Enemies In the Orchard by Dana Vanderlugt (2023) is, as the Kirkus Review says, “an emotionally layered vision of a difficult moment in history”. ThisEnemies In the Orchard by Dana Vanderlugt (2023) is, as the Kirkus Review says, “an emotionally layered vision of a difficult moment in history”. This is an excellent novel in verse about actual events that occurred in Michigan during World War II for readers 10 and older.
Claire is a 13-year-old farm girl in Michigan in 1944 when farms were struggling during harvest time to keep up with all the work. War World II is raging in Europe and Japan and young Michigan boys of 18 or older are part of the war effort - rather than being home helping with the harvest in their communities. The farm Claire’s family works on has fruit trees and the harvest requires many hands to be successful. Claire’s brother, who is a young American soldier in the war in Europe, was always important to a successful harvest and she misses him, and she is worried about his safety.
During the War the government of the United States had a program for captured German prisoners of war (POW). These prisoners were housed in makeshift prisons in America, called labor camps. The POW’s were available to do needed labor in America. One of the prison labor camps was near Allegan, Michigan. Claire’s father decided to have a group of these POW’s work on the farm to harvest the fruit trees. One of those POW’s is named Karl.
This novel is written in verse with poems from both Claire and Karl. This way we are learning to point-of-view of each of these characters. To say the least, this is a thought-provoking story.
Claire is relieved that the help they needed is happening and she is also not comfortable with young German soldiers in their fields. One of the young German soldiers, Karl, could speak English. As a result, Claire’s father gave him directions which he translated into German and communicated to the other POWs. Plus, her father had Karl deliver the picked fruit to Claire in the barn - where she sold it to the public. Claire and Karl are enemies and human.
As a result of being captured and being held prisoner, Karl is questioning his past as a member of Hitler’s Youth and as part of the Nazi army. He sees that much of what he thought was true, was in fact, untrue. Americans have hearts, he is being treated fairly by Claire’s father, and is a human, a prisoner, a member of the enemy army and he seems to sincerely want to help Claire and her family with the farm. Claire’s brother dies in Europe in the war while the German POWs are in the orchards. This is an extreme loss for the family. Claire’s mother, father, and she herself are devastated. Claire ends up doing her mother’s chores because she is lost in her grief of losing her son.
Claire is giving up much of her young life to help her family with the farm and she does like having Nazi POW soldiers being in the orchards and she knows it is the only way to bring in the harvest. Claire and Karl got to know each other and as the fall went on, they have a strange friendship developing. Strange because they were both enemies and coworkers.
Bill Boerman-Cornell, a professor of Education and co-author of Young Adult Literature and Spirituality: How to Unlock Deeper Understanding with Class Discussion says of the book - Enemies in the Orchard, “Throughout the book, though, the theme remains. Seeing people as people is more important and more true than persisting in seeing them as simplified cartoon versions of themselves that are easier to hate, to ridicule, and to sell short.”
This book is a complex, serious and sobering story of a complex time in history and the author, Dana Vanderlugt tells the story exceptionally well.
Vanderlugt explains in her author’s after-note that “Clare and Karl’s story is a work of fiction. They aren’t real people, though their lives are based on my family history and stories I’ve read about the soldiers and families whose lives intersected on American soil while war raged on in Europe. Most historical sources paint a fairly idyllic picture – not perfect, but not adversarial - of this America experiment of bringing the enemy home to do the work left behind while we sent soldiers to Europe. While I worked hard to maintain historical accuracy, I also hope readers will come to better understand the toll and complexity of war, as well as the dangers of nationalism and blind loyalty. My attempt is not to excuse or justify the horrors of the Holocaust or the evil that soldiers like Karl were wrapped up in, but to better understand it and prevent it from happening again. In portraying Karl’s humanity, I hope it can be understood how German youth raised under Hitler’s vile regime were used as his weapons, while also becoming his victims.”
The content of this novel is both real and serious. War, prisoners of war, death, trying go on with life during this turmoil. In my opinion the author has made the story interesting and accessible to young readers.
