Reviews (36)

READS AS FAST AS A DOWNHILL SLEDRIDE!
Wow--this book is hard to put down; it skims along as swiftly as the kids riding their sleds downhill (smuggling gold bullion right past Nazi soldiers), to be loaded aboard a camouflaged ship and taken to America for safe keeping. What was a simple, childhood pasttime has now beome a matter of life and death.

Based on a probably true story, but Fact or legend, it could well have happened this way. This exciting little book is a tribute to the courage and dedication to Freedom of the people of Norway during the winter of 1940, when Nazis invaded even this tiny village. No one thought they could be defeated, yet Peter's Uncle Viktor suggested a plan which involved school children in a fabulously daring smuggling adventure! If you want to read more about Scandinavian resistance to the Nazi's, try Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, set in Denmark. Snow Treasure is a literary treasure of tension, histoircal fiction which might have been historical fact!

SnOW trEasurE
Ok,when i got this book i thought it would realLY sUCK!! and guess what IT DID!!!i put this BOOK down several times the reason why i read it all the way thru is because i had to for my STUPID book report it has poor vocabulary, poor description, it confuses ME! this BOOK suCKS to the MAX!!

Best Book in the WORLD!!!!!
When I saw this book, I thought that it would be just a normal book with non_exciting parts and exciting parts. I read the first chapter and didn't put it down for the rest of the evening. I wouldn't have put it down if my dad almost yelled at me to PUT IT AWAY.
This book is about a boy and his friends who have their life in their hands. They have to hide a bunch of money and keep it secret from the Nazis. I would recomend tthis book to anyone who loves action and to learn a little bit about the Nazis.

Snow Treasure
The book I am reading is Snow Treasure. Well this book is about this boy whose name is Peter Lundstorm who never thought he would be a hero. The winter of 1940 was like no other. Nazi troops attacked where Peter lived. Well the only way Peter coud keep them from getting gold was to put the gold under all the children's sleds. Peter had to throw a snowball at the chief of the Nazi party.He did that because he tried to keep the chief from getting the gold. They put Peter on their ship.The Nazi party did not get the gold.That's all for my summary.

My review of snow treasure
Oh No! Nazi troops have come to Peter Lundstormdstorm's small village and they are trying to take it over. Peter and his friends must risk their lives and their country's treasure to save them. I hope you will read this book because it is a really, really good book. I think if you will read this book you will like it. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

April 3, 1778

He may be just thirteen, but Jonathan knows he's ready to go to the war against the British. He can handle a gun. He yearns to battle for glory, just like his brother and cousin.

So when Jonathan hears the tavern bell toll, calling men to fight, he runs to join them. He doesn't realize that in just twenty-four hours, his life will be forever altered -- by the war, by his fellow soldiers, and by the terrible choices he must make.

Reviews (61)

My Opinion
Jonathan is a 13 year-old boy who wants to join the Revolutionary War. His father will not let him but one day he found his chance and toke it. He realized that he should of listened to his father and stayed home for he would learn a lesson of a life time. The book it's self had a good plot but the fact that the book was over within 24 hours made the book seem long, dull, and confusing. How? In some chapters alot more happened then in other chapters. This book would have been good only if it spaced out the chapters and made the book last a few days or more and not just one

Outstanding Historal Fiction War Novel
Do you want to fight in a bloody battle or fight in a war? Well Jonathan did. If you do you should read The Fighting Ground, by Avi. This book is an amazing novel. Like I said I would recommed this book to people who love war. This book will change your mind.

Jonathan learns a lesson the hard way he doesn't listen to his parents and ends up in even more convenience. Jonathat changed a lot in the novel. He finally learns to listen to his parents and ends up hating war. In this novel Jonathan has a enemy which is himself, For not listening to his parent and made lots of lies up.

I would recommed this book for all ages. It changed my mind about war. This was one of the best novels I ever read. I like the way Avi speaks, makes the people in the book seem real. Avi is great at picks spot there so unqnie.

BOOOORRRIIIINNNGGG
We had to read this 50 page "novel" for English. I don't know anyone who enjoyed this 5-week torture book. I enjoy Avi's stuff, but come on! Give me a break!! DON'T BUY THIS!!! -A disgusted young author who's expecting better things from this particular writer.

Another Reveiw
This book is about a thirteen year old who wants to go to war when his father is wounded. He runs away after marching towards some hessians. then he gets captured by three hessians overall i think this book was pretty intersting.

An Alright Novel
The Fighting Ground by Avi wasn't all that I expected it to be. The back of the book describes it to be an action packed novel about a little boy named Jonathon whose father got wounded in a battle because he fought in the French and Indian War. So when the Hessians come to Trenton, Jonathon goes to fight in place of his dad. Although his dad is not aware that he is fighting, when all the other townsmen ask he says that his dad told him to come. I recommend this book to children who love war novels. ... ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color. "A fresh and moving story of a mother's dedication to acquire a coat for her daughter in post-World War II hard times. Anna's mother decides to trade the few valuables she has left for wool and for the services of a spinner, a weaver, and a tailor. Lobel's pictures do a tremendous job of evoking the period. Insightful and informative, this may make children consider how precious the ordinary can become in times of turmoil."--(starred) Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Terrific Post-War Upbeat Book
This book is a classic, and was taped by Barbara Bush as part of the Presidential Literacy Project. It begins in a post-war environment, where no one has any money. The story is not only about how a coat is made, but also about how Anna's mother trades her posessions for wool and the services of the spinner, weaver, and tailor in order to make the coat. It culminates at a Christmas party, where all of the people who helped to make the coat are invited to Anna's house, and she even goes back to thank the sheep. The illustrations are well done, and the repetitive text makes it a story that is appropriate for children from 3yrs.(my son's age) to second graders which I have taught.

About Anna's New Coat
A New Coat for Anna is a good book because it shows the cycle of making a coat. The book shows how hard it was to get a coat long ago in World War II. I think it is very educational. I bet there are lots of other people who really want to read this book. I liked this book because it was interesting how Anna's mother had to use her special things to help Anna get a coat. She had to trade the things because there wasn't much money because of the war. At the end, Anna celebrated with everybody that helped her make her coat because she was so happy that she had a new coat. I am eight and I love the book.

