Title: The Undertaking of Lily Chen
Author: Danica Novgorodoff
Illustrator:
Danica Novgorodoff
Publisher:
First Second (:01)
Copyright:
2014
Price: $29.99
ISBN: 978-1-59643-586-5
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Deshi's brother Wei has died and it was partially Deshi's fault. The biggest problem with Wei's death? He died unmarried. To make up for the death, his parents send him out to find Wei a wife to be buried with. Thus begins Deshi's quest to find a body.
On the flip side. Lily needs to get out of town. She's stuck on her father's farm and they need money. Lily needs an out and a ride to Beijing. A chance encounter at night has Lily following Deshi, unaware that he sees her as a potential wife...for Wei. The only problem is, she's alive.
---------
Recommended Audience: Adults.
--------
Things to be aware of: sex, some violence
----------
Further Thoughts: Ok. Here's a weird one. If you or your patrons like weird, off the wall stories, take a look at this one. It's a bit unnerving.
Deshi is weak as a person. Lily is strong but naive and innocent. It is by her hand that they travel together and for Deshi, it's a small chance at soul searching for him. Most of the story is "will he or won't he" and "why did he make that choice?" For Lily, the story is what lies beyond her small world?
The art is interesting. I liked the interspersing of water colors, but occasionally, I couldn't figure out who the ghost faces were or what I was looking at. The cover is a great example of what you'll find in the story: images overlapping into other images, watercolor. I'm not so sure about how the characters are drawn though. Lily is pretty (it's an obvious sort of thing when you look at the art). Deshi is awkward. Everyone else is a caricature of something. It works but in some ways rubs the wrong way. I can't put my finger on it.
The basis of the story is interesting. The idea of "ghost marriages" where two dead bodies are married is at once creepy and interesting. It is or was actually a thing and thanks to Wikipedia, here's the full article quoted in the beginning of the story. It's interesting how you know that this is what Deshi is up to, but Lily has no idea.
Overall feeling: Not a must have, but one that is certainly different and worth adding if you have the extra funds.
--------------
Source: Review/Library Copy
Monday, October 13, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
Sisters by Raina Telgemeir
Title: Sisters
Author: Raina Telgemeir
Illustrator: Raina Telgemeir
Publisher: Graphic (Scholastic)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $24.99
ISBN: 978-0545540599
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Raina and Amara do not get along. Amara was not at all what Raina had in mind when she wished for a sister. Fast forward to the summer before high school. Raina, Amara, their brother, and mom are road tripping across states to visit family in Colorado. Camping and sightseeing should be fun, but not when everyone is cramped in a van and there is an "incident" with the front seat. It's a summer of realizations and growing for Raina.
---------
Recommended Audience: Tweens and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: None.
----------
Further Thoughts: Sisters is just what it is about: Raina's relationship to her sister. As a child, Raina makes the wish to have a sister and like any young child is so certain it'll be awesome. Sadly, she's confused when it isn't awesome. It'll probably prompt kids to ask what they might have been like when a brother or sister was announced. Readers will also understand the conflict of having that annoying sibling. Raina tells it like it is, but with wit and animation.
The art is boldly colored with strong lines. I love her art. It's animated, bright, and colorful. The story seems to move like a cartoon while dealing with life issues. At this point, if she illustrates it and writes it, I'll probably read it, which I know a lot of readers do too after how popular Smile was.
One thing I found interesting is how well this story holds up despite the story definitely taking place in the late 80s or early 90s (That make-up! The hair! A Walkman!). I'm sure readers will have some questions such as "why doesn't the van have a DVD player?", but overall, I hardly noticed those details. It was more about the family dynamics more than the time. The time period just helped showcase the family dynamic.
On the other hand, it felt slim for the size of the book. As in the story, which happens over a few weeks in summer with a ton of explanation flashbacks, seemed kind of slim. If you just wrote the text, it'd probably be a small book. I might have wanted a little more and I know for a fact, I'm not as crazy about this as the kids are. I can't explain why.
**SPOILER...kinda, sorta...**
What I'm most worried about is, if there is more, it'll be about her parent's divorcing. The end just felt like it was heavily foreshadowing it. It's like "I will probably read it, and it'll be handled well, but I just don't know if I want to read that."
