3 comments about Year of No Rain.

1. Alice Mead's novel Year of No Rain is excellent. It is well written, with just the right amount of suspense to drive the story along, and its didactic elements are rarely obtrusive. Yet teach it does--about the realities of life in Southern Sudan, about the Sudanese civil war, and (to a lesser extent) about the inherent senselessness of war. It successfully avoids the oversimplified understandings of the Sudanese civil war that are all too common in America. And even if the Sudanese civil war may now be drawing to an end (or may not be--there have been false hopes for its end before), the novel remains valuable for its portrayal of a war that is in many ways little different from many of Africa's other civil wars.

   Stephen, a young Dinka, lives in a village with his mother and his elder sister, Naomi. His father has vanished, gone off to the war. Stephen's concerns are those of any older child in such a village: his family, the cows he tends and on which the village depends, and his sister's impending marriage.

   As Mead's examination of daily life in Stephen's village continues through the first quarter of her novel, the echoes of the distant war build, until suddenly the village is raided by soldiers looking for food. Stephen and two other boys escape to the forest; his sister Naomi hides. The next day, Stephen and the other boys return to find the village destroyed, Stephen's mother dead, and Naomi vanished.

   The remainder of the book tells the story of the boys' wanderings through forest, grassland, and swamp, at first heading for a refugee camp over the Ethiopian border, then returning home. Just enough happens to keep the plot going nicely without the book ever becoming tedious or monotonous. This is a real achievement of Mead's, since the boys' desperate journey is one of tedium, monotony, and incipient despair.

   Finally, the boys return home to their village, where they find Naomi, who has escaped her captors and has also returned to the one place she can call home. The book ends on a hopeful but realistic note as the children start to try to re-establish life among the ruins.

   Mead is to be congratulated not only on an excellent and atmospheric story, but also on the subtlety of her portrayal of Sudan's political and ethnic situation. She does not fall into the trap of seeing a simple struggle between Christian South and Muslim North, often told as a simple parable of good and evil. Mead's Northerners are shadowy and threatening, but her Southern soldiers are also threatening, though less shadowy. At first it is assumed that Stephen's village was raided by Northern troops; later, in a neat and very realistic twist, it turns out that the raiders were probably Southern rebels. The boys have to hide from Southern soldiers in a truck as well as from Northern soldiers in an airplane. The conflicts between different Southern tribes are as much a threat to the boys as thirst and disease. One Shilluk woman the boys meet is kind to the Dinka wanderers, but another Shilluk is indifferent. A Kenyan aid worker saves Stephen's life after he has caught malaria, but it is made clear that neither aid workers nor refugee camps are any real solution. The difficulties of life in the camps become clear to Stephen on his voyage of discovery, and it is in large part this realization that sends him and his friends back to their own village.

   Stephen, like Mead's other characters, is almost entirely believable. He and his friends briefly consider revenge, or joining the rebels for the sake of food--an option Stephen rejects because he wants to be a teacher, not a soldier. Perhaps this ambition of Stephen's is a little too good to be true; perhaps it is not. We all need to have hope, and in Stephen, Mead gives us some cause for hope. Because of this, despite the immensely depressing nature of its subject, Mead's book is not in itself depressing.

   Year of No Rain does not examine the geopolitical and socioeconomic causes of the civil war. Given the perspectives of her characters, this is not something that Mead could realistically do. Mead's book thereby raises an interesting question: which view of war is more real, the experts' and analysts' view that seeks to explain root causes, or the participants' view, that sees war as an inexplicable catastrophe?

   Year of No Rain is strongly recommended for its target audience, and might well be suitable for older groups, too. Its readers will enjoy it, and--with suitable guidance--will have their understanding of complexity expanded, rather than having their assumption of simplicity reinforced.




2. Alice Mead's novel Year of No Rain is excellent. It is well written, with just the right amount of suspense to drive the story along, and its didactic elements are rarely obtrusive. Yet teach it does--about the realities of life in Southern Sudan, about the Sudanese civil war, and (to a lesser extent) about the inherent senselessness of war. It successfully avoids the oversimplified understandings of the Sudanese civil war that are all too common in America. And even if the Sudanese civil war may now be drawing to an end (or may not be--there have been false hopes for its end before), the novel remains valuable for its portrayal of a war that is in many ways little different from many of Africa's other civil wars.

   Stephen, a young Dinka, lives in a village with his mother and his elder sister, Naomi. His father has vanished, gone off to the war. Stephen's concerns are those of any older child in such a village: his family, the cows he tends and on which the village depends, and his sister's impending marriage.

   As Mead's examination of daily life in Stephen's village continues through the first quarter of her novel, the echoes of the distant war build, until suddenly the village is raided by soldiers looking for food. Stephen and two other boys escape to the forest; his sister Naomi hides. The next day, Stephen and the other boys return to find the village destroyed, Stephen's mother dead, and Naomi vanished.

   The remainder of the book tells the story of the boys' wanderings through forest, grassland, and swamp, at first heading for a refugee camp over the Ethiopian border, then returning home. Just enough happens to keep the plot going nicely without the book ever becoming tedious or monotonous. This is a real achievement of Mead's, since the boys' desperate journey is one of tedium, monotony, and incipient despair.

   Finally, the boys return home to their village, where they find Naomi, who has escaped her captors and has also returned to the one place she can call home. The book ends on a hopeful but realistic note as the children start to try to re-establish life among the ruins.

   Mead is to be congratulated not only on an excellent and atmospheric story, but also on the subtlety of her portrayal of Sudan's political and ethnic situation. She does not fall into the trap of seeing a simple struggle between Christian South and Muslim North, often told as a simple parable of good and evil. Mead's Northerners are shadowy and threatening, but her Southern soldiers are also threatening, though less shadowy. At first it is assumed that Stephen's village was raided by Northern troops; later, in a neat and very realistic twist, it turns out that the raiders were probably Southern rebels. The boys have to hide from Southern soldiers in a truck as well as from Northern soldiers in an airplane. The conflicts between different Southern tribes are as much a threat to the boys as thirst and disease. One Shilluk woman the boys meet is kind to the Dinka wanderers, but another Shilluk is indifferent. A Kenyan aid worker saves Stephen's life after he has caught malaria, but it is made clear that neither aid workers nor refugee camps are any real solution. The difficulties of life in the camps become clear to Stephen on his voyage of discovery, and it is in large part this realization that sends him and his friends back to their own village.

