewed by Julia N. The Cay, by Theodore Taylor is a historical fiction story. The book takes place in 1942, during World War II, in the Caribbean. A young boy named Phillip lives on the Island of Curacao with his parents. Phillip is warned to stay away from the “Negros” on the Island because they “were different than he was”. German U-boats, which are a kind of submarine, are surrounding the Island and torpedoing any ships that try to come and go from its port. Phillip and his mother leave the Island on a ship back to their home in Virginia, but the ship is sunk by the Germans. Phillip and his mother get separated. Phillip wakes up on a wooden raft with only a cat and Timothy. Timothy is a native black Islander, in his seventies, who speaks Calypso. The book is about the relationship that develops between Timothy and Phillip. They would not have become friends if they had not been left alone to survive together. Some interesting facts include how they survive on the raft, on an island, and catch fish and langosta, a type of lobster. I give this book a four out of five stars. It kept me interested. It was sad in parts but also suspenseful.
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
Phillip is an 11 year old boy who escaped on a ship with his mother, from the island of Curacao, just off the coast of Venezuela. German U-boats were threatening to attack the island in 1942 during World War II. On their journey, they were torpedoed, and Phillip was knocked off the boat and separated from his mother. When he woke up, he was floating on a piece of debris from the ship with a big, ugly black man named Timothy. Phillip was raised to be very racist and was mean and insulting to Timothy. But when they ended up on a deserted island, they became friends and Timothy taught Phillip how to survive. Phillip learned to respect Timothy, however, Phillip ended up going blind because of the injury to his head. He learned how to save water when it rained, what was safe to eat, and how to find his way around the island and in the water without sight. Timothy saved Phillip’s life during a tropical storm in which his own life was taken. What happened to Phillip all alone on the deserted island? Did he survive? Did anyone rescue him? You have to read the book to find out. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. It was very interesting, and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
By Bryce T.
Dragon, By Jeff Stone (Historical Fiction--China)
This book is the last in the series of The Five Ancestors that takes place in China in the 1600s. It is about a 13-year-old named Long, which means Dragon. He is one of the five surviving monks of the destruction of his temple. His other temple brothers are Hok, Malao, Seh, and Fo. There was also Ying who was a temple brother, too. This book is about the bandits, Western Warlord’s army, and the temple brothers planning an attack on the evil Tonglong. There are many interesting things going on such as Long going to tell the Western Warlord the plan of the bandits to join up together to fight Tonglong and his huge army. Another thing is the actual fight. And the most important part is how the series ends. There is a lot of action, war, and cool things in this book. This story and series are amazing and I would give it a 5 out of 5.
By Sam E.
Elizabeth I, by Kathryn Lasky Reviewed by Alexa. U This story is based on the diary entries of Elizabeth I, princess of England. She is the daughter of King Henry VIII, and lives with her brother Edward, sister Mary, and governess Kat. She is known as the forgotten princess because she is fifth in line for the throne. She struggles because her mother was accused of being a witch, and was executed when Elizabeth was young. Her diary from the year 1544 gives the reader a taste of what it might be like to live the real life of a princess; good and bad. The good things about being a princess are that you get to live in a palace and enjoy the riches of the royal family. You can buy all of the clothes and jewelry you want, and there are servants that attend to your every need. At a time when people are starving, you can eat anything you want. When you are a princess you get to travel and see the world, sleep on the softest beds and bathe every day. Just because Elizabeth is part of the royal family, it does not mean that she is without problems of her own. The bad thing about being a princess is that she does not get to spend a lot of time with her family. She has conflicts and worries like any other person in England. For example, Elizabeth’s father is always busy with work, just like many other fathers. When he is home, he has to rule England. He has to make laws, lead the government, and control the army. Elizabeth feels that when her father has free time, he spends it with her siblings and leaves her out. She feels less important because she is fifth in line for the throne. Also, it is really hard for her to find friends, just like all people. Because she is a princess, she is often stuck in the palace. When she does meet people, she is not sure if they are true friends, or if they like her because she is a princess. These are things that everyone experiences. I rate this book 5 stars for many reasons. I love that I can relate to the feelings of a princess. I am the oldest of my siblings, and my dad always has to make sure the little kids are okay. When he finally has some free time, he does not get to talk to me for long. I may not be a princess, but now I see that all human beings are the same on the inside. I also love how the author describes the characters in great detail. This really brought the characters to life. While I learned a lot of history, I also got a better idea of the personalities of these historical figures. This book made me realize that princess or not, people come across the same conflicts and worries that we all do. When I was little, I thought that princesses were perfect, but now I know that all human beings share some of the same feelings.
Henry VIII Royal Beheader, by Sean Stewart Price Reviewed by, Rachel O. Henry VIII, King of England was a wicked man. Some of his actions drove people to the edge. This book is about Henry’s life as the king of England, all of the troubles he faced, and how he dealt with them. He was born to King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York on June 28, 1491. After his father passed away he became king at the age of 18. In Henry VIII’s life, he was married to a total of six wives. Two of them were divorced by him, two were beheaded, one died and the remaining one survived. Henry had many troubles trying to father the perfect male heir. None of his wives could produce a healthy boy. Finally, his third wife, Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward, the future king. Henry died a fat, mean and disgusting old man at the age of 55, at 2 A.M., on January 28, 1547. I would give this book a rating of five stars because it really made me want to keep reading about this interesting man. Also, it made me want to learn more about his life. I think everyone should read this fantastic book.