A heart-warming story about the harsh realities of war
As the post-war child of a family that suffered through World War II in the Netherlands, I can say that "A New Coat for Anna" has the ring of authenticity. In many ways, it reminds me of first-hand stories I heard from my parents and older siblings about the hardships--and the creativity--of ordinary people during those very difficult years.

This well-written story takes the reader through a year in Anna's life, as her mother arranges to have a new coat made by bartering with her neighbors. She trades jewelry for wool, and then a lamp to have it spun. Anna and her mother pick lingonberries together, which they use to dye the yarn red. The bartering continues as the yarn is woven and then tailored into a coat.

The story concludes with a Christmas celebration, "the best they had in a long time," where Anna invites the farmer, the spinner, the weaver, and the tailor to enjoy a Christmas cake together. Anna also takes time to thank the sheep on Christmas Day.

Even the candles on the tree in Anita Lobel's cozy illustration remind me of the Christmas trees of my childhood. Whenever I share this inspiring tale with children, I wax nostalgic and tell about the candles on our trees.

"A New Coat for Anna" drives home the harsh realities of war and its impact on the daily lives of children... and their neighbors. But it's done in a heartwarming way. Highly recommended.

It was interesting and sad.
I read this book in my third grade reading class. The best part was when Anna fed the sheep apples and gave them paper necklaces. It was sad because they didn't have enough money to buy her a new coat.

I loved it because it helped me learn about careers.
I read this story in my second grade class. This story interested me because I learned about careers. The one that interested me most was the weaver. I didn't really know what a weaver was before I read this story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In spare, almost biblical prose, Gary Paulsen writes of the horrors of combat in a Civil War novella that puts a powerful, more contemporary spin on Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage. Based on the life of a real boy, it tells the story of Charley Goddard, who lies his way into the Union Army at the age of 15.Charley has never been anyplace beyond Winona, Minnesota, and thinks war would be a great adventure. And it is--at first--as his regiment marches off through cheering crowds and pretty, flag-waving girls. But then comes the battle. Charley screams, "Make it stop now!" disbelieving that anything so horrible could be real. Paulsen is unsparing in the details of what actually happens on the battlefield: the living men suddenly blown into pieces, the agony and fear, the noise and terror, the stinking corpses. After many battles, Charley is wounded and sent home an old man before he is 20, his will to live destroyed by combat fatigue--leaving him with a "soldier's heart." Paulsen has received the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the ALAN Award, and several Newbery Honor awards for previous work, but this superb, small masterpiece transcends any of his earlier titles in its remarkable, memorable intensity and power. (Ages 12 to 15) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (124)

The Horror of Combat
Soldier's Heart is a historical fiction novel by Gary Paulsen that focuses on one boys experiences during the Civil War. Fifteen year old Charley Goddard, lies about his age so that he can join the First Minnesota Volunteers, which were part of the shooting war around 1861. Charley thought at first the shooting war was just an adventure. He later found out that the shooting war was actual combat on the front lines. Charley fought battle by battle and literally saw the "horror of combat" and learned how to survive through all the battles. Soldier's Heart is based on a true account of a soldier from the Civil War, which really makes this book even more spectacular. The theme could be focused around a numerous amount of things, but mainly I believe the most important ones are: survival and responsibility. Charley goes through some tries and tribulations in order to survive and from the very beginning he was responsible by wanting to fight for and defend his country. This book was GREAT--for any age group!!!!

Gary Paulsen writes another fine novel.
Gary Paulsen's fantastic novel, Soldier's Heart, is an epic story about a fifteen-year-old Minnesota boy, Charley Goddard. Charley joins the army just in time to be sent out in the Civil War battlefield. The trip from Minnesota to the south was extravagant for this young soldier, but what he saw out in the bloody southern battlefields was nothing less than tragic for such an innocent young man. A lot the men that were in Charley's unit were rapidly dying, and he could not believe that he had made it through the battles that took so many of the men he once knew. As the novel progresses, Charley becomes less of a boy and more of a man very quickly through his experiences fighting the southern Rebels. Throughout his time in the Union army, his personality, opinions, and heart mature to that of a soldier's.

Once again, Gary Paulsen's ties to Minnesota are brought into the plot. His writing style is also very similar to that of which is in his other books, making Soldier's Heart very characteristic of Paulsen and his writing. As always, his words flow very smoothly and the storyline is very easy to follow.

Paulsen's novel is very easy to read and is suitable for anyone around the age of fourteen or older. Some of the contents of the novel are graphic and some of the language is slightly questionable for younger readers. Regardless, the detailed language of the novel is justified and is a necessary element for the realism of the story. I definitely recommend anyone around the age of fourteen or older to sit down and enjoy the writing of Gary Paulsen in the novel Soldier's Heart.

GOOD
This book is very good. It is about a boy named Charlie Goddard who is only 15 years old and wants to fight in the civil war. He pretends to be over eighteen and thinks the war is going to be fun and exciting. He nearly gets killed and learn how bad the war really is. This book is great if you know about the civil war and it always keeps you at the edge of your seat

Mike's REVIEW
I listened to this book in an hour and a half. It seemed much shorter, as it was packed with action and interesting things. It is the story of a young 15 year-old boy named Charlie as he fights in the Civil War. He is in the Minnesoata regiment, along with about a thousand others. He lies about his age in order to get into the Union Army. At first it is luxurious trains, and wonderful prades, with girls giving them candy. But then they begin to enter combat. In the first battle he is in(Bull Run) he freezes up and does not fire at the enemy at first. Eventually the retyreat from the meadow. Charlie pees himself as they cross the meadow only to find that the confederate army has left. The entire book he faces internal conflict about leaving the army, and external conflict against the confederate army, and the ferocious elements. In the next battle Charlie kills many people and is covered in their blood. His commander sent him for medical help, while there he and another man build a wall of dead bodies to prevent the rough winds from hitting the wounded. Then the final battle discoussed in this piece of literature is the Battle Of Ghettysberg. This was a the battle with the highest number of casulties in the entire war. In this battle Charlie is involved in one final charge that would decide the war... would he live, would he die, would he be shot, would they win or lose? If you want the answers of these questions you will have to read the book.

