Tag: Young Adult

Juvenile Biography (Ages 8-12), Juvenile Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), Reviews

Review: Where the Action Was: Women War Correspondents of World War II by Penny Coleman

BentenShisho
Colman, Penny. (2002). Where the Action Was: Women War Correspondents of World War II. New York: Crown Publishers/Random House. 128 pages. ISBN  9780517800768.

Awards/Selection Lists:
-ALA Notable Children’s Book
-Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Social Studies, CSC/CBC

Author’s Website: http://pennycolman.com/

Brief Summary:  Against all odds, 127 women were given credentials to be war correspondents during World War II, and even though they were technically forbidden, as women, to report on the front lines, they somehow still managed to make history and find “where the action was”. In this exciting and informative book by Penny Colman, a handful of some of the most significant journalists and photojournalists are portrayed, in almost a spy novel fashion, including first hand accounts, interviews, true emotions, and spectacular photographs during the war, many taken by the women in question.

Read about a woman stationed on a boat off the shore of Iwo Jima two days after the attack begun, or the photojournalist who stood up in the middle of a firefight to get a good photo, only to realize after the fact that the buzzing she heard was not wasps, but bullets whizzing past her head. Find out about the woman stranded by our own military on shore, who was then arrested and had her credentials striped, in what most believe was retribution for the superior level of reporting she was performing, as a woman. See first hand what these women saw when Czechoslovakia was invaded by Hitler, or what the concentration camps looked like before they were liberated. These women brought heart, and compassion to war reporting, while pushing the envelope for civil rights and equality, only to be met by seemingly insurmountable odds and prejudicial views of what they were capable . They refused to ignore the grittier and sadder places and topics of the war go unrecorded, because it was the true cost of war, and the public needed to hear about it.

Personal Reaction: This book is really well written and shows fantastically how those who dare to forge ahead with tenacity, curiosity, compassion and indeterminable will can change history. It’s exciting but sad, as there are so many atrocities that these women experienced, refusing to let an antiquated patriarchy deter them. I believe that the black and white photographs and illustrations carry that somber tone throughout the entire book, showing the severity and seriousness of their mission, not sugar coating their circumstances. Colman also does a great job of showing how the sights and sounds that the top brass thought would be their undoing proved to be their greatest opportunity as many of these women went on to continue to defy the odds, as adventurous explorers, reporters, writers, and journalists, even after their male counterparts returned to their chosen professions after the war.

This book really does show how people are capable of such great things and it has nothing to do with their skin color, gender, identity, or background, or perhaps it is exactly these things that help strength their resolve and give them the opportunity to do something great, or perhaps that’s something that is already in us all.

Front/Back Matter: Title page, copyright page with dedication, table of contents, maps (Europe and Japan),preface, content, selected bibliography, acknowledgments, author’s note, index.

Content Evaluation: Colman writes in a no-nonsense, straight forward fashion, but in a way that is entertaining, honest and dramatic at the same time. She is a great story teller and covers a lot of history and a lot of detail in a relatively short space. The maps and photographs she has included are comprehensive and really put the reader in the middle of what it was like for these women, participating during war, showing how truly dangerous it really was. While I wouldn’t characterize the photographs as overly gorey, there are a few that might be difficult, such as wounded men, for more sensitive readers. Therefore I recommend that either older, more seasoned readers might enjoy this better, or that this should be read with a parent close at hand, to help explain the situation and context.

The layout makes sense, and even though the bibliography is not comprehensive, it is still sizeable and offers a lot of sources. It would be great to have seen additional resources listed for further research or perhaps discussion questions to help put the story in context. However, the index is particularly useful.

Recommended Ages: 8 -12

Juvenile Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), Reviews

Review: Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal- The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

BentenShisho
Sheinkin, Steve. (2012). Bomb: The Race to Build – and Steal- The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon. New York: Roaring Book Press. 266 pages. ISBN 9781596434875.

Awards/Selection Lists:
-Newbery Honor Book
-National Book Awards – Finalist
-Robert F. Sibert Award
-YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
-Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
-Washington Post Best Books of the Year
-VA Jefferson Cup Winner (Older Readers)
 -NBA Young People’s Award Finalists 2000-2013

