The Friendship Doll

Title: The Friendship Doll
Author: Kirby Larson
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Year of Publication: 2011 [Yes, it's new!]
Reader's Rating: 4

Excerpt: " I feel a twinge inside my muslin chest, under the left side of my kimono. Since the day I was created, I have never had a moment of feeling unwell. What is causing this pain now?
I have heard it does hurt a bit, Miss Japan comforts me.
What does? I ask.
Being awakened.
What do I do to make it stop?
But Miss Japan gives no answer."

In a Nutshell: The Friendship Doll tells of the life and experiences of Miss Kanagawa, a Japanese doll sent from Japan to America, and how she meets four different girls, each with different stories. Bunny, the mischief-maker, is the first she meets. Then Lois, the dreamer. Then she meets Willie Mae, who, as the book says, not only awakened her heart but also broke it. And Lucy, her truest and most faithful friend.

The Good Stuff: The book is very well written. The story is just amazing (it's a Newberry Honor winner, after all!). I can't even describe it. The best part was the ending; it almost got me emotional! This book is a definite must-read.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: I don't really think there were any in this book.

Reader's Say: I enjoyed the story. I think Kirby Larson is a really good author. Now I want to read more of her books!

The Book Thief

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Knopf Books
Year of Publication: 2006 (first published 2005)
Reader's Rating: 4.9

The Book Thief is a historical fiction, set in Nazi Germany during World War II, and is narrated by Death.

Excerpt: "I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant." 

"It's just a small story really, about, among other things:
* A girl
* Some words
* An accordionist
* Some fanatical Germans
* A Jewish fist fighter
* And quite a lot of thievery" 

In a Nutshell: Liesel Meminger was only nine years old when her brother died and her mother left her in the care of foster parents, a silver-eyed father and a swearing but loving mother, and disappeared. On that day, a book was left lying in the snow, with Liesel picking it up. The Grave Digger's Handbook. Not an interesting choice, but it started and kindled her love for books. Liesel soon learns to read, with the help of her foster father, and since then, has loved books and words, stealing them and taking them in from anywhere, whether from the Nazi book-burnings or from the rich mayor's library, anywhere. But her life is changed when her foster parents decide to hide a Jew in their basement. She then realizes how powerful words are and how powerfully they can destroy.

The Good Stuff: Have you ever heard of Owl City, the singer of Fireflies? Have you listened to many of his songs? Did you notice how crafted and poetic they sounded? The Book Thief is written exactly like that. The scenes and the events are so richly described, and so poetically. So that's definitely a good thing for me. Also, the story. It was so wonderfully written and it was so touching and kind of horrifying in a way. It not only told of the adventures of someone living during the Holocaust; it was deep. It was a very good read.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: The constant swearing! Like I said in my previous review, WWII books usually contain a lot of swearing, but this book had the most. I winced every time I read those darn swear words (even though most of them were in a different language). It was a big turn-off, but, really, it was their (the Germans') culture to swear a lot and usually, they're meant to be friendly, like Liesel calling her best friend Saukerl (I think that's sort of a male pig of some kind). But still, I'd have given this book a 5 if it wasn't for the swear words. :( It also has kissing, but only once. :(

Reader's Say: I loved this book. I absolutely loved it (it's just those stupid swear words and the kissing). I do have to say something about it, and it's this: if you like happy endings, if you like sugar-coated stories, if you don't want to know about what the Germans did before, then do not read this book. I have to say that it was so sad. I almost cried! I felt heartbroken when *he/she/they* died (don't worry, I won't be saying who). I also got kind of annoyed at the author because he put who died in the middle of the book! Haha! But other than that, I absolutely loved it so much. It was heartwarming and touching and everything else rolled into one. With what I said about the swearing, you probably won't want to read it but please do. It's a very nice story.

Run, Boy, Run

Title: Run, Boy, Run
Author: Uri Orlev
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
Year of Publication: 2003
Reader's Rating: 3.5

In a Nutshell: Srulik Frydman is a young Jewish boy living in the streets of Poland, in the Warsaw ghetto, to be exact. His father was nowhere to be seen, along with his brothers and sisters. On a plan to escape the ghetto, his mother suddenly disappears, leaving him alone in the world to care for himself. He sets off and, miraculously and accidentally, runs into his father.

Excerpt: "Srulik, there's no time. I want you to remember what I'm going to tell you. You have to stay alive. You have to! Get someone to teach you how to act like a Christian, how to cross yourself and pray... The most important thing, Srulik," he said, talking fast, "is to forget your name. Wipe it from your memory... But even if you forget everything---even if you forget me and Mama---never forget that you're a Jew."

