#mr drussel

[mandoreviews]

📚 The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Wow.

I’ve been wanting to read Anne Frank’s diary for years, and I finally got around to it. And it was incredible. Anne Frank was so young when all this happened to her, but she writes as if she has lived for 40 years. All she’s doing is writing about her life and how she feels, but she’s such a good writer that the reader can actually understand the depth of her loneliness. This is an amazing read; and it’s a sad read, especially knowing the outcome.

Rating: 10/10

[bookgirljaf]

Annotated Bibliography #2

Historical Fiction: Annotated Bibliography

Paulsen, G. (2011). The wood runner. New York: Random House Children’s Books.

YA Universal Theme(s): Survival

Lexile level/ Grade range: 840L/ Secondary: Middle School

Short summary of the highlights: Paulsen’s Historical fiction novel takes place in 1776 during the revolutionary war. The main character is a 13-year-old boy named Samuel Smith, who has grown up on the frontier in Pennsylvania. He is very in tune with the forest brush around this area since he hunts often. After his home gets burned down by British soldiers, Samuel goes on an expedition to New York, using his tracking skills to find his parents, who he believes are being held as prisoners for war.

Frank, A. (2003). The diary of a young girl. London:Puffin.

YA Universal Theme(s): Survival

Lexile level/ Grade range: 1020L/ Secondary (ages 14-17)

Short summary of the highlights:This diary is from the perspective of a young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, who chronicles her life from ages 13 through 15. This time in her life is challenging and terrifying because she and her family hid from the Nazis in Frankfort, Germany, during World War II. Anne shares her day-to-day life living in the annex, her feelings, her wants and desires, and the many struggles her family, the van Daan family, and an acquaintance Mr. Drussel face while in hiding.

Boyne, J. (2020). The boy in the striped pajamas. New York: Random House Children's Books

YA Universal Theme(s): Survival

Lexile level/ Grade range:1000L/Secondary Grades 7-9.

Short summary of the highlights:This historical fiction novel takes place during World War II and focuses on a nine-year-old German boy Bruno. His father serves as an officer in Germany's Nazi Party. One day he comes home from school and learns that they must move because his father is getting a new job. There are soldiers everywhere at this new house. Bruno looks out the window from his new bedroom and sees a large wire fence with boys and men wearing matching striped pajamas and caps. Bruno struggles to keep himself occupied and goes out to explore. He walks along the fence and meets a boy named Shmuel. Shmuel's family has been forced out of their home and made to get on a train to Poland. Bruno is happy to have this new friend and goes and visits daily. One day his mother insisted that they move back to Berlin. Bruno is sad that he and Shmuel had never played together, so they plan to have Bruno dress in striped pajamas, so he blends in with the rest of the boys and men in the camp. This story of friendship and survival through a young child's eye is painfully innocent and honest.

Curtis, C.P.(2013). The watsons go to birmingham - 1963.New York: Random House Children’s

Books.

YA Universal Theme(s): Survival

Lexile level/ Grade range: 920L/5th-8th grades

Short summary of the highlights: This historical fiction novel takes place in Flint, Michigan, and focuses on the Watson Family. Kenny, the middle child who is in 4th grade, gets picked on and bullied. His older brother Byron is a bully himself and is always getting into big trouble. The family heads to Birmingham, Alabama, to visit Grandma Sands, who is very strict, and she might be able to straighten Byron out. Kenny disobeys his grandmother's warning to stay away from Collier's Landing because of the whirlpool, goes swimming, and almost drowns. Bryon saves Kenny. There is a bombing at the church, and the family is frantically looking for the youngest, Watson. The south is a very tense and dangerous place, but Kenny and Byron survive these experiences and learn to grow and change for the better.

Draper. S. (2016). Stella by starlight. New York: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books.

YA Universal Theme(s): Survival

Lexile level/ Grade range: 740L/ Grades 4th-7th

Short summary of the highlights: This historical fiction novel takes place during the Great Depression in the segregated south, specifically North Carolina. The main character, Stella Mills, is an 11-year-old African American girl. The Klu Klux Klan is in her community and is making itself known by burning crosses, homes, etc. Stella and her community begin to face many challenges. One evening she witnesses a violent attack, and she sees the blatant racism when the white only doctor refuses to help. As time goes on, Stella finds a temporary distraction by typing stories in a newspaper she creates called Stella’s Star Sentinel. She enters an essay writing contest where she compares the KKK to Dragons. Stella is an inspirational character who is motivated, persistent, and optimistic during this challenging time period in our history.