Syvia is only four years old when the Nazis invade Poland. Soon, she is forced with her family and the rest of the Jewish people in the city of Lodz into the ghettos. There, life is dangerous, and her family suffers many close calls as they see their friends and relatives taken from them. As a small child, Syvia is in more danger than the rest, and her family must take extreme measures to protect her. Still, there is nothing that can protect her from the constant hunger and the fear of discovery. At the end of the war, when the Lodz ghetto is liberated, there are only about 800 survivors out of as many as 270,000 that once lived there. Syvia is one of only twelve children to survive the Lodz ghetto. This book tells her story of growing up in the midst of the Holocaust. Based on an interview of Syvia as an adult, and written by her niece in the form of verse, this work portrays her experiences with vivid details that allow the reader a window into Syvia's childhood. A prologue, introduction, author's note, time line, and introductions to each part offer factual information that provides the reader a context for the events of the narrative.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award 2011

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 5/31/2010

ISBN-10: 076145277X

ISBN-13: 9780761452775

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After moving from Chicago to Grand River, Michigan, fifth grader, Yolonda, big and strong for her age, is determined to prove that her younger brother is not a slow learner but a true musical genius.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0689813279

ISBN-13: 9780689813276

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Meet Jennifer Jansen. Everyone calls her CAM because she can remember anything she sees,just like a camera. One day, Cam and her friends decide to play baseball in the park. But what happens when Amy hits a home run? Where did the ball go? Will Cam and her friends solve the mystery of the missing ball so they can continue playing their game? This Easy-to- Read chaper book is a perfect fit for the independent reader.

Similar authors: Majorie Weinman Sharmat

Similar books: Nate the Great and the Stolen Base by Majorie Weinman Sharmat; Eloise at the Baseball Game by Lisa McClatchy

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/10/2009

ISBN-10: 0670884812

ISBN-13: 9780670884810

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Life as a kitchen pantry mouse is filled with danger not only from the inside cat. Young Fredle learns that chocolate is even more dangerous despite it being the most wonderful taste he has ever had the pleasure to enjoy. Chocolate leads to his being caught and thrown outside. This outside world is even more dangerous especially without his family to teach him. There are encounters with dogs, raccoons, owls, as well as dealing with being lonely and finding his way back inside. Young Fredle's adventures are filled with awe and wonder as he discovers his strengths in his quest to stay alive.

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 3/21/2011

ISBN-10: 0375864571

ISBN-13: 9780375864575

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Let me tell you about twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman. He's had a hard life. His family's never had a lot of money. His mother recently died from an illness, leaving Skiff and his father alone in their small house off of the Atlantic Coast. Now his father never leaves the couch, and he focuses any attention he has left on watching television or sleeping away the influence of booze. To top everything off, the Beaman's boat, the Mary Rose, has just sunk. Skiff doesn't let this get him down though. He's got a plan. First he starts a scheme to capture two thousand lobsters to gain enough money to fix the boat. When that rotten Tyler sabotages all of his lobster traps, Skiff decides to take drastic action. He puts two gallons of oil into his little motorboat along with a single harpoon. He and journeys thirty miles off shore into the ocean in order to catch a thousand-pound blue fin tuna to sell for a fortune. This is a journey that can be a matter of life and death.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0439368294

ISBN-13: 9780439368292

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