   Stephen, like Mead's other characters, is almost entirely believable. He and his friends briefly consider revenge, or joining the rebels for the sake of food--an option Stephen rejects because he wants to be a teacher, not a soldier. Perhaps this ambition of Stephen's is a little too good to be true; perhaps it is not. We all need to have hope, and in Stephen, Mead gives us some cause for hope. Because of this, despite the immensely depressing nature of its subject, Mead's book is not in itself depressing.

   Year of No Rain does not examine the geopolitical and socioeconomic causes of the civil war. Given the perspectives of her characters, this is not something that Mead could realistically do. Mead's book thereby raises an interesting question: which view of war is more real, the experts' and analysts' view that seeks to explain root causes, or the participants' view, that sees war as an inexplicable catastrophe?

   Year of No Rain is strongly recommended for its target audience, and might well be suitable for older groups, too. Its readers will enjoy it, and--with suitable guidance--will have their understanding of complexity expanded, rather than having their assumption of simplicity reinforced.

   (...)




3. This is a children's book about the war in Sudan. Three young boys are trying to escape the attack by their village by Jangaweed, the Sudanese soldiers who terrorize the South Sudanese villages on horseback. They have to escape to another country but refugee camps are full and they have to choose correctly which way to run. A nice book to help children who have Sudanese student in their classrooms understand why they come here better. Also, the Sudanese students have books which they can identify with and stories that touch their lives. A good addition to any school library collection.

3 comments about Red Cage: Documentary: A True Account by My Father, Georg Schinke, Who Spent Nine Grueling Years As a German Prisoner of War in Russia's Gulag Archipelago, 1945-1954.

1. This book is spell binding, and others, who read it too, cannot lay it aside, but must finish reading from cover to cover. Not many people were capable to write about their experiences of being captivated by the enemy and kept behind barbed wire for endless years. Most soldiers, who fall prey to this kind of reprisal remain quiet, trying to forget. But can they? And what will happen to many after the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? Soldiers will be sent again to do their duty.....



2. It is hard to read a book like this without anger swallowing my soul. For some the war did not end in 1945... it was just beginning. So it was for one german soldier named Georg Schinke and millions of other axis soldiers. Their crimes? They served their country. They fought for what they believed in. They lost the war.
   
   Sadly Mr. Schinke has left us for eternity... but his daughter Gerborg took his memoirs in her very loving and capable hands and gave them shape and cohesion, keeping their context intact for the new generations. One of the few accounts available about the Gulag experience in the english language and it is a sobering experience. Those of you who belong to the new generations and find it hard to understand why we fought for Hitler should read this tome. Those of us who took part in The Great European Crusade Against Bolshevism know the dark side of the russians very well. Those axis soldiers that survived not only 4-5 years of brutal fighting on the eastern front but also 10 years of enslavement afterwards are the true heroes of the war, about which endless tomes should have been written; unfortunately it's the big shots who get all the credit in history books. I know first hand that our officers and those of the German armed forces were always (for the most part) at the front leading by example, men like Theodor Eicke of the 3rd SS Totenkopf who, rifle in hand would fight beside his troops, shared the same rations as them and refused preferential treatment.
   
   Mr. Schinke's account is one of triumph under the most desperate conditions. These men shared one enduring quality that was the key component that allowed most to endure and survive those ten long years; camaraderie, that eternal soldierly brotherhood bonded from common suffering, sacrifice and unselfishness. A soldier learns to chip away at the unessential elements of existence to such a degree that they find it impossible to worry about the petty needs of daily existence. When you look death in the face on a daily basis you learn to love every minute of your existence like it's your last. Mr. Schinke and his comrades knew.
   
   Huge memorials have ben built in the west to perpetuate the lies and honor the alleged victims of our horror. Yet, perhaps someday these brave axis soldiers too will have their memorial erected to honor their sacrifice for love of folk and nation, a nation that unfortunately turned it's back on them... refusing them veteran's pensions, placing them on trial for alleged crimes against humanity, persecuting their families and blaming them for all the evils wwii brought about. Sounds so much like the Vietnam veteran's sad retribution unfortunately. But as for now they each have their own very simple memorial... one built in the hearts of their loved ones, a memorial that is undying and that burns with the intensity of but one desire... to never forget who the true heroes are and honor them within the confines of our soul... and Mr. Schinke's literary homage to his and their suffering does just that.
   
   I have always wondered how these men who came back faced a completely transformed world; transformed in every sense of the word... a world devoid of all the values these men had shed their blood for, without leaders of the same mettle as Hitler, DeGrelle, Rudel, Franco; a world which had crimininalized them, their actions, their institutions (while they were imprisoned and unable to defend themselves) and made them into a sort of resident evil for the new generations.
   
   In war a soldier has the warriors chance, the capacity to survive battle by means of his soldierly skills. In captivity there is no such warrior's chance. Yet oddly enough this is a time when man reaches for substenance beyond the physical sphere into another realm... known but to him.
   
   Raimund Fonseca



3. 1.2 million German soldiers needlessly perished in Soviet war captivity under Stalin. This book tells of one of the fortunate men who survived this terrible ordeal.
   
   Georg Schinke was a very intelligent, organized, and highly motivated individual. He was an attorney and very knowledgeable in history which makes this book so much more interesting. He gives a broad overview of the Soviet system in addition to his observations. I will describe the book by relating a bit about some of the chapters it has. Homecoming tells about Georg's return through the eyes of his daughter. Hammer and Sickle gives an excellent synopsis of how Stalin ruled Russia. Onward gives a basic beginning from Georg's birth to his becoming a POW. From there on the reader is rewarded with a rich account of Georg's experiences. What makes the reading so enjoyable is the broad scope that Georg relates to in addition to his daily life in the camps. The only `shortcoming' of the book is that the reader is left wanting to know more about Georg and his pre and post war life. (All good books leave you wanting more) It is my opinion that Georg was a modest man, and chose not to concentrate so much on himself or his accomplishments so he chose to stick to his main purpose, describing life in the Red Cage. He was a first lieutenant (Oberleutnant), yet he never bragged or thought himself above others. Georg's humor nicely spices up the book, as does his writing style.
   
