Whirligig by Paul Fleischman
Gr 6 - 8
Brent is a 16 year old boy that makes a bad decision and causes a fatal accident. He then goes on a journey to each corner of the United States to build a whirligig in memory of the girl whose death he causes. The journey becomes one of forgiveness and atonement as he learns about the young man he is meant to be. Interwoven are stories about how his whirligigs have affected other people that come upon them. This is a beautifully written book that shows us that we may never know the consequences of some of our actions.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Book Review
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
For young adults, Jane Yolen has written a beautiful book that follows a young woman’s journey to discover her beloved grandmother’s secrets. Becca has heard her grandmother, Gemma, tell an unusual version of Sleeping Beauty where she says that she once lived in a castle and is Briar Rose, who was awakened by the kiss of a Prince. Upon her grandmother’s death, Becca is surprised to learn that her family knows very little about her past. Becca travels to her grandmother’s homeland of Poland and uses the clues from her grandmother’s story and a box of mementos to uncover a riveting tale of Nazi horror. As the story unfolds, we also learn fascinating stories of courage and survival. Yolen weaves together Gemma’s imaginative version of the story of Sleeping Beauty with the unimaginable horrors that Gemma has kept secret all these years. Jane Yolen writes an imaginative and heartwarming tale that reminds us that we must keep memories alive but that some secrets are too painful to remember and that uncovering the past is not always easy.
For young adults, Jane Yolen has written a beautiful book that follows a young woman’s journey to discover her beloved grandmother’s secrets. Becca has heard her grandmother, Gemma, tell an unusual version of Sleeping Beauty where she says that she once lived in a castle and is Briar Rose, who was awakened by the kiss of a Prince. Upon her grandmother’s death, Becca is surprised to learn that her family knows very little about her past. Becca travels to her grandmother’s homeland of Poland and uses the clues from her grandmother’s story and a box of mementos to uncover a riveting tale of Nazi horror. As the story unfolds, we also learn fascinating stories of courage and survival. Yolen weaves together Gemma’s imaginative version of the story of Sleeping Beauty with the unimaginable horrors that Gemma has kept secret all these years. Jane Yolen writes an imaginative and heartwarming tale that reminds us that we must keep memories alive but that some secrets are too painful to remember and that uncovering the past is not always easy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)