**spoiler alert** While a bit long-winded, I found Blankman's historical fiction about Hitler's mysteriousness fascinating. Blankman does good to add **spoiler alert** While a bit long-winded, I found Blankman's historical fiction about Hitler's mysteriousness fascinating. Blankman does good to add the historical note at the end about what was factual while adding the characters and situations that were added for exploratory purposes.
Gretchen's family has been in Adolf Hitler's good graces for as long as Gretchen's father had been a friend, confidant and then martyr for the cause when he was shot protecting Hitler. She even calls him Uncle Dolf. But life is turned upside down when she's approached by a journalist with information that if she chooses to seek the truth, will uncover that her father was murdered from within the party, rather than a death of circumstance. Gretchen, strong-willed and intuitive, is ready to meet the truth head-on and begins her own explorations. Through relationships with her family and the Nazi Party men, she begins to unravel the mystery, all while engaging in a secret relationship with a Jewish man named Daniel, which also is just as traitorous as her intentions to seek the truth in her father's murder investigation.
The book really speeds up toward the end as multiple mysteries are detected, uncovered, and the lovebirds escape in the hopes of living successfully outside the country with their star-crossed fate. There is the confrontation with Uncle Dolf about her father's death, there's the 'suicide' of her relative in a short time after Uncle Dolf tries to seduce Gretchen herself, and the need to escape persecution as her family falls from grace. And while her mother is not happy about her relationship with Daniel, she wishes them well, and wishes that he take care of her as they escape.
Wonderful story with a great title and mysterious topic. ...more
**spoiler alert** A competent reader would understand early on that dead never really means dead in science fiction, so when, fairly late in the story**spoiler alert** A competent reader would understand early on that dead never really means dead in science fiction, so when, fairly late in the story, Eddy and Eli, reunited after Eli spends six years in a compound of his father's creation, and their older sister Lexie are kidnapped and taken to an 'island of Dr. Moreau' type compound, it's not so surprising that the father is there and he is experimenting, having found a way to reverse aging.
Eddy needs to come to terms with his demonic father while Eli, still believes in the good in the world, especially with a new love interest, and is interested in exacting revenge but also doing some good. He steals his father's gene gun (that reverses aging) and abandons him again, escaping back to civilization, where he gives it, no questions asked, to a doctor he met soon after escaping the compound, who works with people suffering from progeria, the speeding up of aging that leads to early death.
The book is neither spectacular but it's also not so disappointing. My wish would be that it was shorter. I was about halfway through the book and realized that not much had happened, wondering whether anything would happen at all. Clearly, labeling this, The Compound #2 means that there will be another. Will I read it? Maybe. ...more
**spoiler alert** I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars, so I would say I'm really at 4.5. This book unraveled slowly-- in a good way-- like a very long car **spoiler alert** I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars, so I would say I'm really at 4.5. This book unraveled slowly-- in a good way-- like a very long car crash that couldn't be looked away from. The beauty of both the characters tragic lives and hopeful begininnings or endings throughout the story make it heartbreaking. These are the stories I enjoy most because they have magical, ethereal elements but realism and TRUTH. Justice to the families and justice on the reservation? Hard to come by with politics and law. Recovery from evildoing? A hard road to travel with both a husband and child, Joe, the main character of the story, who depend on your happiness and well-being to survive as well. First love? It's a bitch when her family wants you to stay away from her, but damned if Cappy will. Do you save a life that might not be worth saving, yet they're family? Linda had a hard time dealing with the choices she made to save Linden, who ended up brutally raping Joe's mom, kidnapping and killing a young woman his mom was trying to help, and trying to set her on fire in a very sacred spot.
Clearly there are so many layers to this story that it would be an essay just to capture it all. Needless to say, her intricately drawn characters are the pieces that put this puzzle together. What's is like to be Sonja? What have Mooshun and Grandma Thunder seen in their days? So multi-layered it's like a delicious chocolate trifle! ...more
Everyone thinks they know the story of America's most notorious traitors, but until you read Sheinkin's story, you can truly say you know more than yoEveryone thinks they know the story of America's most notorious traitors, but until you read Sheinkin's story, you can truly say you know more than you did before you started. His well-researched and honest portrayal makes it easy to follow, understand, and enjoy. There's a tad about his childhood and upbringing, his foray into leadership during war and battles, his insatiable need for power and control, his love life and children, who he continually abandoned for the call of fighting, and eventually his second love after his first died, and their pairing as conspirators in bringing an attack upon Americans that he was supposed to be fighting with (and his childlike tantrum need to lead West Point as part of the plan).
