Watch the Sky

Watch the Sky 

By: Kirsten Hubbard

Published: April 7, 2015

Pages: 275

Grades: 4 and up

The Story 

Something is coming. You just have to see the signs. Celeb, Jory’s stepfather says so. Celeb is former military and he overheard something while he was serving.  Out of all of the people in the world, Celeb chose Jory and his mom to protect. Together they picked a secluded farm to prepare for the end of the world. Along the way, the family adopts a girl by the name of Kit who wanders onto their property and shortly after Jory’s mom adds a new baby brother to the family.  

It seems like the family is complete, and Celeb runs the family on a tight ship to ensure order.

He instills in Jory that family is the only people you can trust. School is Jory’s only escape from Celeb’s tight grip. One day, Celeb sees the final sign. It the sign he has been waiting for. The world is coming to an end. To protect his family, the family sets up a schedule to build an underground bunker, but is the world really coming to an end?

Jory starts to make new friends at school and starts to question Celeb. His little sister does too. Jory must decide what to really  believe before Celeb put them in the bunker.

Favorite Quote

“When you spend so much of your life worried about the future…you forget to live.”

Strengths

This was an exciting book. It captures the uncertainty of the future well. It left me wondering if maybe this story might turn into a science fiction! I quickly gobbled up this read in anticipation to see what would happen next. I think readers who enjoy problem novels could enjoy this one. It is a little bit different than the typical MG novel, and I think some readers (like myself) will appreciate that.

Weaknesses

I was really disappointed by the ending of the book. I felt like the book leads up to this fantastic climax, and then the  book suddenly ends. There wasn’t much of a resolution.

I wanted to know more about Jory and what happened afterward. Did he go to jail? How does the family get by now? What happened to Kit? Who is Kit? Was she even real?

These are just a few of the many questions I have.  

Overall, this book was a little different. I enjoyed the plot, and I become invested in Jory.  

I had flashbacks to the Y2K fiasco.

I will recommend this one to tweens who want a book outside the typical.  It would make a great book for a book discussion. There are just so many questions…..

Have you read this book yet?

What did you think ?

-Pamela

The Thing About Jellyfish

The Thing About Jellyfish 

By: Ali Benjamin

The Story 

Suzy and Franny Jackson were inseparable in grade school. They did everything together as best friends. When middle school came, Suzy fully expected to take it on with Franny. When the girl's first days in middle school arrive, the girls make a pact. If Franny ever joins the "popular crowd" and starts to desert her true self, Suzy is supposed to give her a sign to keep her grounded.

It doesn't take long for Franny to break their pact. She begins to change and make new friends. Suzy gives her a sign, but it turns into a disaster that forever ruins their chances of becoming friends again.

Pretty soon Suzy is all alone without any friends.
If it wasn't bad enough that Suzy looses Franny as a friend, Suzy soon learns that she lost her all together.

Suzy's mom receives a call that Franny passed away in a drowning accident.  Franny was a great swimmer. How could this have happened? Suzy stops talking and fades into the background to deal with her grief. The more she thinks about the accident and the year, the more Suzy thinks that Franny was stung by a jellyfish. It is the only way that she could have died. To prove her theory, Suzy goes on a quest to meet up with a jellyfish expert.

As Suzy ventures to find the truth, she is able to find healing and acceptance.

Strengths 

I was prepared to hate this book. Lately it feels like every other middle grade book I have read has a dead friend or parent in it, but this one was interesting, and it was beautifully written. I was touched by its story and depth.

 Middle school is cruel, and many tweens go through losing a friendship with childhood friend. So I think this will generate a lot of appeal for many tweens. I also think that many will enjoy the jellyfish facts that are sprinkled throughout the book. Animal facts can be a big seller to tweens!

Weaknesses 

I know this book does address some dark issues, but I wish that there was more humor. It felt too heavy at times. I was also was a bit disturbed by some of Suzy's behavior. To give Franny a sign that she needs to change, Suzy puts urine in Franny's backpack.



This was too much for me. I think the character could have gone about this in a less gross manner. Maybe a card discussing why she talked about urine in front of Franny's new friend with an apology?

Perhaps Franny ignores her apology and it is then that she realizes their friendship is over! I feel like if it went a route like this one, it might be more relatable for tweens and readers.