My Guardian Angel, by Sylvie Weil (Historical Fiction--France)Elvina is the twelve year old granddaughter of Rashi. She is twelve years old and loves to write. Rachel and Naomi are two of Elvina's cousins, and Gauthier is a Crusader that doesn't like to fight. The time period of the story is in the Spring of 1096 CE. My Guardian Angel takes place in Troyes, France, where there were about 4,000 people of which about 400 of them were Jews. The story is about Elvina trying to become more mature by not making any more foolish mistakes. Elvina always wanted to do things that only boys normally did, like reading, writing, carpentry, masonry, and helping her grandfather work. She always got scolded for messing up things that she had no interest in doing, like raising chicken eggs, then breaking them while waiting for them to hatch. Three Crusaders come to Elvina's house, and one is wounded. Could this be a good way for Elvina to prove that she is more mature by making the right choice, running and hiding or helping the wounded Crusader?I give My Guardian Angel three out of five stars because it was sometimes boring and hard to finish. But the book was also interesting sometimes because of its plot. I think this book could use more action and details about people other than Elvina.By Dina.B
To Kill A Queen, by Valerie Wilding Reviewed by Zachary U. It's the 1580's, and while Catherine Anne Lumsden (Kitty) is writing her diary, her father is busy saving Queen Elizabeth's life. She hired him to protect her from her enemies. It is a difficult time in England. Queen Elizabeth is Protestant, but the Roman Catholics want Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Mary is in jail, but her supporters are plotting to kill Elizabeth to replace her. England is truly divided between Protestants and Catholics. Every town has people lurking just to find the right time to strike. Kitty's father has uncovered many plots but now suspects that there could even be someone in his own household giving information to the enemy. Kitty and her brother, Joseph, just want to be a normal family again, but if Queen Elizabeth is killed then her whole family could be sent to the dungeon. This book is a great read that has a lot of information on England in the late 1500 There is a lot of history on the royal family and the battle between the Catholic Church and the Protestants in Great Britain at this time. It is very descriptive and the writer tells this historical fiction through the eyes of a young girl. This unique perspective makes the whole story more interesting to a young reader. You should definitely read this book if you are interested in history. You will learn a great deal about the royal family in England and how the English Church separated from the Roman Catholic Church. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the description and the unique perspective. I really got a sense of a young person's life in England at that time. Also, I thought that the plot of the book was amazing. The mystery of the plot to kill the queen had me turning pages. All the while, I didn't even realize how much history I learned. I disliked that the story was told in a diary form. It was a little complicated to understand the timeline, because the diary entries were not evenly spaced. The events sometimes happened day by day. At other times, a month or more went by. Overall, this is a small criticism because I thought the book was magnificent.
The Red Umbrella, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Reviewed by Gabriella M.
In 1961, two years after the Communist Revolution, 14-year-old Lucia is living a carefree life in Cuba. She has a perfect life with great friends, but this is all about to change when the revolution starts. Everything is being taken from her, including all of her money, her house, and her own father. Her family does not want all of their items taken so they hide all of their money and jewelry under the tiles in the kitchen. Lucia and her best friend, Ivette, have different points of view. Ivette and her family think that the soldiers are right and they should listen to them and what they say. Lucia and her family have some questions and concerns about what is going on but the soldiers won't let them ask. The soldiers find out that they were hiding money and jewelry under the tiles. Lucia's father gets arrested and the money and jewelry is taken. With all this going on, Lucia and her brother Francisco (Frankie) are instructed by their parents to go to America where they will have a better life. They are both sent to a place for all Cuban children who have had to leave the country. Lucia and Frankie have never been separated before, but they must stay in separate buildings. They see each other frequently throughout the day. However, this temporary arrangement only lasts until they get adopted by different families. Lucia goes to a farm in Nebraska. She gets an allowance for the things she does around the house, and saves up for an expensive call to Cuba, since she is worried about her parents and wants to find out if they are okay.
This is a true story but the names have been changed. I learned this is like a smaller version of the Holocaust. The people are being killed for not obeying and the children are being sent to America for a better life while wondering if their parents have died. I also learned about why Americans are not welcome in Cuba anymore.
I rate this book five stars because it is well written and interesting. I learned a lot
about Cuban culture, American history, and the life story of Christina Diaz Gonzalez.
Reincarnation, by Suzanne Weyn (Historical Fiction--many locations)
This book doesn’t take place in just one time period and in one place, it goes through history! It starts out during the time of cavemen when two people from different tribes meet. They start to fight over a green stone and it leads to their death. Afterwards they are reborn again in Egypt as slave and house singer. When they lay eyes on each other they instantly recognize the other person. They fall in love but something happens and they are broken apart. This continues throughout history and through their other lives, and sometimes they bring things with them from past lives. It could be a talent, or an injury. But they always bring two things with them to every new life: One is the love they have for each other when they meet, and the other is a mysterious green stone that appears in different forms almost every time. I would give this book a four-and-a-half because I thought it had an interesting story line and it keeps the reader interested, but sometimes it can be a little confusing.
Nita R.
Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelley Reviewed by Ruthie C. This book changed my life. For one thing, Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelley, has some of the most beautiful writing I have ever seen. For another, this book moved me to tears. And the plot, the plot was phenomenal. Revolution tells the story of a modern- day teenager named Andi who finds the diary of a girl, Alexandrine Paradis, from the time of the French Revolution. Andi lives in Brooklyn and goes to an exclusive private school. But her life is not as perfect as it seems. Andi's brother died a year earlier in a car crash for which she blames herself. Her mother has gone insane and her father has disappeared. When he finally shows up, her father insists on putting her mother in a mental hospital and taking Andi to Paris. While there, she becomes inspired by (fictional) French composer Amadé Malerbeau. In France, she meets a boy, goes on an adventure, and finds the diary of Alexandrine. Andi has had a hard life, but in this diary, and through some time travel, she finds a friend. In this book, I have found a friend. It isn't easy to create a character as deep as Andi, and the writer did a flawless job. I started out reading this book to do an assignment, but I finished it with a better understanding of life. This touching tale ties Andi's love for music together with her struggle to follow her own path into an extraordinary piece of art.
The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, by Kathryn Lasky Reviewed by Anita H Elizabeth I was a princess of England, and she was called the Red Rose of the House of Tudor. In her diary, Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, writes about wanting her father's attention. Her mother was falsely accused of adultery and being a witch and eventually was beheaded. Elizabeth had to deal with her mother's history and Henry's five other wives. Elizabeth's relationship with Mary, her older half sister, was rough. Mary was always cheating in games, acting gloomy and complaining. Elizabeth I played and composed music. She and her father shared that interest. She tried to get her father's attention by playing him music, but sometimes it just got her exiled. Elizabeth was very interested in Greek, Italian, and Latin. She loved translating poems, songs, or prayers into different languages. She worked very hard on perfecting her languages. Her stepmother, Catherine Parr, loved Greek, Latin, and Italian too so Elizabeth would write her letters in different languages. Catherine Parr would teach or encourage her to practice her languages. Elizabeth felt that Catherine was the queen she liked the most. They were closest in age and had similar interests. The story takes place in Henry VIII's reign, from 1544 to 1547. Elizabeth I and her family went from castle to castle. Henry VIII had about 70 different castles, palaces, large houses, lesser houses, hunting lodges, confiscated houses, monastic conversions and defensive fortresses. I give this book a 4 star rating. This book was great but I didn't love it. Sometimes the author would mention a person or an event of that time that I wasn't familiar with. I think it is clever to write a diary about this part in history. The author had to make up the feelings and I felt like Elizabeth was actually speaking to me. I could relate to Elizabeth at some moments because we were similar in age.
The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor, Kathy Lasky (Historical Fiction--England) by Maya S.
Elizabeth’s simplest worry is that someone will find her diary. Elizabeth the First, daughter of King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn, the princess of England, has a very secret diary that her nanny, Kat, gave her. She begins writing it in 1544 when she is eleven years old. Princess Elizabeth is in exile, in a palace far from her father. Soon, she is brought back from exile, exiled again, and brought back again. She is reunited with her best friend, son of a man in the King’s Court, Robin. Robin and Elizabeth meet new friends, practice archery, go hawking, garden, and attend banquets. Everything seems well enough until talk of the Queen’s arrest begins. Robin and Elizabeth do everything in their power to stop the arrest- and they succeed. I learned a lot about Elizabeth the First of England. I learned that she had a brother, Edward, who became king at nine, and a sister, Mary, who became queen after Edward and became known as Bloody Mary. I learned that Elizabeth never intended to marry and never did. When she ruled, she ruled alone as Queen.
I rate this book five stars. I enjoyed it because I can relate to what goes on in her life as she is young like me. I also learned more about Elizabeth herself. I gave it five stars because it had very nice little details that made the story very lively and interesting.
A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park (Historical Fiction--Korea) This story takes place in Korea in the mid- to late twelfth century when Korea was still one country. Tree-Ear is a Korean orphan whose parents died when he was two. He was supposed to live in a monks’ temple, but due to fever he had to live under a bridge with Crane-Man. Crane-Man got his name because of his smaller leg that he couldn’t walk on. He has been living with Crane-man his whole life. All of this changes when Tree-Ear starts watching master potter Min. Min is the best potter in all of Ch’ul’po, a little seaside potters’ village. Tree-Ear wanted to work with Min since the first time he watched him. Eventually Tree-Ear could not take it any longer. He snuck into Min’s workplace and broke a whole box of vases because he tried to steal them but he was unsuccessful. He wanted to steal them because they were so beautiful. Since he was poor he couldn’t pay for the repairs; he had to work for them. Even after he was done having to work he still wanted to learn how to make pottery. Then the king wanted Min to make celadon vases for him and Tree-Ear has to make the difficult, yet exciting journey to give them to him. He has to travel to Songdo, the capital of Korea. This was the final stop on Tree-Ear’s journey. I would rate this book 31/2 out of 5 stars. I thought the time period was very interesting, although the ending killed the book for me, because I thought it was unrealistic. Mattan M.