Author’s Website: http://www.stevesheinkin.com

Brief Summary:  In 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States entered into the second world war, a war that threatened to engulf the entirety of Europe and Asia, and certainly affected every country on the globe. As the war got worse, and new types of brutal warfare emerged, a previous accidental discovery led to the greatest race, the race to end the war by creating the world’s first atomic bomb. The only question was, who was going to get there first.
With allies fighting against each other, Norwegians being trained for secret spy missions to cripple the German’s efforts, KGB blatantly recruiting in the United States, and the FBI trailing them all, a group of scientists were rounded up and brought to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the American’s effort to stop the war truly gained speed. But would it be enough and who were these men and women willing to risk everything, to create the impossible?
Personal Reaction: As with all Sheinkin’s books, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Once again it felt like I was watching an action/spy thriller, rather than reading non-fiction. Being a huge history lover, particularly in regards to World War II, I have always been curious about the Manhattan Project and the nuclear physics that went into making the atom bomb but Sheinkin explained more about nuclear physics and fission by the time I got to page 82, than 12 years of science classes did! I was flabbergasted that not only was I reading this exciting true story of espionage, FBI agents, covert operatives, cutting edge science and the tools to stop the war, but I finally understood how these things worked and saw the faces of the people who made it happen, in the pages of this book. I found myself wondering what kind of security clearance Sheinkin had, and then realized, the man is just a superb researcher and an even better storyteller.
Front/Back Matter: Preliminary title page, photo of an atomic bomb, title page, copyright page with dedication, table of contents, prologue, source notes, quotation notes, acknowledgements, photo credits, index.
Content Evaluation: (Same evaluation as previous title) One of the things I love about Steve Sheinkin’s books is that he incorporates a lot of citations and first-hand accounts, and more importantly, tells you where he got the information! So many other non-fiction writers completely skip over this part. Not only does he do this in text, but he provides a distinct quotations index by chapter and includes a detailed index, which allows for greater in-depth research and additional related reading on the subject. He even recommends books to start from. His enthusiasm is contagious and all the extra detail work shows, not only a great deal of research, but a great deal of thought and credibility. I can’t wait to read more and I particularly liked the acknowledgement, which explains how the author developed the concept for the book.
Recommended Ages: 8-12
Juvenile Biography (Ages 8-12), Juvenile Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), Reviews

Review: The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin

BentenShisho

Sheinkin, Steve. (2010). The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. New York: Roaring Book Press. 337 pages. ISBN 9781596434868.

Awards/Selection Lists:

– YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction
–  Horn Book Award
– Beacon of Freedom Award
– New York Charlotte Award Master List
– Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List, Best
of 2010
– School Library Journal, Best Children’s Books of 2010

Author’s Website:

http://www.stevesheinkin.com/ArnoldBook.html

Brief Summary:  The name “Benedict Arnold” has become synonymous, for more than 200 years, with school children, as a term for a cowardly, backstabbing traitor, even for those who know nothing about the man himself. Steve Sheinkin takes his personal passion for this story and turns our preconceptions on their ear. Benedict Arnold, the second child of his family to bear this name, was an impetuous war hero, brave and rash, who bucked authority and was seeking to restore his family’s name and fortune, before he was ever a traitor. He fought duels, wrote love letters, was wounded in battle more than once,  owned a mercantile, studied apothecary, went to private school, but also worked to support his parents and siblings. Who knows…if only one detail had been different during the course of his life, perhaps Benedict Arnold would have become synonymous with valor and courage, but therein lies the plot twist in this better-than-fiction tale of how a battle hero General goes from a physical representation of the ferocity and independence of a fledgling nation, to a worn and destitute man, despised by the country he betrayed.
Personal Reaction: I really enjoy Sheinkin’s writing style. He makes non-fiction seem like an adventure novel because he has such passion for his subjects and is a superb story teller. He keeps the reader interested and turning the pages. This is what great non-fiction should all be like, entertaining and truthful.
I learned more about Benedict Arnold in 200 pages of this book than I did in 12+ years of school. I had no idea he was a war hero, or impetuously led himself and other men into battles, almost like a sport. I had no idea he had been wounded, not once, but twice in the battle for independence and I had no idea whether or not he had actually been captured after his treason. Sheinkin tells all this and more, giving us the reason for the betrayal, and pointing out that why it may have been wrong, it also could have been avoided.
Front/Back Matter: Title page, copyright page with dedication, table of contents, source notes, quotation notes, index.
Content Evaluation: One of the things I love about Steve Sheinkin’s books is that he incorporates a lot of citations and first hand accounts, and more importantly, tells you where he got the information! So many other non-fiction writers completely skip over this part. Not only does he do this in text, but he provides a distinct quotations index by chapter and includes a detailed index, which allows for greater in-depth research and additional related reading on the subject. He even recommends books to start from. His enthusiasm is contagious and all the extra detail work shows, not only a great deal of research, but a great deal of thought and credibility. I can’t wait to read more.
Recommended Age: 8-12
Juvenile Biography (Ages 8-12), Juvenile Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), Reviews, Teen Non-Fiction

Review: Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

BentenShisho

Greenberg, Jan, and Jordan, Sandra. (2001). Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist. New York: Delacorte Press. 132 pages. ISBN 9780385328067.