The urine thing is characteristic of the character though. Maybe the author just went this way to show how Suzy thinks in a literal way.

Overall, I did like this one.  I will recommend it to tweens who enjoy problem novels. I can see this one being a favorite for school libraries to address social issues in middle school.

What did you think of this book?

-Pamela



Please note: This is just my thoughts on this book. This is  no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions.

The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball

Even though my term as a 1st round judge for Cybils is over. I am still slowly putting up reviews for the Cybils books I have read for round one. 

 All of the books that were nominated are more than worthy. Even though I cannot post a review for every book, I wanted to try and post as many I could.

I forgot to previously mention this, but please note: these are just my thoughts on the books. They are no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions. 

Thank you to all  that nominated books and to Cybils for giving me the opportunity to participate. It was such a joy to read these books and be exposed to books that I normally wouldn't have read. 

This was such a wonderful experience I will never forget. 

Please be sure to watch for the Cybils finalists on January 1st and the winner on February 12th. 

Finalists and winners will be announced on the Cybils blog.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Here is another great round one book: 

 The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball 

By: Elizabeth Atkinson 

The Story 

Cheerful Ruby and her shy friend Eleanor couldn’t be more different. Ruby has lived her whole life in Paris, New Hampshire. Eleanor’s family is from Sri Lanka. But these best friends share one thing: they both have impossible dreams.

Ruby and Eleanor live in the quaint town of Paris, New Hampshire, located at the base of Sugar Mountain, an exclusive ski resort in the White Mountains. Every winter, Paris comes alive with "Outers," wealthy families from out of town who own ski condos and wear designer clothes, luxuries that Ruby and Eleanor (and most of the year-round residents of Paris) cannot afford.

One December day, Ruby and Eleanor stumble across Madame Magnifique, the "World’s Most Divine Psychic," who urges them to unlock their deepest dreams. Ruby’s has always been to mingle with Outers, and now, more than ever, she is determined to make that dream come true.

As a chain of events unfolds over the winter months, both girls find themselves on a journey of self-discovery that starts with unlikely friendships, secret crushes, and new found skills, and snowplows to an unexpected outcome.

A relevant story in today’s world―exploring cross-cultural sensitivities and diversity within a classic New England microcosm―"The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball" questions the role of destiny and the ability we all have to achieve that which seems impossible.

*Description provided by Amazon* 

Best Quote 

"It made me realize—like everything else we’d been through lately—that a lot of stuff you think will happen doesn’t, and stuff you never thought would happen does. So it’s best to be open to anything and everything life throws at you, because you never know where it will take you next."

Strengths 

Four things I really liked about this book: 

1. It had a sweet theme of bettering yourself and following your dreams. The author uses a psychic to push the girls to go out of their comfort zone to achieve their dreams. I thought this was a cleaver plug for this theme. I also appreciated that the author had the adults in the book working on bettering themselves too. It showed that this improvement never stops. 

2. There was some diversity. Eleanor and her family are from Sri Lanka & there is a boy who has Asperger's Syndrome. There is also some French sprinkled throughout the book. 

3. Although the father was absent and worked away from home, the families were overall happy. I really liked Ruby's relationship with her brothers and step mom.  There also wasn't any tragic deaths! Hooray! After reading so many sad middle grade books lately, I really appreciated this.

4. The friendship between Ruby and Eleanor is spectacular.
 It made me long for my childhood friends. 

Weaknesses 

It was on the slow side. There were also some plot holes in regards to Ruby's mom. Ruby's dream to ski, and Lance. I wish the author would have given more detail to these areas. It definitely left me with a lot of unanswered questions. 

Even though I appreciated Lance's character, I also was a little disappointed with his mysterious presence. I wish that books would make characters with Autism more present. It feels like they often fall into the background & I think they deserve more than that. 

These were just minor things though! 

I am sure my middle grade reader's will not analyze it in the way I have and will enjoy the story. 
I will be sure to recommend this one to tweens who enjoy realistic fiction. 

Overall, this was a fun read. I would recommend reading this one on a snowy day 
with a cup of hot coco. 



