Kids Books - Cultures

Number the Stars

Number the Stars

By Lois Lowry

This.. this... is a beautiful story about trust, believing in yourself, the horrors of war.. and most importantly, it's about the friendship between Annemarie and Ellen, and how families can get through the most horrible of crises if they just.. believe. This book takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark in the middle of World War II. The king is Christian X, who is loved by his people.. but unfortunately, King Christian X couldn't stop soldiers from Germany to be stationed in Denmark. It was either the soldiers or war, which King Christian X knew he couldn't win. In this time, Annemarie and her family are living a moderately peaceful, normal life.. until their normal life is shattered by a new law - that all Jewish people must be captured. One by one, the Jewish people start going missing, and Annemarie and her family need to protect Annemarie's best friend, Ellen, who is Jewish. So Ellen is disguised as Lise, Annemarie's oldest sister who died in the hands of Germany. But when a German soldier comes to investigate and Ellen is almost caught, Annemarie and her family know that the only way to save Ellen now is to take her (through a boat) safely to Sweden. But they learn people are being caught on boats going to Sweden.. but they will have to risk it. Annemarie MUST deliver a very important package to her uncle (who is driving the boat) that might save Ellen's life.. before it's too late! Lois Lowry is one of my favorite authors, because she can write brilliant masterpieces.. honestly, I think this book is possibly her best yet. It's cleverly written so that it can make readers cry, laugh, rejoice, and feel horror, without missing a beat, constantly throughout the story. I felt like I was experiencing the pain of Annemarie, the fear of Ellen, and the author made me feel like I was basically in the story, watching the events happen. Oh, and the ending.. is very touching.. possibly one of the best endings I have read in any book. I would definitely recommend Number the Stars to any reader that understands the value of life, family, and friendship.

Thanhha Lai Young Readers' Collection: Inside Out and Back Again and Listen, Slowly

Thanhha Lai Young Readers' Collection: Inside Out and Back Again and Listen, Slowly

By Thanhha Lai

Emileigh

This book is amazing! I love the verse and insight on the people in Viatnam.

Inside Out and Back Again

Inside Out and Back Again

By Thanhha Lai

I read this book at least 5 times. It's that good. Before I continue, I should say that I really enjoy Historical-Fiction books, so this review might turn out to be highly opinionated on that. This book is written in verse, and it's probably my first book that I have read that is written in verse. I think that was a good move for Thanhha Lai, because she could use all of the descriptive words effectively (and amazingly) to describe how the main character, Ha, feels. It's very important to know what the main character feels like, especially because they must have a mixed range of feelings in this situation (Having to immigrate to a foreign country and having to learn a how to make a new living, a new language, and a new way to act). Ha is immigrating from Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Ha's dad is also M.I.A. (missing in action; he was part of the Vietnamese army). Ha's dad used to bring home various things back from his visits to America, when he went on duty. But one time, Ha's dad never came back. Ha lives with her current family, herself, her mother, and her brothers (I must apologize in advance, I do not remember their names, except for brother Quang, or how many there were for that matter, their ages also,). Ha's family is somewhat poor, especially since market prices have been raised a lot since it was "Normal" in Vietnam (this is also emphasized and described in the book, by Ha's perspective). I love re-reading this, also because I always miss a few details, and I get to learn them the next time I read. Speaking of reading, I saw a fellow classmate reading this book earlier today. I was ecstatic that she was reading it- my other friends who have read it did not like it as much as I did, unfortunately- So I walked straight over and told her how amazing I thought the book was, and then I continued and just stood there for AGES blubbering on about how much I loved it, until -of course- my teacher came over and told me to get back to my seat and start working. Overall I would give this book a 5 out of 5 rating, and I would also recommend it to anyone who shares a love for historical fiction books (sorry that audience was a bit vague, I couldn't think of anything that fit). Please let me know if you have read - or are reading- this book. I would LOVE to know what other people would think of this book as well! -Kiwi ( Wow, this ended up being a LONG book review )

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness series Book 1)

Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness series Book 1)