A Time Apart, by Diane Stanley (Historical Fiction--England) Reviewed by Sophia H When Ginny’s mom, Rena, gets cancer, Ginny is forced to leave her home in Houston and go live with her father whom she hasn’t seen for years and barely knows. Ginny is 13 and she has to start a new life with her father, Hugh, who is working on a farm trying to recreate the Iron Age. As soon as Ginny arrives in England she knows that it is going to be a long summer. At the farm she is introduced to all the other people who are living there. Everybody on the farm has to do exactly what Iron Age peasants would do. They all act like a huge family and help each other survive using only things from nature. They don’t even have soap and so they have to wash their hair with clay. Ginny was extremely upset when, after spending hours making fruit tarts, the rats found her hiding place and ate all of the tarts. After living on the farm for weeks and waiting for notes from her mom to finally tell her when she can come home, Ginny starts to feel attached to the people to whom she had become so close. Even though Ginny had begun to enjoy being with the people on the farm, she still longs to be home with her friends and mom. Ginny decides that she needs to get home. Even if her mom and dad are not going to help her, she is determined to find a way to go back to Houston. Ginny takes a risk and runs away from the Iron Age Farm, and an entirely new adventure begins. Ginny has to find a way to get back to her home. I give this book a four because I did and didn’t like it. I enjoyed learning how everything was made from scratch, and with so little you can do so much. For example, I didn’t know that it was possible to fire clay from a hole in the ground. I think the relationships Ginny has with her father and mother made the book more interesting. When Ginny got sent away, her lifestyle changed tremendously. The only reasons I didn’t like this book were because I am not interested in the Iron Age and I think the book didn’t describe the personalities of some of the characters very well.
Viking Blood, by Andrew DonkinReviewed by Benjamin F.
Do you like the gods from Marvel Comics? Then read Viking Blood. This book is filled up to the top with stories of the gods Thor, Odin, Loki, Hemidel and others. The book centers around a Viking tribe in 1008 CE, and the prince of the tribe named Tor the Voice, who likes to call himself Tor the Sword. Tor spends most of his time around the village where he lives doing what his mom, the Queen, tells him to. Tor's dad, who is the leader of their tribe, spends his time out in raids and wars with most of the tribe's men. Tor also does some climbing and other things like practicing sword fighting with his half brother Ragnar. Finally, he helps an old herbalist, who tells him stories about gods.
Things change when Tor's dad returns from a raid and Tor sees that their ship sinks. He then learns that the raids were not successful because the monasteries that they targeted were better defended than they had been in the past. Tor and his brother move into adulthood and are thrown into a new world of killing and, of course, blood. Tor does not escape harm when he takes on this new role and he has to learn how to cope with new challenges. Now you are probably wondering where are the god stories? The book ingeniously intertwines them with Tor's story, so when Tor is doing something he thinks about a story involving the gods related to the event. This also shows his character, and how he thinks of stories related to the events happening. Overall, the book is half Viking history and half Viking god stories. The way the stories of the gods are layered into the action of the characters make this book unique. You learn history from reading it but also follow a fictional storyline. So, as I said, if you like that then this is your book.
I would give it a four and a half out of five stars. I do love stories like this where the action is very exciting. But it also is very fast paced, and the events go like a snap of your fingers. If I were to make it in movie form you could see the events like a slide show. I guess what I am trying to say is that the transitions are nonexistent and the book jumps from one event to the next without a smooth transition. Even though it is not smooth it seems like it works.
But besides that the book is really not that bad. I ask myself do the pros outweigh the cons? I know they did for me, but in the end you have to decide for yourself. So on that note, I will leave the rest to you. Happy reading everyone, and I will see you in the next review. With that said, this has been my second review. See you later.
Made-up stories about the past
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Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta SepetysReviewed by Ruthie C.
Between Shades of Gray is about a girl, her mother, and her brother who get taken by NKVD soldiers in the middle of the night, torn away from their father and husband. The NKVD are Stalin’s secret police; Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del. This family, and many others, was taken for their skills; most of them were teachers. They go on a journey, away from Lithuania, through many places and finally into the Arctic Circle. The girl's name is Lina, her brother's name is Jonas, and her mother's is Elena. Lina has a cousin named Joana who is her best friend, and she meets a boy named Andrius, who becomes almost like family to her. This story takes place in 1941, the year where Stalin and Hitler began to fight for control of the countries in the Lithuanian area. Between Shades of Gray is set in many places. To highlight the large amount of camps and countries Lina and many others traveled, I have created a log of their journey.
Day 1: Kaunas, Lithuania
Day 3: Vilinius, Lithuania
Day 4: Minsk, Belarus
Day 5: Orsha, Belarus
Day 6: Smolensk, Russia
Day 21: Cross the Ural Mountains
Day 30: Omsk, Siberia
Day 42: Altai Labor Camp
Day 313: Biysk, Siberia
Day 319: Makarov Camp
Day 320: Banks of Angara River
Day 350: Ust Kust, Siberia
Day 380: Yakutsk, Siberia
Day 410: Cross the Arctic Circle
Day 440: Trofimovsk, North Pole
During her journey, Lina loses many people she loves and cares about, and must learn to overcome her feelings and keep herself alive. She also learns to take care of herself and others with limited resources and never to give up hope, that the sun would always rise in the east and set in the west, that she only had to make it through one more day. I would give this book a five star rating, and trust me, I am not one to overrate. It is beautifully written and perfectly plotted. Between Shades of Gray is a book with a strong, female protagonist with the will of a mule. This book is very high up on my favorite list, a very hard cut to make. I really found the needle in the haystack.
Between Shades of Grey, by Ruta Sepetys
Reviewed by Maya S.