**End Spoiler**
Overall feeling: If you haven't gotten this, what are you waiting for? The kids eat this up and love it.
--------------
Source: Library
Author: Raina Telgemeir
Illustrator: Raina Telgemeir
Publisher: Graphic (Scholastic)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $24.99
ISBN: 978-0545540599
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Raina and Amara do not get along. Amara was not at all what Raina had in mind when she wished for a sister. Fast forward to the summer before high school. Raina, Amara, their brother, and mom are road tripping across states to visit family in Colorado. Camping and sightseeing should be fun, but not when everyone is cramped in a van and there is an "incident" with the front seat. It's a summer of realizations and growing for Raina.
---------
Recommended Audience: Tweens and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: None.
----------
Further Thoughts: Sisters is just what it is about: Raina's relationship to her sister. As a child, Raina makes the wish to have a sister and like any young child is so certain it'll be awesome. Sadly, she's confused when it isn't awesome. It'll probably prompt kids to ask what they might have been like when a brother or sister was announced. Readers will also understand the conflict of having that annoying sibling. Raina tells it like it is, but with wit and animation.
The art is boldly colored with strong lines. I love her art. It's animated, bright, and colorful. The story seems to move like a cartoon while dealing with life issues. At this point, if she illustrates it and writes it, I'll probably read it, which I know a lot of readers do too after how popular Smile was.
One thing I found interesting is how well this story holds up despite the story definitely taking place in the late 80s or early 90s (That make-up! The hair! A Walkman!). I'm sure readers will have some questions such as "why doesn't the van have a DVD player?", but overall, I hardly noticed those details. It was more about the family dynamics more than the time. The time period just helped showcase the family dynamic.
On the other hand, it felt slim for the size of the book. As in the story, which happens over a few weeks in summer with a ton of explanation flashbacks, seemed kind of slim. If you just wrote the text, it'd probably be a small book. I might have wanted a little more and I know for a fact, I'm not as crazy about this as the kids are. I can't explain why.
**SPOILER...kinda, sorta...**
What I'm most worried about is, if there is more, it'll be about her parent's divorcing. The end just felt like it was heavily foreshadowing it. It's like "I will probably read it, and it'll be handled well, but I just don't know if I want to read that."
**End Spoiler**
Overall feeling: If you haven't gotten this, what are you waiting for? The kids eat this up and love it.
--------------
Source: Library
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Through The Woods, Stories by Emily Carrol
Title: Through The Woods
Author: Emily Carroll
Illustrator: Emily Carroll
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $21.99
ISBN: 978-1442465954
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Five stories. Five haunting stories about the woods, monsters, and fears unspoken. Each story takes you to a different time and to a different fear. The first story, "Our Neighbor's House" is in the later part of the 19th Century. Three sisters are left alone while their father goes out. When the red sun sets, the middle sister knows her father is dead. One by one her sisters meet a man with a wide-brimmed hat and disappear. The second, "A Lady's Hands Are Cold," tells of a lady in the 1700s who marries a man. She hears voices and destroys their house to find the parts of the first wife. The third story, "His Face All Red," is in an unknown time period. A younger brother saw his brother die, so why is his brother back and why won't he meet his eye? The fourth story, "My Friend Janna," involves two girls: one who sees ghosts and the other who doesn't. They fake seances together until one girl is haunted. The last story, "The Nesting Place," in the 1920s, involves a monster and I'll leave it there. Some people lived, and some people...well, did they live or die? That is the question. The connecting thread to the stories are the intro and epilogue about the reader (maybe author?) and the fears she had while reading stories at night.
---------
Recommended Audience: teens and older
--------
Things to be aware of: gore
----------
Further Thoughts: CREEPY, but delightfully so. The only story that really freaked me out was "The Nesting Place." When I first glanced through it, I thought there was no way I could read the story, it would give me nightmares. I started the book and kept reading and found myself skimming over "The Nesting Place."
Emily Carroll utilizes colors and images wonderfully. Each story has a pervading color, but all stories have a strong red that weaves in and out of the stories. The colors are striking in the story "A Lady's Hands Are Cold," where there is blue, yellow, and red splashed against black. The rest of the stories use brown and some blue, with the bold red. The art is probably what makes the stories all the more haunting.
