Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All

Two fascinating story-lines weaving in and out. One living, the other watching; fading in and out of the background. Ghosts don't have much power or control, but they do have excellent powers of observation and Pearl is endlessly fascinated watching young Frankie grow up in a Chicago orphanage. Frankie isn't alone in there; she can't sense the ghost watching her, but she has her younger sister and older brother to keep her company. Her father visits twice a month but those visits are getting harder and harder as he starts seeing a new woman. Times are tough in the orphanage so Frankie has to learn how to weather through it. The nuns are strict, the food is scarce, and the rules are multiplying; but as the years progress Frankie  realizes that an orphanage isn't just a place to escape from; there is a safety net in its walls and the friends she's made. Beautifully set at the advent of World War II, Frankie and Pearl's tale are heartfelt and inspiring. Unique and captivating; they don't make young adult fiction like this anymore!

Salt to the Sea

No one writes teen historical fiction like Ruta Sepetys. She's phenomenal. This book was gripping from the start in its character building, intrigue, and adventure. Like one of her prior novels, this was a historical event of which I was largely unaware. Everyone knows what happened to the Titanic, but how many could tell you about the Wihelm Gustloff? It is the largest disaster in maritime history and occurred towards the end of World War II. Salt to the Sea tells of four refugees fleeing their homelands in the winter of 1945 as the Russians approach and the Germans retreat. They are all desperate to reach port and get on one of the ships that will take them to safety. They'll do anything to get out of their broken war torn countries filled with decaying bodies, starvation, cold, and soon to be Russian pillagers. Each of the refugees carries secrets and as they flock to the sea, their secrets threaten to reveal themselves. Masterfully written!

The Zookeeper's Wife

Not set up as a typical fiction novel, this true story is pieced together like narrative non-fiction with imagined dialogues and thoughts. Even with that caveat it was still a wonderful story. A little disjointed in places, but overall the flow is great and the many pieces of this giant jigsaw come together with Ackerman's skilled writing. She tells the story of the Polish zookeepers who fight not only for their beloved animals but for those suffering around them in Nazi occupied Warsaw. Over the years they help shelter and feed hundreds of Jews and even allow some of them to reside in their house with their family. It's a touching story and I hope that they do the movie version justice.

The Book Thief

Geoffrey Rush said it was a five handkerchief film and I think the same is most definitely true for the book. It starts off innocently enough, with a word of note from death, the impartial narrator. Death tells the tale of Liesel, a young German orphan who finds a new home in Nazi Germany and forges a strong bond with her new papa. Papa slowly coaxes her out of her shell with his accordion, cigarette rolling, and reading lessons. They start off with "The Grave Digger's Handbook," a book Liesel stole at her brother's funeral, but soon progress to other novels (the majority of which Liesel has stolen). Each novel she conquers marks a new phase in her life. As the war progresses into Germany, reading is her true salvation. It also helps her bond with the Jew hidden in their basement.

This is one of those books that will stay with you. It's haunting and poetic; Death is a fantastic narrator and his insights to the future and value of human life will astound you. It's also nice to read a book from the perspective of the "protagonist," an eleven year old German girl and member of the Hitler Youth, rather than the "victims" (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with reading about the victims, it's just nice to switch it up, I've read dozens of memoirs from survivors and other literature from the side of the oppressed). 

Odette's Secrets

A beautiful book, written in poetry-like prose; this tale of a young Jewish girl living in France during the Nazi occupation will be sure to thrill readers. Loosely based off a true story, this fictionalized young adult novel is essential for those interested in historical fiction, World War II, and the Holocaust. Told through the eyes of a child, it is heartrendingly innocent and tells of fear and hope and what it means to be a Jew. Once Paris is overrun with Nazis and Jews start getting deported, Odette's mother sends her to a small village in rural France to pretend she is a Christian cousin of some friends. Although Odette was scared at first she finds she likes the peasant life and even better, she actually likes Church. Things change though when her mother rejoins her and some people suspect them of being Jewish. A great introduction to the Holocaust for young readers.