Soldier's Heart
In the book, SOLIDER'S HEART, by Gary Paulsen Charley goes into the army even though he is under 18. He is only 15 and he wants to protect his country. Paul is Charley's father but he was killed when a horse ran over him. This was the Civil War in June of 1861. One of his most difficult conflicts wasn't being caught by the sergeant becuase he is only 15 years old. Charley almost got shot at one point by the rebels. Hey say somethings that no one should ever see in their life time like people dieing and suffering. It was set around a battlefield and Gettysburg. The book had its boring parts and parts where you were on the edge of your seat. This boook is boring theres only a couple times when you just dont wanna stop reading this book. i dont recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

During the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949, Lt. Gail Halvorsen and his squadron dropped over 250,000 candy-loaded parachutes and twenty tons of chocolate and gum to West Berlin's 100,000 children.He received thousands of letters from children, and only the most important were translated and given to him for his personal reply.This is the true story of a little girl named Mercedes, who waited anxiously for candy drops from Lt. Gail, known as the Chocolate Pilot. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Kind, heroic American soldier grants German child's wish
This true story of hope, kindness and heroism is a reminder that there are American soldiers who have provided a variety of rescues for people in other countries, a reminder that every child is important, a reminder that one caring person can change the world. There's even a subtle message of the power of prayer. The illustrations are as beautiful, sweet, and historically accurate as the story itself. The heart-warming text gives children a true living American hero to emulate in the Chocolate Pilot and a child to relate to in Mercedes. Grown-ups love this book as much as children do.

The Impact of Adults in the Life of a Child.
"Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot": This is a true Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped from the Sky by Margot Theis Raven, Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen" demonstrates the true meaning of the human sprit and the impact of that sprit upon generation after generation. While I was reading this story I was reminded of a saying which emphasizes how truly important our roles, as adults, are in the lives of children, ...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." This true story is truly remarkable and a must to share with adults and children.

Good way to instill history and the impact of simple actions
Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot is a true story from WWII. The prologue and epilogue include historical and personal notes that will be of interest to the reader. Set in Berlin in 1948 this book will educate children and teach them how simple actions can impact others. It is an enjoyable read. More information on a related book and website can be found within.

A story that needs to be told
As a children's librarian I have spent the past week reading Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot to my students. We have enjoyed every minute of it. Margot Raven brings Col. Halvorsen's story to an audience that is not familiar with the Berlin airlift. The book provides background and inspiration while recreating a moment in history. Have your chocolate close by when you read this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lively and inspirational, Katie Couric's sophomore picture book, reunites Ellie McSnelly and Carriet O'Toole, friends from her successful first book, The Brand New Kid. Once again, Couric's tale deals with the aches and pains of growing up, and in The Blue Ribbon Day, she encourages kids to deal positively with disappointment. Carrie doesn't make the soccer team with Ellie, but with some reassuring words from mom, "We're all good at something, you'll have your time to shine," she makes a new start, and ends up placing first in the school science fair.

Told in fun, jazzy rhymes that help mitigate Carrie's disappointment and foretell a happy ending, Couric's snappy, upbeat text is perfectly matched by Caldecott winner Marjorie Priceman's vibrant illustrations. Charming, engaging, and brimming with positivity, parents and kids alike will enjoy this reassuring tale. Daphne Durham

Amazon.com's The Significant Seven
Katie Couric answers the seven questions we ask every author.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?

A: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?

A: Encyclopedia Britannica
Any Motown compilation
To Kill a Mockingbird

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?

A: I told my mom that I didn't break one of the bedposts of her four-post bed during a pillow fight with my brother, but I eventually fessed up because the guilt was killing me!!!.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.

A: In the morning, on a patio with lots of flowers and birds chirping. A comfortable wicker chair. Sunshine, low humidity and a great cup of coffee.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

A: "Perky no more."

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?

A: Thomas Jefferson or Eleanor Roosevelt

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?

A: The power to cure serious illnesses.

... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"Unabashedly uplifting."
THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
Set in a world torn apart, where man enslaves his fellow man and freedom remains elusive, THE POWER OF ONE is the moving story of one young man's search for the love that binds friends, the passion that binds lovers, and the realization that it takes only one to change the world. A weak and friendless boy growing up in South Africa during World War II, Peekay turns to two older men, one black and one white, to show him how to find the courage to dream, to succeed, to triumph over a world when all seems lost, and to inspire him to summon up the most irrersistible force of all: the Power of One.
... Read more

Reviews (311)

Exceptional
I saw this movie a long time ago and thought it was great. When I went to a small bookstore in VT a couple yaars ago and got talking to the owner she recommended this book as her all time favorite. I read it and was blown away.Its been about a year since I finshed and I still keep Peekay in my heart.What a wonderful character and such an extraordinary story - I would highly remommend this to anyone who loves the underdog.

Should be called "The power of TRUE FRIENDS"
This book can be very interesting and very frustrating. I found theeffort helpful in giving me perspective to South African politics around World War II. Aside from the obvious unfairness of treatment of so many and so often in this book, if you read carefully there are some lessons in perserverance, self esteem, and the power of loyal friends. I never was sure if the main character was a really lucky guy for all of his life experiences or really unlucky? Almost at every stage of his success, there is a downside and personal cost. In many respects this is probably true in real life as well, however if you are looking for an easy to read "happy" novel - then this book is not it. Overall, my rating is more for the lessons of the book rather than the pleasure of the read. This type of reaction is very likely just what the author intended.

