Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce and Laura Geringer

Pages: 228
Intended Audience: Tweens
Genre: Fantasy / Legend
Notes for Parents: Contains some scenes that can be scary to younger readers

The Back Cover

Before St. Nick was St. Nick, he was North, Nicholas St. North, a daredevil swordsman, ruffian, and notorious outlaw. His prowess with weaponry of all kinds was infamous and he sought treasure and riches at all costs. Hardly hero material. But heroes are not born—they’re tested. When real villains enter the scene in the shifting shape of Pitch and his dreaded Fearlings, North finds a different use for his famed fighting abilities.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in the Guardians series that traces the nefarious origins of beloved legends like the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and, of course, St. Nick. He also wrote and executive produced The Rise of the Guardians, an animated movie based on his Guardians series. (The book series is also referred to as The Guardians of Childhood series).

What’s good?

This classic story of good versus evil is filled with excitement and danger. It’s a whimsical tale that includes the wizard Ombric, brave young Katherine, and the bandit Nicholas St. North. There is also a giant bear, talking bugs, yetis, moonbeans, and host of other imaginative characters. The chapters are short, the language is simple, and the plot is uncomplicated. The plot is fun and action-filled.
Best Part: The fantastic illustrations!

What isn’t good?

It definitely reads more like a picture book than a chapter book. The characters and plot lack depth and the story is filled with predictable outcomes.
Worst part:  While we assume Nicholas St. North is the future Santa Claus, the legend of St. Nick is not explored.

Recommendation þþþoo

While this wasn’t what I expected, it was still an imaginative tale of fanciful people and places. Themes of friendship, courage and imagination, as well as wonderful illustrations, make this a great story for all ages. Recommended…for the young.

Joyce, William and Laura Geringer. Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. New York: Scholastic, 2011.

Grounded by Kate Klise

Pages: 196
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Real life
Notes for Parents: Deals with death and grieving

The Back Cover

After her brother, sister, and father die in a plane crash, Daralynn Oakland receives 237 dolls from well-wishers, resulting in her new nickname: Dolly. And she doesn’t even like dolls! Dolly would much rather go fishing—not that she’s allowed to go anywhere on her own after the accident. As she sees it, her whole life has turned terrible, and there’s nothing she can do about it.
But when her angry, grieving mother’s new job as a hairstylist at the local funeral home is threatened by the new crematorium, Dolly decides it’s time to take action. She suggests throwing Living Funerals—a chance to attend your own funeral and hear all the nice things people say while you’re still alive to thank them.
Will Dolly’s new plan heal her mother’s broken heart and save a dying business?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book won the Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children’s Literature.

What’s good?

Left adrift by her silent, grieving mother after a terrible accident claims her father and two siblings, Daralynn Oakland – called Dolly – is an independent tomboy who is instantly likeable thanks to her curiosity and keen sense of observation. Dolly is supported by an excellent cast of characters including her mom, Hattie, her flamboyant Aunt Josie, the quiet Uncle Waldo, and Clem, the new man in town who stirs things up. Despite being set in Digginsville, Missouri in the 1970s, it retains a contemporary feel. The heavy subjects of loss and grief are treated with a gentle touch and mixed with a little mystery, some humor, and a lot of small town quirkiness.
Best Part: Putting the fun in funeral.

What isn’t good?
It’s a quaint story that lacks any true depth in terms of plot and characters.
Worst part: I guessed the ending pretty early on.

Recommendation þþþoo

This is a poignant tale of a young girl experiencing bereavement for the first time who is trying to reconnect with her grieving mother. It’s short and easy to read. While it lacks some character development, it’s still a charming story that stayed engaging right up to the end. Recommended.

Klise, Kate. Grounded. New York: Scholastic, 2010.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Pages: 332
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Historical thriller
Notes for Parents: Contains scenes of violence

The Back Cover

On October 11^th, 1943, a British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. But only one of the girls has a chance at survival.
Arrested by the Gestapo, “Verity” is given a choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. They’ll get the truth out of her. Only, it won’t be what they expect.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author is a pilot herself and, in writing this book, wanted to explore the possibilities that would have been open to female pilots during WW2. She includes a “debriefing” and a bibliography at the back of the book.