There is so much inside the book that those who enjoy reading war novels would absolutely adore the book and a cold, hard look at the man makes it easy to understand both his genius as well as his sad decent in to ambiguity in England once he was 'found out'. I especially enjoyed Sheinkin's devil's advocate, after you've read the story of Arnold, that if this last event hadn't happened, he would have gone down in history as one of the greatest in battle, especially at the Battle of Saratoga. Hmmm, food for thought. ...more
I absolutely adored Anahita's Woven Riddle and thought I would absolutely love this one too, but for reasons I can't truly explain, I didn't like it. I absolutely adored Anahita's Woven Riddle and thought I would absolutely love this one too, but for reasons I can't truly explain, I didn't like it. It didn't grab me at the beginning and I hung on for a few chapters, but it still didn't catch me. I didn't feel the shock of Anahita's kidnap on the eve of her wedding and dreaded what would happen next.
Perhaps if I'd read it soon after reading Anahita's Woven Riddle, I could have gotten into it. ...more
I enjoyed the super-smart math whiz, Dahlia, and her life's situation where she'd like to make an impact. She joins a motley crew of young up-and-comeI enjoyed the super-smart math whiz, Dahlia, and her life's situation where she'd like to make an impact. She joins a motley crew of young up-and-comers with different skills that would be useful in taking down C8, a super conglomerate that is hellbent on taking over everything.
Myers' world is imagined wonderfully with an even mix of Cory Doctorow and Plum Ucci with the cynicism of Shusterman's Unwind series. That I dug. What I didn't like is all of the other characters thrown in and mixed up into one bag. I felt confused and overwhelmed by all of the characters, their backgrounds, their interests, their intentions. If the story unravels in a series, which I can imagine it will, I would have preferred learning a bit about a few characters at a time as they were introduced rather than pushing them all together at once.
I see many fans of this book and series. I like the mix of multiculturalism, the dire situation that the world is experiencing through greed, terrorism, by hitting agriculture and water especially. Love this kind of dystopia, just not in the presentation it's in. ...more
The second in a series of Gilded Age mysteries, O’Brien sets the tone, atmosphere, and hardships in the time period of the late nineteenth century. FoThe second in a series of Gilded Age mysteries, O’Brien sets the tone, atmosphere, and hardships in the time period of the late nineteenth century. Focusing on a meatpacking tycoon and storied Union army captain, Jed Crake, there are two separate mysteries. One of the missing young women, namely helpless chambermaids, but specifically, the newest victim whose disappearance hadn’t garnered any attention until months later. While Prescott and Associates joins the investigation, their prime suspect, Crake, ends up dead himself. Not only must the private investigators piece together the dead girls’ killer connection and how they were disastrously disposed of using the meatpacking plant itself, but who among the elite in and around Saratoga Springs may have wanted Crake dead. This undercurrent of dark family secrets, political payoffs, and adultery make for a strong historical mystery that’s as much about the characters as the time period’s lawlessness.
The pacing of details, character introductions, and uncovered history keeps readers engaged as they sift through the clues in an authentic whodunit. While the late 1890s in upstate New York is a prominent feature of the story, most young adults would not gravitate toward it unless they are fans of the genre or want to read about the history in their own backyard, yet adults will appreciate its accurate portrayals and genuine mysteriousness. ...more
A perfectly succinct story with many immigrant voices of their experiences passing through Angel Island near San Francisco including the dark history A perfectly succinct story with many immigrant voices of their experiences passing through Angel Island near San Francisco including the dark history of the detention facilities that moved more slowly than Ellis Island, simply because of the US policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act that disallowed many, forcing others to lie-- creating "paper sons", taking wives that had never been introduced before, and taking low paying jobs for a chance at success and taking care of their families back in China (or other Asian countries), though the story also included Russian, Japanese, and even Jewish citizens escaping persecution by traveling through Russia, China, and Japan to set sail to the United States.
The pictures make the story as much as the story itself. A very useful story and one that builds knowledge....more
I was disappointed in two ways by this book, first its readability and second by its presentation.
I thought that the writing was disjointed with not I was disappointed in two ways by this book, first its readability and second by its presentation.
I thought that the writing was disjointed with not a touch of storytelling that could spellbind someone into being back in the Civil War solely based on the goings-on of the photographers and the movement of troops and their generals. The second was the presentation of the photos. The layout of pictures at the beginning of chapters were generally scrapbook-like when each one is valuable. I disliked they were labeled as "figure" and the description was hidden on another page or on an opposite page. Each one merited a half page or full page and should have had a caption on that page with it.