For me, this reminds me of a book I have from Dame Darcy (I don't remember the title) and the stories written by Angela Carter. Haunting, and ending on just the right note to make you question what you read. It is a haunting, satisfying horror read. I know I'll think of it every so often (like Angela Carter's stories and Dame Darcy's work). If I personally owned it, I'd pull it from my shelf to read it occasionally.
Overall feeling: If you have fans of horror, or even fans of Gothic Literature, this is a must have. Actually, I just highly recommend this. It's delightful, in a creepy way.
--------------
Source: Library
Author: Emily Carroll
Illustrator: Emily Carroll
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $21.99
ISBN: 978-1442465954
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Five stories. Five haunting stories about the woods, monsters, and fears unspoken. Each story takes you to a different time and to a different fear. The first story, "Our Neighbor's House" is in the later part of the 19th Century. Three sisters are left alone while their father goes out. When the red sun sets, the middle sister knows her father is dead. One by one her sisters meet a man with a wide-brimmed hat and disappear. The second, "A Lady's Hands Are Cold," tells of a lady in the 1700s who marries a man. She hears voices and destroys their house to find the parts of the first wife. The third story, "His Face All Red," is in an unknown time period. A younger brother saw his brother die, so why is his brother back and why won't he meet his eye? The fourth story, "My Friend Janna," involves two girls: one who sees ghosts and the other who doesn't. They fake seances together until one girl is haunted. The last story, "The Nesting Place," in the 1920s, involves a monster and I'll leave it there. Some people lived, and some people...well, did they live or die? That is the question. The connecting thread to the stories are the intro and epilogue about the reader (maybe author?) and the fears she had while reading stories at night.
---------
Recommended Audience: teens and older
--------
Things to be aware of: gore
----------
Further Thoughts: CREEPY, but delightfully so. The only story that really freaked me out was "The Nesting Place." When I first glanced through it, I thought there was no way I could read the story, it would give me nightmares. I started the book and kept reading and found myself skimming over "The Nesting Place."
Emily Carroll utilizes colors and images wonderfully. Each story has a pervading color, but all stories have a strong red that weaves in and out of the stories. The colors are striking in the story "A Lady's Hands Are Cold," where there is blue, yellow, and red splashed against black. The rest of the stories use brown and some blue, with the bold red. The art is probably what makes the stories all the more haunting.
For me, this reminds me of a book I have from Dame Darcy (I don't remember the title) and the stories written by Angela Carter. Haunting, and ending on just the right note to make you question what you read. It is a haunting, satisfying horror read. I know I'll think of it every so often (like Angela Carter's stories and Dame Darcy's work). If I personally owned it, I'd pull it from my shelf to read it occasionally.
Overall feeling: If you have fans of horror, or even fans of Gothic Literature, this is a must have. Actually, I just highly recommend this. It's delightful, in a creepy way.
--------------
Source: Library
Monday, October 6, 2014
In Real Life by Cory Doctorow & Jen Wang
Title: In Real Life
Author: Cory Doctorow
Illustrator: Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $17.99
ISBN: 978-1596436589
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: The story opens with new-ish to town Anda, still getting used to Arizona. Yes, she misses San Diego, but seems to be settling into Arizona ok. She has friends, plays games, and takes a computer class/club. It is in this computer class/club, Anda is introduced to Coarsegold Online: an MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role playing game...think Minecraft or World of Warcraft or the oldie Runescape*). Anda joins and is sucked into a world of fun until she meets a "gold farmer" who is a low level avatar that collects cool stuff to sell to players. It's a rule breaking issue but when Anda "meets" the boy behind the farmer, she begins to question what she knows.
---------
Recommended Audience: YA. Middle School and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing out of the ordinary.
----------
Further Thoughts: I want to like this. I really, really do, but all it reminds me of is some "after school special" thing or The Tale of One Bad Rat. Basically, it's a nicely done graphic novel with a message or two.
