history – One Chapter

I Survived a Japanese Tsunami, 2011(I Survived Graphic Novel #12)

4 stars Children’s Graphic Novel

I liked all the extra information that the author included with this graphic novel, I thought it provided some great insight, and it helped fill in some gaps. This graphic novel was easy to follow, it had great illustrations and it contained an emotional story about a family trying to come to terms with the loss of their husband/father.

Ben and his family have arrived in Shogahoma, Japan to visit family. Ben’s father was from this area, and they are staying with an uncle. It’s hard being here as Ben is constantly reminded of his father.

When an earthquake hits the area, Ben takes covers with his brother. His uncle wants to immediately evacuate and well, since he is from that area, I thought they had better listen to him.

They all pile into the car, but they don’t get very far when water makes driving the car impossible and they all escape, except Ben.

Ben is trapped inside the car. It’s the inner voice of his father that comes calling to Ben and Ben can now escape the car, but he’s faced with more uncertainty as he’s in the middle of a tsunami. Cut off from the rest of his family, Ben must rely on himself more now than ever.

The energy and pacing in this book were good as I felt there weren’t any breaks as Ben was navigating trying to stay alive and trying to find his way back to his family. I was interested in more information about the events, and the author gave some of that in the information, in the notes, in the back of the book. 4 stars

Nine Open Arms by Benny Lindelauf

3 stars YA

To be completely honest, I got lost a few times reading this book. There were stories that led me down paths that I got completely absorbed in, only to realize that they were just a part of the bigger picture. I got used to the strange names that were used within the book and the glossary at the beginning of the book clarified things when I first started reading. If you’re willing to take a chance, you just like this adaptation and enjoy the stories that grandmother shared.

Dad was a dreamer. A job-hopper. Dad was always looking for the next best deal, because you never knew when you might land on “ the one.” “The one” that would be his family’s next ticket, his dad’s dream come true. Unfortunately, every switch in employment meant another move, another city, and another home. The rest of the family was tired of moving, but father, he never got tired of searching or dreaming.

It is 1937, the land that was before them was drier than dirt. Almost two months without rain and well, dad saw inspiration in all the bleakness around them. As they walked down Sjlammbams Saharon, they were pulling their large handcar. They hoped their new home would appear soon. Hidden, they spotted the house, the large house. Its condition sufficient but there was something about the old house that seemed off. Located away from town, it’s located next to the local cemetery, just down the road from the border of Germany. If there was one good thing about this house, it was that each of them would have their own room.

Grandma has brought her Crocodile bag of goodies with her and what a great place to unpack them, inside a house which has lots to offer. Grandma is a true storyteller and she had me along for the ride as she reflected on the lives of the individuals inside her bag.

From the stories that Grandma pulled from her Crocodile bag to the happenings of the family, the family seemed to be always busy. I was confused at times while reading, the narration pulling me off into a direction I wasn’t sure where. It was a different book for me, 3 stars

Escape From Chernobyl by Andy Marino

4 stars YA/ Middle School

It was cover love that brought this book to me. I didn’t know that this was book one of a series and after reading this one, I don’t think I will continue with the series as the ending was disappointing to me. For me, there was no ending. As I listened to this book, I was hooked, I felt a deep connection to the characters and their fate and then, the book ended. I had been cheated. There had to be more! Was there book #2 to finish this story? No, it was over, and I felt cheated.

It’s April 26, 1986, the place Pripyat, Ukraine. This city was built for the individuals who would work at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. I liked the variety of characters as it gave a great view of what was happening around this event as it was unfolding,

It was Yuri who I fell for in this book. He was the one who had less at stake but gave the most. While those with higher titles, rattled off commands or walked among the clouds, Yuri was on the ground with his eyes open, watching and risking everything. Alina, Yuri’s relative, was just like him, but at times, her emotions got the best of her. Who could blame her, considering what was transpiring right in front of her. Yuri knows Chernobyl like the back of his hand. Yuri is a janitor at Chernobyl. They treat him better than a janitor but that’s still what they consider him to be. Yuri hopes that one day, yes one day, they’ll realize the potential that Yuri has and move him up into a more suitable title. While at work on April 26, Yuri notices something isn’t right. His eyes have been on the ground since day one but today, today is different. Today, there is no going back.

What was happening inside Chernobyl? Sofiya dad is an engineer at the power plant and getting his perspective as the day’s events spiraled downhill added an intensity to the drama unfolding. Despite everything, Sofiya tries to help the residents of Pripyat. Sofiya had a different emotional burning within her than Alina but together they show the confusion and turmoil that the residents faced as this event changed their world.

This book covers April 26, 1986. One day. I felt cheated as I wanted and needed to know what happened after this day. I felt a deep connection to the characters and as I closed the book, I was sad and disappointed that there wasn’t something to help bring me closure.

You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without Poop! by Alex Woolf

5 stars Children’s Nonfiction

Poop! Yes, poop. A book centered around poop. It is more important than you think and now, we can read about its importance, the history of poop, and why you can’t live without it. A nonfiction children’s book, I guarantee that you will learn something about poop before you get done reading it.