A great nonfiction about courtroom trials that put "the devil on trial". It focuses on the pre-history, occurrences during the trial and the aftermathA great nonfiction about courtroom trials that put "the devil on trial". It focuses on the pre-history, occurrences during the trial and the aftermath making a very informative chapter for each. I was especially impressed with the excerpts from the trials and people involved, making it a wonderful addition to be using in an AP Language class. The pictures complement the stories, which are digestible, not long-winded and truly tell a story about American (un)justice. The tagline about all the types that we're worried about is great and they truly represent each one, fairly currently! ...more
An absolutely enthralling story about 'the curious lives of human cadavers'. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Roach's voice-- her wit, humor, and tAn absolutely enthralling story about 'the curious lives of human cadavers'. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed Roach's voice-- her wit, humor, and theories as well as descriptions of both alive and dead people make the story more enjoyable and academic. She posits so much about the people who work with cadavers, people who wish to donate their bodies, what the discoveries have meant, animal experimentation, and everything in between.
There is so much to learn from the approach to this book that I highly recommend it. Not only does it discuss the religious, political, scientific and economics of cadavers, but their future and the future of her own body, which I appreciate.
A simple story about the cost of war on one family who made it through the Holocaust. Written about the Blumenthal family, Walter and Ruth and their kA simple story about the cost of war on one family who made it through the Holocaust. Written about the Blumenthal family, Walter and Ruth and their kids, Albert and Marion, were refugees in other countries, sent on trains to camps, worked to skeletal frames, and freed by Russian forces only to make the agonizing decision to leave Europe behind for the United States. The family's story is easy to understand and as much as any Holocaust story, hard to understand that something like this could have happened. The pictures speak for what doesn't get said and the family's words themselves are a great witness to their feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and then finally rebirth, even as they lost Walter, soon after their freedom, from disease.
In the Tankborn trilogy’s final installment, Rebellion comes as a welcome and fulfilling end. Sandborn’s world is as complicated and thought-provokingIn the Tankborn trilogy’s final installment, Rebellion comes as a welcome and fulfilling end. Sandborn’s world is as complicated and thought-provoking as its predecessors. Reeling from a bomb blast, both Kayla and Devak are under the impression that their futures together do not exist because both are told the other did not survive. Yet readers know this to be false and hope that both characters will find themselves and each other in their new roles: Kayla working for an underground terrorist organization, and Devak as a minor-status trueborn who still pines for Kayla, a GEN or genetically-engineered nonhuman. Their love should not exist and makes for a romantically-themed science fiction trilogy. The adventure and genetically engineered world is equally enchanting as it is frustrating because this complicated science fiction thriller needs a glossary, included at the end. Fans of the series will have already been exposed to the jargon similar to past novels like Anderson’s Feed or Westerfeld’s Uglies series and will easily move through the book. The Tankborn trilogy will sit well on the shelves for those who appreciate richly-developed worlds and complicated storylines, culture, and relationships. To that end, Rebellion cannot be read without first reading the others and followers will want to see it through. ...more
Sadly I think I might be losing interest in the series. Not because it's not inventive, unique, and adventurous but because I dislike series that takeSadly I think I might be losing interest in the series. Not because it's not inventive, unique, and adventurous but because I dislike series that take longer and longer to get something done. Case in point: Cress is 510 pages long and when I waned in interest I skimmed and ended at the last few chapters, where, after reading them, thought okay, that's what I expected and it seems like I didn't miss much. I need a series to still be succinct-- and I can keep interest in a series, so it's not that I hate them all. I will still hold Cinder in high esteem but then it just got too big for its britches. ...more
I liked the straight forward approach Wright took in declaring everything he knew before, during, and after the death of Emmett "Bobo" Till, since WriI liked the straight forward approach Wright took in declaring everything he knew before, during, and after the death of Emmett "Bobo" Till, since Wright was there when Till whistled at the white woman and there in the house when he was taken by two men from their house on a visit from Chicago to Mississippi. It truly is Simeon's story.
There aren't gratuitous details nor is there a pity party, just the facts. It's about the Jim Crow south, it's about growing up black, it was about "playing by the rules" and the fact that their family suffered endlessly during and after the death because even with the turmoil of the Civil Rights movement, there was still much fear, especially since neither was convicted of anything.
A great connection with Common Core about perspective/voice. ...more
A murder mystery similar to Ferguson's Christopher Killer series, this one has a great cast of characters that readers enjoy rooting for. And it's alsA murder mystery similar to Ferguson's Christopher Killer series, this one has a great cast of characters that readers enjoy rooting for. And it's also tamer than something like Lyga's new serial killer series, Game. Two girls and one boy, Alexis, Nick and Ruby all belong to a volunteer Search and Rescue team where they use their training and outdoor skills to help with rescuing those hiking. Ruby is redhead who is odd but comes alive and has friends at SAR, which concerns her parents because she shouldn't be so obsessed, Alexis, who struggles with a mentally ill mother, and Nick who is the token boy, light-skinned black who is also a bit of an oddity. Together they fit and are friends.