   The book is sold on Amazon by Georg's daughter and includes a personalized, signed sticker, which adds to the book's appeal. I am delighted I purchased the book, which was delivered with outstanding service.

5 comments about Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (The Snipesville Chronicles, Book 1).

1. Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is a story of many people and times. Hannah and Alex Dias, two young teens from California have just been transplanted from the home they have always known to another world, otherwise known as Snipesville, Georgia. With its private luxury communities in the middle of cotton fields and mall known far and wide as the Small, Snipesville is the last place on earth Hannah wants to be.
   Brandon Clark, born and raised in Snipesville, has one ambition: to get out, to be one of the "Big Shots" who leave black Snipesville and make a name for themselves in the wider world. However, Brandon's future seems to stretch before him, planned by his parents, like the grim parades of death that leave the family funeral home.
   When Hannah, Alex, and Brandon are drawn together by their mutual differences and isolation, unlikely events begin to unfurl. Brandon's discovery of a British World War II national registration identity card and the appearance of a mysterious woman known as The Professor lead the children on a time travel journey spanning two World Wars and nearly one hundred years. The only clue to the mystery: Find George Braithwaite.
   Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is author Annette Laing's first foray into the world of children's literature. It is the promising if slightly raw beginning of a series that has the potential to be great. Those familiar with Maiya Williams time travel series (The Golden Hour, The Hour of the Cobra) will find good grounds for comparison. The differences? Laing's use of social and/or cultural history is easier and more accurate, and there is an absolute avoidance of declaring a moral (not that this excludes the reader from finding one (or more).
   The Characters: Hannah is a nightmare. I have never met a child like her (and thank my lucky stars that is so), but I have it on good authority that children like her really do exist. She speaks to everyone, regardless of age or relationship, with snotty abandon, no fear of physical punishment, or even as far and I can see, grounding, blunting her sarcastic tongue. Even those of us not in favor of spanking children cheer when one indomitable British dame finally gives Hannah her just desserts. By the end of the book she is not noticeably changed in attitude, but decidedly challenged in outlook by late experiences.
   Alex is largely a secondary character in this book, with no real chances for expression. There are, however, hints of future importance and even leadership to look forward to.
   The story built around Brandon is very interesting. Both of the father figures in his life, real life and time travel, are named Gordon. The wives are imposing (and in Mrs. Gordon's case, downright nasty) and there is an idolized older brother figure who looms large but is never really seen. It is lovely to see the confidence and self possession Brandon gains with the Gordons's that he seems to lack with his own family. Speaking of the Gordons, the daughter Peggy is a wonderfully despicable and yet pathetic character, because you have to wonder if it is her own weakness of character, an acceptance of family prejudice, or the troubles she has had to endure that have so warped her opinions. Peggy plays an important, if secondary and sometimes unrecognizable role throughout the story.
   The real jewel of this Story is Mrs. D, who I will leave you to discover for yourself. She is a lovely and lovingly portrayed example of all the strong, staunch, somewhat undemonstrative women who kept Britain going during the horrendous years of World War II.
   Do yourself a favor: read this book and read it carefully. At times it is a bit difficult to work your way through the teenage angst, especially in the first two or three chapters. Children may not find any of this distracting. By the time you reach chapters five and six you won't care any longer; you will be too involved in the lives and worlds being lived on the pages before you.This book is appropriate for the ages specified and beyond. Paying close attention will reward the reader with clues and hints as to the future of the series. Enjoy.



2. Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is an amazingly engaging book written very well. A good friend of mine recommended me to read it and after I asked what it was like, she responded that it was a bit like Harry Potter only with history. Now that I've read it, I agree. No, there's no wands or boarding school, but there is the magic of time travel and of characters that take you to another place and time. As I read the book, I marveled at some of the things that the kids, Alex, Hannah, and Brandon, encountered and wondered to myself "could this actually be the way it was then?" I found that these things were true.
   Annette Laing is a wonderful writer who grabs you with her style. I highly suggest this book for anyone at all.



3. This brought back my son's love of reading again. We found it under 'Historical Fiction' which is a bit of a stretch. They do talk about history, but not as much as their adventure. I would like to see more history in subsequent novels. My son loved the characters, especially Alex!



4. My sister is 13 years old and she despises books. After much begging and pleading I finally convinced her to read Don't Know Where, Don't Know When. Here's what she had to say:
   That was a really good book. I loved it. I read a lil bit every night. I like those kids in the book. I would so read it again.
   Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is the first book my sister has read and actually ENJOYED!!



5. Through the Rug
   Through The Rug 2: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)
   
   I am a children's author who likes to read books by other children's authors. I really enjoyed "Don't Know Where, Don't Know When".
   
   Hannah and Alex Diaz and Brandon Clark arrive in England during World War 2, with a mystery to solve. They are unprepared for the world of war torn England. They are faced with air raids, evacuations, and miserable foods that stink. The children also eat dry bread and cakes, and wear hand-me-down clothing that should have been discarded long ago. They are faced with strict rules of behavior and firm punishments.
   
   Brandon, who is black, faces prejudice and is disliked by some who have never before encountered a person of his race.
   
   Alex takes his new environment as a challenge and an adventure. Hannah often opens her mouth and says inappropriate things. Brandon is separated from his friends, not only by being in a different home, but a different time in history.
   
   I recomend "Don't Know Where, Don't Know When", for children and adults. It would be a great book to read to an elementary class for 3rd through 6th graders. This book would also be a good read-together book for a family.
   
   I am adding this book to my list of 'Adventures with Grandma'. Verity's grandmother, Hannah and Alex call Mrs. D, is a harsh disciplinarian and a strict woman, but she is very endearing. She takes Alex and Hannah into her home and under her wing. We later find that Mrs. D has a past and wasn't always sweet and innocent herself. Her personality, as a young woman, was much like that of Hannah Diaz.
   