The Power Of One
The Power of One is a book of its own kind; it is unique in many ways. Bryce Courtenay seems to bind the reader to the character in an amazing way. Taking place in South Africa, a young boy named Peekay is only five when he is sent to an all Black Boarding school. Being the only white kid there he is immediately singled out as an outcast and constantly harassed and beaten.
The book continues to tell the story Peekay's life and how he grows up. He eventually comes under the influence of two men who become his mentors. One who is black man in prison named Geel Piet, who teaches him how to box, for it is Peekay's life long ambition to become Welterweight Champion of the world. The other man is a music professor named Doc, who has an obsession with cactuses and other plants. Doc becomes very close to Peekay and teaches him the importance of love and friendship. Its theses people that drive Peekay toward his dream of being boxing champion, they and give him the necessities to become a hero of the people of South Africa.
In the end the story tumbles to a terrible and bloody climax that will leave you feeling maybe a little disappointed because not every thing is resolved, but it is meant to be that way in order to keep it from being to cliché. Non-the less it is a refreshing and well-thought ending. If this book does not make your emotions stir and arouse the power of one in your self then it sure will make you want to try boxing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good humor, beautiful characters and a good boxing match. I thoroughly enjoyed this book front to back. It seemed to help give me a better under standing of why life is the way it is.

Beautiful, moving, interesting, inspiring-loved it!
I'm no fan of boxing, was not that interested in the history of South Africa, and have a hard time reading about children or subjugated races being mistreated. This was a book I had to read for a book club, and wasn't keen on getting started.That said, this book grabbed me from the first chapter and held me spellbound.

The protagonist, English boy Peekay, must first suffer in school at the hands of Afrikaaner bullies and an indifferent administration which offers him no protection. Soon, though, life gets better as he leaves school and benefits from various people, black and white, of various nationalities. The bad guys get their just desserts for the most part, and the good guys generally triumph.

Some may quibble that in real life, retribution is seldom served to brutal thugs as neatly and appropriately as it is in this book. Borman's rectal cancer was poetic justice. As for the Judge...!

This book ranks up there with "To Kill A Mockingbird", both in the fascinating way it gives the reader a strong sense of the time and place, and in the way the reader is able to empathize with even the most unsympathetic characters, even as they horrify us. It elevates the reader, even as it remains interesting and enjoyable.

Bad Book
This book was not worth reading.Unless you have a lot of extra time, don't waste your time reading this. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Highly Recommended
Katie and the Mona Lisa is a truly excellent book. My 4 yr old daughter likes to both draw and read. This is ideal for our bedtime reading -- it engages her, helping to her develop her imagination and learn a bit about art. I'm looking forward to going to an art museum, where I intend to ask my daughter which painting she'd like to crawl into! I also can't wait to buy the others in the series. Honestly!

Meet the Masters of the Italian Renissance
Katie is back visiting her favorite place, the art museum, with her Grandma. On this outing she stands in front of the picture of the Mona Lisa. "I wish I knew what is making you smile", she wonders. And with that, the Mona Lisa invites her into the painting. Katie steps over the frame and enters the world of the Italian Renaissance..... James Mayhew, author of Katie Meets the Impressionists, has written and illustrated another wonderfully inventive story, full of witty text and expressive artwork, that will transport youngsters back in time and send them on a very creative adventure. Poor Mona Lisa is sad and lonely, sitting in that chair without visitors for hundreds of years. So, Katie takes her "out" to meet new friends...They visit St. George from Raphael's St. George and the Dragon, dance with the beautiful women in Botticelli's Primavera and fly to Venice on Carpaccio's The Lion of St. Mark, causing a little trouble and leaving a bit of chaos in their wake. But fortunately, all is sorted out and put right in the end by the angel from da Vinci student's An Angel With a Lute. Katie and the Mona Lisa is an amusing and inspired story that will captivate children 4-8 with its magic and offers a terrific and imaginative introduction to the paintings of the Italian Renaissance.

A Captivating Introduction to Fine Art
I bought this book for my two year old daughter, and she loves it! The story itself is charming. As "Katie" steps into and out of various paintings in the art museum, she meets the people in the paintings. The author includes a little fact about each painting and/or artist within the text of the story. At the end of the story, the author gives more detailed information about every painting included in the book. The illustrations are also fabulous! Our whole family enjoys this book, and now our 2 year old recognizes the Mona Lisa when she sees "her." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lying in bed one moonlit night, Monique awakens to see what she thinksis a little ghost sitting at the foot of her bed, petting her cat. In the timethat her French village has been occupied by Nazi troops, Monique has come tobelieve that nothing can surprise her anymore. But when she discovers that thelittle ghost is in fact a Jewish girl named Sevrine, who is living in a hiddenroom in Monique's own basement, she is very surprised indeed! The two becomesecret friends, whispering and giggling late at night after their families havegone to bed. An unfortunate and alarming moment of discovery by a neighborforces the girls to reveal their friendship to Monique's mother, who has beenharboring Sevrine's family and others throughout the Nazi occupation.

Based on the true experiences of the author's great aunt, Marcel Solliliage,this poignant story is a good introduction to the terrors of Nazism, racism, andWorld War II. The emphasis is on simple friendship and quiet heroism, with anoccasional lapse into clichéd metaphor (butterfly as symbol of freedom).Any child can relate to the bewilderment the two friends experience in the faceof prejudice. Patricia Polacco has written and illustrated many other picturebooks, including ChickenSunday and Pink andSay. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Beautifully Historic Children's Book
This story is about Monique, a little girl living in Nazi occupied France. One night she discovers what she believes to be a ghost sitting on her bed. Later Monique discovers that the figure she saw was not a ghost, but a little Jewish girl named Sevrine who was hiding from the Nazis in Monique's basement.

Monique and Sevrine become close night-time friends. They play in the shadows of the night as Sevrine hides from the Nazis. Then one day Sevrine is discovered. Sevrine and her family are forced to flee from this little French town.

I was tremendously moved by this story, and my nine-year old daughter loved it as well. Patricia Polaco does a wonderful job of putting such a trying and horrible situation in words that a child can understand. I highly recommend this book.