And so Srulik Frydman becomes Jurek Staniak, a blond Gentile Pole. Remembering his father's words, he soon finds himself joining a gang, living in the forest, and even working from farm to farm, posing as a Gentile---anything to stay alive. Follow Srulik on his journeys and adventures as he keeps one step ahead of the Nazis, trying to survive.

The Good Stuff: It was an absorbing read. I couldn't put the book down. This book is full of suspense and action.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: Run, Boy, Run was filed in the Young Adult section, and for a good reason. This isn't one of those books you could read to ten-year-old's. A lot of scenes are described violently, and because only Jews were circumcised at that time, there are some mentions about male anatomy and stuff that isn't for young children. A lot of WWII books also usually contain swear words and this was one of those books. :((

Reader's Say: I liked this book (only the not-so-good stuff were really a turn-off). It was kind of a horrifyingly awesome story and, as you know, I love World War II books, so it was really nice. It went third in my favorite WWII books, with Behind the Secret Window as second and Number the Stars as first. All in all, it was a good read (it's just really those not-so-good stuff that bother me!)

Number the Stars

Title: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf
Year of Publication: 1998 (first published 1989)
Reader's Rating: 5
Excerpts: “Annemarie looked up, panting, just as she reached the corner. Her laughter stopped. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. ‘Halte!’ the soldier ordered in a stern voice.”

"Ellen had said that her mother was afraid of the ocean, that it was too cold and too big. The sky was, too, thought Annemarie. The whole world was: too cold, too big. And too cruel. "

In a Nutshell: Annemarie Johansen is a ten-year-old girl living in the quiet streets of Copenhagen, Denmark in 1943. She, along with her best friend Ellen Rosen, often thought of life before the war, when food wasn't rationed, when soldiers weren't around every corner, and when people were free to do whatever they wanted. But now life is harder than it was, especially when a neighbor disappears and Ellen's family is forced into hiding because they are Jewish. It is during this time that Annemarie realizes that the "cold and cruel" world needed change, and to do that, people like her must learn how to be braver and more courageous.

The Good Stuff: Even though the book is quite thin, it held a lot of suspense and action. I recommend this to everyone, no matter how old or how young, because a lesson of friendship and bravery is shown. It was really touching.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: There weren't any at all!

Reader's Say: Number the Stars is my favorite World War II book of all time. I finished it in about thirty minutes or an hour. I couldn't put it down! It's fiction, but it's based on historical events that happened in real life. There were so many moments that I thought the suspense would kill me. It was pure awesome. 

Behind the Secret Window

Title: Behind the Secret Window
Author: Nelly S. Toll
Publisher: Dial
Year of Publication: 1993
Reader's Rating: 4

In a Nutshell: This book is about the experiences of a young girl during World War II (I quite like WWII books) as she and her mother hide from the Nazis in a Gentile couple's home, in a secret compartment near their window; hence, the name "Behind the Secret Window." It is sort of like an autobiography, nonfiction, of course.

Reader's Say: This book was one of the best World War II books I've read. I thought it was thrilling and sad. It was written well. Thumbs up to Nelly Toll. :)

Monday With a Mad Genius

Title: Monday With a Mad Genius (Magic Tree House #38)

Author: Mary Pope Osbourne

Publisher: Random House

Year of Publication:

Reader’s Rating: 4

The Magic Tree House series is about two children, Jack and Annie, who found a magical tree house that can take them anywhere they want to. The series is very educational and very helpful. Suggested ages would probably be for 7-11 year olds but I love them and I read them. :) Historical fiction, though.

In a Nutshell: On this book, Jack and Annie are whisked off to Florence, Italy, in the early 1500’s. They spend the whole day with the great artist Leonardo da Vinci and witness many of his great projects and paintings. They were there when he tested his flying machine and when he painted a fiasco. Jack and Annie also learned that Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his notebooks backward. Leonardo was left-handed and said it was easier to write that way. Jack and Annie were also there when he painted Mona Lisa and had even met her in person.

The Good Stuff: Everything in the book is true (except for Jack, Annie, and the magical tree house, of course). That’s what makes it very helpful and educational.

The Not-So-Good Stuff: There isn’t really not-so-good stuff. It’s just that the series is written in a language for 7-11 year olds. It’s very simple, the stories are short, and the books are all really thin.

Reader’s Say: All in all, this book was great. I enjoyed reading it (plus, the drawings are really nice). :)