Don't Tell the Enemy by @MarshaSkrypuch @scholasticCDA #forestofreading #redmaple

Don't Tell the Enemy
Marsha Skrypuch
Scholastic

This novel was a difficult read for me because of the way Marsha Skrypuch described the factual events of her family's history within a historical fiction framework.  After reading this novel I wanted to learn more about the Russian treatment of Ukrainians after World War 2.  I knew very little about this time in history and this historical fictional novel helped me to gain more insight and empathy into the lives of others.  This is not a suitable read for sensitive readers but the atrocities described need to be told so that we understand the history.  Marsha bravely told her family story in a direct way.  I think it was a great choice for Red Maple readers because there are many readers who are ready to read compelling tales of post-war tragedies.

Red Wolf by @JenniferDance1 @dundurnpress

Red Wolf
Jennifer Dance
Dundurn Press

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel because of the way Jennifer Dance introduced me to the plight of the wolf and the struggle students of Ontario residential schools faced at the end of the 19th Century.
Although I am not a wolf or a small child I quickly connected to the main characters within the first few chapters. I felt their sadness and helplessness as survivors in this novel because they come to realize that their family members had tried to protect them all along.
I developed a sense of empathy for the loss of family and disconnectedness that first nations children were forced to endure because of the Indian Act.
I appreciated how Jennifer added small factual details into the novel to engage the reader.  For example, I had never considered that parents would be not allowed to leave the reserve to collect their children. I know that the meager existence students faced in residential schools in this novel mirrored the collection of real life events.
I think this would make a great read aloud in a Grade 6-8 class as it demonstrates how poverty, lack of opportunity and loss of rights might be the reasons so many first nations people suffer from abuse, lack good jobs/status and struggle to find positive parental roles.
Although the novel is about a tragic story it is not without hope.  I feel that Red Wolf will survive and reconnect with his culture in time. I love that he made a positive choice at the end of the novel. I think this novel is a great way to introduce students to the Truth and Reconciliation-Call to Action items.

The Unquiet Past @KelleyArmstrong @orcabook

The Unquiet Past
Kelley Armstrong
Orca Book

I received this advanced reading copy of Kelley's newest novel to preview. This book is part of the soon to be very popular Secrets series about seven orphans who must leave their orphanage after a fire.
Tess decides to follow up on an address written on an old wrinkled piece of paper.  It is the only clue to her past.  She hopes that she will be able to find someone who knows her birth story.
I have always enjoyed the way Kelley develops rich believable characters in her novels. I immediately liked Tess and wanted to know more about her family history.
I think students in grades 7-8 will enjoy the story and quickly connect to the characters. The hint of romance always makes the story more appealing. I also think they will want to know how Tess finds a new supportive family.
This would make a great read aloud as it would stimulate discussions and questions around mental health and medical ethics. Learning a little about the past in this historical fiction may help students understand the need for effective well-being initiatives today.

Stones on a Grave by Kathy Kacer @orcabook

Stones on a Grave
Kathy Kacer
Orca Books

I received an advanced reading copy of Kathy Kacer's newest novel.  It is part of the seven author team of the Secrets series.  I have read and enjoyed many of Kathy Kacer's novels and this one did not disappoint.  Kathy's ability to develop believable characters quickly engaged me to learn more about the protagonist's family history.  As an orphan Sara must leave her meager but comfortable home in an orphanage and face her past.
This novel would be great way to introduce the Holocaust to Grade 7/8 students.  When I reflected back on my reading of this novel I realized that there are several "ripple effects" that war can have on society and individuals long after peace is declared.  Kathy helped me to be more empathetic to those who must live on after suffering great losses. I also made the connection to the current Syrian crisis and suffering even though this novel was set in the past.
Grade 7/8 students will relate to the characters and be able to make real life connections to the issues woven into the novel.

Thief of Glory by @BrouwerSigmund and @WaterBrookPress

Sigmund Brouwer
Thief of Glory
Water Brook Press

I found this young adult novel compelling because of the the author's description of the characters and the very realistic setting descriptions.   The events in this novel, although fictionalized, are set in Indonesia during World War II. For the three years of Japanese occupation of Indonesia many Dutch citizens were housed in concentration camps.   I was immediately interested in the life of Jeremiah as he and his family struggle to survive the war.  I learned a great deal about the camps and now I have more questions about what it must have been like to have been a camp survivor.
I read the novel in one day and the twist at the end of the book was a surprise to me.
Although this novel addressed very difficult content, Sigmund's storytelling strength was to tell a compelling story of hope despite the many hopeless moments described.  There are many examples of sacrifice and readers soon see that all are affected at war time not just the men who had to work in camps.  I think high school students would enjoy this novel and gain a better understanding of the hardships of war.

Morven and the Horse Clan by Luanne Armstrong @greatplainspub

Morven and the Horse Clan
Luanne Armstrong
Great Plains Publications


Luanne Armstrong's historical novel about an adolescent girl was an enjoyable read. I never imagined how the first people might have tamed wild horses to help them thrive.  I loved the way Luanne describes Morven's love of horses and eventually how she learns to communicate with animals although she struggles to communicate with humans.  I learned a lot about the life and survival activities of the people from reading this historical fiction and I appreciate how difficult life was for those living in the Plains in 3500 BC. Because the book is written in the first person, I felt  I gained some insight into her beliefs and dreams of what she wanted to do with her life.  I enjoyed Morven's strength and courage especially when she helps and protects her tribe. I think readers will learn everyone is important and valuable no matter how different they may feel around others.
This novels's main message is that you can be successful if you stay true to yourself.  I like this idea and I think that it shows that it takes a lot of work to stay true to yourself but it is worth it. Adolescents and adults alike, all need to realize that things will get better if we persevere.