The best book ever!
Acquainting readers with holocaust history, The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco successfully maintains virtuosity to a war tale of sadness and tragedy while still exploring a delicate balance between the horrors of war and the childish innocence of two little girls cheerfully building a friendship. Based on the life experience of the author/illustrator's aunt Monique, the girl protagonist discovers that her family is hiding a Jewish family in her home.
Secretly meeting and playing together each night after the other members of the families sleep, Monique and Sevrine build a poetic friendship full of hope, happiness, and a childish energy that defies the boundaries between war cultures. After a neighbor catches sight of the girls playing too close to the window, the girls realize that the secret hiding place might be suspected. The plot races onward to an exciting climax as Monique and Sevrine must divulge not only their secret friendship but also the new danger to their parents. Escaping to a new hiding place, Sevrine's family is whisked away into the dark night of the unknown, while Monique hopes for her friend's safety. A symbolic butterfly fluttering through the French family's garden later assures Monique that her friend must be alive and safe. An author's note in the end pages assures readers that Sevrine did survive the holocaust-although her parents were not as fortunate.
The characters, while handled lightly in words, convey roundness in the authentic sense of emotions as they run the gamut of fear, comfort, hate, and love. Convincing as a memoir, The Butterfly successfully conveys the quiet strength of individuals amidst trial.
Perfect as a delicate and sophisticated handling of a cruel time in history, The Butterfly provides an appropriate way to dialogue with children about the uglier side of humanity-without crossing into the gruesome or blatantly shocking (although also true) stories of war that sometimes make war books inappropriate for younger children. The Butterfly provides allusions to war crimes that will be understood by older children while still providing an eye-opening tale of friendship to younger children. Targeting the age range of 6-9, The Butterfly adeptly provides insight into the beauty of life while describing life's fragility.
Known as the author/illustrator of numerous books including Pink and Say, Patricia Polacco's pencil and watercolor illustrations highlight the contrast between the cruel and the innocent. The dust jacket of the book is a perfect symbol of the juxtaposition between innocence and cruelty since the front side of the cover depicts irises, a butterfly, and a young girl with warm watercolor tones and delicate chiaroscuro while flipping the book over reveals a Nazi officer with a hard-set jaw and unseen eyes with a swastika banner depicted in harsh black, gray, and browns. Polacco's story is an important history while her illustrations make that history palatable and vivid to child and adult viewers. Experiencing The Butterfly means contemplating unsettling human history while savoring the security of friendship.

The Butterfly
I found "The Butterfly" a very interesting book because it not only shows how Jews, but how non-Jews lived in fear in World War II. It tells how the little girl, Monique, is afraid of the "tall black boots" in her small French village. The "tall black boots" refer to the Nazi officers. It is not until Monique's friend, Monsieur Marc, is beaten and taken away by the officers when Monique finds out why the Nazis are in her village. One night Monique encounters a little "ghost girl" in her room that teaches Monique that she is not the only one afraid of the War. The little "ghost girl" turns out to be a Jewish girl named Severine hiding with her parents in Monique's unknown basement. It turns out that Monique's mother was hiding this secret from her. One night when Monique and Severine are playing in Monique's room when a neighbor sees them. The girls tell Monique's mother that someone had saw Severine and that Monique and her mother will be in trouble if they continue to harbor Severine and her family. That night, Monique and her mother take Severine and her parents to safety and Monique ends up in trouble. Will she ever be safe?

The Butterfly By Patricia Polacco
The book The Butterfly By patricia polacco is a story about a little girl during the 1940's, but her mom was hiding people in the basement.When all the people have to leave, even her best friend.But they will always have a gift from eachother to remember them.
I would recommend this book to whoever picks up this book.It has a little bit of everything a memior,a little bit of went on in history,it also has a lot of friendship.
In this book you will have a lot of vizualization,question,and a lot of craft. These will help you understand.

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco
I am a college student who wants to become an elementary school teacher. This book was read to us in one of my education classes and I fell in love with it. It will fit in with any unit on the Holocaust. ... Read more

Book Description

Teenaged Seikei dreams of being one of Japan's legendary warriors, a samurai-but samurai are born, not made, and Seikei is a tea merchant's son. Then a ruby intended for the shogun is stolen. Seikei is the only witness, and the famous samurai magistrate, Judge Ooka, needs his help. Soon they are hot on the trail of the ruby-and an unforgettable adventure.

"An unusual and satisfying mystery that will be enjoyed by a wide audience."
-School Library Journal, starred review

"Employs suspense, action, superstition, and mystery to entrance readers with this tale of 18th-century Japan and a boy's search for honor...This is a remarkable novel."
-Kirkus Reviews, pointer review ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Exciting Read
I enjoyed Ghost in the Tokaido Inn as well as the sequel The Demon in the Teahouse. The two books make a great set for any mystery/Japanese history buff (regardless of age). I would rate Ghost in the Tokaido Inn as the better of the two since it is more cohesive, but they are both well-written and entertaining.

The Hobblers have managed to catch the flavor of their place and time period: 18th century Japan. The reader is not watching from the outside but experiencing an unique time and culture from the inside. The Hobblers have also managed to avoid "teaching" their knowledge. Their main character, Seikei, is learning about samurai culture at the same time as the reader. This is an excellent technique for imparting necessary information which could otherwise impede the story's movement.

THe Ghost in the Tokaido Inn
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn is an excellent book. I think Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler wrote a very good book. I think they are good authors.
The book is about a 14 year old boy named Seiki. He dreams of being one of the legedary warriors, but a samurai is born and not made and Seiki is a tea merchant's son. Then a priceless ruby planned for the shogun is stolen and Seiki finds himself having to display all the courage of a samurai. He is the person to have seen the thief, and now the famous samurai magistrate, Judge Ooka, needs Seiki;s help to solve the mystery.
I liked that the book started in an interesting way. THe book contains a lot of action because there is always action taking place in every chapter. Seiki shows lots of courage in the book because he thinks that he's a samurai and a samurai needs to be brave. The ending surprised me because Seiki got what he wanted.
I think the authir's message was that if you want something you have to work hard at it. When Seiki wanted to be a samurai he worked on trying to be a samurai and at the end of the book Seiki got to be a samuai.

