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.