How would you feel if you were woken up in the middle of the night, and then taken to a dirty train station by evil police? That is exactly what happens to fifteen year old Lina Rimas and her ten year old brother and mother. In the middle of the night in Soviet Lithuania, they are awakened by NKVD officers and taken in a truck to a train station. Lina and her brother are confused- they never did anything wrong. However, Lina’s mother knows why they are arrested- their father is an independent thinker. Their father never did a thing wrong, but the NKVD are afraid he will rebel. They are packed in cars meant for cargo, and stay there for days. Lina meets a handsome young man, a girl that is convinced that her doll talks to her, and a cranky old bald man that has nothing on his mind but death.
Soon enough, they arrive in Siberia at a village. Lina and her family are forced into a little hut that is already occupied by a native. They must work hard and pay the woman rent at random times. Lina faces betrayal, starvation, sickness, hard labor, and deaths of her friends. She just wants out of the village where they are forced to work. But when a kind officer, maybe-true news, and a surprise visit from a doctor come into the family’s lives, they feel they just might make it.
I rate this book five stars because it was truly interesting. I learned about how the Soviets ruled and what they did. It was very descriptive, right down to the very last detail. I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.
Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman
Reviewed by Leah M.Catherine Called Birdy is a great book. It is about a girl named Catherine, who is around 12 years old, and does not want to get married. Her (toad-like) father wants her to marry a rich man, no mater how rude, mean, or ugly he is. Catherine also hates her “lady lessons” with her mother. Her mother and the other ladies of the manor try to teach her how to sew, sit straight, and mind her manners. Catherine hates this. She wants to choose her own fate and future.
This book takes place in the 1200’s in England, close to London. At that time girls had to grow up and keep the house. They also were the ones to make remedies for the sick, sew blankets and clothing, and give the men children.
Catherine has a nickname, Birdy. She got the name from all of the birds she has. Birdy is very smart and will do whatever it takes to get rid of all the suitors that her dad invites. Whenever a rich suitor comes to her manor, she somehow gets the suitors to either get kicked out by her father or just leave by their own choice. She avoids getting married as much as possible.
I would give this book a 4 star rating because it starts out very slow and gets better throughout the book.
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
Reviewed by Julia N.The Cay, by Theodore Taylor is a historical fiction story. The book takes place in 1942, during World War II, in the Caribbean. A young boy named Phillip lives on the Island of Curacao with his parents. Phillip is warned to stay away from the “Negros” on the Island because they “were different than he was”. German U-boats, which are a kind of submarine, are surrounding the Island and torpedoing any ships that try to come and go from its port. Phillip and his mother leave the Island on a ship back to their home in Virginia, but the ship is sunk by the Germans. Phillip and his mother get separated. Phillip wakes up on a wooden raft with only a cat and Timothy. Timothy is a native black Islander, in his seventies, who speaks Calypso. The book is about the relationship that develops between Timothy and Phillip. They would not have become friends if they had not been left alone to survive together. Some interesting facts include how they survive on the raft, on an island, and catch fish and langosta, a type of lobster. I give this book a four out of five stars. It kept me interested. It was sad in parts but also suspenseful.
The Cay, by Theodore Taylor
Phillip is an 11 year old boy who escaped on a ship with his mother, from the island of Curacao, just off the coast of Venezuela. German U-boats were threatening to attack the island in 1942 during World War II. On their journey, they were torpedoed, and Phillip was knocked off the boat and separated from his mother. When he woke up, he was floating on a piece of debris from the ship with a big, ugly black man named Timothy. Phillip was raised to be very racist and was mean and insulting to Timothy. But when they ended up on a deserted island, they became friends and Timothy taught Phillip how to survive. Phillip learned to respect Timothy, however, Phillip ended up going blind because of the injury to his head. He learned how to save water when it rained, what was safe to eat, and how to find his way around the island and in the water without sight. Timothy saved Phillip’s life during a tropical storm in which his own life was taken. What happened to Phillip all alone on the deserted island? Did he survive? Did anyone rescue him? You have to read the book to find out. I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. It was very interesting, and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
By Bryce T.
Dragon, By Jeff Stone (Historical Fiction--China)
This book is the last in the series of The Five Ancestors that takes place in China in the 1600s. It is about a 13-year-old named Long, which means Dragon. He is one of the five surviving monks of the destruction of his temple. His other temple brothers are Hok, Malao, Seh, and Fo. There was also Ying who was a temple brother, too. This book is about the bandits, Western Warlord’s army, and the temple brothers planning an attack on the evil Tonglong. There are many interesting things going on such as Long going to tell the Western Warlord the plan of the bandits to join up together to fight Tonglong and his huge army. Another thing is the actual fight. And the most important part is how the series ends. There is a lot of action, war, and cool things in this book. This story and series are amazing and I would give it a 5 out of 5.
By Sam E.
Elizabeth I, by Kathryn Lasky
Reviewed by Alexa. U
This story is based on the diary entries of Elizabeth I, princess of England. She is the daughter of King Henry VIII, and lives with her brother Edward, sister Mary, and governess Kat. She is known as the forgotten princess because she is fifth in line for the throne. She struggles because her mother was accused of being a witch, and was executed when Elizabeth was young. Her diary from the year 1544 gives the reader a taste of what it might be like to live the real life of a princess; good and bad.
The good things about being a princess are that you get to live in a palace and enjoy the riches of the royal family. You can buy all of the clothes and jewelry you want, and there are servants that attend to your every need. At a time when people are starving, you can eat anything you want. When you are a princess you get to travel and see the world, sleep on the softest beds and bathe every day.