   Join in the adventure of Hannah, Alex and Brandon, as they travel into the past and bring back lessons they can use in the future.

3 comments about Duel in the Wilderness.

1. A very well written book!! If you love history or even if you don't, read this book! It tells about young George Washington and his first assignment for this country which was still under Englands watchful eye. It tells of the amazing hardship and luck that George experienced at the age of 21,in the Ohio wilderness. This would make a great film!!! Lots of action and true life experience. Just READ this and you will be hooked on history forever.



2. My boys (ages 10, 9, 7, 5) and I found this book to be dull. We love history, but this one was lacking. It also had several instances of profanity which was surprising to me for a book that I thought was aimed at kids.



3. The book is readable, fast-moving, interesting, and tells a part of George Washington's life not normally told. It is historically pertinent because it relates the French-Indian wars to the American Revolution. It is interesting history while being also social commentary.

5 comments about My Chocolate Year: A Novel with 12 Recipes.

1. A wonderful blend of baking and social-history that will appeal to all the girls who enjoy American Girl. Let the aroma of all the tantalizing recipes bring you back in time to the 1940's and into the world of one remarkable family as they are reunited in the aftermath of war. Reminiscent of The All of A Kind Family books, too.



2. My Chocolate Year is a sweet homage to food and how it brings families together. It's September, 1945 in Chicago. World War II has just ended, and the fifth grade has just begun for chocolate-lover Dorrie Meyers. Dorrie is particularly excited about this school year because her class will participate in the Sweet Semester baking and essay contest. The winners will get their picture in the paper. Dorrie really wants to win, but first she's going to have to learn to bake and figure out what she'll write in the essay.
   
   My Chocolate Year is a charming story of food, family and world history. While at moments a bit sappy, it provides kids with some very basic details of the holocaust without being too horrific. Add in some interesting little historical tidbits like calling the refrigerator the Frigidaire and the creation of the silver penny due to a copper shortage, and you have a solid story that provides many jumping points for discussions of World War II. The inclusion of the various recipes is also a nice touch. For many children, their first sense of their family history comes by what food is served at the dinner table. Not to mention, I can't wait to make the chocolate nut torte on page 131. I'm off to the grocery for supplies.
   
   For the rest of this review and others, visit my site.



3. The year is 1945. Dorrie Meyers and her best friend, Sunny Shapiro are finally in the fifth grade. And while they're usually good students; the best friends have decided that this year they will be the best students ever because they finally have Miss Fitzgerald as their teacher, and that means one very important thing...Sweet Semester!
   
   Miss Fitzgerald is known for throwing her yearly Sweet Semester for fifth graders. It's a time for her students to make a sweet dessert of their own, and proceed to write an essay about why it means so much to them. Dorrie Meyers has been awaiting the opportunity to participate in Sweet Semester ever since her older brother, Artie did. But now that her chance has finally arrived, she has absolutely no clue what to make - let alone write about. That doesn't bother Dorrie, however. Dorrie is the resident chocolate queen. She knows everything there is about chocolate, and will eat just about anything that has chocolate in it - except for chocolate gum. Therefore, it's obvious to Dorrie that whatever she makes, it will have loads and loads of chocolate in it. But while Dorrie would love to concentrate solely on chocolate and Sweet Semester, the current affairs of the world are making it difficult to do so. Overseas, millions of children and starving and finding themselves displaced from their families; at home, however, things aren't much better. While her father is running a thriving mattress company, and her mother is quite comfortable spending her days doing chores, running errands, and cooking up all kinds of delicious foods in the kitchen, not everyone in Dorrie's family is doing so well. As a member of a Jewish family, some of Dorrie's relatives are stuck under Hitler's rule, being harshly treated as a part of the Holocaust, and her mother and Bubbie spend much of their time worrying about whether or not these individuals are still alive. As much as Dorrie would love to help these people - even though she hasn't met them - she can't think of anything to do that could turn their lives around. Except bake, of course.
   
   Originally I picked up Charlotte Herman's MY CHOCOLATE YEAR thinking that it was another book being placed on the market as part of the "foodie" craze; but it was quite evident that I was wrong after reading just one chapter. While MY CHOCOLATE YEAR provides readers with some fun chocolate-induced recipes to try out, it spends more time telling the tale of a Jewish family in Chicago, trying to make a living in the harsh 1940's, and even goes so far as to briefly discuss Hitler and the Holocaust, and the people suffering at his hands. Dorrie is such a delightful character, whose determination to create the best dessert ever, while, at the same time collect money for starving children overseas is admirable, and makes you love her more and more with each page turned. I especially loved the fact that Herman has concocted a story that is anything but catty. With so many books on the market nowadays highlighting girls who are bickering with one another, and pulling vicious pranks on their classmates, it was refreshing to see that Herman went more the AMERICAN GIRL route, crafting a tale that is wholesome, historical, fun, sentimental, and educational - all wrapped up in one tiny tale. MY CHOCOLATE YEAR is sweet enough to give you cavities!
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Freelance Reviewer



4. 
   In 1946, ten year old Dorrie enters a new school year with pep in her step. She is made all the more giddy at the prospect of the Sweet Semester, a tradition established by her teacher in which her students bake up a little something. Dorrie plans to make something involving chocolate, but what? Throughout the story, Dorrie tests out different recipes, listens carefully to the immigration stories of her parents and relatives, and melts at the sight of the perfect junior bridesmaid dress.
   
   Dorrie is surrounded by friends and family. Her mother lovingly makes her special dress for her Aunt Esther's wedding. Her father works for a mattress company because, as a young boy during the war, he had to wear his day clothes to bed in case of evacuation and he dreamt of sleeping in pajamas. Her grandmother speaks only in Yiddish and Dorrie only in English, but they understand each other quite well. Rounding out the cast are Dorrie's older brother Artie, her best friend Sunny, Uncle Louie the hopeful business owner, and her cousin Victor, who lost his immediate family and was labeled a DP (a displaced person) in his home country, but is now coming to America.
   