-Pamela

Breaking the Ice

Breaking the Ice 

By: Gail Nall 

The Story 

Kaitlin has devoted all of her time to ice skating. She hopes that someday she will become an Olympic Skater. So while competing in a local skating competition, Kaitlin fully expects to win. She had perfected all of the jumps and moves, and her routine was top notch. So when the judges give her one of the worst scores for the competition, Kaitlin confronts the judges in a fit of rage. During her confrontation, she accidentally knocks over the table full of medals for the winners.

After this scene, it is no surprise that her coach refuses to work with her and Kaitlin is kicked out of her posh skating club.

When no other club will take her, Kaitlin is left with no other choice but to join the skating club known as the “fall down club.” It is the only way she can keep skating, but the skating club isn't as bad as she thought it would be. She starts to make some new friends, and she learns how to pick herself back up.

Strengths 

I was fascinated by the ice skating competition world. There aren't hardly any books on ice skating or ice skaters in general. I can't wait to be able to hand this book to my tweens when they ask for a book like this. Its appeal is a huge plus for me. I do think it will mostly appeal to girls but it could appeal to some boys who like to skate as well.

The story itself was  interesting. I became invested in Kaitlin and I was rooting her on. I especially liked how she learned to embrace who she was and her emotions too all the while learning about what true friendship is. So many tweens really struggle with this. So this aspect could have some appeal to readers who aren't necessarily interested in ice skating.

Weaknesses 

I felt like Kaitlin perfected her routine a little too suddenly.   I think there could have been more of a progression here or an "ah ha" moment where the character learns to project her emotions into her routine. Even though the character has a moment where she accepts who she is, I think there needed to be more explanation in how she applied it to her routine.

Without this, it left me wondering how she got it all of a sudden. Since this was a big struggle in the book, I would have liked to have seen more of a resolution here.

Overall, this was a quick and fun read. It is one that I will have to keep on hand for my sports lovers.

-Pamela

Please note: This is just my thoughts on this book. This is  no way a reflection of  the committee or committee discussions.

Last in a Line of Rebels

Last in a Long Line of Rebels

By: Lisa Lewis Tyre 

Release Date: September 29,2015

Pages: 288

Audience: Grades 4 and up

"Racism can be very subtle sometimes, Lou. It's not always something you can put your finger on. It might mean being harder on the black players and more aggressive in helping the white ones get a place on a college team. It doesn't help that we don't have a large black population here. It makes it lot harder to prove patterns." 

The Story 

Twelve-year old Lou's class always has fantastic stories about what they did for their summer vacations, but Lou's family doesn't have the money to afford a cruise or other fancy vacations. Even though her family doesn't have a lot of money, Lou is determined to make this year different. She is going to have a great summer. To make sure she has a memorable vacation, Lou reaches out for a divine intervention and prays that God will provide her with a memorable summer.

Her prayer is answered, but not in the way that Lou hoped. She overhears her parents talking about how her family house is in danger of being taken by the city! If that wasn't enough, a family friend named Isaac was also denied a scholarship due to racism. 

To save the house, Lou teams up with her friends. Since Lou's home is one of the oldest in the city, the friends set out to  uncover the history of the home to try and make it a historical site. As they group uncovers more information about the home, they uncover a historical mystery within Lou's family. Lou’s great-great-great grandfather was a murder suspect & was accused of stealing gold in the Civil War. If Lou can find the gold, it could be the key to saving her house! Told in flashbacks between Lou’s great-great-great grandmother and Lou, this story shows how racial tensions are much the same as they were in the Civil War.

Strengths 

With the flashbacks between Lou and her ancestors, this book reminded me a great deal of the book Holes by Louis Sacher. It was faced paced and I know the mystery / treasure hunt would appeal to both boys and girls.

It also introduces racial issues in a way that kids will understand & think about. I really appreciated this aspect, and I think it will be a great talking point to discuss.

Weaknesses 

Since the book introduces racial issues, I wish there was an African-American perspective. Instead, it only portrays the white view. To me, it was incomplete without this other perspective. It describes what the character Isaac does after he is denied the scholarship, but it didn’t describe why. As a result, I felt like the book was lacking.

I was also disappointed with the description of the house.

Being that the house was a big subject of the book, I felt like there needed to be more detail to match its importance.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book. Since I live in Missouri, I can see this book being really important to kids to understand what is going on at Mizzou and other colleges around the county.