The unachievable desire
The story is about a 14 year old boy named Seikai who is the son of a tea merchant. He dreams and longs to become a samurai so that he can carry and use a sword as well as write poetry. He and his father stop at an inn where at night there is a robbery from a lord that was staying there. Seikai saw the theif and so he must go on a journey with the judge of the court to find the theif who stole the precious jewel.It just happens that the theif is an actor who travels from place to place. So, Seikai finds them and to gain his trust, he becomes an actor. One day the shogun wanted to see a play,and teh lord who the jewel was stolen from also attends this play. So Seikai and the actors put on a play, which is actually the theif's life and the reason of why he stole the jewel. The Lord reconizes it, and then the theif disgraces the lord by mocking him andslashing at him, then the theif gets killed by the shogun's men.
I liked this book because it's very mysterious and has a lot of family baggage. Foe example, the theif had famiy baggage against the lord and he had said, "I swear I will see you disgraced," when he was wounded by the lord.
I disliked the book because it sort of had some parts where women were putting them selves in a low-class level which was truly disgusting, "He's gone to the pleasure houses, where women are trained from birth to please men."
My favorit part of teh book was when they were giving teh play at the lord's house. Iknew something big was going to happen in any second and was very anxious for it to happen, and when it did I was truly satisfied.

READ THIS BOOK!
this is an amazing book. once i started this book i couldn't put it down. i look forward to the sequal. i suggest that you read this book!

Raphael, So Great
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn is about a boy named Seikei, who wishes he could become a samurai.The story takes place during the Summer Bon Festival in Japan. At this time, Lord Hakuseki's jewel gets stolen, and Seikei sets off to find the thief. This is a great book because it has a lot of action, and many turning points. Another reason is that it makes you think about goals that you have set and achieved. It is very well written. This book is meant for a person who likes action, adventure, samurai, and mystery. Age 9 and up. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A funfilled andventure to the river sea
I have to say, Journey to the river sea was the best book I've ever read in my live. Maia, the heroine of the story, has gone with her new governess, Miss Minton to the amazon because there, her only relations are living. Because when she was little, her parents tragicly died.
In the amazon, they meet an actor, an heir to a great estate and put their lives in danger to help their frinds.
This is a brilliant story of friendship, love and loss.

Journey to the River Sea Book Review
Journey to the River Sea
By: Ibbotson, Eva
Reviewed by: J. Lee
Period:1

Journey to the River Sea is a great book! Maia is a girl who lives in a boarding school unfortunately because her parents died in Egypt. She has no other live relatives, and is forced to go to boarding school. One day later, her lawyer tells her they have found some relatives, living in Brazil. They arranged for Maia to live with the Carters, her relatives. Maia thought she would find adventure exploring and a loving and kind family who would show her the Amazon. But instead she learns the Carters are definitely afraid of bugs and animals and won't step outside into the "wild". Maia doesn't really like anything about her "new" life, except her governess, Miss Minton. When one of her friends, Clovis, needs to get back to England, she makes a plan to get him out. In the story, Finn, her other friend, is a part of her plan for Clovis. This book has amazing adventures and much more than I expected. It also tells a lot about the Amazon and what the life was like. Even though the author did not use magic, as she had done so in her other books, she has made another spectacular book!

I like this book because it told of a great adventure that a little girl had. She had to make a lot of plans to get away from the twins and the Carters. Minty, Miss Minton, tries to help Maia escape the treacherous Carters and hide Finn and Clovis from them. This book was like going to a jungle and having fun.

" Maia? Where's Maia?" this quote was significant in the book because Maia was thought to have die in the Carter's burning house but she escaped. Miss Minton found Maia and was able to run away from the Carters. "Would you like to be our governess?" Miss Minton was offered a job as the governess for Sergi. But she refused for she only wanted to be the governess for Maia.

My favorite part of the book is when Maia and Miss Minton first arrive in the Amazon. The author of this book describes the Amazon very clearly. She tells you how the fruits look and how the people lived their lives by selling animals. This was like a movie but you get to watch it for free and you see the real deal. (no altering in the story)

What a book! Journey to the River Sea.
This book was warm and touching even though there were some hard words and the first few pages were tough as I could not fully get into the plot. Then it suddenly grabbed me and I could not put the book down and the plot of the story got better and better! The story was of a girl (Maia), an orphan, who is told that her uncle has been found, and lives in the Amazon which she is thoroughly pleased about. Even though the remarks from the girls in her class could put you off thinking of going, let alone going through with the thought! So Maia sets off with her governess for her new life. There was only one bad thing about this book which is I haven't found a book so far which matches its high standard.

loved this book
if you like adventure,humour and mystery all rolled in one this is the book for you. i really enjoyed maia's journey. while soem conclusions wre obvious-the book was good fun to read.

competent but not brilliant
Maia is a well-off orphan in 1910 London sent up the Amazon to live with distant relatives. Accompanied by a stern, but ultimately Cool, governess she is caught in the conflit between the natural world and European civilization. Compelling characters, easy to follow, I saw every plot twist coming a mile away. A fine book for 4th or 5th grade, but nothing to get overly excited about. The way the omniscient pov was handled felt clumsy. ages 10+ ... Read more

Book Description

Will the truth harm them -- or save them?

When Nigeria's corrupt military government kills their mother, twelve-year-old Sade and her brother Femi think their lives are over. Out of fear for their safety, their father, an outspoken journalist, decides to smuggle the children out of Nigeria and into London, where their uncle lives. But when they get to the cold and massive city, they find themselves lost and alone, with no one to trust and no idea when -- or if -- they will ever see their father again.

The Other Side of Truth is a gripping adventure story about courage, family, and the power of truth.

Reviews (9)

truth
A truly sad book, but a good choice for the Carnegie Medal. It sweeps you away to England where most of the story takes place. You feel like your there. For ages eleven through around twenty.