   My Chocolate Year by Charlotte Herman includes twelve recipes and is peppered with black-and-white illustrations by LeUyen Pham. It is a sweet story for elementary school readers and was partly inspired by the author's own family and childhood.



5. What a gem of a book! MY CHOCOLATE YEAR by Charlotte Herman starts out as a sweet story about 10-year-old Dorrie, who is a fifth-grader in Chicago just after the end of World War II. Dorrie is excited about the annual "Sweet Semester" contest run by her teacher. Every student is to plan a special dessert, which they will bring in to class at the end of the semester for a contest. The students sample each other's desserts and vote on the best one. They also write an essay explaining their choice of dessert, and their teacher judges the best essay.
   
   Dorrie has been looking forward to her chance at winning Sweet Semester since her older brother, Artie, participated when he was in fifth grade. She is determined to win, and the book is interspersed with her attempts at various concoctions. It even includes actual recipes for some of the desserts, including Peppermint Chocolate Sticks and a scrumptious-sounding Chocolate Nut Torte.
   
   While Dorrie is focused on the contest and on finding that perfect recipe, her family is adjusting to post-war life. They are Russian Jews who managed to escape the Holocaust, but not all of their relatives were so lucky. It sounds like a surprisingly sad topic to combine with the lightweight feel of the dessert contest, but author Herman executes this integration flawlessly.
   
   In fact, her inclusion of the cultural elements of post-World War II Chicago make reading this book educational without ever feeling like it. For instance, I had no idea that there used to be "silver" pennies, or that chocolate chip cookies were invented by a woman named Ruth Wakefield, or that sugar was rationed.
   
   It also makes perfect sense to show this time and place in American life through the eyes of a fifth-grader, and of course she is more focused on her big contest at school than with the letters her parents receive from relatives overseas. Dorrie does have a big heart, though, and it is that heart and conscience that guides her to what she eventually chooses as her entry for Sweet Semester.
   
   Reviewed by: Marie Robinson

1 comments about Chips a Hometown Hero: Based on the True-Life Adventures of the World War II K-9 Hero.

1. This is a terrific book for early Middle School readers. The central character is a dog named Chips. He is a military dog from World War II, and many of the events in the book are based on facts from his real life. This is a perfect combination of history, adventure, and a great old fashion "dog" story. My grandson, age nine, loved it as did my granddaughter, age eleven. They read the book first and then watched the Disney movie about the same dog called "Chips the War Dog"Chips the War Dog. In my opinion, the movie is a lot more Hollywood fantasy, and the book has more historical facts and is more in keeping with the real "Chips". This also makes a good book for Middle School book reports. The publisher's web site also has teaching guides for anyone interested([...]).

No comments about Gabriel's Triumph (Racing to Freedom Trilogy) (Racing to Freedom Trilogy).

5 comments about Year of Impossible Goodbyes.

1. The Year of Impossible Goodbyes is written by Sook Nyul Choi. The book is 169 pages in length. It is about a girl named Sookan who lives in Korea during World War II. At this time, Korea is under control of the Japanese. Sookan and her family are being suppressed by the Japanese. Sookan's mother is a supervisor at a sock factory. But, the workers at the sock factory were sent away to the war, forcing Sookan's mother to close down the factory. Then, Sookan is sent to a Japanese school, where she learns about Japan and nothing else. But soon after, the war ends! Freedom at last! Sookan and her family rejoice! But neither the rest of their family nor the sock girls have returned. Sookan is worried. Also, to make things worse, Russia took over North Korea, and they again are suppressed. But, after a couple of attempts, she and her family make it to liberated South Korea!
   Sookan is kind, loving, compassionate, smart child. She takes care of others and has an unbroken spirit. She is resolute and determined.
   Sookan faces many conflicts throughout this book. First, she hates her enemies, the Japanese, who have been occupying her country for many years. She is taught not to hate; yet she is unable to suppress these feelings. Sookan knows that if she spoke what is on her mind, her whole family could be executed. Luckily, she is mature enough to realize this and keeps her emotions to herself.
   Another of Sookan's conflicts is her attempt to escape from northern Korea. She gets separated from her mother at the passport checkpoint and is left with caring for her younger brother. Sookan is ten years old and has neither currency nor provisions. She is by herself. Escaping is very risky and life hostile. Sookan and her brother stay alive on their own and make it to South Korea; where they are reunited with their family.
   Finally, the Japanese occupying Korea is another conflict Sookan has to face. The Japanese suppress Sookan's family, forcing them to do Japan's bidding. The Japanese police take their belongings to help in the war effort and force Sookan's mother to supervise a sock factory. Sookan's patience helped her wait out the war.
   The author uses the reoccurring theme of determination in her novel. An example of this theme is when Sookan gets divided from her mother at the identification checkpoint and is left with caring for her youthful sibling. Sookan is ten years old and has no money or food. She is on her own. Escaping is very dangerous and life threatening. Sookan and her brother manage to survive on their own and finally reach South Korea, where they are reunited with her family. This shows determination because she is only ten in an unknown world. She has no money and has to take care of her younger brother.
   Another example of the determination theme occurs at the beginning of the story. The Japanese suppress Sookan's family, forcing them to do Japan's bidding. In fact, the Japanese police take their belongings to help in the war effort and force Sookan's mother to supervise a sock factory. Still, Sookan's patience helped her wait out the war. This shows determination because she does not give up her life and try to run away, but is patient.
   The style of novel is very unique. Author Sook Choi writes in first person view and adds very smooth sentences. Most of her sentences are like this,"Listening to this boy was as refreshing as diving into a cool stream". In this sentence she uses many descriptive words and there was no comma to slow it down. Choi's sentences are both short and long. Many authors use only one kind of sentence. This is what makes this novel and author unique.
   The plot, characters, theme, and style are all good, which makes this book really fun to read. It's filled with adventures and many other thrilling topics. This book is great for most ages. I recommend this book to whoever loves adventure!



