The Orphan's Wish

The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

Aladdin escaped a merciless master who forced him to steal, when a Priest took him back home to Hagenheim. There, he lives in an orphanage but has the opportunity to receive an education--and to he meets Lady Kirstyn, the daughter of the duke of Hagenheim. They quickly become friends. As they grow older, though, Aladdin comes to realize that he doesn't want the position offered to him--to be a steward to the duke. He wants to make his fortune and, even it's a long shot, become worthy to ask for Kirstyn's hand in marriage. He leaves Hagenheim, and he does manage to find his place in the world--but before he can see if Kirstyn might care for him as he cares for her, Kirstyn is kidnapped, and Aladdin doesn't know if he'll ever see her again.

I've read all of Melanie Dickerson's books, and while there are others that I like more, I still enjoyed this newest addition to the Hagenheim series. It started out a little slower for me than some of the others and didn't hook me quite as fast as some of her others, but I think that's definitely due to my own personality and preferences (I'm pretty feisty and feel a natural connection with characters who are pretty spirited, whereas Kirstyn and Aladdin are more sweet and kind than spirited.) That said, they are both lovable characters, always trying to help others and caring about each other so much. Aladdin's worries about not being good enough and wanting to appear as perfect as possible to others was realistically developed, as was Kirstyn's sense of being overlooked within her large family (although I wish the resolution of those feelings had been shown more strongly--and acknowledged by her family), and I think those feelings of insecurity and wondering if one matters will resonate with lots of readers.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series--a retelling of Mulan!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4 stars.

Under a Red Sky

Under a Red Sky
By Haya Leah Molnar
Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2010. 302 pgs. Teen Nonfiction

Living in Communist Romania after WWII, life wasn't much better for the Jews than it was during the war. Eva, however, who is a child living with her parents, grandparents, and two uncles, and an aunt, didn't know that she was Jewish. She did know that her family didn't agree with the Communist government and that their dream was to emigrate to Israel, where they wouldn't all have to live in one small apartment and where they'd be able to find better jobs and speak freely. Once she became aware of her status as a Jew, she still doesn't understand what it means to be Jewish, only that it's dangerous.

I enjoyed reading Eva's story, since Communist Romania isn't a topic I know much about. I think Eva's family dynamics were particularly interesting. I was a little disappointed with the ending; this, as indicated in the title, is the story only of Eva's life in Communist Romania, but since her family was able to move to Israel when she was ten, there's still much about Eva's life that we don't get to see, and for me, it just felt like it ended a little too soon.

3 stars. Clean read.

Thanksgiving: The True Story

Thanksgiving: The True Story
By Penny Colman
Henry Holt, 2008. 149 pgs. Teen Nonfiction

Although most Americans have probably learned that the "first" Thanksgiving, and the beginning of our current Thanksgiving traditions, was the story of Pilgrims and Squanto, Colman shows that there are at least twelve different claims of the first Thanksgiving. She briefly addresses some of them and shows how long-standing traditions of harvest festivals and general thanksgiving days, as well as the push of activist Sarah Hale all contributed to our holiday and how U.S. Presidents, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, declared national days of thanksgiving, but it wasn't until an act of Congress in the 1940s that Thanksgiving became a national holiday. The second half of the book focuses on Thanksgiving traditions.

I liked the first half of the book better than the second, but overall, it was interesting and informative--and not too long, for those readers who only have time for a short history at this busy time of year.

3 stars.

Ghosts in the Fog

Ghosts in the Fog
By Samantha Seiple
Scholastic, 2011. 221 pgs. Teen Nonfiction

After the Japanese army invaded Aleutian Islands in Alaska in 1942, the U.S. Army tried to convince the American public that the invasion hadn't happened. At the same time, they began evacuating the islands, sending the native inhabitants to refugee camps where they lived in miserable conditions, and planned their counterattack to regain the territory.

This book was interesting--the invasion of Alaska during WWII isn't something I remember learning about in my history classes--but it was almost too brief. It was a surface-level treatment that left me wondering about a lot of things. I think the author tried to bring in too many people to the story--there are little snippets about a variety of people, but then the brevity of the book made following up on their stories hard. It's a good introduction to the topic, but most readers will want more information than this book provides (which could be a good thing, if they go on to find other materials to supplement it).

3 stars.

Into the Mist: The Story of the Empress of Ireland

Into the Mist: The Story of the Empress of Ireland
By Anne Renaud
Dundurn Press, 2010. 106 pgs. Teen Nonfiction

After the completion of the cross-Canadian railroad, and with the Canadian Pacific Railway had established themselves in delivering the mail across the continent and built up a small fleet for getting mail across the Pacific Ocean, they turned their attention to the Atlantic mail trade. The Empress of Ireland was one of the ships built to meet that need. After eight years of successfully crossing the ocean, the Empress was struck by another ship and sunk within hours, killing over one thousand people.

This book is pretty short but it's jam-packed with interesting information. There weren't as many details about the actual sinking of the ship as I'd expected, but it did have snippets about passengers and lots of photographs that really helped readers get a feel for the time period and the interior of the ship. I would have liked to see a little more about the ship's sinking and the ways lives were affected, but other than that, I really enjoyed the book.

4 stars.

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917
By Sally M. Walker
Henry Holt, 2011. 145 pgs. Teen Nonfiction

December 6, 1917 started out as a normal day for the people of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as they headed off to work and school. Little did they know that disaster was looming in the Halifax Harbour, as a ship loaded with explosives was on course to collide with another ship. When the two boats collided, the largest man-made explosion until the dropping of the atomic bomb nearly thirty years later was the result. Felt and heard for miles, the explosion was devastating to the people of Halifax as neighborhoods were destroyed and nearly 2000 people were killed.

