Ricki – Page 103 – Unleashing Readers

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

April 23, 2015September 12, 2013 by Ricki

Title: Rose under Fire
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Expected Publication: September 10th, 2013 by Miramax (Disney)

Summary: While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women’s concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her?

Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.

Review: Out of the thousands of books I’ve read, this one is going to sit among my all-time favorites. There is a phenomenal balance of history and narrative that will engage readers while offering harrowing lessons in history. I am not an air and space girl. My husband loves planes, and he was giddy when we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. As much as I want to love planes, I don’t find them to be interesting. This book changed my outlook.

Rose under Fire has many similarities with Wein’s Code Name Verity. They are both written in an epistolary format, involve pilots/airplanes, and are set during World War II. Both offer wonderfully complex themes about friendship, loyalty, and the strength of women. However, Rose under Fire focuses more on concentration camps, while Code Name Verity dealt more with the interrogation techniques used during World War II. Neither of these two elements drove the novels, but they are two plot features that make the texts quite different from one other. I found CNV to be a bit slow in the beginning (which isn’t the case with all readers), but I was hooked to Rose under Fire from the very first page. Wein writes characters so vividly that I still feel their presence in my life, long after I finish the books. I recommend this book to everyone. It will appeal to readers of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and interest levels.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Teachers, this is a MUST-HAVE book. It is phenomenally written and shows the truly complexity of young adult literature. It can be used to teach elements like setting, character, dialogue, the epistolary format, imagery, voice, and theme. Students might write letters back to Rose, or they could analyze one of the many well-developed characters in this story. It would also make for a great research unit of topics like the Nuremberg Trials, female WWII pilots, flying bombs, or the experimentation on Holocaust prisoners. History teachers will also find this text to be invaluable.

Discussion Questions: What loyalties did the Holocaust prisoners have for each other? What are some examples of incidents that showed this loyalty?; Why were the Rabbits so important to the concentration camp? What did they add to the story as a whole?; How does Maddie’s friendship with Rose differ from her friendship with Julie?; Why was Nick’s character important throughout the story? How does his level of importance change, and why?; Rose has very different friendships with many of the characters. Describe how three of these friendships differ from one another.; Does the novel end in a hopeful way? Why or why not?

We Flagged: I marked so many passages that it is hard to choose just a few, so I selected two longer quotes that show the quality of Wein’s writing.

Incredible Imagery:

“…and the reason everyone in there was trying to get out in the rain was because they were dying of thirst.

Really dying of it, I think.

Hands and arms and heads stuck out anywhere there was a gap—cupped hands collecting rainwater, some holding bowls or even just a piece of cloth to collect moisture—I saw one woman lying on her back with her hair in the black cinder mud at the tent’s edge, her mouth open, letting a rivulet of water stream down the canvas and into her mouth.”

And Beautiful Figurative Language:

“Hope—you think of hope as a bright thing, a strong thing, sustaining. But it’s not. It’s the opposite. It’s simply this: lumps of stale bread stuck down your shirt. Stale gray bread eked out with ground fish bones, which you won’t eat because you’re going to give it away, and maybe you’ll get a message through to your friend. That’s all you need.

God, I was hungry.”

Please note: The above quotes are from the Advanced Reader Copy. The e-book (a galley) did not provide page or chapter numbers. The quotes may change when the book is published.

Read This If You Loved: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb, Night by Elie Wiesel

Recommended For:

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney for sending me the Advanced Reader Copy!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We’d Love to See as Movies or TV Shows

September 10, 2013 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Books We’d Love to See as Movies or TV Shows

Let’s imagine these in a perfect world, where movies/TV shows didn’t butcher books. 🙂

Ricki

1. The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Luckily, this dream is coming true. As with all books I love, I am anxious to see how it comes out. I am glad to see that John Green is on the set. 🙂

2. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

This would work really well as a movie because the setting is so richly described. New Orleans in the 1950s? Awesome. Let’s do this.

3. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I love Criminal Minds, the TV show, and this book has some similarities but is quite different. I could see this book making for a great TV series, and I think the public would love it.

4. The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

With The Walking Dead craze, I foresee that this book would make for an awesome TV series, as well. No, there are no zombies in this book, but it is a fascinating take on a dystopian setting, so I think it would have a widespread appeal.