The main character, Sade and her brother, Femi have to go to England after they saw their mother's murder. Their father is a journalist who writes the truth and Nigerian soldiers want him dead. They have to go to England separately and use different names. They get there but they can't find their uncle. Where could he be? They journey through the streets of England looking for any kind of shelter.

Where is their uncle? Who will take care of them? Will they ever get home to their family? Will they ever see their family again? How will they get over this terrible nightmare? Read "The Other Side of Truth."

THE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH: Emotional and Moving
A shape rose up from the deeper shaddows of the alley.
"Clear off! This place is mine!" the man growled like an old lion defending his den. His arm swept out toward Femi and Sade's bag and snatched it.
The children had no chance of retrieving their bag. They fled.

This is an exciting quote from Beverly Naidoo's THE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH.

Without anyplace to go, or anyone to ask for help, the two Nigerian children are faced with a difficult situation. When their mother is shot because their father wrote the truth about the country's government, their family fears for their safety and ships them off to London to live with their Uncle Dele. But Femi and Sade's troubles begin when Uncle Dele is nowhere to be found. They are now homeless and desperate.

Eventually, Social Services takes them in, and puts them in a foster home. But Femi and Sade's troubles ane far from over. In the next months, they encounter racist bullies at school, cruel security personnel, and people who, little by little try to pry the truth out of them. All the while, Sade struggles with her emotions, and Femi is in a world of his own. But the real drama starts when Father tries to rescue them and ends up in prison, and Uncle Dele still can't be located. The children don't know what will become of them. They wish their lives were as they used to be, and that none of this had ever happened.

THE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH is beautifully written with well developed characters. It illustrates the fate of many Africans far better than any history book coould. It's fast-paced and exciting. I'd recommend this book to anyone, although girls could definately relate better to the main character than boys.

The Other Side Of Truth
"Papa is knealing in the driveway,Mama partly curled up against him one bare leg stretches out in front of her.His hands grip her trying to halt the growing scarlet monster.But it has already spread down her bright white nurses uniform. It stains the earth around them". That is a qoutes from the novel "The other Side Of Truth" by Beverly Naidoo. How would you feel if your mother was killed?
The main characters in tis book are two siblings from Nigeria names Sade and Femi. Their father was an outspoken jourlinest who wrote an article in the newspaper about Nigeria's cruel and corrupt governement. The government wasn't pleased so one day the government came and killed their mother. For the childrens protection they were smuggled into London by a woman pretending to be their mother. They were supposed to meet their uncle Dele there. For some reason uncle Dele wasn't there to meet them. Nobody knew where he was!
Sade and Femi find themselves lost and alone in London. They later get picked up by the police and have to answer questions on how they came to England. Both of them get put into a foster family and go to a school. In Sade's school to bullies pick on Sade and make her steal a cigarette lighter from her best friends' shop. Sade steals the cigarette lighter and starts to feel guilty. She doesn't know whether to tell her friend the truth or not. Look what the truth did to her mother.
I think this is a very powerful and deeply moving book. The author builds tremendous suspense. Beverly Naidoo in this story blends fiction with non-fiction. It gives information about Nigerian government and adds these fictional and non-fictional characters. I hear the authors voice, pervasively through the book and it feels like I'm in the main characters shoes. I think the strongest ponits in the book are the parts with Sade and Femi's mother and father. I think Beverley really describes them well. Sade's father and mother are always saying powerful proverbs like " Sorrow is like a precious treasure shown only to friends". The flashbacks with Sade and Femi's mother and father are very well written too. I think the weak points in the book are towards the middle where social worlers are questioning Sade and Femi about how they came to London. Beverley Naidoo uses sensory images. The message is that it is not always the best thing to tell the truth. I would reccomend this book to you if you like passionate and emotional books becuase thats what this book is. Beverley Naidoo has also written "Journey to Jo'Burg" and she has won the Carnegie Award for "The Other Side of Truth".

A really great Book
I really loved this book. This book is alittle different then other books i've read in the past. But since i'm still so young I'll probely think about reading more books like this. I would read this book if you were more of a girl. no offense to the boys. a girl is the main character and boys may not understand her feelings sometimes. I don't think you'll be dissopointed all you 11 and up girls out there.

The Other Side of Truth
The mother of a family who lives in Nigeria is a victim of a drive-by shooting. The suspects are believed to be connected to the government, which the father of the family criticizes harshly. After the drive-by shooting, the father sends his children, Sade and Femi, to London to live with their uncle, for safety reasons. The children, arriving in London, find out that their uncle is missing. They become homeless, and struggle to survive. Exposing the reason why they came here, and who sent them, is too dangerous, but when it comes down to risking their lives, or their father's, they must tell their story bravely, perhaps giving up everything they hold dear.
Beverley Naidoo writes a tragic story that everyone will love. I highly recommend this to all ages, especially to 5th and 6th graders. Definitely a book to read, either for informational purposes, or just for fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Young Sacajawea has been asked to join Lewis and Clark in their exploration of the American West. As a translator, peacemaker, caretaker, and guide, Sacajawea made the historic journey of Lewis and Clark possible. This captivating novel which alternates between the points of view of Sacajawea and William Clark provides an intimate glimpse into what it would have been like to witness firsthand this fascinating time in our history. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Enjoyable
Sacajawea was the Indian teen that acted as guide and translator to Louis and Clark's expedition across the north-western territory that would soon become part of the United States with the Louisianna Purchase. Read about Sacajawea's early years, how she was pledged in marriage as a child. Stolen by a raiding party when only eleven and subsequently lost to a traveler while the new tribe was gambling with her. Married soon there after and giving birth all before the age of sixteen. And the interesting part of her life was yet to come.

The book also covers the expedition and its encounters while exploring the new land and the many Indian tribes the met. It is told in alternating view points of Sacajawea and Captain Clark. Their views on the happenings around them are very interesting. It is apparent how time and time again Sacajawea, or Janey as the expetition named her, was indespensible. Read between the lines to see the bond that formed between Sacajawea and Captain Clark.