Just because Elizabeth is part of the royal family, it does not mean that she is without problems of her own. The bad thing about being a princess is that she does not get to spend a lot of time with her family. She has conflicts and worries like any other person in England. For example, Elizabeth’s father is always busy with work, just like many other fathers. When he is home, he has to rule England. He has to make laws, lead the government, and control the army. Elizabeth feels that when her father has free time, he spends it with her siblings and leaves her out. She feels less important because she is fifth in line for the throne. Also, it is really hard for her to find friends, just like all people. Because she is a princess, she is often stuck in the palace. When she does meet people, she is not sure if they are true friends, or if they like her because she is a princess. These are things that everyone experiences.
I rate this book 5 stars for many reasons. I love that I can relate to the feelings of a princess. I am the oldest of my siblings, and my dad always has to make sure the little kids are okay. When he finally has some free time, he does not get to talk to me for long. I may not be a princess, but now I see that all human beings are the same on the inside. I also love how the author describes the characters in great detail. This really brought the characters to life. While I learned a lot of history, I also got a better idea of the personalities of these historical figures. This book made me realize that princess or not, people come across the same conflicts and worries that we all do. When I was little, I thought that princesses were perfect, but now I know that all human beings share some of the same feelings.
Henry VIII Royal Beheader, by Sean Stewart PriceReviewed by, Rachel O.
Henry VIII, King of England was a wicked man. Some of his actions drove people to the edge. This book is about Henry’s life as the king of England, all of the troubles he faced, and how he dealt with them. He was born to King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York on June 28, 1491. After his father passed away he became king at the age of 18. In Henry VIII’s life, he was married to a total of six wives. Two of them were divorced by him, two were beheaded, one died and the remaining one survived. Henry had many troubles trying to father the perfect male heir. None of his wives could produce a healthy boy. Finally, his third wife, Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward, the future king. Henry died a fat, mean and disgusting old man at the age of 55, at 2 A.M., on January 28, 1547. I would give this book a rating of five stars because it really made me want to keep reading about this interesting man. Also, it made me want to learn more about his life. I think everyone should read this fantastic book.
My Guardian Angel, by Sylvie Weil (Historical Fiction--France)Elvina is the twelve year old granddaughter of Rashi. She is twelve years old and loves to write. Rachel and Naomi are two of Elvina's cousins, and Gauthier is a Crusader that doesn't like to fight. The time period of the story is in the Spring of 1096 CE. My Guardian Angel takes place in Troyes, France, where there were about 4,000 people of which about 400 of them were Jews. The story is about Elvina trying to become more mature by not making any more foolish mistakes. Elvina always wanted to do things that only boys normally did, like reading, writing, carpentry, masonry, and helping her grandfather work. She always got scolded for messing up things that she had no interest in doing, like raising chicken eggs, then breaking them while waiting for them to hatch. Three Crusaders come to Elvina's house, and one is wounded. Could this be a good way for Elvina to prove that she is more mature by making the right choice, running and hiding or helping the wounded Crusader?I give My Guardian Angel three out of five stars because it was sometimes boring and hard to finish. But the book was also interesting sometimes because of its plot. I think this book could use more action and details about people other than Elvina.By Dina.B
To Kill A Queen, by Valerie Wilding
Reviewed by Zachary U.
It's the 1580's, and while Catherine Anne Lumsden (Kitty) is writing her diary, her father is busy saving Queen Elizabeth's life. She hired him to protect her from her enemies. It is a difficult time in England. Queen Elizabeth is Protestant, but the Roman Catholics want Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Mary is in jail, but her supporters are plotting to kill Elizabeth to replace her.
England is truly divided between Protestants and Catholics. Every town has people
lurking just to find the right time to strike. Kitty's father has uncovered many plots but now
suspects that there could even be someone in his own household giving information to the enemy. Kitty and her brother, Joseph, just want to be a normal family again, but if Queen Elizabeth is killed then her whole family could be sent to the dungeon.
This book is a great read that has a lot of information on England in the late 1500
There is a lot of history on the royal family and the battle between the Catholic Church and the Protestants in Great Britain at this time. It is very descriptive and the writer tells this historical fiction through the eyes of a young girl. This unique perspective makes the whole story more interesting to a young reader. You should definitely read this book if you are interested in history. You will learn a great deal about the royal family in England and how the English Church separated from the Roman Catholic Church.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the description and the unique perspective. I really got a sense of a young person's life in England at that time. Also, I thought that the plot of the book was amazing. The mystery of the plot to kill the queen had me turning pages. All the while, I didn't even realize how much history I learned. I disliked that the story was told in a diary form. It was a little complicated to understand the timeline, because the diary entries were not evenly spaced. The events sometimes happened day by day. At other times, a month or more went by. Overall, this is a small criticism because I thought the book was magnificent.
The Red Umbrella, by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Reviewed by Gabriella M.
