Book Review: The Four Winds / Kristin Hannah

In the author's note at the end of the book, Kristin Hannah writes, 

"As we know, there are lessons to be learned from history. Hope to be derived from hardships faced by others. 

We've gone through bad times before and survived, even thrived. History has shown us strength and durability of the human spirit. In the end, it is our idealism and our courage and our commitment to one another - what we have in common - that will save us."

In The Four Winds you will meet Elsa Wolcott - a young woman who is cast out of her birth family after conceiving a child. You will find a new family which hestitantly then wholeheartedly embraces her. You will experience plenty, then you will taste want when the soil in their Texas farm is blown away in the Dust Bowl. You will find sickness and health but mostly determination. You will find the courage to make hard decisions. You will find love, all types of love. And ultimately you will find hope. 

In her author's note, which Hannah wrote after she had finished this novel but in the beginning of this COVID pandemic, she draws the parralleles to the hardship that people endure in various points in history - the lessons that we can take from our forefathers and foremothers, which we can draw upon in current circumstances to move forward in our uncertain world. 

And that is the beauty of historical fiction. Reading about history in nonfiction books provides us the nuts and bolts of times gone by. However, my mom always told me that to understand someone you must walk a mile in their shoes. Historical fiction offers us that opportunity - a way to walk in the shoes of someone who has come before, to "experience" their hardship, and to learn from their experience.

The Four Winds can be found in Libby through the Nashua Public Library (or connect your South SORA account to your Nashua Public Library Libby account and get some one-stop shopping for digital ebooks and audio books!)

Book review: Barely Missing Everything by Matt Mendez

 

Sometimes you pick up a book because an author you respect is quoted on the front or back cover. That's the case for me and Barely Missing Everything by Matt Mendez. Jason Reynolds, the 2020-21 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, is quoted on the front cover as saying "Sure to bring a quake to the literary landscape". He was right - this novel is powerful not only in the emotions that it stirs up but also in the perspective that it provides.

Best friends Juan and JD, and Juan's mom, Fabi, alternate narrating this story about life in a poor neighborhood in the southern U.S. border city of El Paso, Texas. Juan is a local high school hoops star, JD is an aspiring filmmaker and both Mexican-American young men want out of El Paso after high school. But no matter how hard they try, there are obstacles - some in their control, some not. Juan's mom, Fabi, is a struggling single mom who is wrestling with her past and uncertain about her future. 

This story is told from the perspective of young Hispanic people which is a perspective not often found in YA novels.  The three points of view give the story a great deal of depth and gives voice to the prejudices and discrimination against brown people. This is a book that will stir up emotions.

Guest Book Review: Kaylieh reviews Playing for the Commandant

Playing for the Commandant by Suzy Zail  is a thrilling book full of exhilarating moments. This is a book about Hanna, a Jew living with her sister, mother, and father. She loves playing piano. Until one day the Nazis come and take her family  to a camp where she is then separated from her father. Her mother is detached from the situation around them leaving only her and her sister to protect each other. They stay in the camp in horrible conditions until one day, the commandant is looking for Jews to play the piano. Hanna gets chosen and starts to play for the commandant but once the commandant's son, Karl walks in, she instantly picks up on his looks and slowly starts to fall in love with Karl. I loved reading this story and even had a hard time putting it down. This is a great book and one of the best books I've read. I would give this book a five out of five rating. It’s a great book to read in your free time, and It will make you want to come back for more. - Kaylieh

Guest Book Review: Isaac reviews Defiance by Nechama Tec

Defiance, by Nechama Tec, is a story based on a real event. This can make Defiance a true page turner, but in spots, can take a chill pill, and will slow down just to pick up in action the next chapter! This makes the story very clear and open and incredibly easy to read at a higher level of reading. The story itself is about a man named Tuvia Bielski and his experience through World War II. It takes place in the cold, cruel winters of Russia. The village in which Tuvia lives houses members of the Jewish culture. In the book, the Germans invade the country, and Tuvia needs to stand up and defy the brutal force incoming towards their village, and to stand up and protect the members of the village. But however, don’t let the thrill of war blind you. The story at first can be very difficult to get into, and can be difficult to follow in places. Since the book is based on a true story, the book itself is very long, and includes a lot of words per page. If I were to give Defiance a rating, I would rate it ⅘ stars simply because of how long it was, and sometimes it being demotivating to finish. However, if you are very invested into war stories, this book will be a perfect fit for you! - Isaac

Isaac read a copy of Defiance from a classroom library but the audiobook version can be found on Hoopla through the Nashua Public Library.

Book Review: The Witch's Hand (The Montague Twins book 2)

 

A dog found - and a reward collected (though not asked for)
A routine day - morning routines, a talk with their guardian, a request to be home for dinner.
Three teens, thrown together in their new family.
A bike ride to the beach...

A rogue storm
Weird visions
A found box

An old friend... dabling with magic... and the horror begins.

Find this creepy graphic novel on the shelves at South and at the Nashua Pubic Library. What a great read for the month of October when we love to experience thrill and chills...

Book Review: This Was Our Pact / Ryan Andrews

It was the night of the Fall Equinox. The whole town gets together and lights lanterns which they float down the river. Each year a bunch of boys have wanted to see what really happens to the lanterns? Do they in fact become the stars in the Milky Way?

The boys have made a pact - No one turns for home, no one looks back. But slowly the boys drop out of their mission until there are only two left, and one of them is the town nerd, the guy no one wants to be seen with. 

On their trip they encounter some interesting characters, a bit of magic, and some unexected truths.

This graphic novel was a happy surprise. It connects to origin stories, science, friendship, and magic. Here you will find the gifts that are in each of us. I especially loved the connections to the milky way and to the stars and constellations.

Enjoy!

You will find this book on the shelves of Nashua High South and the Nashua Public library and also on Libby. Have you connected your Sora account with Libby yet?

 

Book Review: This Light Between Us / Andrew Fukuda

There are some times that I wonder why a book hasn't been written, or why people just don't talk about certain correlations.

In This Light Between Us, Alex and Charlie begin writing to each other through a school penpal program (even after Alex learns that Charlie is a girl.) They keep up the correspondence even after their classmates have stopped. And as they write, and deepen their friendship - war blooms in our world. The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, the Nazis begin their incidious work of "cleansing" the world of "undesirable" people. New laws come about that limit freedoms. People are transported to "camps." And Alex's experiences as a Japanese American and Charlie's experiences of a Parisian Jew overlap. The war continues. Alex is sent to fight the Germans, but his mind is never far from his friend Charlie. 

This is a book and a conversation that I have been waiting for. I am so glad that Fukuda wrote this story and drew connecting lines between these two experiences. 

This is a Flume nominee for the 2021/22 school year. You can find it (soon) on the shelves at South or an audio version is available through Libby at the Nashua Public Library.