There are a dozen chapters in this book, an introduction, a glossary, and an index so this book can be used as a reference tool also. The last few pages of the book are full of fun interesting facts which along with the rest of the book make for some interesting reading. Let me entice you with some interesting facts: elephant poop is often used to fill up holes in the game reserve in South Africa, there is a dog park in Massachusetts that fuels their park’s street lamps with dog’s poop so don’t carry your dog’s poo out, dump into the convertor so you can see on your way home. Guess how many rabbit pellets a rabbit can poop in just 1 day? 500!

Now that I got you intrigued, this is just a bit of the fun and interesting information that is inside this book. You’ll learn what human and animal poop is, the hazards of poop, how the world uses it, and what we poop teaches us. Do you ever wonder, what happens to all the poo when individuals go to the bathroom? Does it go in space? Down inside the ocean or what? The answers are inside this book. The answers are not lengthy, and the author doesn’t use difficult terminology, yet this is not a book for preschool children. I think this is a good fit book for mature readers who have inquiring minds from the grade school level and up. The illustrations inside the book range from detailed drawings to cartoons explaining the text.

Also Here: Love, Literacy, and the Legacy of the Holocaust by Brooke Randel

5 stars Memoir

It was almost too late. The memories and history were almost buried in the past as the family didn’t want to press the issue. They knew she had lived through one of the most important and traumatic experiences in history, yet she didn’t and wouldn’t talk about it. It only took one phone call to change all that.

This was such a great book to read. I could understand why her family didn’t press her to share the details of her experiences during WWII and yet, Golda had so much to offer her family when she finally does open herself up to them. We know that our own history shapes us and what Golda experienced as a young girl during the Holocaust definitely affected her life. As her granddaughter Brooke brings Golda’s story to light, Brooke struggles herself. Both parties are struggling to bring light to Golda’s past. What a unique story. I commend Brooke for sharing this book with us readers.

The recipes and photographs in the back are an added bonus. 5 star read

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys

4 stars Middle School

I’m tired! This book was exhausting……on a good level. Lizzi didn’t think her mother was dead, so she took it upon herself to prove it. Was Lizzi onto something as she investigated her mother’s death? Surprises and secrets began to pop up as the story started rolling.

The characters were a mature bunch, perhaps it was caused by the situation that they were forced into, or it was their nature, nevertheless, I thought they acted mature for their age. Determined and strong, Lizzi and Jakob become very important and very good at what they do. Jakob was the oldest, codebreaking was something that he liked to do during the war as he thought it was his way of helping. When his little sister Lizzi decided to follow in her brother’s shoes, little did they know what impact she would make.

With plenty of activity and great information on codes and codebreaking during WWII, this book was very interesting, and I really enjoyed it. 4 stars

Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis

5 stars Middle School

“The Thing Mom Doesn’t Understand

Some people ARE bigger.

Whether we like it or not,

our size

has nothing to do

with the amount of space

our bodies take up.

It has everything to do

with the amount of space

other people tell us

we’re allowed to take up.”

“After we finish packing the van

I gaze at the house I’d hope would be

a permanent home.

I’d expected it

to change everything.

The only thing that changed

was me.

Before I arrived

I wanted to hide my strange

life behind four walls

built of normal.

This house

this town

this move

taught me

to break down walls

take up – space

claim my place

in a world

where there are always

going to be people

trying to make me

feel small.”

” Some walls existed

long before I was born.

Some walls will exist

long after I’m gone.”

” Fitting in is overrated.

The key to surviving middle school

is to be okay

standing out.”

I’ve never written a review where I used only quotes from the book, but this book speaks for itself. I fell in love with Cayenne from the minute I started reading this book. Her parents wanted to be free birds, but Cayenne’s had other dreams. She wanted stability and what Cayenne would call “normalcy.” She wanted a house with a foundation, school lunches, boyfriends, a social life and a schedule. If only she could have that instead of the sticker- plastered van that has been her home-on-wheels with her family.

Then, that day happened. The family moved into a home with a foundation, a home with walls and a solid floor. I can’t say much about what else the house had to offer as it needed work, but it was a start and for now, Cayenne was happy. She could start living her dream and I was happy for her. Middle school was on her horizon and things were looking up, yet we all know what middle school brings, and I was hoping that Cayenne would fit in. Would she find her own crowd? Would she be accepted? How would her parents adapt to living in a house? Cayenne’s hopes and dreams seemed simple and practical yet when there’s so much going on around her, they become involved.

What a great novel! I really loved all the characters and how realistic this book felt. This was also an emotional book for me, the highs and the lows as Cayenne gets to experience one of her dreams. I highly recommend it. 5 stars

Lucy By the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

4 stars Fiction

I felt for Lucy as I read this book, she felt so innocent and vulnerable. Reluctant to follow her ex-husband’s instructions, Lucy finally leaves behind her NYC life, feeling as if she’s going on a short vacation. She doesn’t realize that life as she knew it, would never be the same.