By Tamora Pierce

Alanna: The First Adventure Book Review Alanna: The First Adventure, which is the first book in the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce, is the only book I have ever read in one day, despite my usual reading speed not being the fastest. Alanna is a younger identical twin, her older twin being her brother Thom. The twins have a problem in this book; Thom wants to study magic, though he’s being sent off to be a page and later a knight, and Alanna wants to become a knight one day, not study magic. She and Thom get into an argument, which precedes Alanna getting an idea. Her idea is to switch places, though it will be tricky to pull off, since they’re of the opposite sex. Thom is denying her idea, stating many reasons on why he thinks that it may not work. Finally he says, “What about Coram and Maude? They’ll be travelling with us, and they can tell us apart. They know we aren’t twin boys.” Coram is a soldier and swordsmith. The village healer, Maude, taught the pair of twins the basics of magic, and Coram is supposed to be traveling with Thom, while Maude traverses with Alanna. They contemplate many different ways to approach this carefully, to avoid getting caught. I liked that Tamora Pierce constructed the book to have Coram find out immediately that it’s Alanna and not Thom, but since Alanna knows some magic, and Coram dislikes magic, she threatens to use magic on him, blackmailing him if he tells anyone. It gives a sense of how much she hopes that she’ll be able to pull it off. They continue their journey to the castle, which made me joyful that it was included in the book—as some authors completely skip over instances like this—and when they reach it, Alanna is nervous, which adds realism to this book. There’s not really a lot in this book that I can say I didn’t like. I would have liked more exploration of the castle to be included. Was it majestic? Did it feel warm? Despite this, it does allow for my own imagination to be put into the story as I read this, the first book of the quartet. However, it is nice to have the author put her own idea of what most of the castle looks like, what it feels like to Alanna to be inside the castle—whose twin brother was actually supposed to be the one there—looking at the exterior and interior of the castle. In conclusion, I would undoubtedly recommend this book to people who enjoy high fantasy, as it is very layered. The plot is not hard to keep track of as it comes to one, which allows for one to read a couple other books, along with this one.

When Stars Are Scattered

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed

for years, Omar has stayed at the refugee camp because of the war. At the camp, he has to defend his disabled brother Hassan constantly, there's not enough food and nothing to do. Also, Omar and Hassan have been hoping to see their mother again, but they have had zero luck so far. For almost seven years, the two brothers have stayed at the camp. But when he grows up, Omar wants to do more than sit around in the camp, waiting. Instead, he desperately wishes to become a social worker and help people like him. But the UN has to specially pick his brother and he so that he can go somewhere else. But there are so many people, it seems like he won't ever be chosen. Throughout the story, Omar learns many important lessons on life, like to trust people to defend themselves, ignoring what others say about you, and having hope

Pirate Queens

Pirate Queens

By Lewis, Leigh

I would love read this book, lt looks really cool!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Spanish edition): El ratoncito de la moto

The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Spanish edition): El ratoncito de la moto

By Beverly Cleary

i read this book in class.i love reading beverly cleary books like ramona. my class is going to watch the movie next week i am really excited and angshus. i loved my teacher because she let us read the book in class on a CD player .

Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Boys' & Girls' Library)

Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Boys' & Girls' Library)

By Mark Twain

A classic by Mark Twain of "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" which is about a boy who goes by the well-known name of Tom Sawyer with at first mischievous and immature boy at the beginning of the story, often getting in trouble with his aunt Polly often scold her nephew. You would often see that Tom would be with his friend, Huck (Huckleberry Finn) whom Tom really close to, getting in trouble, too with him. Then Rebecca (known most of time as just Becky) Thatcher, a daughter of the town's new judge, as Tom got the romantic interest in Becky, got "engaged" due to the kiss until it's revealed by Tom that he actually "engaged" by another girl, Amy Lawrence, had the fight with Becky about it. Then, we have Injun Joe, a Native American who would defend himself most of time but got the racism from Tom and Huck. Later in the book, as Tom grew more considerate, kind, funny, and more mature than the beginning of the story. I had to read this for school and finally finished with this book today as I didn't really enjoy this due to the type of English which is Old English which can make me more harder to understand and also with the racism against the colored or even Native Americans. - Happy Reading...maybe!

The Birchbark House

The Birchbark House

By Louise Erdrich, Louise Erdich

we were reading this book at school it was really intresting book louis edrich he choose words carefully this book was well written. SPOIL ALERT its mostly about a girl named omakayas and her fake family living in a palce called today lake superior . omakays her family one day got smallpox from a visitor. But omakays she did not get it becaus she alaredy got it . but omakays she doesnt know that that is not her real family . So one day old tallow a family member she told omakayas that this is not her real family.Omakays she really liked this family and all.And i am just telling you guys this and if you want to actully read the book you should get it . its really good i recomended this book for ages 9 plus

The Ever-After Bird (Great Episodes)

The Ever-After Bird (Great Episodes)

By Ann Rinaldi

Cecelia McGill, best known as CeCe, a young teenager in the pre-Civil War, living in 1850s. Having his father getting killed for being an abolitionist so she has to move all the way to Georgia to live with her aunt Susan Elizabeth and uncle Alex who was a doctor with the love of drawing the birds. Met Earline, the free Black woman who works with CeCe's uncle, and a student at Oberlin College. But as we get deep in this story, we starting to learn few shocking truths to the family despite the slavery and deaths. - Happy Reading!

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