I recommend this story and suggest that it is that kind of story that lends itself to being read aloud by a parent or grandparent. It also would make an excellent classroom read aloud for 3rd though 7th grade. A story like this is likely to lead to new knowledge and several good conversations. Further, this would be a good book to add to a bibliography for a middle or high school class studying World War II....more
Huda F Cares? written and illustrated by Huda Fahmy (2023) is a graphic novel for readers 12 on up. It’s a fictionalized story of a Muslim American faHuda F Cares? written and illustrated by Huda Fahmy (2023) is a graphic novel for readers 12 on up. It’s a fictionalized story of a Muslim American family very much like the Huda Fahmy’s family of origin. Fahmy is one of five daughters born and raised in Dearborn Michigan of an Egyptian father and a Syrian mother. Huda F Cares? is a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Huda F Cares? is entertaining, educational, and gently thought provoking. Huda is the main character of the book and she and her family are proud of their roots and their religion. At the same time Huda is self-conscious about some of the practices of her faith – such as praying in public. Our current times in America see many people being “otherized”. Muslim American are among those who find themselves to be “otherized.” This is an interesting, realistic, positive, often funny story that I highly recommend. I also recommend Fahmy’s first book in this series: Huda F Are You?, another outstanding graphic novel for readers 12 on up. ...more
Not all sequels build on the strengths of the first book. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus (2019) by Dusti Bowling is an excellent sequel to BNot all sequels build on the strengths of the first book. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus (2019) by Dusti Bowling is an excellent sequel to Bowling’s first book, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017) which received multiple highly positive reviews. Aven Green, the main character of both books, was born with no arms and does everything she can with her feet. Everything from writing to eating. This is not a fictional condition. This specific limb difference does occur. In fact, as I mention in my review of the first book, Dusti Bowling asked two women who have lived with this specific limb difference to read her book before it was published to let her know if she had accurately portrayed her character Aven Green. Both assured her she had. Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus is an authentic next step for Aven, who is now fourteen years old and beginning high school in a building of over 2000 students. High school is a challenge for many and, as Kirkus writes in their review, “Those preparing to ‘slay the sucktastic beast known as high school’ will particularly appreciate this spirited read.” I agree. Once again, Bowling doesn’t dodge tough and realistic topics. Among them are the awkwardness of adolescence, disability, adoption, aging and death, friendship, targeted humiliation from schoolmates, family, self-confidence, and self-acceptance. As in her first book about Aven . . . Bowling masterfully has created a story that doesn’t become a sterile textbook of how to handle the trials and challenges of adolescence. The plot, subplots, characters, and pacing all ring true. Both books, Momentous Events . . . and Insignificant Events . . . are written to be accessible to and appeal to middle school audiences – even with the setting of Momentous Events . . . is a high school. I wholeheartedly recommend this book....more
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (2017) is a well written middle school fictional novel that earned starred reviews from Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (2017) is a well written middle school fictional novel that earned starred reviews from the School Library Journal and the ALA Booklist. Bowling created believable and likeable characters, an original and unusual setting, and social and emotional content that seldom appears in young adult literature. This is story of a thirteen-year-old girl, Aven Green, who was born with no arms and does everything she can with her feet. This limb difference does occur. In fact, Dusti Bowling asked two women who have lived with this specific limb difference to read her book before it was published to let her know if she had accurately portrayed her character Aven Green. Both assured her she had. Aven grew up in a town that saw her grow-up - as a baby, a preschooler, and a school age girl - that was different, and they were used to her. So, she was able to be herself. She could write holding a pencil in between her toes and eat her lunch in the cafeteria with her feet and play soccer. Then her father lost his job and the family had to move to a new town in Arizona where her father got a job to manage a rundown theme park. As a result, Aven had to start a new school in a new town as a person with no arms. Not knowing anyone and trying to fit in - in a new middle school would be hard for anyone. It was hard for Aven. It took a while before she met two other classmates that also were not fitting in. A very self-conscious boy with Tourette’s syndrome and shy overweight boy. These three bonded by eating lunch together far away from the cafeteria and other students. I know – that sounds like a heavy load for a middle school read. And, if it weren’t for Bowling’s skill in creating an engaging plot, strong characters, dramatic tension, and lots of humor- this book would not have earned any of these and more accolades: Library of Congress's 52 Great Reads List Autumn 2017 Indie Next Pick Junior Library Guild Selection 2017 Cybils Award Finalist Youth One Book, One Denver Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Austin Public Library Best Tween Fiction The Children's Book Review Best Kids Books of 2017 for Tweens and Preteens The News & Observer Best Books of 2017 for Young Readers 2017 Nerdy Book Club Awards Middle Grade Fiction