What’s good?

This is an intimate story of two female friends who play very important but very different roles in the allied fight against the Nazis in World War II. While being a very taut thriller, it also manages to be an emotional tale of friendship, a brutal story of war, and a complex adventure with espionage, suspense, and plenty of surprises. A well crafted plot, strong female leads, a cruel but very human antagonist, and a wonderful cast of supporting characters makes this a tour de force worth reading.
Best Part: That heart-stopping moment on page 285 that I didn’t see coming!!

What isn’t good?

The beginning was slow and the point of view was a bit confusing so it took me a several chapters to really get into the story. A couple of times I even considered putting the book down, but luckily I stuck with it and it was well worth the effort. Some of the technical information is bland but overall it lent itself to the interesting story of female pilots in World War II.
Worst part: Nothing struck me as completely terrible, but the beginning was definitely a challenge.

Recommendation þþþþo

This is a heavy read, but it’s not difficult, per se. It requires some effort and it probably helps if you have an interest in historical fiction and women in World War II, which I do. The story was intriguing, the characters were worth the investment, and I finished the book feeling very satisfied that it was time well spent. Definitely recommended.

 

Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. New York: Hyperion, 2012.

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Pages: 359
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Real life
Notes for Parents: Contains scenes of violence, coarse language, and scenes of sexuality. Recommended for mature readers only.

The Back Cover

When Patrick Truman is found beaten, bound, and left for dead, sixteen-year-old loner Cat is determined to discover the truth of what happened to her former best friend. The local sheriff blames out-of-towners, but Cat is sure someone in their small, tightly knit Southern community is guilty of the crime.

Patrick is gay, and for years he has been teased and bullied by people claiming to be his friends, people Cat calls “the redneck posse.” She plans to start her hunt for the culprit with them. But there are two problems. Cat’s brother is a member of the posse, and so is the boy who assaulted Cat years ago, forcing her into the self-imposed exile from which she must now emerge…for Patrick and for herself.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization founded in memory of a 21-year-old man who was murdered in October 1998 because he was gay.

What’s good?

This is a powerful story about a young girl moved to action when her estranged friend is beaten and left for dead because he is gay. The mystery of who and why unfolds slowly as Cat wrestles with her own issues and struggles against the apathy of her small town. The story is full of well-drawn characters both colorful and dark, ones that offer hope and others that epitomize the worst of small town life. The town of Black Creek itself is a vivid character, a beautiful portrait of a tightly-knit, church-going community that hides poverty, drug use, and ignorance.
Best Part: “…I spent a lot of time comparing my insides to other people’s outsides, which made me feel broken and didn’t get me anywhere.” (Cat’s revelation on page 346)

What isn’t good?

No one benefited from the truth because the truth was never told. There were no consequences for Cat’s abuser and the truth of Patrick’s attack is simply buried. No one talks about the whys and what fors and so the town and its people continue on as they always have.
Worst part: The end.

Recommendation þþþþo

This is a heavy subject but a fairly easy read. The language is strong at times, and some of the scenes are graphic and disturbing. But the story is good, the mystery is compelling, and the overall message is important. While I’m definitely not keen on how it ended, I do think it’s well worth the read. Recommended.

 

Myracle, Lauren. Shine. New York: Amulet Books, 2011.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Pages: 205
Intended Audience: Teens and tweens
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Fantasy
Notes for Parents: Includes discussions about terminal illness and death

The Back Cover

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting, the one from the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…
This monster is something different, something ancient, something wild. And it wants the truth.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story was inspired by an idea from the late author Siobhan Dowd who had already developed the characters, written a detailed premise and the beginning. Unfortunately she died of breast cancer before the book was finished. Ness was asked by their mutual publisher to write the story.

What’s good?