All the Light We Cannot See

Very rarely does the hype actually live up to itself, but boy did it ever in this tour de force, Pulitizer award winning novel! I wasn't instantly attracted to the dreary cover or even the description, but after enough people goaded me, I finally bit the bullet and read the damn thing. Stars and stones, it was one hell of a read. I was soo enamored that I read this bad boy in less than 24 hours, I couldn't put it down. The lyrical quality of the words kept pulling me back and I was desperate to know how it would all come together. The story follows a young blind, Parisian, Marie-Laure and a young radio-obsessed German, albino, Werner, on the onset of World War II. Throw in a priceless diamond, a missing father, and mysterious science lessons broadcasted over the air and you have yourself one interesting story. Marie-Laure and Werner's lives couldn't be more different but these two kind-hearted souls find themselves drawing closer as the war binds everything together under its dark cloak. It isn't a love story, it's a story of discovery, understanding, and self-awareness. Altogether worthy of all the praise showered on it. An excellent read that will stay with you long after you've closed the last page.

A Plum Job

An aspiring actress, a Nazi who despises the German regime of bigotry and hatred; countries apart these two vastly different individuals have no idea that their paths will one day cross. Louise Wellesley  wants nothing more than to grace the stage, but first she must convince her father that in modern day 1938 women can go to college and act. Little does she know that once she wins over her father, many powerful men will notice her talent and she will be offered a surprising, nay plum job. Over in Germany, Max Hartmann finds himself in the clutches of the Nazi regime, it's either join or die, so Max joins but he doesn't relish the job like his cousin Kurt does. Even though they fight on the same side, the cousins are fighting different demons. Kurt wants to be the best, wants Hitler's personal commendation, whereas Max is trying to do as little damage as possible. Once war breaks Louise, Max, and Kurt find themselves in the magical city of Paris and the circumstances could not be more dire. For fans of historical fiction, theater, and thrillers.

I received this book for free from the author in return for my honest, unbiased review.

Bianca's Vineyard

A wonderful book that spans generations and continents while showing the bonds of family, tradition, and love. Hard to put down, this family saga will draw readers in and has something to offer everyone. It has history, romance, culture, mental illness, art, family values, espionage, and war. The bulk of the story takes place during World War II in Italy and author, Teresa Neumann, does a wonderful job bringing the war torn and impressive Italian countryside to life. It wasn't til I had finished the book that I realized this story was based on true events, which makes it all the more impressive to me. The story is centered on one vineyard, one broken romance, and the decades long battle to hide and heal the rift between families and friends. Reading it made me want to visit the rolling hills of Italy, stay in a villa, and sample the world's finest wines. IT was truly a fantastic sensory experience reading this. A must read for fans of historical fiction, Italy, and World War II.

I received this book for free from Italy Book Tours in return for my honest, unbiased review.

Across Great Divides

"Across Great Divides" is a wonderful tale of resilience, family, and following your moral compass. Author Monique Roy, based this inspiring story on her own grandparents journey across countries, continents, and beliefs to try and find safety from the Nazis.

Told through many viewpoints, and over many years, this tale is about the lengths one must go in order to keep family together. Oskar, a successful diamond business owner in Berlin, must flee with his wife, two twin daughters, and young son, in order to escape the Jewish persecution by the Nazis. With the help of others they manage to flee to Belgium, but it isn't far enough away from the Nazi's grip. Over many years they must leapfrog across countries trying to find safety and trying to stay together as their family grows. Throughout all the hardships they manage to stay positive by finding the beauty around them and falling in love. When they eventually find safety in South Africa they face a new struggle, apartheid. Even though the discrimination against them is gone they must decide if they are willing to fight the struggle against the new underdogs, Blacks in South Africa.

A compelling tale, great for middle school readers and up. Not only does it talk of Hitler's ascent into power, it discusses the Jewish discrimination, apartheid, and the complexities of the diamond business. Not told through any one particular character, the story offers many different viewpoints and experiences, although at times the characters can come across a little flat.

I received this book for free from the author, in return for mu honest, unbiased opinion.

Maybelle in Stitches

This is the third book I've read in the quilts of love series and I have to say that I really enjoy how different they all are. I've read one about a Native American woman , one about a female cop in Florida, and this one, about a young woman doing her part in the war effort by welding while her husband is off fighting Nazis. Each era in this series focuses on strong female women and overcoming the odds to keep or regain the faith. Quilts are the focal point that piece together the stories.

