The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

You probably don't remember this at all, but when the movie Forrest Gump came out it was hyped up to be the best movie basically of all time. I didn't see it in the movie theatres. I assumed that it couldn't be as good as all that and I wasn't going to waste my money. I let all my friends and my entire family go see it before I did because I've got a stubborn streak. I knew it couldn't be that good and guess what? It was! I cried the first time I saw it and I wasted no time jumping on the "I can quote every line in Forrest Gump" bandwagon. It is seldom that such a treat happens. This book is one of those treats. Believe the hype. Check this book out. Set aside some time. Get an apple and a glass of milk and dive in. You will love this book. It's about Nazi Germany during World War II. It's narrated by Death and it tells the story of Liesel Meminger...the one and only Book Thief. -Till next time! Suzanne

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

How many of you out there have seen the new Pirates movie? Dead Man's Chest was rollicking good fun, eh me harty? If you've got the sea sickness (like my husband does...all he does nowadays is listen to pirate songs on internet radio and dream of sailing off in a full-sailed vessel) try this book about a boy who gets stranded on a small island or cay with only one old black man and a tattered cat to keep him company. This is a historical ficiton novel set during World War II with none of the fantasy that the Pirates movies have (no sea-creature people or crews inhabited by skeletons). But it is a story of survival and ingenuity as Phillip has to come to terms with the fact that he may never get off the little island that is his new home. Follow Phillip's journey as he learns about survival, the equality of races, perception, and the true meaning of home. Till next time! -Suzanne

World War II - A List

Has there ever been a more dramatic time in history than World War II? Based on the amount of fiction that's been generated about this war (not to mention the movies!) I happen to think not. But when you think about the variety of events that happened; the Nazis, the concentration camps, the American internment camps, the dropping of the nuclear bombs, the exportation of English children to the safety of America and on and on and on - it makes sense that there's a LOT of fiction written about that horrendous war. Complicated as that war was, I find it much easier to understand when I read stories about it, rather than nonfiction books (although some of them are VERY good). Try a few of these if you're interested at all in history, drama, and very, very good stories.

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

Night by Elie Wiesel

Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse

I had seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant

Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury

The Power of One by Bryce Cortenay

Yossel, April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert (Graphic Novel)

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman (Graphic Novels)

Good Night, Maman by Norma Fox Mazer

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

Sisterland by Linda Newbery