In 1961, two years after the Communist Revolution, 14-year-old Lucia is living a carefree life in Cuba. She has a perfect life with great friends, but this is all about to change when the revolution starts. Everything is being taken from her, including all of her money, her house, and her own father. Her family does not want all of their items taken so they hide all of their money and jewelry under the tiles in the kitchen. Lucia and her best friend, Ivette, have different points of view. Ivette and her family think that the soldiers are right and they should listen to them and what they say. Lucia and her family have some questions and concerns about what is going on but the soldiers won't let them ask. The soldiers find out that they were hiding money and jewelry under the tiles. Lucia's father gets arrested and the money and jewelry is taken. With all this going on, Lucia and her brother Francisco (Frankie) are instructed by their parents to go to America where they will have a better life. They are both sent to a place for all Cuban children who have had to leave the country. Lucia and Frankie have never been separated before, but they must stay in separate buildings. They see each other frequently throughout the day. However, this temporary arrangement only lasts until they get adopted by different families. Lucia goes to a farm in Nebraska. She gets an allowance for the things she does around the house, and saves up for an expensive call to Cuba, since she is worried about her parents and wants to find out if they are okay.
This is a true story but the names have been changed. I learned this is like a smaller version of the Holocaust. The people are being killed for not obeying and the children are being sent to America for a better life while wondering if their parents have died. I also learned about why Americans are not welcome in Cuba anymore.
I rate this book five stars because it is well written and interesting. I learned a lot
about Cuban culture, American history, and the life story of Christina Diaz Gonzalez.
Reincarnation, by Suzanne Weyn (Historical Fiction--many locations)
This book doesn’t take place in just one time period and in one place, it goes through history! It starts out during the time of cavemen when two people from different tribes meet. They start to fight over a green stone and it leads to their death. Afterwards they are reborn again in Egypt as slave and house singer. When they lay eyes on each other they instantly recognize the other person. They fall in love but something happens and they are broken apart. This continues throughout history and through their other lives, and sometimes they bring things with them from past lives. It could be a talent, or an injury. But they always bring two things with them to every new life: One is the love they have for each other when they meet, and the other is a mysterious green stone that appears in different forms almost every time. I would give this book a four-and-a-half because I thought it had an interesting story line and it keeps the reader interested, but sometimes it can be a little confusing.
Nita R.Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelley
Reviewed by Ruthie C.
This book changed my life. For one thing, Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelley, has some of the most beautiful writing I have ever seen. For another, this book moved me to tears. And the plot, the plot was phenomenal. Revolution tells the story of a modern- day teenager named Andi who finds the diary of a girl, Alexandrine Paradis, from the time of the French Revolution. Andi lives in Brooklyn and goes to an exclusive private school. But her life is not as perfect as it seems. Andi's brother died a year earlier in a car crash for which she blames herself. Her mother has gone insane and her father has disappeared. When he finally shows up, her father insists on putting her mother in a mental hospital and taking Andi to Paris. While there, she becomes inspired by (fictional) French composer Amadé Malerbeau. In France, she meets a boy, goes on an adventure, and finds the diary of Alexandrine. Andi has had a hard life, but in this diary, and through some time travel, she finds a friend. In this book, I have found a friend. It isn't easy to create a character as deep as Andi, and the writer did a flawless job. I started out reading this book to do an assignment, but I finished it with a better understanding of life. This touching tale ties Andi's love for music together with her struggle to follow her own path into an extraordinary piece of art.
The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, by Kathryn Lasky
Reviewed by Anita H
Elizabeth I was a princess of England, and she was called the Red Rose of the House of
Tudor. In her diary, Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, writes about wanting her father's attention. Her mother was falsely accused of adultery and being a witch and eventually was beheaded. Elizabeth had to deal with her mother's history and Henry's five other wives. Elizabeth's relationship with Mary, her older half sister, was rough. Mary was always cheating in games, acting gloomy and complaining.
Elizabeth I played and composed music. She and her father shared that interest. She
tried to get her father's attention by playing him music, but sometimes it just got her exiled.
Elizabeth was very interested in Greek, Italian, and Latin. She loved translating poems, songs, or prayers into different languages. She worked very hard on perfecting her languages. Her stepmother, Catherine Parr, loved Greek, Latin, and Italian too so Elizabeth would write her letters in different languages. Catherine Parr would teach or encourage her to practice her languages. Elizabeth felt that Catherine was the queen she liked the most. They were closest in age and had similar interests.
The story takes place in Henry VIII's reign, from 1544 to 1547. Elizabeth I and her family
went from castle to castle. Henry VIII had about 70 different castles, palaces, large houses,
lesser houses, hunting lodges, confiscated houses, monastic conversions and defensive
fortresses.
I give this book a 4 star rating. This book was great but I didn't love it. Sometimes the
author would mention a person or an event of that time that I wasn't familiar with. I think it is clever to write a diary about this part in history. The author had to make up the feelings and I felt like Elizabeth was actually speaking to me. I could relate to Elizabeth at some moments because we were similar in age.
The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor, Kathy Lasky (Historical Fiction--England)
by Maya S.
Elizabeth’s simplest worry is that someone will find her diary. Elizabeth the First, daughter of King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn, the princess of England, has a very secret diary that her nanny, Kat, gave her. She begins writing it in 1544 when she is eleven years old. Princess Elizabeth is in exile, in a palace far from her father. Soon, she is brought back from exile, exiled again, and brought back again. She is reunited with her best friend, son of a man in the King’s Court, Robin. Robin and Elizabeth meet new friends, practice archery, go hawking, garden, and attend banquets. Everything seems well enough until talk of the Queen’s arrest begins. Robin and Elizabeth do everything in their power to stop the arrest- and they succeed. I learned a lot about Elizabeth the First of England. I learned that she had a brother, Edward, who became king at nine, and a sister, Mary, who became queen after Edward and became known as Bloody Mary. I learned that Elizabeth never intended to marry and never did. When she ruled, she ruled alone as Queen.
