October, 2019

"By Chance Alone" by Max Eisen         

In 1944, fifteen year old Max and his family were sent in cattle cars to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Most of his family were immediately selected to die, however, Max, by chance alone, survived. First assigned to hard labor, Max was able to secure work in the hospital as an assistant. As liberation neared, Max was sent on a death march, barely surviving.          

This was a well written and engaging book. It is heartbreaking to think of a fifteen year old being separated from his family, yet through strength of will, and chance, Max survived. Overall, highly recommended.

"The Whispers of War" by Julia Kelly         

In England, friends Nora, Marie, and Hazel watch in fear as war with Germany seems more and more inevitable Marie, a German, faces a loyalty board, where she can be interned if she gives the wrong answers. Nora, works in the Home Office's Air Raid Division, where she is ignored and belittled as a woman. Matchmaker Hazel struggles in her marriage, as she and her husband drift farther and farther apart.         

I was a bit disappointed with this book. The characters had very little personality. They were a bit one-dimensional and were not flushed out. The story seemed a bit slow and tedious. Overall, not a book I would re-read or recommend.

"Mengele" by David G. Marwell         

This book is advertised as a biography of Josef Mengele. However, the book seemed to be 90% about the search for Mengele and identifying Mengele's body than about Mengele himself. It also contained a history of the times, and discussed how Mengele's work was not only accepted but lauded by his co-workers. I probably would not have picked up the book if I knew what it was really about. Overall, this one was a bust.

"The Girl I Left Behind" by Andie Newton         

When Ella's best friend Claudia confesses that she is part of the German resistance, Ella can't help but join in. When Claudia's cover is blown and she is arrested, Ella skips town before she is caught also. Determined to help her friend, Ella takes a job with the Nazi party.          

I had a hard time with this book. None of the characters or relationships between the characters were well developed. Claudia didn't feel realistic. Her actions weren't well described, and other than one or two scenes, she didn't do much while employed by the Nazi's. I'm not going to give anything away, but the ending of this book was a complete letdown. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"West of Alba" by Dave Eagleston         

Matt's father has sent him away from the city and to the town of Alba for the summer. His boss, a poor farmer, slowly begins to open up and tell him stories of his time in the military, where he worked at a Japanese internment camp.         

This book was well paced and did a good job of alternating between Matt's point of view and the farmer's stories. At times, Matt came across as much younger than fifteen, but overall he was a well developed and interesting character. Overall, I believe this is a good book for middle grade students or pre-teens.

"F**k, Now There Are Two of You" by Adam Mansbach         

From the author of "Go the F**k to Sleep" this is the third book in a hilarious and so true series. I found myself laughing and nodding all throughout the story. Both the illustrations and flow of the story are well done. I can't wait to share this book with second-time parents!

"Stronger than Death" by Rachel Pieh Jones          

Annalena Tonelli grew up in Italy idolizing Gandhi and his philosophy towards the poor. She didn't believe it was enough to care for the poor, she believed she needed to live with them and live like them to truly show love. As an adult, she traveled to Somalia, where she spent the rest of her life administering to those with tuberculosis.          

I found Annalena to be an interesting, determined, and courageous woman. She lived to serve others, often in horrible and terrifying situations. My only criticism of this book is that the author continually inserted herself into the story. I didn't care what the author felt about Annalena, and grew tired of her reflections and interpretations. Rather than interpreting Annalena for me, the author should have let Annalena's story speak for herself. Because of this, I can only rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

"Westering Women" by Sandra Dallas         

When Maggie sees an advertisement looking for young single women to travel to California via the Oregon Trail to find husbands, she jumps at the chance of a new life. With her young daughter in tow, she pretends to a widow, rather than a woman running from an abusive husband. Nearly fifty other women join the train, with a pair of pastors heading the expedition. As Maggie gets to know the other women, she realizes that most of them are also escaping a bad situation or hiding a secret. As the women trek the 2,000 miles west, they encounter hunger, exhaustion, Indians, and treacherous teamsters. Together, they are determined to overcome.

     I could not put this book down. Both the characters and setting were fascinating. I loved the relationships that developed among the women, it felt very realistic. I would love to read a sequel to this book, or more from this author. Highly recommended.

"Brave with Beauty" by Maxine Rose Schur          

Goharshad was the queen of Herat (western Afghanistan) during the 15th century. Goharshad was focused on the arts and creating beautiful things. This is a children's book outlining her life and accomplishments. The book was centered on beautiful and detailed illustrations. The story itself was a bit odd, but interesting nonetheless. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

"Mercy House" by Alena Dillon          

Evelyn and her fellow nuns run Mercy House, a haven for abused and battered women. When the nuns receive word that they are to be investigated, Evelyn is shocked to discover that Bishop Hawkins, her old abuser, will be the inspector. Worried that he will discover the nuns unconventional and blasphemous practices, Evelyn is willing to do whatever it takes to save Mercy House.          

I struggled a bit with this book. I did not particularly like Evelyn, and some of the girls in Mercy House were equally unlikable. Evelyn continually blamed her family for her vocation, which I found to be hypocritical and off-putting. I am not going to spoil the book, but the ending left too many things unresolved. Overall, a bust.

"Code Name Helene" by Ariel Lawhon    

After meeting and marrying a wealthy French man, Nancy Wake embraces life in France. When WWII begins, Nancy is determined to help those around her. She begins by small smuggling jobs, until she has advanced to smuggling people out of the country. Alternating, it is the end of the war and Nancy has parachuted into France from England to arm and run pockets of French Resistance members. The book ultimately merges the two stories, showing how Nancy ended up in England.          

This was a well told and interesting story. I had a hard time putting the book down, and found myself reading late into the night. Nancy was quite the hero and went above and beyond what most did during the war - what a fascinating person. I can only hope that I would have a fraction of her courage. Overall, highly recommended.

"The Mountains Sing" by Que Mai Phan Nguyen         

Ha Noi live with her grandmother, Tran Dieu Lan, while her parents are off to war. When bombing destroys their home, Tran Dieu Lan begins trading at the local market, a practice looked upon with derision by her communist neighbors. Alternating with Ha Noi's story, Tran Dieu Lan tells her granddaughter about her life, when she was forced to flee with her children during the Land Reform.         

This was a well written, interesting and engaging story. The alternating story lines worked very well together. The story flowed very smoothly and was well paced. I found it fascinating to read a story about Vietnam told over multi generations, and from the point of view of Vietnamese. Overall, highly recommended.

"All the Ways We Said Goodbye" by Williams, Willig, & White 

  This book follows three different storylines. In 1914, Aurelie impulsively leaves her home with her mother at the Ritz hotel and travels to her father's ancestral home in Courcelles. When the German's take over the area, they decide to use their home as their headquarters. In 1942, Daisy lives in Paris with her two young children and husband, a Nazi collaborator. Reluctant at first, she joins the French Resistance, and finds herself falling in love with a fellow spy. In 1964, following the death of her husband, Babs receives a letter, hinting that her husband was involved with the famous French resistance letter La Fleur. Babs journeys from England to the Ritz hotel, where she hopes to unravel more information about La Fleur, and her relationship with her husband.

        I found this book to be very tedious. Although the three storylines were related, it felt like the authors spent so much time developing the various storylines that nothing ever happened. Most of the book felt like background story rather than actual forward moving plot. The women's resistance and war work was barely discussed, instead the book focused on romance. Overall, this was a bust.