Saturday, March 23, 2013

Freedom isn't Free

 Title: For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy
                                  # of Pages: 181
                                  Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
                                  Previous Work:

                                                  Halfway to the Sky

                                                  Leap of Faith
                                                  
                                                  One-of-a-kind Mallie
                                               
                                                  Ruthie's Gift
  
                                                  The President's Daughter
                                              
                                                   Weaver's Daughter

                                     Summary: Based on a true story, this book tells the
                                     harrowing tale of Suzanne David. She was a teenage Opera
                                     singer- and a French spy during WWII. She risked her life
                                     and saw horrible things, but stayed strong the entire war,
                                     ferrying messages back and forth.

                                     Rating: This book is a 5! I want to read it over and over again.
                                     Awards: 
                                               
                                                  Booklist Starred Review

                                                  IRA Teacher's Choice Award

                                                  Kirkus Starred Review
                 
                                                  NYPL Book of the Year
                                                 
                                                  VOYA Top Shelf Fiction Award

                                      Opinion: This book is amazing! There is one scene in
                                      the beginning of the book that is a little graphic, but there
                                      aren't any more scenes like that once you get past it. I
                                      would say Suzanne is a very real character, but she is real,
                                      so I guess that's to be expected. It's fantastic what she did
                                      for her country, and really the world! Would I, given the
                                      chance, do what she did? Probably not. She's braver than I'll
                                      ever be.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Secrets? The Truth? Or a Dream?

 Title: Safe-Keeper Series:
                                         
                                            The Safe-Keeper's Secret

                                            The Truth-Teller's Tale

                                            Wintermoon Wish- found in Firebirds Rising

                                            The Dream-Maker's Magic

                                      Author: Sharon Shinn
                                      Previous Work: 
                                               
                                                      General Winston's Daughter

                                                      Gateway

                                                      Adult books

                                      Summary:  There is a world where you can completely trust
                                      a safe-keeper to never ever tell your secret. A truth teller can
                                      never speak a lie. And the dream-maker can make your
                                      fondest wishes come true. But life isn't all sunshine and roses
                                      there. No life ever is.

                                      Rating: 5. This is on the required reading list!
                                      Awards: (For The Safe-Keeper's Secret)
                                             ALA list of Best books for Young Adults
                                         
                                             (For the Truth-Teller's Tale)
                                              NYPL Book for the Teen Age

                                              2006 Bank Street Children's Book List

                                      Opinion: These books were awesome. The characters were
                                      real, not like they had special powers. They didn't all have
                                      perfect lives. Kellen's life was almost sad. But they pulled
                                      through and did their best, with or with out special roles.
                                      These books are romantic and sweet. They definitely aren't
                                      a waste of your time!