Graffiti Knight by @karenbassYA @pajamaspress1

Graffiti Knight
Karen Bass
Pajama Press

I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and historical details in this novel.  Karen Bass-the author, gave me a sense of the difficulties of living in a communist, post war Germany in 1947.  I learned many details and now I have even more questions about life after World War 2. The depiction of teenage life in communist Germany was an eye opener.  This book would be a great read aloud to intermediate students because of the opportunities to have discussions around the themes of loyalty, friendship, revenge, and hope.

This Dark Endeavour
Kenneth Oppel
Simon and Schuster

Well Kenneth Oppel had me hooked after the first page!  I really enjoyed the first half of this book and loved the detailed descriptions of the castle and the characters.  He tied in the Frankenstein story very well.  I felt that it was a compelling story but I was saddened at the end of it.  I thought the vocabulary was quite advanced and that it fit the historic setting of the novel but it might be challenging for some of my readers.  It is definitely a YA book for its mature language.

new book Name Sake student blog post

Namesake
Sue MacLeod
Pajamas Press

Hey, I am Michaela, I am a grade 8 student from Trillium Woods E.S. I have been given the opportunity to read the book Namesake by Sue Macleod for this blog. This book is about a young teenager Jane Grey, who is living in Halifax with her dysfunctional mother. Ever since Jane's dad passed away in a motorcycling accident, Jane's mom has been acting more and more moody every day. Jane's life starts to change when her history teacher introduces a new project to her. She has to research any interesting person from history, She decides to research Lady Jane Grey, who ruled Tudor England for 9 days. Jane is writing her history paper when she finds the Book Of Prayre, Lady Jane's prayer book, mixed in with her library books. She reads a passage out loud and is suddenly in 16th Century England. She meets Lady Jane Grey, and the two of them form a true friendship. Jane finds herself returning into the past continuously, she is trying to forget her own problems. As Jane gets more enveloped in the past, can she fix both her own problems as well as Lady Jane Grey's? I thought this was a well written book, and the author successfully made us understand the language that they spoke back in the 16th century. In the beginning, there were a few slow parts, but the end is amazing! Overall it was a very enjoyable book, and you will have to read this book to find out yourself!

student blog post

Making Bombs for Hitler
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic

This book tells the story of Lida, a fictional young Ukrainian girl, who is captured by the Nazis to be used for slave labor shortly before her ninth birthday. Lida's father was killed by the Soviets, and her mother was shot by the Nazis for attempting to hide their Jewish neighbors. After that, Lida and her beloved younger sister, Larissa, went to live with their grandmother, where they were captured by the Nazis. The girls were separated, with Lida being sent to a work camp. Lida is devastated, as she doesn't know what happened to her sister, her only remaining family, and she fears she might have been harmed or killed because she is too young to work.

The work conditions at the camp are awful. Lida lies about her age, hoping she will be seen as someone more useful, and therefore, be kept alive. There is never enough food and everyone is cold and hungry. Lida is lucky, because she is given a good position working in the laundry, which is clean and warm, but, after a few months, she is forced to go work in a factory, making bombs for the Nazis. Lida hates having to help the Nazi war effort, because if they win, she will never be free again.

With rumours of the Allies turning the tide in the war, Lida and her friends conspire to sabotage the bombs to help block the Nazis’ war effort. When her work camp is finally set free, she is able to begin her search to learn the fate of her sister.o

I like this book because it is short but is filled with detail, wonder and excitement. It is a thriling journey to escape from the nazis. It keeps you wanting to read more, and is a book that you can’t let go of. 

by Dibbo

student guest blog about the Silver Birch winner

Making Bombs for Hilter
Marsha Forchuck Skrypuch
Scholastic

“Where I go, you go with me,” said Linda to her brother by soul. Linda lost her little sister after they got caught by the Nazis.  She spent days in a cart so cramped with kids that the air was hard to breath.

This book was an amazing book by Marsha Forchuck Skrypuch.  It was suspenseful and I learned a lot about the World War 2.  There were no editing mistakes that I caught. The only thing I didn’t like is that the book was very predictable. The author should have put something like “Linda opened the letter. It said that her little sister died in Germany because of a car hitting her.” Other than that it was amazing and now my favorite book ever!!!                                             

By Samantha D.

   

The Lynching of Louie Sam
Elizabeth Stewart

This historical fiction is based on a real event that I never knew about until I read this book.  It is an interesting perspective about the racism that existed in our past and I thought the author gave us insight to the feelings of those that I don't often think about-American settlers at the time.  I wanted to learn more about the murder of this boy after reading this novel.  It would certainly appeal to intermediate boys.

The Emerald Key
Christopher Dinsdale
Dundurn

Christopher weaves an interesting tale of Canadian history through the eyes of the Irish immigrants and tells the immigrants' story in the late 1800's.  The characters were engaging and I learned quite a bit about the canals, the burning of the Parliament buildings and the struggles of the Irish immigrants from reading this book.  This would make a great read aloud in Grade 8 as it would help set the stage for many history lessons.

The False Prince
Scholastic
Jennifer Nielsen

This rags to riches story set in Medieval times was a pleasant surprise!  I really enjoyed the way the author told the story of Sage.  It's written from his perspective and I really feel like I got to know him as I read along.   It would make for a great read aloud as each chapter leaves you wanting to continue.  I found the plot to be interesting and I think the Grade 4 students at my school will love the book.