I can see it on many state award lists, and I look forward to reading more of the author’s works.



What did you think of this book? 

- Pamela

Paper Things

Paper Things 

Release Date: February 10, 2015

Pages:384 

Audience:  12 and up 

The Story 

When Ari’s mother died four years ago, she had two final wishes: that Ari and her older brother, Gage, would stay together always, and that Ari would go to Carter, the middle school for gifted students. So when nineteen-year-old Gage decides he can no longer live with their bossy guardian, Janna, Ari knows she has to go with him. But it’s been two months, and Gage still hasn’t found them an apartment. He and Ari have been "couch surfing," staying with Gage’s friend in a tiny apartment, crashing with Gage’s girlfriend and two roommates, and if necessary, sneaking into a juvenile shelter to escape the cold Maine nights. But all of this jumping around makes it hard for Ari to keep up with her schoolwork, never mind her friendships, and getting into Carter starts to seem impossible. Will Ari be forced to break one of her promises to Mama? Told in an open, authentic voice, this nuanced story of hiding in plain sight may have readers thinking about homelessness in a whole new way.

Story from Goodreads 

Book Trailer

Strengths 

I really enjoyed how this book addresses what it is like to be homeless.  I think it will make many stop and be thankful for the little things like food, a shower, and a safe place to sleep. I think it could also stir up some discussion on how homeless people are portrayed too.  

Weaknesses 

When I got done with this book, I was so frustrated. All Ari had to do was call her guardian to get out of this situation. Why did Ari's guardian just let her go with her brother?  There wasn't a situation that made them leave other than her brother didn't like his guardian. It just didn't feel real to me. 

 It would have been more real if Ari's mom or guardian  lost her job, couldn't pay for her rent, and got kicked out of their home and the family ended up homeless. This happens more than we like to think. The plot of this story was just too over the top for me personally, but I do think that middle grade readers who enjoy problem novels may enjoy this one. I also think it could be a favorite for teachers and I could see it possibly making some state nominee lists.

Overall, despite my frustration, Ari has stuck with me and I did really appreciate this novel. It made me rethink my life and be thankful for the little things that I have. It also made me rethink how as a society we handle the homeless situation, and how I can help. Perhaps I was just too wrapped up in the character Ari.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Pamela 

Honey

Honey 

By: Sarah Weeks 

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Pages:  160

Audience: Ages 8-12

The Story 

For a girl like Melody and a dog like Mo, life can be both sticky and sweet.
 
Melody has lived in Royal, Indiana, for as long as she can remember. It's been just her and her father, and she's been okay with that. But then she overhears him calling someone Honey -- and suddenly it feels like everyone in Royal has a secret. It's up to Melody and her best friend, Nick, to piece together the clues and discover why Honey is being hidden.
 
Meanwhile, a dog named Mo is new to Royal. He doesn't remember much from when he was a puppy . . . but he keeps having dreams of a girl he is bound to meet someday. This girl, he's sure, will change everything.
 
In HONEY, Sarah Weeks introduces two characters -- one a girl, one a dog-- who are reaching back further than their memories in order to figure out where they came from and where they're going.

Provided from Goodreads 

Strengths 

The mystery of trying to figure out who her dad was dating was decent. I also enjoyed learning about Melody's mom as the character did. That in itself was like a slow mystery as she slowing learned bits and pieces and had to put it together. 

Weaknesses 

I hate to say it, but I really didn't like the dog's narrative! I felt like it didn't flow with the rest of the story. The change of view points between Melody, the dog, and the Bee Hive owner was also a little confusing. I think this might especially confuse some of my younger readers. 

Overall 

Although this book could make some readers shed some tears, I did enjoy it. 

This was a fun quick read. The book Pie by Sarah Weeks is one of my all time favorites. The book Honey stays true to Weeks' writing style, and it is great for her fans or for other readers who enjoy realistic fiction. 

- Pamela 

We Are All Made Of Molecules

We Are All Made of Molecules 

By: Susin Nielsen 

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Pages: 256 

Audience: Ages 12 and up 

The Story 

Thirteen-year old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless.
Fourteen-year old Ashley is the undisputed "it" girl in her class, but her grades stink.

Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9% happy about it, but Ashley is 110% horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved out. "Spewart" could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder.

They are complete opposites. And yet, they have one they in common: they- like everyone else-are made of molecules.

Story provided by Goodreads. 

Strengths 

I liked how Stewart and Ashley were complete opposites. It gave this book a lot of humor.
For example, Stewart thinks Ashley is hard of hearing because she ignores him. This leads to some humorous scenes where Stewart is yelling at Ashley because he thinks she can't hear. 

It gave this book a great rhythm, and I had trouble putting it down! 

I also appreciate the cover and the theme. I think it could appeal to both boys and girls. 

Weaknesses 

I would categorize this book as young adult. There is a scene where Ashley's boyfriend Jared gets Ashley drunk. He gets her so drunk she passes out, and Jared takes her up to her room. While she is passed out, Jared invites his buddies up to her room too. There they take off her clothes and take pictures of her in her underwear. Stewart stops it, but it is hinted that there was more going on that the character Stewart didn't understand. We need books like this to share with kids, but this content is a little much for my 8-12 audience. It would be better suited for 8th grade and up. 


Overall, I enjoyed this book! I think it has the elements that could put it on some state award lists. 

Have you read this book yet? What did you think? 

Pamela 

Listen, Slowly

Listen, Slowly 

Audience: grades 5-8
Release date: February 17, 2015
Pages: 272

The Story 

A California girl born and raised, Mai can't wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead,  she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War. Mai's parents think this trip will be a great opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture. But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn't know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different worlds.

Story description provided by Goodreads 

The Book Trailer 

Strengths

With this book, I traveled to Vietnam.
I traveled the towns with Mai, I ate exotic food,  and vividly saw all of the Vietnam Animals.
Its description was so vivid, I could see it all.To me, this is what makes this book special.

Another aspect that sets it apart, is the description of the Vietnam War, and the mystery behind what happened to Mai's grandfather in the war.  I was not exposed to the Vietnam War until I was in college. I really appreciated this history in a middle grade book. It is the perfect foothold to introduce it to my library kids. I also think that many schools will use it in in their curriculum for this purpose.


Weaknesses

With this setting, I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to win me over in rereads, but I had the hardest time connecting to the character. I felt like Mai was just a brat. She did develop a little throughout the book, but she was very whiny & selfish.  I wanted to give Mai a time out!

I will say that this book has stuck with me. I think it is a powerful one.

Overall, I do think it is a wonderful book! It does have an audience and literary merit.


Pamela 

The Detective's Assistant

The Detective's Assistant 

By: Kate Hannigan 

Release Date: April 17, 2015

Audience: Grades 4 and up 

Pages: 368 

"And suddenly I understood what it meant to have faith in someone. Faith wasn't about evidence and eyewitnesses, like with Aunt Kitty and Mr. Pinkerton's other detectives. Faith was something you knew inside- from your heart all the way to the tip of your toes."


The Story 

From Goodreads 

Eleven-year-old Nell Warne arrives on her aunt's doorstep lugging a heavy sack of sorrows. If her Aunt Kate rejects her, it's the miserable Home for the Friendless. Her aunt is immediately hesitant to take Nell in. Nell's father killed Kate's husband. 

Luckily, canny Nell makes herself indispensable to Aunt Kate...and not just by helping out with household chores. For Aunt Kate is the first-ever female detective employed by the legendary Pinkerton Detective Agency. And Nell has a knack for the kind of close listening and bold action that made Pinkerton detectives famous in Civil War-era America. With huge, nation-changing events simmering in the background, Nell uses skills new and old to uncover truths about her past and solve mysteries in the present. It is up to Nell solve the biggest mystery of all and to find out what happened to her uncle and prove her father's innocence. 

Based on the extraordinary true story of Kate Warne, this fast-paced adventure recounts feats of daring and danger...including saving the life of Abraham Lincoln! 

Strengths

Two things I liked about the story:

1. The main character, Nell, has a African American best friend.  As they write each other throughout the book, they discuss the racial issues, underground railroad, and abolition. This is such a sneaky way to teach kids about these issues!

2. It brings to light the history of Kate Warne & gender roles. The book also covers how Kate Warne saved Abraham Lincoln from an assassination attempt. I loved that it highlighted this. Girls can do anything!