5. Shine by Lauren Myracle

The themes and issues in this book are so very important, and I would like to see them in movie format. Inevitably, when a book becomes a movie, more people become aware of the book. This book is worthy of the public’s attention.

Kellee

1. Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore

I would love to see this on the screen if it was done correctly. The Seven Kingdoms would be so cool to see and it would be amazing to see the magic and beauty in the books.

2. Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

I love Zita and I would love to see her story as a cartoon! If you have read it, can’t you picture it too?!?!?!

3. Sidekicked by John David Anderson

I love superhero stories and this is one of my favorites I’ve ever read, so I would love to see it as a movie. Maybe by the same guy who did Spy High because that is kind of how I picture it in my head.

4. Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby

I love this story and I would love to see it on the big screen! It would have to be done so right or it would make me angry, but if done correctly, the emotions that this book exudes would radiate off the screen.

5. Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

Like Hurt Go Happy, this book is one I love and the emotions and themes are so important. I also think that if the cinematography was correct, it would be a beautiful yet so intense/conflict-filled movie.

Honorary. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

I know. It is a movie already. But I want it to be done again and right. The Lightning Thief and its sequels are some of my favorite books and the mythology and adventure in it would make a perfect movie IF DONE CORRECTLY!

Which book would you love to see as a movie or TV show?

and

Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

November 14, 2013September 5, 2013 by Ricki

Living with Jackie Chan
Author: Jo Knowles
Expected Publication: September 10th, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Summary: After fathering a baby, a teenager moves in with his karate-loving uncle and tries to come to terms with his guilt — and find a way to forgive.

This isn’t how Josh expected to spend senior year. He thought he’d be hanging out with his best friends, Dave and Caleb, driving around, partying, just like always. But here he is, miles from home — new school, new life, living with his Jackie-Chan-obsessed uncle, Larry, and trying to forget. But Josh can’t forget. So many things bring back memories of last year and the night that changed everything. Every day the pain, the shame, and the just not knowing are never far from his thoughts. Why is he such a loser? How could he have done what he did? He finds some moments of peace when he practices karate with Stella, the girl upstairs and his one real friend. As they move together through the katas, Josh feels connected in a way he has never felt before. He wonders if they could be more than friends, but Stella’s jealous boyfriend will make sure that doesn’t happen. And maybe it doesn’t matter. If Stella knew the truth, would she still think he was a True Karate Man? Readers first met Josh in Jumping Off Swings which told the story of four high school students and how one pregnancy changed all of their lives. In this companion book, they follow Josh as he tries to come to terms with what happened, and find a way to forgive.

Ricki’s Review: Jumping off Swings is a favorite in my classroom, so I was very excited to read this companion text. I always wondered what happened to Josh, and this novel shows the other side of the story. In many ways, Jo Knowles makes this story unpredictable for readers. When Josh meets Stella, the reader anticipates this novel will progress similarly to other novels with a budding romance. But instead, the two characters develop a deep, meaningful friendship that feels much more important than a love connection. Stella’s mother neglects her, and she submits to her boyfriend’s emotional abuse. In a way, she needs healing just as badly as Josh does. Larry, at first, seems to be a minor character with his goofy grin and karate moves, but as the story progresses, his depth of character is apparent. He isn’t a secondary character who plays second fiddle. Instead, he drives Josh’s healing process. There is so much to think about and discuss in regards to this text. It is beautifully written, and the characters will stick with me.

Kellee’s Review: I can’t say enough great things about this novel as it helped me out of my latest reading slump! I also think it is interesting because I read Jackie Chan before reading Jumping Off Swings, and I think that may have changed my perspective. It is interesting to think about how the different order of reading can change how you view a book. I went in with no expectations because I didn’t even know what had happened to Josh, so I think that the reveal of that secret was bigger for me than if I’d read it in the other order. Because I was naive about the past, I went in with no past feelings for Josh and really just hoping for the best for him. I found myself struggling with him and crying with him because his hurt was so deep. Though Stella and Larry enter his life, I didn’t think he’d let them in, but instead, they become a huge part in him healing. I really loved Living with Jackie Chan (as well as Jumping off Swings which I read immediately after finishing Jackie Chan). Jo Knowles always impresses me with her ability to tell tough stories in ways that makes it so that the reader can connect.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: This is a great text to teach internal conflict. Josh has extremely low self-esteem and blames himself for his decisions. He goes through various stages of grief and tries a variety of coping mechanisms, many of which are unsuccessful. Teachers might have students research the stages of grief and various coping mechanisms that can be used with internal conflicts and relate them back to specific scenes from the text.