And one more thing, the old theme park has a mystery to solve. Aven and her two school friends set out to solve the mystery. It turns out the answers to the mystery were never anticipated. I found this to be an exceptionally fulfilling read. This is a book about differences. Moreover, it is a book about learning about and accepting yourself and learning about how you might be yourself with others. I highly recommend this book as a family or classroom read aloud. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is a book for everyone nine years old and beyond. ...more
A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis (2023) is a YA mystery that could be an assigned book in a social studies class because it demonstrates sA Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis (2023) is a YA mystery that could be an assigned book in a social studies class because it demonstrates small town America and the real social issues of: class, power, privilege, stereotypes, relationships across differences, and gender that often play out in small towns. I like a good mystery and I get hooked on a realistic story that juxtapositions differences. McGinnis has accomplished both targets in this contemporary work: A Long Stretch of Bad Days. McGinnis has created compelling characters in Lydia Chass our narrator and Bristal Jamison. Lydia and Bristal are starting their senior year at the public high school in the town of Henley. As the school year starts, they both are informed that they must each earn one more credit than they had planned, due to an error the school staff made. This lack of one credit is all that Lydia nd Bristal share. Other than that, they have very, very little in common. Lydia comes from an established family of status in town, the Chass’s have always had generational financial security, her father is an established attorney in town, she has plans to apply to and get into an elite university, and she is used to having things work out for her. Bristal is a Jamison and Jamison’s have also been in Henley for generations. And, they have not been achievers. If Bristal were to graduate from high school, she would be the first Jamison to do so. The Jamison’s are poor, they often display rule breaking and/or delinquent behavior, live in trailers, and are used to fighting (sometimes literally) to get by. These two seniors are being told they need to earn one more history credit and the principal suggests they earn it by doing a project to highlight the history of their town, Henley, Ohio. For interesting reasons Lydia and Bristal decide to work together on a project of local history. They decide to study a stretch of a few days that took place 30 years ago, in 1994, when a tornado hit the town and then a flash flood occurred leaving two citizens dead, and one citizen went missing and remains unaccounted for. Lydia and Bristal set out to uncover the truth, expose secrets (should they find any), and share their findings widely. Their differences are not easy to overcome. They are truly two people with lives and world views that are dramatically different. The story they are uncovering is compelling them forward to find a way to work together. For their own reasons, they are drawn to find out what really happened in the stretch of bad days back in 1994. McGinnis is successful in getting the readers’ attention and keeping it! She has created a strong cast of well-developed characters beyond the two main characters. I recommend this book to readers who like a good mystery with a dynamic plot and written very well. ...more
My Name Is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson (2011) is an outstanding YA novel (National Book Award Finalist) about Inupiaq, (then known as Eskimos) whMy Name Is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson (2011) is an outstanding YA novel (National Book Award Finalist) about Inupiaq, (then known as Eskimos) white, and Indian youth and their experiences in a boarding school located above the Arctic Circle hundreds of miles from their homes. This highly engaging story follows the young people from 1960 to 1965. This is an exceptional and accessible story for YA readers. It is, in my opinion, historical fiction at its best. My Name Is Not Easy is an authentic rendition of boarding school life and of the young people experiencing life away from their traditions, home, and loved ones. At the center of the story is Luke, whose name is not easy to pronounce and that name is not revealed until near the end of the story. The students at this school and many of the events in the novel are based on actual occurrences. The author, Debby Dahl Edwardson, is married to the person who the character Luke is based on. This book reflects intense hardships, extreme loss, and true isolation. It is also rich in believable characters, intriguing plot lines, and the revealing of important realities from America’s past. This is not a gratuitous interpretation of the past. As a result, it is a valuable entrance into, or complimentary addition to, forming an understanding of a part of history many young people may not be aware of. I believe many adults would find this a valuable read. I highly recommend this book....more
