The True Story of Gino Bartali Italy's Secret Hero
Gino Bartali won the Tour de France two times. Yet his greatest achievement was rescuing more than eight hundred Jews during World War II. He rode his bicycle around Italy delivering false identification papers for hidden Jews. As the war continued, he sought other creative ways to help the Jews.
Well-written story that focuses on how one person can make a difference.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I own the No Fear Shakespeare version-"Shakespeare side-by-side Plain English".
Shakespeare is challenging for me to read and to comprehend. I am very thankful for the "plain English" translation! My ninth grader will be reading this play for English. I wanted to preview it.
Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, have been living on an island since his brother Antonio usurped his position as King of Milan. Conspiring with Alonso, the King of Naples, Antonio forced Prospero and his young daughter onto a raft to die at sea. Years later, Antonio, Alonso and their crew shipwreck on the exact island where Prospero has been living. Using his magical powers, Prospero causes havoc and trickery on his brother and the crew. Meanwhile, Miranda and Alonso's son, Ferdinand, meet and fall in love.
Five Acts & an epilogue
I did not like this play as much as A Midsummer Night's Dream. A Midsummer Night's Dream was delightful and humorous. The humor in this play stemmed from drunkness and crudeness.
Points to discuss/Warning: simile "as leaky as a menstruating woman", three characters become drunk and exalt wine/alcohol (these characters are supposedly the humor in the play which almost treats drunkness and alcohol abuse too lightly), Prospero accuses Caliban of trying to rape his daughter, Sebastian accuses Alonso of "pimping out his daughter to an African", coarse language-SOB, bastard, h**, Prospero tells Ferdinand he may not have sex with Miranda until after they are married, Stephano sings a song in his drunken state about a girl Kate who liked it when a tailor took her to bed, characters take God's name in vain
-I own this version-
I own several of Ms. Rosenthal's picture books.
Straw loves being first. Unfortunately, by rushing through his tasks, Straw misses out on the joys of life. A horrible consequence to his quickness causes him to slow down and to appreciate the world around him.
-Borrowed from the library.
A cow reinforces her love for her calf through various affirmations. The word "moo" is emphasized within words.
-Borrowed from the library.
A beautifully written and illustrated picture book about an imagined day Henriette Wyeth spends with her father, N.C. Wyeth. The words and illustrations are poetry.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
When I went to the library to pick up Ruta Sepetys's novel, I Will Betray You, my library was displaying this new graphic novel version of her novel, Between Shades of Gray. I decided to borrow it.
I don't know if I could handle reading the full-length version of this book.
This account relates the Soviet's invasion of Lithuania and deporting thousands of Lituanians to Siberia. Lina, her brother Jonas, and their mother manage to remain together and endure brutal treatment and conditions. Through it all Lina writes and draws about the torturous, horrific years.
Not for the sensitive reader. My mind could not comprehend how human beings could be this cruel or how anyone could survive this treatment.
Labeled "young adult" but see my warnings.
*Highly recommend for adults.
Warnings: the idea and hint of prostitution, graphic torture and abuse, death, a baby dies and is dumped through the hole in a train car, the women need to strip down to shower (nothing is shown), a guard/agent fondles Lina's breast, numerous times the guards look at the women inappropriately, mentions men "getting between your legs".
Ms. Rockliff searches for little-known interesting tidbits about history and historical figures and shares them with the world with her engaging picture books.
In this book she focuses on Thomas Jefferson's love for numbers and how this passion allowed him to combat the famous Frenchman Buffon's erroneous conclusions about America, its creatures and its land.
A must-read for mathematicans or for individuals who want to foster the love for numbers in young people's lives. A perfect read aloud when learning about Thomas Jefferson too!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Recently World magazine interviewed Megan Cox Gurdon, author of The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction. In the interview she recommended, for young adults, the author, Ruta Sepetys. Since I had never reading any novel by her, I decided to "give her a try". I was impressed. I will be reading more of her historical fiction novels. She is considered a "crossover" novelist since both teens and adults read her books.