This is a wonderfully crafted story about fear, anger, and grief made palpable by hauntingly beautiful illustrations. The plot is simple and is powered by the raw emotions of a young boy with a dying mother who is haunted by a creature that seems to have stepped out of his nightmares. Although we don’t get to know a lot about each of the characters, we learn enough to feel their pain and experience their loss.
Best Part: The yew tree.

What isn’t good?

The story is short, so there’s not a lot of background or character development. However, in this instance, the lack of information allows the reader to fill in the blanks and imagine what it would be like to walk in the shoes of these people who are experiencing the worst moments of their life.
Worst part:  There’s nothing I didn’t like.

Recommendation þþþþo

Told like a fable, it’s the kind of story that makes you want to wrap up the young protagonist in your arms and never let him go. This heart-wrench tale about letting go is a work of art. Highly recommended.

Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2011.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Pages: 127
Intended Audience: Tweens and Teens
Genre: Graphic Novel – Short Stories
Notes for Parents: Some mildly scary scenes.

The Back Cover

What’s in the box?
Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these seven unique graphic stories revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels – or mayhem – inside.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is a collection of seven short stories in graphic novel style by a variety of writers and illustrators.

What’s good?

Ranging from clever and creepy to bold and colourful, these easy-to-read short stories are a sampling of some of the industries best graphic novelists. Each story is centered around the idea of a box and its contents. While some stories are dark, like Under the Floorboards and The Soldier’s Daughter, others are light and funny, like Spring Cleaning and Whatzit.
Best Part: Whatzit.

What isn’t good?

While not all of the stories were to my liking, it was still fun to experience the different storytelling and illustrating styles.
Worst part:  The Soldier’s Daughter was a bit too melodramatic.

Recommendation þþþþo

This is a fantastic introduction to eight graphic novels written and illustrated in eight different ways about one common idea – a box. If you’ve never read a graphic novel before, or you’re looking for new graphic novelists to read, this is a book for you. It was a super quick read and thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended.

Kibuishi, Kazu, ed. Explorer: The Mystery Boxes. New York: Amulet, 2012.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket

Pages: 258

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Mystery

Notes for Parents: There is nothing of note that parents need to worry about.

The Back Cover

Before you consider reading “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you curious about what is happening in a seaside town that is no longer by the sea?
2. Do you want to know more about a stolen item that wasn’t stolen at all?
3. Do you really think that’s any of your business? Why? What kind of person are you? Are you sure?
4. Who is that standing behind you?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The cover certainly doesn’t tell you very much! This is the first book in a series called All the Wrong Questions. It’s said to be a prequel to the Series of Unfortunately Events series and follows a young Lemony Snicket after he’s recruited into an unnamed organization and sent on his first mission.

What’s good?

It’s short, easy to read, and even has pictures! The setting, a seaside town that’s no longer by the sea, is charmingly quaint. The characters, most with eccentric names like Moxie Mallahan and Ellington Feint, are quirky and likeable. The story itself is clearly a parody of an old detective novel and reads with a sense of doom and peculiarity that made the author’s other series such a success.

Best Part: Pip & Squeak

What isn’t good?

The amount of repetitive phrasing annoyed me to the point that I didn’t care what the S. stood for in S. Theodora Markson, or what a particular word meant in a particular situation. While I was amused with the taxi driving Pip & Squeak, and the abandoned coffee shop that still served coffee and bread, the story as a whole was a stream of nonsense that culminated in an ending that resolved absolutely nothing.

Worst part:  The end.

Recommendation þoooo

This was my first Lemony Snicket book and I was not impressed. What should have felt mysterious just felt vague and what was supposed to be clever was more often confusing or silly. I can only imagine that the successful Series of Unfortunate Events must have had more depth. Fans of his other books may be more tolerable of his style and enjoy this more than I did.

Snicket, Lemony. Who Could That Be at This Hour? Toronto: HarperCollins, 2012.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Pages: 418
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Supernatural fantasy romance
Notes for parents: This book has mature content, dark themes, and some disturbing scenes.