I felt that the message is beaten over your head quite a bit before you even read the story. First there's the giveaway in the book jacket. Follow that with the intro by Cory Doctorow, which should have come as an afterward if it was needed at all, and at this point, my teen self is whining "stop! I get it. Life isn't fair and blah, blah, blah! I played Runescape. I watch Steam's trading cards during the sales." (Although, funny thing, I don't exactly remember the message except something about exploitation like this happens in all kinds of settings). Either way, I read all this text and thought "teachers will have a field day with this."
I started to read the story. The art is pleasant. Anda is interesting. She's a nerd of sorts and she knows her computer stuff. Then comes the special commercial from Liza McCombs who is from Australia (confusing point later) and "has a special deal for you! Girl gamers, buy the game, pay the monthly fee, and you can be in the special clan that Lizanator has in the game! Since I'm the game's creator, I can do this and we need more girls in this game!"
Ok, how'd she get into the classroom to advertise this and how did the boys feel? Yeah, we need more girl gamers, but how is this even cool in the classroom? Am I just out of touch with what happens in the classroom? And Anda's mom just kinda goes along with it as long as Anda talks to girls her own age? We really need an explanation about how looks are deceiving here. At least Anda is like every teen and just wants on the game.
She gets on, starts playing, and then meets a gold farmer. This is when she starts to realize things are not right in the world. As the story progresses, Anda talks to the gold farmer and finds out he's from China and works in sweatshop-like conditions with little pay. This angers her, so she starts to try to find ways to fix this. In the meantime, her dad's company is having trouble and the factory workers strike. This gives Anda an idea, but just makes the situation a thousand times worse and leads to Anda's banning from the game by Liza who hasn't returned to Australia. Will Anda figure out how to help her new friend in China? Will Liza do something to stop this in her game? Read on to find out.
If you take away all the contextual text, it really makes for a nice story with a few unbelievable parts (to me) like Anda meeting a gold farmer who is a boy from China, not a bot, or how Liza's "deal" for girl gamers is "ok" with everyone**. I also really feel if the foreword was actually an afterword, it'd have a bigger impact. Instead, teen me is freaking out before the story and educator/librarian me is noticing how this can be used as a book discussion book. On the flip side, teens might skip all that text and go straight for the story.
Overall feeling: It was ok. Loved the art.
----------------
*I played Runescape and it was cool for a while. I don't play there any more.
**Granted, this was written before the video gaming drama going on right now, but even then, I'd think at least one guy in the story would be like "wait a minute..."
--------------
Source: Netgalley
Author: Cory Doctorow
Illustrator: Jen Wang
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $17.99
ISBN: 978-1596436589
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: The story opens with new-ish to town Anda, still getting used to Arizona. Yes, she misses San Diego, but seems to be settling into Arizona ok. She has friends, plays games, and takes a computer class/club. It is in this computer class/club, Anda is introduced to Coarsegold Online: an MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role playing game...think Minecraft or World of Warcraft or the oldie Runescape*). Anda joins and is sucked into a world of fun until she meets a "gold farmer" who is a low level avatar that collects cool stuff to sell to players. It's a rule breaking issue but when Anda "meets" the boy behind the farmer, she begins to question what she knows.
---------
Recommended Audience: YA. Middle School and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: Nothing out of the ordinary.
----------
Further Thoughts: I want to like this. I really, really do, but all it reminds me of is some "after school special" thing or The Tale of One Bad Rat. Basically, it's a nicely done graphic novel with a message or two.
I felt that the message is beaten over your head quite a bit before you even read the story. First there's the giveaway in the book jacket. Follow that with the intro by Cory Doctorow, which should have come as an afterward if it was needed at all, and at this point, my teen self is whining "stop! I get it. Life isn't fair and blah, blah, blah! I played Runescape. I watch Steam's trading cards during the sales." (Although, funny thing, I don't exactly remember the message except something about exploitation like this happens in all kinds of settings). Either way, I read all this text and thought "teachers will have a field day with this."
I started to read the story. The art is pleasant. Anda is interesting. She's a nerd of sorts and she knows her computer stuff. Then comes the special commercial from Liza McCombs who is from Australia (confusing point later) and "has a special deal for you! Girl gamers, buy the game, pay the monthly fee, and you can be in the special clan that Lizanator has in the game! Since I'm the game's creator, I can do this and we need more girls in this game!"