I rate this book five stars. I enjoyed it because I can relate to what goes on in her life as she is young like me. I also learned more about Elizabeth herself. I gave it five stars because it had very nice little details that made the story very lively and interesting.
A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park (Historical Fiction--Korea)
This story takes place in Korea in the mid- to late twelfth century when Korea was still one country. Tree-Ear is a Korean orphan whose parents died when he was two. He was supposed to live in a monks’ temple, but due to fever he had to live under a bridge with Crane-Man. Crane-Man got his name because of his smaller leg that he couldn’t walk on.
He has been living with Crane-man his whole life. All of this changes when Tree-Ear starts watching master potter Min. Min is the best potter in all of Ch’ul’po, a little seaside potters’ village. Tree-Ear wanted to work with Min since the first time he watched him. Eventually Tree-Ear could not take it any longer. He snuck into Min’s workplace and broke a whole box of vases because he tried to steal them but he was unsuccessful. He wanted to steal them because they were so beautiful. Since he was poor he couldn’t pay for the repairs; he had to work for them. Even after he was done having to work he still wanted to learn how to make pottery. Then the king wanted Min to make celadon vases for him and Tree-Ear has to make the difficult, yet exciting journey to give them to him. He has to travel to Songdo, the capital of Korea. This was the final stop on Tree-Ear’s journey.
I would rate this book 31/2 out of 5 stars. I thought the time period was very interesting, although the ending killed the book for me, because I thought it was unrealistic.
Mattan M.
A Time Apart, by Diane Stanley (Historical Fiction--England)
Reviewed by Sophia H
When Ginny’s mom, Rena, gets cancer, Ginny is forced to leave her home in Houston and go live with her father whom she hasn’t seen for years and barely knows. Ginny is 13 and she has to start a new life with her father, Hugh, who is working on a farm trying to recreate the Iron Age. As soon as Ginny arrives in England she knows that it is going to be a long summer. At the farm she is introduced to all the other people who are living there. Everybody on the farm has to do exactly what Iron Age peasants would do. They all act like a huge family and help each other survive using only things from nature. They don’t even have soap and so they have to wash their hair with clay. Ginny was extremely upset when, after spending hours making fruit tarts, the rats found her hiding place and ate all of the tarts. After living on the farm for weeks and waiting for notes from her mom to finally tell her when she can come home, Ginny starts to feel attached to the people to whom she had become so close. Even though Ginny had begun to enjoy being with the people on the farm, she still longs to be home with her friends and mom. Ginny decides that she needs to get home. Even if her mom and dad are not going to help her, she is determined to find a way to go back to Houston. Ginny takes a risk and runs away from the Iron Age Farm, and an entirely new adventure begins. Ginny has to find a way to get back to her home. I give this book a four because I did and didn’t like it. I enjoyed learning how everything was made from scratch, and with so little you can do so much. For example, I didn’t know that it was possible to fire clay from a hole in the ground. I think the relationships Ginny has with her father and mother made the book more interesting. When Ginny got sent away, her lifestyle changed tremendously. The only reasons I didn’t like this book were because I am not interested in the Iron Age and I think the book didn’t describe the personalities of some of the characters very well.
Viking Blood, by Andrew DonkinReviewed by Benjamin F.
Do you like the gods from Marvel Comics? Then read Viking Blood. This book is filled up to the top with stories of the gods Thor, Odin, Loki, Hemidel and others. The book centers around a Viking tribe in 1008 CE, and the prince of the tribe named Tor the Voice, who likes to call himself Tor the Sword. Tor spends most of his time around the village where he lives doing what his mom, the Queen, tells him to. Tor's dad, who is the leader of their tribe, spends his time out in raids and wars with most of the tribe's men. Tor also does some climbing and other things like practicing sword fighting with his half brother Ragnar. Finally, he helps an old herbalist, who tells him stories about gods.
Things change when Tor's dad returns from a raid and Tor sees that their ship sinks. He then learns that the raids were not successful because the monasteries that they targeted were better defended than they had been in the past. Tor and his brother move into adulthood and are thrown into a new world of killing and, of course, blood. Tor does not escape harm when he takes on this new role and he has to learn how to cope with new challenges. Now you are probably wondering where are the god stories? The book ingeniously intertwines them with Tor's story, so when Tor is doing something he thinks about a story involving the gods related to the event. This also shows his character, and how he thinks of stories related to the events happening. Overall, the book is half Viking history and half Viking god stories. The way the stories of the gods are layered into the action of the characters make this book unique. You learn history from reading it but also follow a fictional storyline. So, as I said, if you like that then this is your book.
I would give it a four and a half out of five stars. I do love stories like this where the action is very exciting. But it also is very fast paced, and the events go like a snap of your fingers. If I were to make it in movie form you could see the events like a slide show. I guess what I am trying to say is that the transitions are nonexistent and the book jumps from one event to the next without a smooth transition. Even though it is not smooth it seems like it works.
But besides that the book is really not that bad. I ask myself do the pros outweigh the cons? I know they did for me, but in the end you have to decide for yourself. So on that note, I will leave the rest to you. Happy reading everyone, and I will see you in the next review. With that said, this has been my second review. See you later.