The Back Cover

She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil’s lair. She wasn’t innocent now…
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?
Set in the beautiful and historic city of Prague in the Czech Republic, this is an imaginative and haunting story full of mystery, suspense, and romance. Emotive writing draws the evocative plot back and forth through time as we meet angels and monsters and are introduced to the intricate mythology surrounding them. There is tension and action, mystery and foreboding, and a healthy dose of the macabre that makes this story capriciously original. I especially like the author’s use of challenging vocabulary and complex ideas, contrary to the patronizing tenor of many young adult novels.
Best part: The characters are wonderful, including: Karou, the strong female lead; Brimstone, the imposing father figure; Akiva, the powerful angel; and Zuzana, the patient friend.

What’s not so good?

I was riveted for the first half of the book, convinced that this story was getting my five checkmarks rating. However, once Karou is cut off from Brimstone and the mysteries behind her existence begin revealing themselves, the tone of the story takes a turn. The pacing changes, slowing the momentum considerably. The story still kept my interest, but the shift was distracting and took away from the story.
Worst part: Kaz the ex. I didn't see the point of him.

Recommendations þþþþo

This was by far the best book I’ve read this summer. I loved the darkness that lurked behind the mythology, challenging conventional ideas of good and evil. My favourite line was, “It is the condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such.” Strongly recommended.

Taylor, Laini. Daughter of Smoke and Bone. New York: Little, Brown & Co., 2011.

Best Girl by Sylvia Maultash Warsh

Pages: 121
Intended Audience: Teens and Adults
Genre: Mystery
Notes for parents: Includes mature scenes, drinking, references to drug use

The Back Cover

When Amanda Moss learns that her parents didn’t die in a car crash as her adoptive mother has always maintained, she feels her whole life has been a lie. And now that she knows that the father she doesn’t remember was in a successful rock-and-roll band, her own yearning to break into the music business begins to make sense. But did her mother really do what people say she did? Amanda’s search for the truth takes her down an uncertain and sometimes frightening road.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This book is part of the “Rapid Reads” series by Raven Books (a division of Orca Publishing). They are short novels intended for adult readers.

What’s good?

This is a super quick and easy read. Since the series of books are meant to be read in one of two sittings, the story if intentionally short and sweet.  It has a fast pace with an exciting plot. It has a few twists and turns but no real sub-plots. The main character, Amanda, is likeable enough that her search for the truth had me interested, and in the end, I hoped she would realize her dream of becoming a musician.
Best part: I applaud the style of this novel that had a tough job of taking a complicated story and telling it in a simple way and in 120 pages.

 

What’s not so good?
By design, this story doesn’t spend a lot of time on back story or character development. You don’t really get to know anyone well enough to fully understand their motives. As Amanda search for answers, she seemed to come by information rather easily, and the plot was resolved conveniently.
Worst part: None. Everything lacking in this story was done deliberately to make this a fast read.

Recommendations þþþoo

I enjoyed it. It’s nice to put down the thick and complicated novels every once in a while and indulge in a story that can be read in one reasonable sitting. It was a mature story with real life themes and, while lacking in many areas, offered enough that the creative mind could imagine the rest. Definitely recommended.

Warsh, Sylvia Maultash. Best Girl. Victoria, B.C.: Raven Books, 2012 .

Beautiful Creatures: The Manga by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl; art by Cassandra Jean

Pages: about 245
Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens
Genre: Supernatural / Graphic novel
Notes for parents: Some mature scenes

The Back Cover

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena Duchannes – a girl unlike anyone Jackson High has ever seen – moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the “illustrated adaptation” of Garcia and Stohl’s bestselling novel. The artwork is by Cassandra Jean.

What’s good?

This supernatural graphic novel moved quickly, with excellent black and white drawings and a smooth, interesting plot. Although the concept itself isn’t original, the story felt fresh thanks to likeable characters and a well-drawn, paranormal world.
Best part: I like the artist’s drawing style. It’s casual, but still very expressive.

What’s not so good?