Weaknesses 

 My biggest concern is that I felt like it was too long for most middle graders. This would have been better if it covered one or two mystery cases. My middle graders tend to like things that are about
150 -250 pages.  If it is anything more, their little eyes go big and they ask for something else.

With this, I think it will only appeal to my eager reading historical fiction lovers. Unfortunately, there is just not a lot of these kids.

Overall, I do feel like this is a face paced and exciting read.

I will try my best to sell this one to my library kids.


Extras 



Interview with the Author

Discussion Questions


Non- Fiction Book Pairings 










Pamela 

The Terrible Two

The Terrible Two 

By: Mac Barnett 

Release Date; January 13, 2015

Audience: Ages 8 and up 

Pages: 218

The Story 

Miles Murphy (the school’s best prankster) is forced to move to  the town of Yawnee Valley. Since it is a boring town, Miles Murphy expects school to be nothing less. He will easily be the school's best prankster in no time. As he arrives to school on his first day, he quickly finds he not the only prankster. Someone has blocked the school’s entrance with the principal's car! This sets into motion a hilarious battle of wits between Miles and the mysterious prankster. As they try to out prank each other, they quickly learn that sometimes it is better to work together.

The Book Trailer 

Strengths 

This is a hilarious book that it is filled with entertaining pictures. I found its humor to be witty and to appeal to all ages. I even thought it was clever that the author sprinkled facts about cows throughout the book. What a great idea for a book pairing!

Weaknesses 

This was fluffy and pretty predictable. The only thing I really didn’t like was the adults vs.kids aspect, but perhaps this is some of the appeal to kids. 

Overall, I think this one will be great for fans of Big Nate and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It is one fast and funny read!

 More Books Like This: 

   

   

What are some of your favorite books for tween boys? 

- Pamela 

The Safest Lie

The Safest Lie 

Release date: July 10, 2015

Audience: Ages 8 and up 

Pages: 192

"The truth has many faces."

The Story 
(From Goodreads) 

In 1940, nine-year-old Anna Bauman and her parents are among 300,000 Polish Jews struggling to survive the wretched conditions in the Warsaw ghetto. Anna draws the attention of Jolanta—the code name for the real-life Resistance spy Irena Sendler, who smuggled hundreds of children out of the ghetto. Jolanta wants to help Anna escape. Anna's mother drills her day and night, teaching her a new identity, that of Roman Catholic Anna Karwolska. Soon Anna is whisked out of Warsaw to a Catholic orphanage and then to a foster family where she must hide and hope that her family survives the war. 

Strengths

 I haven't read too much on the subject of smuggling Jews out of Ghettos. I think that the author touches on a different subject matter for this genre in middle grade, and that is what makes this book special. You can tell as a reader that the author did a great deal of research to write this book, and I really appreciated it. I especially appreciated that she touched on how many Jewish kids lost their identity in the war. To me, this is a great opportunity for discussion. 

For my older tweens, I think this will have some appeal due to the curriculum on WWII. 

I always get asked for books like The Diary of a Young Girl  I think this might be a great fictional read alike book that might interest my kids & the character's name is even Anna! Or it might even be a great book for those younger siblings that want to learn about the Holocaust with their older siblings. 

Weaknesses

I don't usually weigh cover appeal in my reader's advisory, but I feel like this one will  impact its appeal. I am afraid that if I try to get one of my kids to read this book, they will be turned off by the cover (I know I was). I wish this book had more of a cover appeal to draw in more readers to its beautiful story.  

I also think  that the author should have included an epilogue. I became invested in the character Anna, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. With the conclusion of the War, I felt like this book ended suddenly.  I suppose the author could have ended it this way to show the uncertainty that the real survivors felt, but I wish I knew more!

Overall, I felt like it was an interesting read.  I finished it in one setting. I was drawn into Anna's tale, and I became really interested in the history of Irena Sendler. I have not heard of this individual before. After I got done reading this story, I found myself looking up information about her. 

Here are some of the most interesting resources I found: 

Facts about Irena




Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers - this is a documentary done by PBS. I would highly recommend it for more information.


Irena Sendler Obituary


For more information, check out these non-fiction books for kids:









I hope you will find her story as interesting as I did.

Pamela