Discussion Questions: How does karate play an important role in Josh’s character development?; What stages of grief does Josh go through?; Do you think Josh is morally good? Do you think he should be judged for his mistakes?; Does Britt seem truly remorseful for the way he treats Stella? How does karate play a role in Stella’s character development?; By the end of the novel, is Josh a True Karate Man? Why or why not?

We Flagged: “A true karate man lifts those who have fallen, no matter how low. I can imagine him thinking this as he looks at me. That he’s going to e a true karate man and get me out of this mess. But he doesn’t know everything that happened. He doesn’t know what I did. He doesn’t know how low I’ve gone.”

Please note: The above quote is from the Advanced Reader E-Galley and did not provide page numbers. The quotes may change when the book is published.

Read This If You Loved: Jumping off Swings by Jo Knowles, First Part Last by Angela Johnson, Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie, How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr, Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Recommended For:

**Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing us with the Advanced Reader Copies!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Our Favorite Pairings of YA Books and Classics

August 2, 2015September 3, 2013 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: YA Books That Would Be Great Paired with Classics

Because this post has been so popular, we created an updated post with even more ideas here!

Ricki

I tried to pick classic texts that many, many teachers have in their curricula. If you are looking for a pairing for a different classic text, feel free to leave a message in our comments section, and Kellee and I will give you a great pairing!

1. Classic Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Great YA Pairing: Monster by Walter Dean Myers or Black and White by Paul Volponi

I love teaching To Kill a Mockingbird. How neat would it be to pair it with Monster or Black and White? Students would be able to look at racial relations as they exist today. Both of these YA books incorporate justice and law, so there would be many parallels! I am envisioning a culminating social justice project. Ah, I wish I had thought of this one sooner.

2. Classic Novel: 1984 by George Orwell

Great YA Pairing: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

These two books MUST be paired together. When I teach 1984, I ask my students to relate the concepts of government, technology, and surveillance to the world today. Little Brother is clearly written in response to 1984, and I use an excerpt with my students because I wasn’t able to garner enough funds for a class set. After we discuss the book, students always want to read it. A fun project—ask students to find a newspaper article relating to the themes in 1984 or Little Brother. We had so much fun jigsawing newspaper articles. You would be surprised at how many recent articles you can find by searching newspaper websites with the keywords of “Orwellian” or “Big Brother.”

3. Classic Text: Night by Elie Wiesel

Great YA Pairing: Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick or Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

My students love reading Night, but it seems that Holocaust texts are over-represented in our curricula. I wanted to branch out, while still covering the curricular requirement. This year, I was able to order a class set of Between Shades of Gray, one of my favorite books. Through our Scholastic book fair, each text was $6, so I didn’t have to deal with our school budget! The students LOVED the book. They couldn’t believe that they had never heard about Stalin’s acts of genocide. We spent a lot of time pairing it with Night, and as a bonus, I turned some self-proclaimed non-readers into readers! I also love booktalking Never Fall Down, which is about the Cambodian genocide. The labor camps are similar to those in Night, and I think they would bridge well. Teachers would have a lot of fun examining the language of this text, and it would make for some great writing experiences for students!

4. Classic Text: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Great YA Pairing: If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson or The Fault in our Stars by John Green

It seems that almost every school teaches this classic to freshmen, so I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss two great pairings. I love If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson. I learned about it in my education course with Wendy Glenn. It is much more relatable to students than Romeo and Juliet, so teachers would be better able to connect the classic text with students. It won’t take long for students to read it because it is not a lengthy book, so I promise you have time for it, and the students won’t forget it! It would also be great to draw parallels between Romeo and Juliet and The Fault in our Stars. The books seem to be a bit different, but I can think of many connections that would be worthwhile and meaningful to students.
[Kellee: The first thing my dad said to me when he finished The Fault in our Stars was that it should be paired with Romeo and Juliet.]

