Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout
To be honest, I have a lot of books that get misplaced. I put them in safe places and well, they are so safe even I can’t find them. But there is always a way to find them. And with Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout that way was the library and interlibrary loan. A powerful and beautifully done story of family and the horrors of war unfolds across the pages. As it is told via a blackbird, things at times become almost […]
The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man's Journey Across Wartime Europe by Uri Shulevitz
Uri Shulevitz can spin a yarn. And when it is based in/about real events they hit even harder. One of the last writings of Shulevitz, The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man’s Journey Across Wartime Europe (due in August 2025, read via an online reader copy), takes another true World War II story and brings it to life in emotional text. This time, instead of following Uri’s story during the war, we follow one of his fathers younger brothers, Yehiel’s parallel journey during the […]
Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz
The book: Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz One word: WOW. Okay two words. FREAKING WOW I cannot tell you how fantastic this book is. Just read. It is not easy, it is sad, heartbreaking, scary, beautiful, hopeful and more. It covers all the emotions. It shows you a piece of World War II that we don’t know about. Again, WOW and go read. For mature readers at least 12-13 and up, but I would recommend older. But if you read with them, […]
Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse by Dana VanderLugt
Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse by Dana VanderLugt is a combination of a sweet and informative book. Perhaps it is also a bit idealistic, as it shows a part of World War II that is not known as well as other parts of American history, and is done in a “less intense” way. It is an interesting look at war and friendship nonetheless. There is a double POV story telling that is a familiar format, but adds to the […]
Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust by Don Brown
The haunting cover of Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust by Don Brown does not really give you the whole picture of what is going to happen inside this book, but it is a great start. There are layers that will overlap, some things are familiar, others will give you more insight and others might be new stories or concepts. It does not feel like a subject for a graphic novel, but the subject translates well into this format, but it works […]
Two Pieces of Chocolate by Kathy Kacer and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Two Pieces of Chocolate by Kathy Kacer and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard is not an easy book to talk about. It is a story about strength and survival illustrated by imagery that brings to life the situation realistic, but also does soften the seriousness. But after that if you tell what happens, it really tells the whole story and you will not need to read it. Based on real events that happened to a young girl, her mother and fellow prisoners in their final concentration […]