Since I haven’t read the original book, and I haven’t seen the movie, it’s understandable that throughout the novel, I had a feeling I was missing out on a lot of the nuances of the original story. I’m not a huge fan of established novels being made into graphic novels because details of the written story always have to be sacrificed for the sake of the visual story. I found some of the dialogue difficult to follow, but I always managed to figure it out.
Worst part: I have a feeling that the novel is much better.

Recommendations þþþoo

This kind of graphic story is probably intended more for people who’ve read the novel and just want more. However, if you’re only interested in getting the gist of the story without having to read the novel, this one’s for you. I recommend it, but I suggest reading the written novel instead of this graphic novel if you’re that interested in the story.

Garcia, Kami & Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures: The Manga. New York: Yen Press, 2013. (Hardcover)

A Girl, a Ghost, and the Hollywood Hills by Lizabeth Zindel

Pages: 302
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Mystery
Notes for parents: Some mature scenes and mild language.

The Inside Cover

It’s winter break, and Holly has come home from boarding school to face her dad’s new girlfriend, Claudia—who also happens to be her mom’s sister. Gross. Holly’s mom died less than a year ago, and already Claudia has taken over her movie production company, her house, and now her husband.
Then the ghost of Holly’s mother appears, claiming that Claudia murdered her. Holly vows to avenge her mom’s death no matter what it takes, but as the stakes get higher, she starts to wonder: What does this ghost really want from her, and why?
Throw in an adorable college guy named Oliver, an all-night house party with a pack of Australian surfers, and a shopping disaster on Rodeo Drive, and you wind up with a Hamlet-inspired ghost story unlike any other.

What the Cover doesn’t tell you:

I found the description to be a bit misleading.

What’s good?

This story had a great concept, based loosely on the story of Hamlet. Characterization was good. Holly was a likeable character and it was easy to sympathize with her situation. The supporting characters were interesting, especially Claudia and her horror movie props. This was a fast and easy read with a simple plot.
Best part: The cover.

What’s not so good?

This was a superficial approach to a story about grief and mental illness. The plot was predictable and the writing was overly detailed (I don’t need to know the color of her umbrella, or what her comforter looks like!) and very passive. Even the romance was boring. Even worse was the dialogue which felt contrived and didn’t convincingly reflect the way teens talk today. At times, the conversations, especially the ones between Holly and Felicia, were awkward and even corny (Dudette?).
Worst part: The end made the story seem pointless.

Recommendations þþooo

I was first attracted to this book by the cover, which promised a tense, supernatural Shakespearean-like mystery. Even the inside cover suggested a ghost story. There was certainly potential here, but it was never realized.

Zindel, Lizabeth. A Girl, A Ghost, And the Hollywood Hills. New York: Viking, 2010. (Hardcover)

 

Skinny by Donna Cooner

Pages: 260
Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens
Genre: Real Life / Social Issues
Notes for parents: Some mature scenes

The Back Cover

Hopeless. Freak. Elephant. Pitiful.
These are the words of Skinny, the vicious voice that lives inside fifteen-year-old Ever Davies’s head. Skinny tells Ever all the dark, unwhispered thoughts her classmates have about her. Ever knows she weighs over three hundred pounds and that she’ll probably never be loved, and Skinny makes sure she never forgets it.
But there is another voice: Ever’s singing voice, which is beautiful and strong but has been silenced by Skinny. Partly in the hopes of trying out for the school musical – and partly to try and save her own life – Ever decides to undergo a risky surgery that may help her lose weight and start over.
With the support of her best friend, Ever begins the long uphill battle toward change. But demons, she finds, are not so easy to shake, not even as she sheds pounds. Because Skinny is still around. And Ever will have to confront that voice before she can truly find her own.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

First-time author Donna Cooner was a gastric-bypass patient herself.

What’s good?

Good pacing and an even flow make this Cinderella story a quick and easy read. The characters are well-drawn and likeable. I love how the main character, Ever, is deserving of sympathy but also held responsible for many of her worst moments. Ever’s inner voice, however, is the star as far as I’m concerned. Known as Skinny, she is a strong and imaginative character that represents a similar voice in all of us. Skinny is a powerful reminder that we are all, at times, our own worst enemy. I liked the eventual shift in Ever’s relationship with her step-sister Briella and the ultimate message it delivers. Although the parallels to the Cinderella story were sometimes a bit corny, it was entertaining.
Best part: Skinny.
 