2. You MUST read this book and the two other books by Choi-Echoes of White Giraffe & Gathering of Pearls. All three books are written from Sookan's perspective, as she grows up in the midst of the Japanese occupation, the war and in America, as a foreign college student. Aside from the cultural issues, as well as historic issues, the plot flows very well. The stories are very personal & honest. I really enjoyed these books and I know that when my kids, ages 5 and 9, get a little older, they will also. These are enjoyable and educational stories.



3. Sookan is ten years old, living in Korea with her mother, grandfather, aunt, cousin, and little brother. World War II is going on and things are very hard in Korea. The Japanese forces are in control of their country and they treat the Korean people like slaves in their own home, making them give up all valuables to help the Japanese army, putting them to work making clothing for the Japanese and sending the children to schools where they make weapons and learn propaganda about the Japanese army. More than anything, Sookan wishes she were with her father, her older sister or her three older brothers, who are all far away. Her father is working with the resistance forces, her brothers have been taken away to labor camps and her sister is in a convent.
   
   Then after what seems like an eternity of being at war and under Japanese control, the war is over and the Japanese have lost. Sookan and her family think that things will be much better now, but then they find that their country has been divided into two parts. Rather than being helped by the Americans as they'd hoped, they are instead under Russian control, and the Russians seem determined to brainwash everyone into loving Russia. They make everyone go to meetings to show their support and those in authority are constantly looking for traitors. It becomes clear to Sookan's mother that they need to get to South Korea where the Americans are, and where she expects Sookan's father and brothers may be waiting for them. But will Sookan and her little brother be able to make the journey to safety?
   
   I liked the descriptions of what life in Korea was like during the war. It's hard to imagine what was going on in other countries when we mostly hear about what was happening in our country. I also liked the interaction between Sookan and her brother. They were really nice to each other and probably wouldn't have made it without each other's help.
   
   It was sad to read about the lives of the Koreans during the war; it sounds like such a horrible way for anyone to spend a childhood.



4. Sookan is a 10-year old girl living in Korea in 1945. The Japanese have taken over and force communist ideas and laws onto the Koreans. Each day, Captain Narita inspects the house and backyard. Their backyard holds a shack that is used for sock-making. The sock-girls would work day and night trying to meet their quotas. Koreans are deprived of rice and money. The children, including Sookan and her brother Inchun, have to attend a very strict Japanese run school. When the Japanese leave, the Koreans rejoice, but are shortly taken over by the Russians. Things begin to get worse, and Sookan, with her mother and brother, try desperately to escape to the South where the Americans are.
   
   This historical fiction book takes you along the incredible journey of 2 children as they take drastic forms of lifestyles to earn the freedom they deserve. The beginning of this book started out slow, but took fast pace when the Russians were introduced. The author has a wonderful writing style that truly makes you feel like you are part of the story, especially near the end. This is my favorite book and I recommend it to everybody of all ages. Do not miss out on this surprisingly realistic journey.



5. This book is about a 10 year old girl named Sookan and she lives with her mother, grandfather,aunt, and little brother. They live in North Korea in 1945. Her and her mother and aunt work in a sock factory for the Japanese soliders in World War II. They had a Captain Narita and he came by and it was her sister's birthday and mother went to go get a book from older sister at the convent. Mother gave it to her and Captain Narita told his men to destroy it. Sookan's mother can't even have a garden or else Captain Narita will have his men step on them. Her father is in the military and her sister is in a convent. Also, her older brothers were sent away tp labor camps. The war ends and the Japanese lose. The Russions take over North Korea and brainwash them into loving Russia, so Sookan and her brother must go to South Korea because she thinks that her dad and older brothers and sister are waiting for them. She hopes she will find freedom in South Korea. I think that is really sad to not have your father around or older brothers and to have to work in the sock factory. Also, I liked how her and her brother stood side by side. This book is a Fantasy book and the theme is Fictional.

5 comments about The Thousand Year War in the Mideast: How It Affects You Today (An Uncle Eric Book).

1. Richard Maybury is a very rare bird. He can take a complex subject, such as why the US government is engaged in a war with radical Islam, and explain its root causes in simple, truthful terms. He is a tough, hardheaded, fearless thinker who is unafraid to go past the facile explanations of the mainstream press and seek out the deeper causes of socio-political phenomena. Maybury relies on science, reason, and a penetrating study of history for his explanations. He is also an ex-military man with an astonishing grasp of military history and the current level of effectiveness of US armed forces

   For instance, his analysis begins in the 8th century with the founding of Islam. He explains why the devastation visited upon the Islamic world by the European Crusades and the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan in the 11th-13th centuries still exert a powerful influence on the peoples of the MidEast.

   He also clearly identifies the theoretical basis of his reasoning, i.e., Austrian (free market) economics and the natural or "scientific" jurisprudence that underlies the evolutionary development of Common Law, the basis of American freedom. I was stunned by his ability to extract from his studies the two basic laws (stated in short, simple sentences) upon which every successful civilization is and has been based. He explains in another book how America's success derives from the founders' understanding of these two laws. He writes that he has never found anyone who disagrees with the rightness of these two laws...although the current American political state massively violates both every day. In the context of this book, he shows how the US government's intervention in Middle Eastern affairs tramples on the two laws that, ironically, have always been the source of American freedom and prosperity.

   I have read most of the deeper academic works of the Austrian school and am well-read on American/European history. I have also applied myself assiduously to understand the current conflict and its probable outcome. However, until I read Maybury's clear, concise book, I honestly did not understand what was going on. Maybury has given me the tools I was seeking to grasp the nature of the current conflict. For instance, he not only predicted that something like 9/11/2001 would happen years before it did, but also why it was bound to happen. He also predicts that unless the US gov't withdraws from the MidEast and apologizes for over 50 years of murderous meddling in the afffairs of the Islamic world, we will face far worse consequences. Maybury is also honest about the limitations of his ability to predict. He lays out the principles upon which he bases his projections in straightforward terms so you can judge his conclusions for yourself.