5. Classic Text: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Great YA Pairing: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Now THIS is a classic that most teachers loathe teaching. No matter how much you dance, it seems there will always be students who are disengaged from the text. I bet many students would enjoy reading The Scarlet Letter if it were paired with Speak. There are so many connections between the two, that it just seems like an obvious choice. Students could connect the plot details, characterization, and themes. The language and structure of Speak make it an amazing book to teach. The students in our school love reading it.

Kellee

I focused more on choosing classics that students may encounter and the YA (or middle grade/picture) books that could be paired with them to make the classic “easier” to read. Classics, in my opinion, are often very hard to connect to and by pairing it with a text that has similar themes or story line can really make the classic more reachable in the student’s mind.

1. Classic Text: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Great Middle Grade Pairing: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I read A Wrinkle in Time in 6th grade and loathed every minute of it. I would have LOVED to have When You Reach Me to read first as a scaffold up to such an intense science fiction novel. These two books are made to be paired, specifically because A Wrinkle in Time plays a part in When You Reach Me. When I finished Stead’s novel, it actually made me want to read L’Engle’s classic which is something you won’t hear me say often.

2. Classic Text: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Great YA Pairing: The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

I love how well these two fit together and it actually makes me want to teach Fahrenheit so I can! As you all know, in Fahrenheit 451 books are being burned because the firemen are being told to burn them. In The Last Book in the Universe we enter into a world where almost everything is destroyed, including books. In both books the protagonist finds out about the power of books in different, but special ways; however, both include learning about the past.

3. Classic Text: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Great YA Pairing: Looking for Alaska by John Green

I love both of these novels and I love how well they would work together as a pairing. In both novels, a teenage boy is going to boarding school and both are encountering things they need to adapt to. The themes in the book can even be compared: Coming of age, Questioning authority, Solitude, Death. I also love a teacher character in both of these books because the teacher really makes them question. And coincidentally enough, John Green has even said he was influence by Holden Caulfield when writing Looking for Alaska.

4. Classic Text: Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel

Great Picture Book Pairing: Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems

Two sets of best friends who I love! Elephant and Piggie are some of my favorite picture books right now. They are about friendship and kindness. We all read Frog and Toad when we are younger and they are about friendship and kindness. What a great pairing! I think Elephant and Piggie is a nice scaffold up to Frog and Toad. They both have similar themes and are truly loved by children.

5. Classic Text: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Great YA Pairing: This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

This one almost seems like cheating because, well, This Dark Endeavor was made to be paired with Frankenstein. This Dark Endeavor is Kenneth Oppel’s story of Victor Frankenstein as a young man thus fitting perfectly with Frankenstein. I tried to stay away from these types of books as pairings, but these are both such wonderful horror books and they would be great to pair together. This Dark Endeavor, in my opinion, would have made Mary Shelley proud.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about which YA books you’d pair with classics!

and

Into That Forest by Louis Nowra

November 14, 2013August 29, 2013 by Ricki

Title: Into That Forest
Author: Louis Nowra
Expected Publication: September 3th, 2013 by Amazon Children’s Publishing

Summary: Hannah and Becky are traveling down a river in Tasmania, Australia with Hannah’s parents when a storm erupts. Their boat overturns, and Hannah and Becky are left to survive in the wild. Two Tasmanian tigers are nearby, and because they’ve recently lost their pups, the tigers adopt Hannah and Becky as their own children. The two girls slowly adapt to the tigers’ ways, adopting their habits and forgetting words. It isn’t long before they become feral children, acting only as animals would.

Review: I have never read a book quite like this one. When I tried to compare it to other books I’ve read, I immediately thought of Endangered (Eliot Schrefer), which describes bonobos rather than tigers. With both books, I developed a fondness for the animals and their habits. Also, they both roped me into their beautiful settings and imagery. The only other books I could compare this to were those about abuse and neglect, as the children slowly developed animalistic ways, as abandoned children do.

