by: Marcel Prins & Peter Henk Steenhuis
This book is such an interesting and intriguing read. With fourteen individual stories, it would be impossible to list all of the main characters.
I am so glad that I read this book! I have been to the Holocaust Museum in D.C. and have read many books about other Holocaust experiences, but I never really realized there were so many Jewish people that were sent into hiding. These stories are real and very well put together. As the author states at the beginning, he started out writing down the story of what his mother experienced during her being hidden in World War II. He found more stories and was intrigued at how different each story was. I am amazed at these stories; the trials and tribulations of each of the children and their families during this tumultuous time.
I had a thought of using this book in my classroom where the students choose one of the stories to document and follow on a map and make connections to the people in the story. There is one story when the person says the word hell and another of the stories where the young lady talks about being forced to have sex with one of the older boys in the home she was hiding. 6th graders may be a little young for those two parts...they are, after all, what really happened and I don't fault the writer for leaving those parts in the book. So just be aware and make your decision whether to use this book in the classroom. (By the way, the book I have is from Scholastic and I did buy it at a school book fair).
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Wonder
by: R.J. Palacio
Main Characters: Auggie, his mom and dad, Via, Jack, Summer, and many others.
This story is about a boy who is born with a craniofacial deformity. He was sheltered from the world by his family, as he was home-schooled. Auggie did not know how hard the world could be because his family protected him from it. There comes a time when every child must learn the harsh realities of the world; Auggie entered a private school for 5th grade. In reality, he always knew that people reacted to seeing him. He felt it with every look, every whisper, and every time he saw people hurry away. Even though he knew this reality, he was unaware of just how little he actually knew of it. His fifth grade year started out as the most difficult thing he could imagine. By the end of the year however, he got to experience the other side of the harsh reality: the good in others. Truthfully, there is more good in the world than bad. Even if it is hard to see sometimes. For the most part, most people do choose kind.
I highly recommend this book for any age, but middle school is the best target for this book. This is an incredible book. Read it.
Main Characters: Auggie, his mom and dad, Via, Jack, Summer, and many others.
This story is about a boy who is born with a craniofacial deformity. He was sheltered from the world by his family, as he was home-schooled. Auggie did not know how hard the world could be because his family protected him from it. There comes a time when every child must learn the harsh realities of the world; Auggie entered a private school for 5th grade. In reality, he always knew that people reacted to seeing him. He felt it with every look, every whisper, and every time he saw people hurry away. Even though he knew this reality, he was unaware of just how little he actually knew of it. His fifth grade year started out as the most difficult thing he could imagine. By the end of the year however, he got to experience the other side of the harsh reality: the good in others. Truthfully, there is more good in the world than bad. Even if it is hard to see sometimes. For the most part, most people do choose kind.
I highly recommend this book for any age, but middle school is the best target for this book. This is an incredible book. Read it.
Friday, May 29, 2015
The Endless Steppe
Author: Esther Hautzig
Main Characters: Esther, her tata and mama, her grandmother, and many other helpful souls
This is a story that begins in Vilna, Poland where the Rudomins were very well-to-do. It is 1941 and Germans were advancing towards Russia. Esther's family was gathered up "arrested" and moved to be relocated in Russia. It was a six week journey that left them in Siberia to work in the gypsum mines. Life was hard and every day was a struggle to survive. The family did survive for 5 years in Siberia until the end of the war. It is true that you can lose everything, except for the love of family or self. This story is very inspiring and left me wanting more. Great book! I would highly recommend this book for 6th graders (middle school agers).
Main Characters: Esther, her tata and mama, her grandmother, and many other helpful souls
This is a story that begins in Vilna, Poland where the Rudomins were very well-to-do. It is 1941 and Germans were advancing towards Russia. Esther's family was gathered up "arrested" and moved to be relocated in Russia. It was a six week journey that left them in Siberia to work in the gypsum mines. Life was hard and every day was a struggle to survive. The family did survive for 5 years in Siberia until the end of the war. It is true that you can lose everything, except for the love of family or self. This story is very inspiring and left me wanting more. Great book! I would highly recommend this book for 6th graders (middle school agers).
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Milkweed
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Main Characters: Misha, Janina, her parents, Dr. Korczak, the other street kids
The story is about an orphan, Misha, who knew nothing about himself. He stole food to stay alive. Right before Hitler's takeover of Warsaw, he ran the streets and came across some other boys: Uri, Kuba, and others. On some of his runs, he came across a little Jewish girl named Janina. She invited him to her birthday party, something that had never happened to him before. He began leaving her presents on her front step. Through time, all Jews were rounded up and sent to a walled compound they called the ghetto. It wasn't long before Misha was taken into the family of Janina. He could sneak out of the compound to gather food to help his "family" and the poor home of orphans run by Dr. Korczak. He had a very big heart and always wanted to help others. Learn about angels and courage in this wonderful book.
Main Characters: Misha, Janina, her parents, Dr. Korczak, the other street kids
The story is about an orphan, Misha, who knew nothing about himself. He stole food to stay alive. Right before Hitler's takeover of Warsaw, he ran the streets and came across some other boys: Uri, Kuba, and others. On some of his runs, he came across a little Jewish girl named Janina. She invited him to her birthday party, something that had never happened to him before. He began leaving her presents on her front step. Through time, all Jews were rounded up and sent to a walled compound they called the ghetto. It wasn't long before Misha was taken into the family of Janina. He could sneak out of the compound to gather food to help his "family" and the poor home of orphans run by Dr. Korczak. He had a very big heart and always wanted to help others. Learn about angels and courage in this wonderful book.
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