Ok, how'd she get into the classroom to advertise this and how did the boys feel? Yeah, we need more girl gamers, but how is this even cool in the classroom? Am I just out of touch with what happens in the classroom? And Anda's mom just kinda goes along with it as long as Anda talks to girls her own age? We really need an explanation about how looks are deceiving here. At least Anda is like every teen and just wants on the game.
She gets on, starts playing, and then meets a gold farmer. This is when she starts to realize things are not right in the world. As the story progresses, Anda talks to the gold farmer and finds out he's from China and works in sweatshop-like conditions with little pay. This angers her, so she starts to try to find ways to fix this. In the meantime, her dad's company is having trouble and the factory workers strike. This gives Anda an idea, but just makes the situation a thousand times worse and leads to Anda's banning from the game by Liza who hasn't returned to Australia. Will Anda figure out how to help her new friend in China? Will Liza do something to stop this in her game? Read on to find out.
If you take away all the contextual text, it really makes for a nice story with a few unbelievable parts (to me) like Anda meeting a gold farmer who is a boy from China, not a bot, or how Liza's "deal" for girl gamers is "ok" with everyone**. I also really feel if the foreword was actually an afterword, it'd have a bigger impact. Instead, teen me is freaking out before the story and educator/librarian me is noticing how this can be used as a book discussion book. On the flip side, teens might skip all that text and go straight for the story.
Overall feeling: It was ok. Loved the art.
----------------
*I played Runescape and it was cool for a while. I don't play there any more.
**Granted, this was written before the video gaming drama going on right now, but even then, I'd think at least one guy in the story would be like "wait a minute..."
--------------
Source: Netgalley
Saturday, October 4, 2014
This Graphic Novels Collection Survey Nails It
Have you looked at last week's Extra Helping? I have to point out that there's a nifty link to a Graphic Novel Survey [and video games] research article. The link in the newsletter calls it:
Graphic Novels a "Gateway to Adult Literacy," Claims Study by Gary Price (InfoDocket/Library Journal).
To be honest, that's a much better title than the actual title on the blog post: "New Research Article: 'A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries.'"
The link offers you a "TL:DR*" version (the abstract) or a link the full text article of A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries** (click for full text.). The full text, while scholarly, is definitely worth a read. In the literature review, the author, Edward Francis Schneider, covers the reasons to have a video game and graphic novel collection as well as the fact that cataloging is a nightmare. Things I already know all too well.
The discussion was interesting too and I, personally, would like to see more about borrowing/buying habits and compare and contrast why.
*TL:DR = Too Long: Didn't Read
**The article is available under a Creative Commons License which is awesome.
**Citation (in APA)
Schneider, E. (2014). A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries. Evidence Based Library And Information Practice, 9(3), 68-79. Retrieved from http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/21236/17129
Graphic Novels a "Gateway to Adult Literacy," Claims Study by Gary Price (InfoDocket/Library Journal).
To be honest, that's a much better title than the actual title on the blog post: "New Research Article: 'A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries.'"
The link offers you a "TL:DR*" version (the abstract) or a link the full text article of A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries** (click for full text.). The full text, while scholarly, is definitely worth a read. In the literature review, the author, Edward Francis Schneider, covers the reasons to have a video game and graphic novel collection as well as the fact that cataloging is a nightmare. Things I already know all too well.
The discussion was interesting too and I, personally, would like to see more about borrowing/buying habits and compare and contrast why.
*TL:DR = Too Long: Didn't Read
**The article is available under a Creative Commons License which is awesome.
**Citation (in APA)
Schneider, E. (2014). A Survey of Graphic Novel Collection and Use in American Public Libraries. Evidence Based Library And Information Practice, 9(3), 68-79. Retrieved from http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/21236/17129
Friday, October 3, 2014
Hidden by Loic Dauvillier
Title: Hidden
Author: Loic Dauvillier (Translation by Alexis Siegel)
Illustrator: Marc Lizano & Greg Salsedo (colorist)
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 978-1596438736
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Little Elsa wakes up in the middle of the night. Just before she returns back to bed, she realizes someone is up. In the room, she finds her grandmother, Dounia Cohen looking through old photos and thinking of a different time. Innocent Elsa asks her grandmother to tell her what's wrong because maybe talking about it will help. Dounia is hesitant, but decides to tell Elsa the truth of her childhood, starting with the yellow star sewn onto her jacket.