On a rescue to find an autistic man lost in the woods, they discover a teenager's lifeless body. Clearly strangled. Ruby's interest in forensics and crime are piqued and she becomes entrenched in solving the mystery, especially since more "homeless" girls are turning up strangled in different forests and woods around the area. But Ruby also becomes a target of the serial killer.
Definitely fast-paced and intriguing, there are many students who would be interested in reading this because many are fans of crime-shows themselves. The characters all have individual voices and their home situations are a bonus in fleshing them out as well-rounded characters on a quest to solve the mystery. Everything is expertly placed and make for a wonderful mystery addition to YA literature. ...more
**spoiler alert** I didn't expect to like it and ended up loving all 350 pages of it. The characterization and setting make for a provocative story ab**spoiler alert** I didn't expect to like it and ended up loving all 350 pages of it. The characterization and setting make for a provocative story about family, intrigue, political power, and romance with every man taking mistresses and even the girls getting in on the action. There are certainly chapters and situations that make it a high school book, but the overall feel could be anything from 8th grade and up.
There are heirs to the crown and then there are the rightful princes and princesses. Leopold is the bachelor extraordinaire and Wolf is the second son, who doesn't really have to worry about the throne so he can fight, carouse and marry who he wants. Marie is going to marry Leopold because it would make a wonderful alliance though there is not real love there. Marie would prefer to be with her bodyguard while also having a lose friendship with Wolf, since they grew up together. Marie even tries to run away with Gill toward the end of the book.
It isn't without magic as Merlin is a presence as well as glamour. Allewyn "Winnie" is Marie's friend and a daughter of magic. She creates a glamour and for the middle half of the book, has assumed Marie's place as "Marie" is trotted out to court for their engagement announcement. Hopefully to succeed in tricking everyone and assuming the royal life, while Marie can be with Gill. But when Leo engages in a duel with Louis to uphold the honor of Leo's mistress, Isabelle, who no longer wants to be mistress, Leo is killed.
It is discovered that Leo was actually a bastard child and part of a plot to have him killed regardless so that Wolf can assume the throne as rightful heir and marry Marie, who is amenable to this arrangement because of their life-long friendship.
The book is a more romantic and saucy version of Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns-- more like a YA version of HBO's The Tudors. There are gowns, balls, treachery, debauchery, and more. A great first in a series that I would follow. ...more
For a pint-sized package, this book sure brings the research and explanations about teenagers, showcasing the history of the teenager in America from For a pint-sized package, this book sure brings the research and explanations about teenagers, showcasing the history of the teenager in America from the legitimate birth of the world to fashion, entertainment, impact on history, and trends.
The mark of a good nonfiction is making it worth talking about and not only do I want to talk about the book but I've learned information to spread to others. The pictures are fun to compare and showcase how much of an impact advertising and marketing has had on that population.
Ashleigh's parents' reputations as public school servants (principal and pre-school administrator) are on the line after the fallout of Ashleigh's decAshleigh's parents' reputations as public school servants (principal and pre-school administrator) are on the line after the fallout of Ashleigh's decision to take a nude photo of herself and send it to her then-boyfriend Kaleb as a way to get his attention when he's playing baseball and she's at a friend's party the summer before he goes to college and she's still in high school. What happens is that Kaleb gets angry after Ashleigh gets a bit bitchy and skeptical once Kaleb is at college and breaks up with her. In his rage, he sends her nude photo to a few friends which then goes viral. The book is the fallout, including Ashleigh's community service in creating literature about sexting as well as Kaleb's apology in front of lawyers to Ashleigh, weary and nervous that he will possibly be labeled a sex offender because she was underage (distributing child pornography) and he, over eighteen, and sharing it.
Real life lessons, good writing, and well-rounded characters make for a great message book. ...more
I was disappointed that I couldn't like this jam-packed book more. My major reasons for disliking it is the lack of narrative with every page or everyI was disappointed that I couldn't like this jam-packed book more. My major reasons for disliking it is the lack of narrative with every page or every other page being a different chapter that while generally chronological, didn't flow well. With a fully-blown picture on every right-page, it think that also disrupted the flow.
What I did like was that it was FULL of information. He even crammed it in to little quick facts on top of the writing of each chapter as well as pictures with captions. I just wished that the book either was longer to flow better or written differently so as to capture the importance of every battle, fight, or political issue related to the Vietnam War. It absolutely covers everything from massacres and offensives to anti-war protests, music, women, Vietnamese, as well as the politics and presidencies and what was happening state-side. ...more
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