   Maybury uses simple examples to explain why he thinks the way he does. Eg, he asks how we would feel if the Iranian navy were permanently deployed in Chesapeake Bay. He further states obvious truths that the mainstream somehow overlooks, such as, that the US military is over there in their homeland killing people right & left and has been doing so for 50 years; their military is not over here on our (US) homeland. He points out, without justifying them, that two decades of Muslim attacks on Americans have been in response to prior American attacks on Muslims that have killed thousands of innocent islamic men, women & children.

   Maybury does not take sides (the thinks both sides are wrong) but does show how the American government (not the American people) has instigated the current version of the "1,000 Year War" through its continuous interference in the Middle East or as he calls it "Chaostan." Finally, he explains why the US gov't cannot possibly cure the ills of tyranny, poverty & constant violence that plague that part of the world. US meddling will only make things worse at great cost to both sides.

   I feel so strongly about the rightness of Maybury's analysis in this book that I urgently recommend it to any and all free thinking people the world over, but particularly my fellow Americans. We are truly on the brink of potentially catastrophic events and Maybury is the one thinker I have come across who shows a realistic pathway out of the war and chaos to come.




2. With the reading of this last book in Mr. Mayburys original nine book series The Thousand Year War in the Mideast," I have finished them all. I enjoyed them all even though the Clipper Ship was not as good as the rest. Too many funnel stories.

   Yes, I have already ordered the WWI and WWII books for my further enjoyment.

   I find Richard Maybury a remarkably intellectual thinker and presenter of his view of history, politics, law, various economics factors, and of course many other issues. There is however a great deal of nothing more than his personal opinion on certain issues.

   Enjoy them, yes without a doubt? Did I learn from them, I believe that I leaned a great deal? Do I accept every idea or assertion that he makes, no of course not?

   He may be brilliant in his presentation, form and style but to accept his assertions as gospel, because I like those qualities, would be foolish indeed. I find some of what he attempts to sell as absolute fact and the other side as he calls it, quite thought provoking; but some of it I find completely unsubstantiated by other works on the same subjects.

   In his attempt to get his nephew to see the other side...he quite often seems to blindly and incorrectly "take" the other position as if it were the only possible way of looking at the issue, which is completely inappropriate and often untrue.

   For instance, as a former Marine who took great pride in singing from the halls of Montezuma...to the shores of Tripoli and learning the history behind it, I take great exception to his implication that America was nothing more than a complete lackey to the English and the Europeans.

   One page 205 he tells us that This will be the first case of the U.S. fighting the Europeans wars for them. I find that an odd lack of research when in the college edition of The National Experience A History of the United States by Blum, McFeeley, Morgan and Schlesinger, Jeffersons determination to stay out of entangling alliances and wars was not undone, by his mere desire or naiveté to be the puppets of the Europeans or the lackeys of some other power; but because he - actually found paying tribute - for immunity from attack to be too costly and humiliating to America. In short it was intolerable to him as President of this nation to grovel to another nation.

   This could just as easily be looked upon as a positive step to inventing the concept of international waters and the idea of free trade agreements! In any case, it resulted in an 1805 peace with the Pasha stopping his tributes and later the end of all tributes in that area in 1816, according to their account.

   So I believe that Mr. Maybury, although learned and scholarly, has failed to consider all sides of the issue, the times these events were conducted in, and the necessary mentality of those dealing with the world and an emerging new nation and world player. If we would have done nothing, tribute paying would have continued, does he believe that would be a good thing? Encouraging such high seas confrontations?

   Could he be implying that we just do as liberals seem to want us to do with incidents of killing, by simply ignoring attacks on our property and the loss of life and write them off? Hey, whats a few dead Americans here or there if we can secure favor with an enemy and understand him or her right? I am glad most of our presidents do not have that mentality, although the last one did, which was a real shame.

   In addition as an emerging nation could Mr. Maybury really and truly believe that we should have been isolationist for the last 250 years? Democrats say yes out of one side of their mouths while saying no to any Republican who professes the same concept. It is a good word when they use it but a curse word when someone else does.

   If we had been, then we would have gone the way of the Incas, Aztecs, American Indians and the French and just about every other defeated nation or people on earth. Non-involvement except for trade would be a great plan, in a world that never entered into the technological age, or that did not enter into the flying machine age or the age of rocket boosters, or the submarine age or the aircraft carrier age or the nuclear, biological and chemical age.

   But that is not the world we live in. If we were still getting around with wooden ships, and balloons and horses and such, it would be fine to espouse those philosophies, but thank God we were flexible and fluid enough to adapt, adjust and become a world power broker and player in those days, and overcome the enemies who would by now be teaching our children how to speak their language by force.

   I believe Mr. Mayburys opinion go astray when they do not consider the real world and how it has holistically evolved. Sometimes even bad decisions were for the best of reasons when viewed from the long view. Sure we have made mistakes in the past, but he cannot assure anyone that not making those decisions would have produced any safer a world then we have right now. And the Middle East would be a hot spot with or without our minor involvement. By his own admission it was so long before the USA came onto the scene.

   Unless of course he is trying to tell us a world owned, operated and ruled by a completely Islamic regime or tyrants like the Stalins, Husseins, Khomeinis, Arrafats and Hitlers and such would be better for us. If we were the wimps he suggests we should have been in world affairs back then, then that is exactly what the status quo would be today. No it is a good book, but the final solution to history as he sees it is an incorrect one, I think.

   1000 Words




3. I thought this book is a very useful read and does much to inform about the historical roots to the mess that is currently the Middle East. There are ancient hostilities and tensions that are beyond the understanding of many of the policy makers that determine the direction that nations take in the Middle East.

   Maybury does an excellent job explaining 'why they hate us so' which was a seemingly unanswered question in the days after 911.

   However, I felt that Maybury did great disservice to his readers by not explaining that the crusades were in response to hundreds of years of Muslim advance, often brutal and murderous in nature. All the countries we now know as Muslim countries were once considered Christian. Istanbul was once Constantinople, the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Maybury paints the Muslims as innocent victims without presenting the more honest view that the Muslim religion was birthed in hostile, war like advance. Muhammed essentially conquered Mecca and Medina to make them Muslim; they did not convert voluntarily.