Cristian, a seventeen-year-old Romanian, has lived in fear all of his life. Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu rules through fear. Is your neighbor an informer? Is someone in your household squealing on you? Cristian's grandfather, however, encourages him to pursue freedom and to rebel against tyranny. Sadly his grandfather is dying of leukemia. Is Cristian willing to sacrifice his dignity and identity for his "bunu"?
A fast-paced novel that reveals how individuals in a communist country suffer and are suppressed. This book will impress upon the reader the value of freedom and how fear is a dictator's weapon.
Labeled "young adult" (see warnings below).
Warning: violence, revolutionary violence, torture-graphic, some swearing, cruelty, friends and family betraying each other, tampons are mentioned and briefly explained, a Trojan is in Cristian's sister's secret box, he catches his sister "messing around" with a secret police agent (nothing graphic is mentioned but can infer what they were doing)
*Highly recommend.
For the first time Kate visits her grandparents on her own for the summer. Throughout the summer her grandparents encourage her to learn new skills, including to pilot the boat. As she helps her grandfather deliver groceries by boat to various homes on the lake, she meets interesting people, including grumpy Walter. When Kate's grandfather becomes ill suddenly, Kate must decide if she is capable of delivering groceries by herself.
I liked the repeated dialogue- "Me?" said Kate
"Why not?" said Grandma/Grandpa/Parbuckle.
Kate is based on the author's sister, Linda Catherine, who has Down's snydrome. A short biography about her appears at the front of the book.
Points to discuss: Down's snydrome, heart attack (the reader can infer that the grandfather has a heart attack)
*Award-winner-Ezra Jack Keats Award for 2022!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Snail spies a field brimming with luscious cabbage across the road. Many situations and obstacles interfere with his goal. His new friends prove to be thoughtful and -simply the best!
Funny and sweet. I like Mr. Tabor's Mel Fell better.
-Borrowed from the library.
I loved Ms. McKay's The Swallows' Flight so I was thrilled to learn that she had written a previous book about WWI, The Skylarks' War. This novel focuses on the previous generation, Peter, Clarry, Vanessa, Rupert, Violet-how they met, how their relationships deepened and their involvement in WWI.
Once again Ms. McKay has created interesting, deep characters and has developed an engaging storyline that wove in the time period. She is a superb story-teller. I loved each of the characters. I also liked how the reader learns what the characters pursue as adults. This book takes us right up to The Swallows' Flight.
Unfortuantely, she includes a boy who loves another boy. It is not the center of the story but the character is a big part of the story. It was so subtle in the beginning. I thought I was being hyper-sensitive. I wasn't.
Warning: Simon, Vanessa's endearing brother, develops a crush on Rupert. His love for Rupert causes him to enlist to fight in WWI. Some negative comments were made by other characters about Simon (which reflects the time period and their views on homosexuality).
-I own this book but won't be keeping it because of the above.
The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
Months ago a couple of books I had read contained phrases and lines from Mary Oliver's poems. Thinking those tidbits of poetry were beautiful, I decided to read her poetry.
Beginning with published books in 2015 down to published collections in 1965 & 1963, this anthology offers the reader a thorough overview of Ms. Oliver's poetry. In most of the poems her observations in nature are the focused subjects. Ms. Oliver's word choice allows the reader to engage the senses. I was continually amazed how her phrases provided a sensory experience. Although I looked forward to reading a few of her poems each night, I did not always understand her deeper meanings!😉 She mentions God a few times. She and I do not share the same theology.
-Borrowed from the library.
A Caldecott Honor book for 2021!
These illustrations are stunning and amazing!! Very detailed collages. Check out the flowers-so intricate.
The text is very simple but beautiful (one question per two page spread). It celebrates the outdoors, imagination and being present in the moment. Reading this book will encourage pondering.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A variety of poems about dirt, creatures in the ground and other actions that occur beneath our feet. I like how the book is oriented vertically.
Warning/point to discuss: "old earth" view (billions of years)
-Borrowed from the library.
Living in Bialystok, Poland, Leyzer experienced harshness in the manner people interacted, mostly because this town comprised of various cultures and language groups. He thought if he could come up with one language that they all understood, people would understand each other and live peacefully. His quest to create a language began when he was school-age and continued into his adult life. Some people still speak his language today!
-Borrowed from the library.