Settling into a cottage in Maine, Lucy soon begins to understand the implications this pandemic would have. Living under the same roof again with her ex-husband stirs up a variety of emotions especially when contact with others is limited. Longing for physical contact with her daughters, she realizes the implications that this might bring and so, Lucy settles for the safe guidelines that have been created and tries to follow them.

Reading this book made me relive this piece of history. No one was prepared for the lifestyle change and the daunting news which was broadcasted at all hours of the day. Like Lucy, we all waited for the day that our lives could return to normal but normal would never be normal again. Lucy was one of those who escaped, one of the lucky ones who was able to hide, and it was a good thing she did. Lucy did a lot of thinking, a lot of soul searching while her “vacation” stretched out beyond the few weeks that she originally planned to be away. Like many, Lucy started to see her life for what it was. 4 stars

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: The Graphic Novel

5 stars Graphic Novel

They were headed out, that was their intention but sometimes things don’t always go as planned. It was a mandatory evacuation, and they were going. If they could make it.

Barry had just finished creating a comic adventure with Jay. This piece was going to win them first prize in a contest, they were sure of that. They had plans to split the cash prize but now with the storm coming, Barry had Akivo, their winning piece, in his possession until he could drop it off in the mail. Most individuals were taking this storm seriously. Jay’s family was headed to Birmingham while Barry’s family would head towards Houston. Their neighbor Abe was told to head out with his grandma to a safe spot but lately, Abe did what he wanted. Since his dad left, Abe had changed. He claimed his new dog Cruz was a killer dog and by the time this storm was over, Barry would know firsthand if Abe was correct about his dog.

Barry’s family headed out along with hundreds and thousands of other individuals. Bumper to bumper traffic on the road and then, Barry’s sister Cleo gets sick and the family heads back home. They’ll ride the storm out at home, they decide. Overnight the storm pounds the house. By morning, the water rushes into their home, flooding everything. The family moves upstairs but so does the water. The family moves into the attic and soon, the water is lapping at their feet. The intensity and urgency can be felt as the family moves quickly and must think on their feet to keep themselves safe.

Holding onto their roof, the family feels somewhat relieved until Barry falls into the swirling water around them. He’s immediately swept away as his family calls for him. Panic and desperation mounds! Barry’s trying to grab onto anything that’s floating nearby but he’s coming up with nothing substantial. As he finds a tree and gets comfortable, he looks around and sees a large building headed towards him! Stay in the tree or jump back into the water? Both options can be deadly but what else can he do?

There are times when the story relaxes a bit, but the intensity of the situation was still there. I liked how the ending centered on the characters and when Barry reflected on himself. The ending answered many of the questions I had as I read this story. The graphics in this story followed the story and the illustrations provided enough detail without overdoing it. It was a great graphic novel. At the back of the book there was more information discussing Hurricane Katrina that should be looked at too. 5 stars

Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin

5 stars YA History

“The Nazis were not really guarding Prisoners at Auschwitz. They were guarding the secret of their massive crimes.”

A story of survival turns into a story of bravery and honor as individuals take it upon themselves to reveal the reality of their daily lives. This mission of hope gives them strength, energy, and determination every day, as they live in an unimaginable nightmare in Nazi Germany. If only they could escape and share their story, other lives could be saved.

It was March of 1942 and I found myself getting to know a young teenager named Rudi. In its second year, World War II was far from being over and Rudi was determined to be a part of it. Armed with a plan, Rudi wanted to fight against Hitler, and he was going to do it his own way. He had to put his plan into motion soon before he was shipped off to who-knows-where with other Jewish boys. I was rooting for Rudi as he put his plan into motion. His plan had worked to some degree, as he covered quite a bit of ground in his travels. Unfortunately, Rudi got stopped and without any papers, his plan had come to an end.

As a prisoner now, Rudi became part of a group of prisoners that were forced to work in the Nazi gas chambers and crematoriums. Able to make friends easily, Rudi does his job well and he keeps his wits about him. I became a part of Rudi’s life as he explains his duties, the situation, and his surroundings. Death and disease are everywhere yet, Rudi’s eyes are open as he watches and observes everything around him. Details are important to Rudi as his head fills with the sights, sounds, and smells of Auschwitz. The gas chamber changing rooms were constructed like a bath house, giving the victims the hope that their lives were important. Hooks, signs, and fans awaited the prisoners as they walked in, only they didn’t realize that they would never walk out. Rudi knew after watching such despair and horror for two years in Auschwitz that something had to be done.

Rudi knew that he needed to make another plan. He needed to tell his own personal story of what he had witnessed firsthand to someone who could warn others. Rudi needed to return home. Rudi needed to return to the place that he once escaped from and give them an account of his past two years. He needed his message to spread as a warning so lives could be.

What a fantastic read! Between the journeys that Rudi tried to make, his time inside Auschwitz and the prisoners, I couldn’t put this book down. As I read Gerdi’s story, this Jewish teen had a different outlook on life as the war raged on. Rudi wanted to make a difference and he was willing to take some risks while Gerdi chose a more sheltered and safe approach to the war. Gerdi had some risks but on a different level than Rudi’s. Two friends, one war, and an uncertain future. 5 stars.