   This oversight was quite disturbing because it is the oversight that one hears from the Muslim extremists. They often refer to the crusades without any reference to their own heritage of bloodshed.

   While I tend to agree with his assertions about the role the USA should play in the Middle East, I feel that Maybury lacks a thorough knowledge of the religious ideology that drives the Muslim extremists who are seeking to become the norm.




4. 
   This book is not the best way to learn about the history of the Middle East. Not if one wishes to learn in detail of what has happened and when. However, if one wanted to learn the why of these events, this book is invaluable. It provides a simple clear cut reason for a conflict that has been going on for more than a millenium and to which, even today, no end seems in sight.
   
   Continuing in his favourite style of writing letters to his nephew, Chris, Richard Maybury applies the operation of his two basic laws on events that have shaped, and are still shaping the history of Europe over the last thousand years.
   
   The two basic laws read as follows: 1) Do all you have agreed to do: 2) Do not encroach on another's property. Evidently, they are based on the equality of all human beings and oppose the use of force to wrest anything from anyone. As history is replete with power play, especially where emperors, kings and eventually governments are concerned, it is not difficult to see how the wanton abuse of these two laws, backfire on those authorities and organizations who do not adhere to them. In this book, Maybury begins by analyzing the Crusades, (Christian aggressors to the Holy Land, which was not their own and which they wanted to take by force), goes on to examining the authority of the Church, and finally ends up with a bird's eye view of European politics that led to World War I. Application of his logic on these diverse, seemingly unrelated events, makes their outcome almost self evident. Richard Maybury also speculates on the connection between the thousand year old animosity between the Western World (symbolized by America) and the Islamic World (represented by the Arab countries), leading onto the terrorist attack on Sept.11, 2001 (this is added later as the book was originally written in 1999). He shows clearly the role of the Allies (mainly Great Britain and France) as the aggressor in the conflict and how this role has been taken over in later years by the United States of America, a country which was created in order to preserve this very freedom. And especially, how the role of 'global policeman' adopted by America is accepted by the Rest of the World and officially justified in the name of ' protecting American interests'.
   
   Each one of Richard Maybury's books is a fast read and this one is no exception. Maybury's strength lies in his crystal clear clear logic, and his total fearlesness in confronting contentious, emotional issues. Highly reccommended if only to stretch your minds to see a greater picture than the one given out by the authorities-that-be.



5. Best historical perspective on the insider/outsider and local/foreign tensions in the Middle East. The approach given by Maybury will clear up questions you may have about imperialism and political domination as they are attributed to western powers--there have been massacres and despots and wicked abuses of power in the Middle East since the beginning of time. There are no simple resolutions to the conflicts of today, so at least attempt to understand why and how the conflicts continue to simmer until they occasionally break out in open war. Please read it! For reviews of similar books, see also the resource pages at civilsociety at seedwiki. Thanks, Richard, for this great book. Write more!

5 comments about I Have Lived A Thousand Years: Growing Up In The Holocaust.

1. I read this book years ago, when I was about 10 years old and didn't even understand fully the depth of the Holocaust. But even then I enjoyed this tale of a girl surviving against the odds. Great book for everyone; helps even the young to understand the plight of millions during that dark era and got me interesting in the Holocaust.



2. She was one in thirty five that returned...Originally, five hundred left. Into the ghetto then into cattle cars, off to fend for their lives. Thirteen year old Elli (later, changing her name to Livia. Yes, this is a true story!) was one of many young, Jewish, innocent, Holocaust victims. Elli and her family lived a comfortable life. They owned a local gocerey store, they were successful and had many close friends and family...that is, until Germany took over. In March 1944, the Nazis invaded Hungary. Privledges were taken away slowly but surely, no more school, giving up prized possessions and their store, having to wear yellow stars. What was this? No one knew. SUddenly, Elli finds that all will be lost. Elli's family is moved into a crowded ghetto, and they lose all the privledges and possessions that they hadn't already lose. It took everything they had to survive, yet little did they know, this was only the beginning. Soon, they were put on cattle cars. Ellie's family was spilt up among concentration camps; although, Ellie and her mother managed to stay together and survive some of the harshest punishments the Nazis dished out. This is a remarkable memoir of a teenage girl who no doubt had, lived a thousand years, she had no chouce. Her hope and faith along with her suffering and fears, you won't beleive a thirteen year old would've realized and out smarted the Nazis in such ways. Not only is this a beautiful story of survival but an ugly piece of history. Having background on WOrld War II helped me understand a bit more but also this book taught me a great deal of history, another reason to read. This book, was definitely a fast read, I couldn't put it down. You're constantly wondering..."Will she survive?! How will she out smart them this time?! Will she escape?!" You would definitely need to enjoy survival and history to get through this novel and also know that some chapters are a bit graphic. This woman went through the unthinkable and she doesn't hold back on letting you know that. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an amazing story with some history behind it. Livia Bitton-Jackson is a part of our history and survived as one of thirty five returning of an original five hundred. This woman did the unthinkable.
   
   -Kaitlyn Toner



3. Fantastic book, I recommend it to many of my students at work. I cried and cried at the end. We certainly have no idea in our cosy 2007 world. A brave, graphic and well written book.



4. "I Have Lived A Thousand Years" is a personal and gut-wrenching story of how a 13-year old girl survived the German Holocaust in the death camp of Auschwitz. The book is fairly short with short chapters. It is obviously written for adolescent readers, but can certainly be appreciated by adults as well. This is a very good first book for teens to learn about the Holocaust. It is written in the first person, and we "see" the horrifying conditions through the author's sensitve eyes.
   
   The story is gripping from page one to the last page. It should be read and then discussed with the adolescent reader, as many questions will be raised as to the horrific nature of the Holocaust.
   
   There are many good Holocost books, but the stark reality presented in this book, along with the narrative style, makes this an excellent introductory first-person account to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
   
   Jim Koenig



5. This book is so powerful. I have read many stories of Holocaust survivors, but few if any have presented such a vivid view of the horrors the Jews faced. Some parts were disturbing, but they describe true history, so they are definitely important to read. If you're interested in the Holocaust, this is a great read.