Nothing is as it seems. Set amidst a very realistic portrayal of the conflict in Iraq, this peaceful and gentle read is a bittersweet coming of age story with a teenage male protagonist. A surprising and most satisfying ending restores my faith in the human race.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
An Amazon review by Ann Marie Grumm
Survival By Any Means Necessary,October 10, 2014
A survival story of historical significance capturing the ruination and abuse of villages and villagers. Without considering the cost, a young male protagonist vows never to fall down. He is quickly befriended by the enemy and that's when the real conflict ensues. The story itself is a five star story.
Reader Beware: The author attempts to capture the young man's broken English. Though, I see that other amazon reviewers truly appreciated it, it was a difficult read. Not recommended for second language learners.
Survival By Any Means Necessary,
A survival story of historical significance capturing the ruination and abuse of villages and villagers. Without considering the cost, a young male protagonist vows never to fall down. He is quickly befriended by the enemy and that's when the real conflict ensues. The story itself is a five star story.
Reader Beware: The author attempts to capture the young man's broken English. Though, I see that other amazon reviewers truly appreciated it, it was a difficult read. Not recommended for second language learners.
From the MARC record of this book:
| Note | This is a work of fiction based on a true story |
| Summary | Cambodian child soldier Arn Chorn-Pond defied the odds and used all of his courage and wits to survive the murderous regime of the Khmer Rouge |
A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata
Life in the jungle takes on as many hues as an elephant's skin
HIGHLY recommended for Junior High School English as this is not only a coming of age story with valuable lessons in human nature and the opportunity to explore the construction of good literature, it provides PRIOR KNOWLEDGE (a vicarious experience) for high school content (the Vietnam War).
After the Americans pull out of Vietnam, a young boy's fortitude and bravery are put to the test as he escapes into the jungle after being held captive by a retaliatory VietCong. He endures the alienation of friends who feel his father is to blame for their plight because his father had worked with the American Special Forces during the War. Throughout the story, this young boy develops a very special relationship with an elephant. A hopeful ending breathes new life into the aphorism, if you truly love someone, set him free.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
A Marker to Measure Drift
An Amazon book review by Ann Marie Grumm
An appropriate setting: The beautiful Caldera : The result of a most violent past
The plot summary that comes with the book: An electrifying novel tracks a woman's journey from the horrors of Charles Taylor's Liberia to abject poverty and self-exile on a Greek island, where she must grapple with a haunted past and find a way back into human society
Library Girl gives this story Five Stars, October 30, 2013
A Cauldron Of Events gives rise to a Coming Of Age in the Santorini Caldera
The Result of a MOST Violent Past : The MOST Beautiful Caldera : A MOST appropriate setting
An unfolding story that had me reaching for the dictionary and google searching. This was one of those books I wanted to get home to. I was conflicted. l needed to find out just what had happened to Jacqueline and I was longing for a particular resolution. All the while, I was taken on a peaceful journey throughout the beautiful island of Santorini in the Aegean by this young vagrant. Because I didn't get the resolution I was longing for, a disturbing ending left me vexed for a day or two. I wanted a "happy" ending for Jacqueline. I wanted her to be reunited with her friends and her family. I wished I had someone to discuss this story with.
After some self-deliberation, I came to realize that that final revelation of events was our young protagonist undergoing catharsis. This story has a hopeful ending, afterall. It all depends on how you look at it. Perhaps the experiences of your own life is what you bring to a story like this. This is a story of survival, healing and hope.
This review is based on an advance copy.
An ideal choice for book discussions and book clubs.
An appropriate setting: The beautiful Caldera : The result of a most violent past
The plot summary that comes with the book: An electrifying novel tracks a woman's journey from the horrors of Charles Taylor's Liberia to abject poverty and self-exile on a Greek island, where she must grapple with a haunted past and find a way back into human society
Library Girl gives this story Five Stars, October 30, 2013
A Cauldron Of Events gives rise to a Coming Of Age in the Santorini Caldera
The Result of a MOST Violent Past : The MOST Beautiful Caldera : A MOST appropriate setting
An unfolding story that had me reaching for the dictionary and google searching. This was one of those books I wanted to get home to. I was conflicted. l needed to find out just what had happened to Jacqueline and I was longing for a particular resolution. All the while, I was taken on a peaceful journey throughout the beautiful island of Santorini in the Aegean by this young vagrant. Because I didn't get the resolution I was longing for, a disturbing ending left me vexed for a day or two. I wanted a "happy" ending for Jacqueline. I wanted her to be reunited with her friends and her family. I wished I had someone to discuss this story with.
After some self-deliberation, I came to realize that that final revelation of events was our young protagonist undergoing catharsis. This story has a hopeful ending, afterall. It all depends on how you look at it. Perhaps the experiences of your own life is what you bring to a story like this. This is a story of survival, healing and hope.
This review is based on an advance copy.
An ideal choice for book discussions and book clubs.
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