The language is a bit peculiar at first, as Hannah is writing the story as an elderly woman, and she admits her language isn’t very good. I found myself slipping into the beautiful wording by the third or fourth page, and I didn’t find that it distracted my reading, and instead, it added to the experience. If I could change anything, I might alter the ending a bit, but perhaps, I am being too particular. I loved learning about the tigers’ lifestyle, and I was hooked to this survival story from the very first page. The sisterly bond that develops between Hannah and Becky is remarkable, and the story teaches themes of loyalty and companionship. Readers will be left pondering humanity and the differences between animals and humans.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Students may find the language to be a bit difficult to understand at first, so the teacher may need to provide some close readings at first. I suspect most students quickly adjust to the language and will no longer be distracted by the wording after the first few pages, and they will likely find that it adds a lot of color to the text. Teachers could have students select their favorite descriptions of the setting and imagery, as these elements are very well-developed and would serve as a great model for students. Upon completion of the text, students might research topics like Tasmania, feral children, and tigers. I was left wanting to learn more about the Tasmanian wilderness and lifestyle, and I imagine that students will also find this book to pique their curiosity.

Discussion Questions: What does it mean to be human? How do the girls lose their humanity?; What are some of the patterns of the tigers’ behavior that the girls adopt? Why is this necessary?; How do you imagine Hannah’s life today? How has this experience changed her?

We Flagged: “As the water boiled and foamed, we bounced along with me father, unable to steer the boat toward the shore. The river were so wild that all we could do were to cling on tight to the sides of the boat or each other as we were flung back and forward like puppets with no strings. The rain chucked down and we were soaked, so soggy it were like the rain were drilling through our skin into our marrow.”

“The more I looked at its black eyes, the more I seen kindness […] I knew it were saying to us, Come, I’ll take you home.”

Please note: The above quotes are from the Advanced Reader Copy. The e-book (a galley) did not provide page or chapter numbers. The quotes may change when the book is published.

Read This If You Loved: Endangered by Eliot Schrefer, Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick, Dog Boy by Eva Hornung, Second Nature by Alice Hoffman, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Recommended For:

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Children’s Publishing for sending me the Advanced Reader Copy!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Memorable Secondary Characters

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 by Ricki

Today’s Topic: Most Memorable Secondary Characters

We can’t forget these supporting characters!

Ricki

Get ready. My list is quirky. I like secondary characters who are quirky and/or intelligent.

1. Simon Lewis (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare): Simon is witty and lovable. I can’t help but get a warm, fuzzy feeling when I think about him. If I were a literary character, he’d be my sidekick because I would constantly be laughing. I can’t say much about Simon without giving away too much plot, but I like how he doesn’t play second fiddle in the story and is essential to the plot.

2. Hassan Harbish (An Abundance of Katherines by John Green): Hassan is another funny guy. He is very lazy and admittedly overweight. Hassan really seems to drive the plot of the book. He uses his Muslim heritage to get out of things he doesn’t want to do, which is comical. Oh, and he loves Judge Judy.

3. Uncle Larry (Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles): I just read this book last week, and I will never forget Larry, Josh’s Karate-loving uncle. When Josh is struggling, Larry takes him in, and he is a major support in Josh’s life. Larry consistently inserts nuggets of Karate wisdom into conversations, which is quite amusing. And the guy just can’t stop smiling. This makes me, in turn, smile.

4. Rue (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins): Rue teaches readers to never underestimate the little guy. She flies like a monkey between trees and represents purity and goodness. “She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It’s impossible not to think of a bird.” Rue’s goodness is a perfect foil to the Capitol’s wickedness.

5. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee): As a future parent, I want to be exactly like Atticus Finch. When no one else stands up for Tom Robinson, Atticus does, even though he knows he won’t win the case. He teaches so many wonderful morals to Scout and Jem about work ethic and empathy. If I have a son, I would consider naming him Atticus (and it is too bad the name is so peculiar or this would be set in stone).

I can’t choose just five. I need to cheat.

6. Hassan (Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini)

7. Slim (Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck)

8. Magnus Bane (The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare)

9. Prince Brigan (Fire by Kristin Cashore)

10. Ma Joad (Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)

Kellee

1. Ruby and Stella and Bob (The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate): Ivan’s cast of characters makes you love Ivan even more. His interactions with the other characters show you his characters. Stella helps mold Ivan into who he is, Ruby’s innocence pushes him to do something he’d never though he’d do, and Bob is the comic relief.

2. Smithers (Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz): I love Smithers. Whenever he shows up in an Alex Rider book, you know that an awesome gadget is going to show up. He is brilliant and funny.