This is an outstanding book that I recommend to adults as well as teens. Very informative and easy to read. The chapters were short and it was interesting how they altered from one view to the other and back.

Fantastic!! A joy to read.
I think one of the best things about this version of the Lewis and Clark story is the way the author alternated chapters by Sacajawea and Captain Clark. The whole book is told as a collections of stories for Sacajawea's son, Pomp, who was a favorite of Captain Clark. Their separate characters and backgrounds, American and Indian, shine through their versions of the memorable moments of the voyage to the Pacific Ocean and back.

This may be listed as a book for children, but it should not be labeled for any particular age group. Adults will enjoy it too.

The book so clearly points out the great optimisim of the early explorers that led them through dangerous situations with such confidence. The reliance upon actual texts from the participants of the voyage make this a very authentic story.

Not just for teens
I got this book for my 10 year old daughter, but I picked it up and found I couldn't put it down. It was a wonderfully entertaining story full of historical detail, and as told from the 2 points of view, Clark and Sacagawea, it just came alive in my mind. Joseph Bruchac tells a fascinating story and educates at the same time. I highly recommend this book for teens as well as adults.

Good historical fiction
I really enjoyed this book! I have always found the Lewis and Clark expedition to be fascinating, and this book combines the viewpoints of William Clark and Sacajawea. The two are telling their tales of the expedition to Sacajawea's son, and the story includes Native American legends as well as actual excerpts from William Clark's trip journals. I would recommend this book to any teens interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Sacajawea
This is a great book. Full of adventure and dangers. I lovedit and will read it again! END ... Read more

Book Description

Anna Comnena has every reason to feel entitled. She's a princess, her father's firstborn and his chosen successor. Someday she expects to sit on the throne and rule the vast Byzantine Empire. So the birth of a baby brother doesn't perturb her. Nor do the "barbarians" from foreign lands, who think only a son should ascend to power. Anna is as dismissive of them as are her father and his most trusted adviser--his mother, a manipulative woman with whom Anna studies the art of diplomacy. Anna relishes her lessons, proving adept at checkmating opponents in swift moves of mental chess. But as she matures into a young woman, her arrogance and intelligence threaten her grandmother. Anna will be no one's puppet. Almost overnight, Anna sees her dreams of power wrenched from her and bestowed on her little brother. Bitter at the betrayal, Anna waits to avenge herself, and to seize what is rightfully hers.
... Read more

Amazon.com

Nancy Kington, a wealthy merchant’s daughter living in Bristol, England in the early 1700’s, is sometimes lonely but enjoys the privileges her father’s business brings. Minerva Sharpe is a penniless slave’s daughter living and working on the Kington’s Jamaican plantation. These two young women, united through a set of extraordinary circumstances including a brutal murder, an arranged marriage, and set of ruby earrings, find themselves sailing the high seas in search of love, adventure and freedom—as pirates!

Celebrated British author Celia Rees (Witch Child, Sorceress) has penned a treasure chest of a tale that will keep teens glued to the pages until the last villain sinks to a deserved watery grave and the last beautiful heroine is reunited with her lost love. Frustrated land-lubbers will want to follow up this four-star read with L.A. Meyer’s Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship’s Boy or Sara Lorimer‘s Booty, a collection of all-true tales of swashbuckling women.--Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (27)

"Throw 'im in the hold with the captain's daughter"
This is a novel for girls who like Pirates of the Caribbean; Nancy and Minerva are at least as exciting as heroes and pirates as the characters played by Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. (And much more interesting than the girl in that movie!) Nancy is a wealthy planter's daughter whose brothers attempt to marry her off to a violent and scary man to pay off their gambling debts. Minerva is her slave - and her friend. They "go on account" with an able and fair captain who rarely kills people. It's very good in the pirate history and a fun read.
Someone said a girl of Nancy's social class wouldn't have done turned pirate. But Rees spent 150 pages exploring how little Nancy cared for upper class values and people. It wasn't easy for either girl to become pirate, their situation was truly dire. The class and racial politcs ring as true as the piracy -- the most democratic place in the early 18 century is a pirate ship! Like Witch Child and Sorceress, I hope there will be another book about Nancy and Minerva.

Pirates!
Pirates! BloomsburgUSA,2003, 380pgs.,...
Celia Rees ISBN 1-58234-816-2

Have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? Nancy Kington, a wealthy merchant's daughter, thought she would always be safe with her family. After her father died unexpectedly, she is forced to move to Africa with her brother. Nancy was unaware that her plantation, once owned by her father, was so cruel to the slaves that worked there. She forms a close bond to Minerva, her personal slave. Minerva is adventurous and willing to risk her life for her freedom.
It is the 1700's. People fear pirates who travel the seas for merchant's ships to raid. After a sudden death, Nancy is forced to run away from the plantation. Minerva decides to runaway with Nancy. They become pirates. Nancy is ashamed that she has become a pirate because her only love, William, is a naval officer hunting for pirates, especially her crew. She is also running away from an arranged marriage to an evil man. She feels she will never fit in with her shipmates.
This was an exciting book to read. I couldn't put this book down because of the many adventures Nancy faces. The author, Celia Rees, makes you jump into the book and follow Nancy's every move and experience her thoughts.
As the reader, I could relate many things in my life to this book. You could also relate many of the characters from other books to Pirates!. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and adventure would like this book.
I highly recommend this book. The author uses excellent writer's craft to paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind. This book was definitely worth reading!

A THRILLING STORY EVOCATIVELY READ
Today it is not at all unusual to find women taking on and conquering tasks that were once for men only - women soar into outer space, climb mountains, and fill top level political positions. However, such was not the case a short while ago. After all, in the total scheme of history several hundred years ago is a brief period, and that is where this high seas adventure begins.

Celia Rees brings us the story of Nancy Kingston and Minerva Sharpe, two young women who more than kicked over the traces with astounding bravery and spirit. Nancy is our narrator, and voice performer Jennifer Wiltsie who delivers a bravura reading perfectly captures the nuances of 18th language as she describes Nancy'