Awards/Selection Lists:
– Robert F. Sibert Honor book
– ALA Notable Book
– ALA Best Book for Young Adults
– Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar
Author’s Website:
Brief Summary:  One of the most famous painters in history, this chronological account of the life and work of Vincent van Gogh begins with the birth of Vincent to Dutch Reverend and his wife. The first live child, but second of his name, to arrive in the household, Vincent’s life never seems to travel in a straight line. Whether he decided to teach, to preach, or to draw and paint, he did so with relish few others could match, and with a fragility, humanity, and eccentricity unsurpassed by modern artists. Contemporaries of Gaugin, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Monet and the Impressionists, Vincent’s relationship to art, his family, and the world around him would lead to emotional masterpieces the world has not seen since, nor are they likely to.
Personal Reaction: Vincent van Gogh holds a special place in my heart, much like Einstein, da Vinci and P.T. Barnum. Often misunderstood, but highly emotional and sometimes intentionally reclusive, these artists and larger than life celebrities dared to live life outside the lines, creating a brighter, more vivid, compassionate and imaginative world than they came from. Van Gogh was often portrayed as troubled, mentally ill, and unstable. However, while not ignoring these facts, this biography places him squarely in the world of the attainable artist, the sensitive fellow searching for his place, his talent and his legacy for the world. Instead of being simply insane, the author shows how it is possible that, due to emotional stress (something that can be debilitating in highly sensitive individuals), poor diet, and partaking of the ever-popular toxic absinthe, Vincent may have had epilepsy, contributing to some of his stranger behaviors. I would have liked to have seen a little more information on the side effects of prolonged absinthe usage, as it has been known to cause hallucinations, of which it was said Vincent suffered, but overall, the authors presented Van Gogh as a true person, rather than a commodity, and I think that is difficult to portray in non-fiction, while attempting to maintain facts.
I appreciated that the authors often fit his more famous works into the timeline of events of his life, to help the reader understand the factors that influenced his work and also the connection to his family, particularly his father, mother, and brother Theo, who financed him, both as a brother and an art dealer, for the majority of his life. Overall, I was amazed at the depth of knowledge explored on Vincent in this short 132-page work. A definite good read, though a little dry at points. It still makes me wish I could paint the way I feel, like Vincent strove for so long to do.
Front/Back Matter: Front cover, Title page, Copyright Page, Dedication, Contents, Map, Prologue, Chapters from birth through death, Postscript, Biographical Timeline, Museum Locations, Glossary of Artists and Terms, Notes, Index, About the Authors.
Content Evaluation: One problem I always have with children’s non-fiction is the lack of accountability and citation of sources. The authors speak a lot to Vincent’s emotional states, and those of his family and friends. Certainly, some of it can be assumed due to the tone of letters and correspondence, but with no first-hand accounts, how can this be positively assumed? However, the timeline, postscript denoting Vincent’s sister-in-law preserving his works and letters for display, the glossary and artist listing, as well as museum location lends an air of credence given the amount of research necessary to acquire this information. The Notes are where the authors give their sources, chapter by chapter, and lends more authority to the research.
Recommended Age: 8- 14
Adult Graphic Novel (Non-Fiction), Juvenile Biography (Ages 8-12), Reviews, Teen Non-Fiction

Review: Persepolis: A Story of Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

BentenShisho
Satrapi, Marjane. (2003). Persepolis: A Story of Childhood. New York: Pantheon Books. 160 pages. ISBN 9780375714573.
Awards/Selection Lists:
 – ALA Alex Award
 – YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
– Booklist Editor’s Choice for Young Adults
– New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
– School Library Journal Adult Books for Young Adults
Author’s Website (Agent): http://barclayagency.com/satrapi.html
Brief Summary: A memoir of the author’s childhood, beginning at 10 years old, in the year 1979, the beginning of the Islamic Revolution in her home country of Iran and spanning the Shah’s removal, and the war with Iraq, this black and white graphic novel presents a very approachable account of a very troubled and gruesome time. Luckily, for the outspoken and independent Satrapi, her parents were progressive and encouraged her free thinking, going so far as to send to her Vienna at the age of 14 to help her escape the oppression in her home country, in order to give her a better life. This novel explores her inner thoughts, her outer influences, dangers and traumas, as well as the effect and reactions of her loved ones.
Personal Reaction: I was really surprised in that I loved this book. I had been drawn to it in the past because it is a graphic novel, but passed it up upon learning it was a non-fiction account of a childhood in turbulent and violent Iran during the 1980’s. I can recall hearing some terrible things about this time and this country, and the atrocities against girls and women during my childhood. Satrapi does tell of these atrocities, to inform the reader and be true to her own story, but she does it from the perspective of a 10-14 year old girl, and somehow, while it can be hard to understand, it is not presented in a way that would turn off or traumatize the reader. It’s done in an honest but understanding manner and I think that, through the telling of her own thoughts and mental state, her attempts at pushing the boundaries, her parents’ difficulties and in their successes and support, it becomes encouraging and an eye opening look at how one girl can make a difference. This girl, the author, now a grown woman, is making her difference by telling her story, and hopefully, opening the world’s eyes to what goes on behind closed borders and showing that with perseverance and love, life goes on.

Front/Back Matter: Title page, Copyright Page, Introduction, Chronological author account, Credits.

Content Evaluation: Overall, I would say this is a superbly written book. It is emotional without being assumptive, and truth without necessarily pointing a finger. She never comes out and condemns one ideology or the other. She simply shows the consequences, how people felt, their reactions, and (now) well documented crimes that are committed when powerful people think no one is watching. I kept waiting for blame to be issued, but throughout the entire novel, while I understood where the author’s parents’ loyalties lay, she never once came out and said one person was wrong over the other, and that is beyond commendable. She let their actions speak louder than blame ever could.
Recommended Ages: 12 & Up