For instance, in this novel, Maybelle has to come to terms with knowing that her husband is missing in action. The not knowing is tearing her apart so to keep her mind off worrying she and her friends work on a hope quilt, each stitch lovingly sewn and filled with hope for all the boys fighting Hitler. What started out as a chore, now fills her with hope.

It's a cute series, and this one in particular is a fast inspirational read. For fans of Christian historical fiction.

Rose Under Fire

EPIC READ! For fans of historical fiction, young adult novels, World War II dramas, or the book "Code Name Verity" this book is for you!! I hardly know where to begin. This book was amazing, it was thought provoking, intelligent, heartbreaking, and humorous. It kept your attention from page to page.

The story follows a young female American pilot who transports aircraft from site to site. Strictly speaking she had a pretty safe, civilian job, that is until she gets caught by two German pilots who escort her behind enemy lines. Once there she thrown into Ravensbruck, a female concentration camp and she experiences horrors beyond her wildest imagination. She befriends the "rabbits" a group of girls who were medically experimented on and now have deformed legs. Together they try to beat the system and stay alive. It's the story of women overcoming horrible odds and tragedies by sticking together, friendship and hope are powerful things.

Something else great about this book is all the poetry dispersed throughout it. Rose stays sane in the camp by making poems about the gruesome and grotesque things she sees on a daily basis. The characters in this book may have been made up but Ravensbruck was real and so were the Rabbits and the horrors within. "Tell the world" Rose said. Read this book and pass it on.

Between Shades of Gray

I loved this!! It was haunting and beautiful read that sheds light on a disturbingly overlooked part of history, the murder of millions of citizens in the Baltic states in 1941. When people think of World War II they tend to think of the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor but many overlook the millions of people that Stalin had killed. It's chilling depictions of the horrors of the labor camps, starvation, murder, and packing people in cattle cars will stay with the reader. This isn't just a story of despair however, Lina and her family hold onto hope, no matter how hopeless their lives have become.

An absolute must read. The short chapters make this book a fast and an inspiring read.

Slaughterhouse Five

After re-reading this for a third time I picked up on so many new elements that I had somehow overlooked the first two times. I know the character, Kilgore Trout, shows up in most Vonnegut novels but I had totally missed the fact that Howard J. Campbell, the American Nazi war criminal from "Mother Night," makes a few brief appearances in here and so does Eliot Rosewater. I feel like an idiot for missing key pieces like that! I'm getting rusty!

Anyways, this is probably one of the best instances of Kurt Vonnegut's literary genius. It's a staple in every collection and is one of the best "anti-war" books there is. Vonnegut is a master at conveying the absurdity of war and does a brilliant job of getting his point across by introducing the unforgettable Billy Pilgrim. Billy has come unstuck in time and "Slaughterhouse Five, or the Children's Crusade" is Billy's journey back and forth through different parts of his life. Billy surviving the fire bombing in Dresden during World War II, Billy marrying his wife, Billy being abducted by aliens, and Billy practicing optometry. The prose and the back and forth of all these moments is brilliant and some of Vonnegut's most memorable quotes are found in these pages.

If you haven't read this already, what are you waiting for?

Code Name Verity

This is easily one of the best young adult historical fiction novels I have EVER read. It was fantastic. All of the recommendations for it were justified and then some.I got glowing reviews from a college professor, Nancy Pearl, and a friend, clearly they know what's up :)

This story weaves an amazing tale of friendship during World War II. Maddie, an ATA pilot and Julie, a special operations spy endure hardships in England as they face sexism, Nazis, bombings, and more. This story is told in first person narrative as Julie (code name verity) is caught behind enemy lines in France and forced to reveal everything she knows. Her confession does more than contain codes and names however, it tells of her beautiful friendship with Maddie. Can she betray her country but not her friend? You MUST read to find out.

Seriously, it's great. You will learn sooo much about World War II history, aircraft, special operations, and Nazis. It's informative, intriguing, and endearing, it's perfect. It might sound daunting because it's listed as "young adult" literature but trust me, it's much more advanced than that. This is a book for all. Including you. So get out there and read it already!