---------
Recommended Audience: Upper elementary and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: N/A
----------
Further Thoughts: When this first came out to my shelves (through the Junior Library Guild selection program), I thought "no way this was a children's title. Anything about that time is definitely for older kids."
I was wrong. Dauvillier gets it. The pacing of the story is appropriate for that of a younger child who might not understand everything being told to her. Elsa, is a realistic child from her giggling at grandmother's childhood crush to gently prompting Dounia to continue. Dounia tells the story to her grandchild appropriately for Elsa's age using age-appropriate terms (i.e. "wee-wee") and explaining her feelings gently (with Elsa not understanding but knowing it was bad). The text alone is lovely.
The people with big heads and tiny bodies are perfect for this story. It makes the story real, but distant. It provides great opportunities to zoom in for full face panels. The best time this style for the characters work is the full page of Dounia's mother when she returns from the camp. It's haunting, scary, but not in a "I can't continue this it's too gross" way. More like a "wow...I can't believe that happened." Here is a story that the art just enhances the text and paints a bittersweet story of a girl having to grow up and recognize the world of the time.
What we have here is a wonderfully done tale of the 1940s about a child in France who had to wear the Yellow Star, whose parents were arrested, and who escaped to grow up and have children of her own. It is easily appropriate for children and even a classroom. It probably would even be useful in middle or high school classrooms.There is a very brief afterword that helps put context to the story and reminds readers that this happened and that we should continue to fight injustices.
Overall feeling: I definitely have this on my library shelf. It is a story that needs told and a different perspective.
--------------
Source: Library
Author: Loic Dauvillier (Translation by Alexis Siegel)
Illustrator: Marc Lizano & Greg Salsedo (colorist)
Publisher: First Second (:01)
Copyright: 2014
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 978-1596438736
-----------
Summary and Quick Thoughts: Little Elsa wakes up in the middle of the night. Just before she returns back to bed, she realizes someone is up. In the room, she finds her grandmother, Dounia Cohen looking through old photos and thinking of a different time. Innocent Elsa asks her grandmother to tell her what's wrong because maybe talking about it will help. Dounia is hesitant, but decides to tell Elsa the truth of her childhood, starting with the yellow star sewn onto her jacket.
---------
Recommended Audience: Upper elementary and up.
--------
Things to be aware of: N/A
----------
Further Thoughts: When this first came out to my shelves (through the Junior Library Guild selection program), I thought "no way this was a children's title. Anything about that time is definitely for older kids."
I was wrong. Dauvillier gets it. The pacing of the story is appropriate for that of a younger child who might not understand everything being told to her. Elsa, is a realistic child from her giggling at grandmother's childhood crush to gently prompting Dounia to continue. Dounia tells the story to her grandchild appropriately for Elsa's age using age-appropriate terms (i.e. "wee-wee") and explaining her feelings gently (with Elsa not understanding but knowing it was bad). The text alone is lovely.
The people with big heads and tiny bodies are perfect for this story. It makes the story real, but distant. It provides great opportunities to zoom in for full face panels. The best time this style for the characters work is the full page of Dounia's mother when she returns from the camp. It's haunting, scary, but not in a "I can't continue this it's too gross" way. More like a "wow...I can't believe that happened." Here is a story that the art just enhances the text and paints a bittersweet story of a girl having to grow up and recognize the world of the time.
What we have here is a wonderfully done tale of the 1940s about a child in France who had to wear the Yellow Star, whose parents were arrested, and who escaped to grow up and have children of her own. It is easily appropriate for children and even a classroom. It probably would even be useful in middle or high school classrooms.There is a very brief afterword that helps put context to the story and reminds readers that this happened and that we should continue to fight injustices.
Overall feeling: I definitely have this on my library shelf. It is a story that needs told and a different perspective.
--------------
Source: Library
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