3. Phoebe Winterbottom (Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech): Phoebe is a character who I actually do not like at all, but you definitely remember her. Phoebe is obnoxious, self-righteous, loud, but she also has a huge imagination and really makes the story interesting.

4. Summer and Mr. Browne (Wonder by RJ Palacio): Summer shows that there are 10 year olds that are still loving and thoughtful. Oh, and most importantly – kind. Mr. Browne is an awesome teacher. I love his precepts and how he teaches his class. What a way to make students reflect about their lives and to think deeply.

5. Manchee (The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness): Manchee, Manchee, Manchee! Oh how everyone who read Knife loves you. Because of the Noise, the all-male population of Prentisstown can also hear the thoughts of their male animals which gives us Manchee, Todd’s dog, who is the best friend a boy could have.

I’m also going to cheat:

6. Kate (Matt Cruse Trilogy by Kenneth Oppel)

7. Isaac (The Fault in our Stars by John Green)

8. Sam Yu (Curse Workers series by Holly Black)

9. Patrick (Shine by Lauren Myracle)

10. Nero (Blood Red Road by Moira Young)

11. The Pink Ladies and other bonobos (Endangered by Eliot Schrefer)

Who are your favorite secondary characters?

and

The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb

August 17, 2015August 22, 2013 by Ricki

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi
Author: Neal Bascomb
Expected Publication: August 27th, 2013 by Arthur A. Levine

Summary: Adolf Eichmann was one of the world’s most notorious Nazis as the head of operations for the Nazis’ Final Solution. Essentially, he organized the transportation of the Jewish people to ghettos and concentration camps. This work of narrative nonfiction begins with the background of Eichmann’s role in the genocide. Then, in 1945, Eichmann disappeared from Germany and went into hiding. Due to the bravery of more than a dozen individuals, Eichmann is captured and put on trial for the world to view.

Review: This is an excellently researched work of nonfiction. I was amazed at the number of intricate details that went into the investigation and capture of this criminal. Neal Bascomb (who is also the author of Hunting Eichmann, the adult-marketed version of this book) was extraordinarily honest in this text. At times, I had to slap myself when I felt pity for Eichmann, as I tend to be too empathetic in my search for humanity in murderers. Bascomb doesn’t glorify the details—his account is genuine and based on numerous interviews of individuals who were connected to this hunt. I find that, in general, I become a bit disengaged when I read nonfiction, but this book kept me hooked; I wanted to read more about the courage and bravery of the Nazi Hunters. I highly recommend this text for all readers.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Nonfiction is, arguably, absent from many classrooms. English curricula tend to focus more on fiction, and I am interested to see if the Common Core will truly shift this reality (err, as much as the creators think it will, anyways). This text bridges the gap between fiction and nonfiction because it is written in narrative form. For students who despise nonfiction texts, this book will have appeal because Bascomb weaves in great characterization and detail. Teachers who enjoy employing literature circles in their classrooms might consider a nonfiction focus for the circles, and this book would make for a fantastic choice for students. Alternatively, it would pair very well with other texts from the Holocaust, such as Night by Elie Wiesel. When I finished reading this book, I couldn’t help but scour the internet for more details about other Nazi criminals and their captures/trials. I imagine that students will feel this same curiosity after reading this text, so I envision it would work well at the center of a research project.

Discussion Questions: Was Eichmann just following orders or is he a murderer? At what point does the excuse of “I was just following orders” become baseless and unreasonable?; Does Eichmann give up? Do you see him as a strong individual by the end of the text?; Do you think Eichmann’s wife was truly ignorant to his crimes? Do you think she should have turned him in?; How do Eichmann’s children’s views reflect on his character and views?

We Flagged: “‘For the first time in history the Jews will judge their assassins, and for the first time the world will hear the full story of the edict of annihilation against an entire people'” (Chapter 10).

Please note: The above quotes are from the Advanced Reader Copy. The e-book (a galley) did not provide page numbers. The quotes may change when the book is published.

Read This If You Loved: Night by Elie Wiesel, Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb, Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial by Joseph E. Persco, books in the The Real Justice seres, or other works of nonfiction that concern WWII, Crime, Police Investigation, War, and Justice

Recommended For:

Thank you to NetGalley and Arthur A. Levine books for sending me the Advanced Reader Copy!