What’s not so good?

Oh, where do I start? Be aware that what follows may contain spoilers!
The story is sadly predictable. Ever’s decision to have gastric-bypass surgery is a fairly easy one (the author alludes to Ever’s previous struggles, but never allows us to feel emotionally involved in those struggles), her success after the surgery appears quite effortless, and her resulting popularity and confidence are a direct result of her weight loss. Ugh!
Ever never deals with the reasons behind her eating disorder – her mother’s death, her loneliness, her lack of self-esteem. Her decision to have surgery is a cursory one and her motives are superficial – to get the boy, to go to the dance, to get the part in the play, to be happier. There’s no mention of physical or mental health. The story glosses over food as an addiction and presents surgery as a quick fix that doesn’t require counseling, education, family support, or any real lifestyle changes.
Worst of all, she loses all that weight only to realize that people didn’t dislike her because she was fat, they disliked her because she was mean, and angry, and not open to friendship. I didn’t buy that.
Worst part: The overall message

Recommendations þþooo

This was an increasingly common issue that was grossly oversimplified. We learn to pity Ever’s situation rather than understand it. We learn that that problems are easier to solve if you lose weight. We learn that fat people’s problems are mostly self-inflicted and the solution is for them to just change. There was great potential in this book to offer amazing insight into a world rarely visited, but unfortunately even the author suggests that you have to be skinny to be worthy of a story. Sadly, this was a miss for me.

Cooner, Donna. Skinny. New York: Point, 2012.

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

Pages: 260
Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens
Genre: Real Life / Historical / Holocaust
Notes for parents: Many scenes of violence, cruelty, and suffering. For mature readers only.

The Back Cover
Ten concentration camps.
Ten different places where you are starved, tortured, and worked mercilessly.
It’s something no one could imagine surviving.
But it is what Yanek Gruener has to face.
As a Jewish boy in 1930s Poland, Yanek is at the mercy of the Nazis who have taken over. Everything he has and everyone he loves have been snatched brutally from him. And then Yanek himself is taken prisoner—his arm marked B-3087.
He is forced from one nightmarish concentration camp to another, as World War II rages all around him. He encounters evil he could never have imagined, but also sees surprising glimpses of hope amid the horror.
Can Yanek make it through without losing his will to live—and, most of all, his sense of who he really is inside?

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is based on the true story of Ruth and Jack Gruener. However, there is a disclaimer that reminds the reader that it is a work of fiction. The author says he has “taken liberties with time and events to paint a fuller and more representative picture of the Holocaust as a whole.”

What’s good?

Told with a detached, almost cold writing style reminiscent of Elie Wiesel’s Night, this disturbing tale of a young Jewish boy during the Holocaust is a heartbreaking reminder of man’s inhumanity toward man. The writing is simple and easy to read and the plot is straight forward and predictable all things considered. However, the content of Yanek’s experience is filled with cruelty and suffering which makes the ethical dilemmas he encounters and the moral decisions he must make heartbreakingly difficult to watch.
Best part: Crying over a toothbrush.

What’s not so good?

Almost 70 years after the end of World War II, the book market continues to be saturated with Holocaust stories. This one is really no different than any other. It’s a story of unspeakable crimes, amazing feats of survival, and the desperate struggle to hold on to one’s humanity in the midst of history’s most shameful human behavior. Sadly, I think many readers, especially young ones, are becoming desensitized to the horrors and are experiencing these stories more as entertainment rather than truth.
Worst part: None for me.

Recommendations þþþþo

This book is powerful in its simplicity and an excellent addition to the numerous stories that have been told about the Holocaust experience. It contains realistic scenes of violence and cruelty and should be read only by the most mature readers. Absolutely recommended.

Gratz, Alan. Prisoner B-3087. New York: Scholastic, 2013. (Hardcover)