The War Outside by Monica Hesse (2018) is one very good book young adult novel! Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author, says it better thaThe War Outside by Monica Hesse (2018) is one very good book young adult novel! Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling author, says it better than I do when she states: "Once again, Monica Hesse delivers an incredibly compelling and beautifully researched novel. The War Outside vividly brings readers into an underrepresented and dark period of American history. A must-read for fans of historical fiction.” Also considered a “must read” by receiving these acknowledgements: A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018, the 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick, and the 2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. My point is that this is a good read! It is set in American in the Texas’s Crystal City Internment Camp in the year 1944. This camp detains both German and Japanese families. It is young adult historical fiction. Those three sentences are facts. Hesse creates the rest of the story about a German girl and a Japanese girl. Both detainees. Both have complicated family issues. Both are nearing the end of their high school years. Both are trying to navigate their lack of freedom and prepare for the future – hoping they will have futures when the war ends. They develop a friendship and a crush. And they don’t want to be detained. They are prisoners. They want to be teenagers. The story that unfolds will grab you and you won’t want to put the book down. The reviewer from Book Riot reports: "I did not expect this book to knock me off my feet with its lyrical brilliance, vivid story-line, and heart wrenching ending. Let's just say, if all historical fiction was like this book, it'd be my most-read genre." I recommend this book. ...more
The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart (2022) is a YA novel for readers twelve and up. This is a beautiful story that realistically and sensitively addressThe Words We Keep by Erin Stewart (2022) is a YA novel for readers twelve and up. This is a beautiful story that realistically and sensitively addresses the topic of mental health in young adults as they live their lives. This novel has earned starred reviews from the School Library Journal, Kirkus Review, and Publishers Weekly. The School Library Journal writes: “Stewart authentically presents the subject matter and isn’t afraid to address the negative, including self-harm and the stigma facing those with mental illness. This book’s message—that people with mental illnesses are still human and trying to deal with their own problems of friends, family, and romance—is thoughtfully handled.” The main character is Lily, a high school junior. Two other important characters are Micah, Lily’s partner for an English project and Alice, Lily’s older sister. Each of these characters have mental health issues that range from bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, to obsessive compulsive disorder. The secondary characters of parents, siblings, friends, and teachers all add to this realistic tone of the content. Mental health is an issue for many young people. This is an exceptionally well written story that the Kirkus Review states: “. . . there’s an overpowering sense of hope underlined by an achingly sincere message: Speak up and get help if needed.” Truthfully, even though this book’s characters are middle class, these health issues are America’s challenge and impacts young people from all backgrounds. The current statistics in America are startlingly dramatic in the numbers of young people who need help. The Mental Health America 2023 Key Findings (https://mhanational.org/issues/2023/m...) reports that:16.39% of youth (age 12-17) have suffered from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. And that “59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. Further that, “6.34% of youth in the U.S. reported a substance use disorder in the past year.” ”No one would ever say that someone with a broken arm or a broken leg is less than a whole person, but people say that or imply that all the time about people with mental illness.” ~ Elyn R. Saks who is an associate dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School, an expert in mental health law, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship winner. The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart is an outstanding book. I recommend it to young adults, parents, grandparents, and teachers. I hope it generates conversation and action to expand mental health services for all youth across the country. ...more
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammond (2022) is an exceptional YA book crafted by a first-time author. Avery is a 17-year-old bi-racial only child of a BWe Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammond (2022) is an exceptional YA book crafted by a first-time author. Avery is a 17-year-old bi-racial only child of a Black college professor mother, and a White, consultant, father. They lived in Washington DC and as the book begins this family of three moves to rural Georgia to live with Avery’s grandmother - the mother’s mother. The grandmother is in the final months of her life. Avery’s mom and grandmother have been seriously estranged for over a decade. Avery cannot remember or figure out why. But they don’t get along. And living together now is clearly tense. This is Avery’s story and is also very much about her new friendships with two 17-year-olds from this small town in Georgia: Simone a Black next-door neighbor of Avery’s grandmother and Jade the White the daughter of a very rich and powerful family in town. This is a contemporary story with ‘windows and mirrors’ into the past. The character development is extraordinarily strong. Layers of family history are intriguingly revealed and as they are – the realities of family history and the Jim Crow South become front and center. The topics/issues that are woven into this terrific book include: being biracial, queer Black girls, the many dynamics of friendship, racial injustice, racial violence, generational discrimination, generational trauma, power dynamics in a small town, seniors in high school and their view of their future, and the joy and wonder of learning about yourself with others. Avery’s self-learning was stimulated in this story by her grandmother, Simone and Jade, her parents, her reflection on her past in DC, and her reflection of her grandmother’s and mother’s lives in Georgia. I recommend this book....more
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