Walker's presentation of this important part of history is phenomenal. She follows the stories of several families living in Halifax at the time and shows how they were affected by this disaster; this personal aspect, along with numerous photographs from the event, really brings the tragedy to life for readers. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting look at history.

4.5 stars.

Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London

Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London
By Andrea Warren
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011. 156 pg. Teen Nonfiction

While most of English society thought poor people deserved their lot in life and simply ignored those who were "beneath" them, Charles Dickens had a different opinion. As a youth, his father's debts made it so Charles was denied the education he so desperately wanted and instead was forced to do menial labor. As he did so, he saw how society, with its laws and regulations (such as sending people to debtor's prison until they could pay their debt but not allowing them to work in order to earn money) and lack of support from the government kept people in poverty, allowing them no way to escape. He was especially touched by the experience of England's impoverished children, many of whom were homeless, lacking in education, and working in horrible conditions in order to help earn even meager bits of money for their families. Dickens, having never forgotten his own experiences, and never quite being able to shake the fear of being impoverished again, deliberately drew the public's attention to the conditions of their country. With his novels, essays, and newspaper articles, he gave the poor a voice and showed the rich that it wasn't simply their lot in life to be "better" than others but that they should help those around them. Through his work as an author and a social reformer, Dickens brought about changes desperately needed in his society.

Very well done. This is a highly interesting, highly readable piece of nonfiction. The author does a great job of showing what life was like in Victorian England for the lower classes, and it's fascinating to see the impact that one man could have at opening the eyes of those around him. Highly recommended.

4.5 stars. Clean read.

Duped!: True Stories of the World's Best Swindlers

Duped!: True Stories of the World's Best Swindlers
By Andreas Schroeder
Annick Press, 2011. 157 pgs. Middle Grade/Teen Nonfiction

This book covers eight stories of deception, from an alien invasion that set many parts of the U.S. into a panic to a man who first wrote and then pretended to discover two original works from Shakespeare, all in an attempt to impress his father.
Some of these stories were more interesting than others, and the book seemed to end a little abruptly, but overall, this is a good choice for reluctant readers. Its quick stories, along with comic-style illustrations, make it a fast and easy read, but it's also one that makes you feel a little smarter afterwards.

3 stars. Clean read.

A Return to Virtue

A Return to Virtue
By Elaine S. Dalton
Deseret Book, 2011. 141 pgs. Teen/Adult Nonfiction

Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, invites people, both young and old, to reevaluate the importance of virtue and to reinstate it in their lives. Comparing this return to training for a marathon, Dalton takes readers through their "orientation", training, etc., all the way to the finish line. She calls for a return to modesty in attire and in behavior, describing how this outward reflection of our inner understanding invites the Holy Spirit to be with us. She talks about mothers' responsibility to set the example that will protect their children.
She counsels us to do a few simple things that will make a big difference in our lives: (1) work hard and study things out, (2) focus and don't become easily distracted, (3) be obedient and don't procrastinate, and (4) consistently do simple, doable things.
She also talks about making our homes a place of refuge, where children can be safe from all the negative voices in the world, places where they can find peace and know that they are enough and they are loved for who they are. We also need to provide opportunities for them to "be still" and find God.
She notes that "Never has there been a greater need to rightouse motehrs, mothers who bless thei children with a sense of safety, security, and confideance about the future. Mothers who teach their children where to find peae and truth and that the power of prayer is stronger than any other power on the earth." (p. 107)

This book is jam-packed with good information, along with invitations to specific actions that will help those who want to reexamine and recommit to a value that is increasingly declining in our society.
4 stars. Clean read.

Black Gold

Black Gold: The Story of Oil in Our Lives
By Albert Marrin
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. 181 pgs. Teen nonfiction

Albert Marrin's timely book starts out explaining what oil is and where is comes from, then moves into its impact on the world, particularly how it relates to warfare, both in the sense that more oil reserves make for a better army and in the sense that countries are willing to go to war to get more. The book also discusses the problems with oil--such as natural disasters and the dwindling supply and concludes by discussing some possible alternatives to relying on oil and the pros and cons of each.

The book starts out slowly--the explanation of how we get oil is a little dry--but then it picks up considerably. Readers who push through will be rewarded with an enlightening look at how oil impacts us--and will likely be worried that the dwindling oil supply will run out any minute. Despite striking fear into the heart of the reader (or maybe because of it), this is the type of book that really makes readers think about the world we live in. Another excellent piece of nonfiction from Marrin.

4.5 stars. Clean read.

Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet below the Chilean Desert

Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners from 2,000 Feet below the Chilean Desert
By Marc Aronson
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011. 134 pgs. Middle grade/Teen Nonfiction

On August 5, 2010, a collapse in the San José mine in Chile trapped thirty-three miners underground, attracting the world's attention. For the next seventeen days, drillers and mining experts from around the world worked with native Chileans to try to reach the miners and determine if anyone had survived. Miraculously, they all had, but it took several more weeks, and more international assistance, to extract the miners from 2,300 feet below the earth.

Aronson's book is interesting in that it focuses not so much on the miners and their families but on the people who were anxiously trying to get them out--from the nine drill teams working to establish first contact, to the three teams that later were working toward getting the miners out. At the beginning, Aronson also provides some background theories about the tectonic plates and how the Chile is earthquake prone, as well as information about mining, venturing off into a discussion about Hephaestus and how, like the Greek god, miners are often under-respected. I enjoyed the background information about Chile and mining; the Greek tangent didn't quite work for me. Overall, though, I liked this concise account of what happened in Chile and the people who worked to make rescue possible.

3.5 stars. Clean read.

Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto

By Paul B. Janeczko

Candlewick Press, 2011. 102 pgs. Poetry

Summary and Review:

This is a collection of brief poems that describes how the Nazis herded Jews into the Terezin ghetto before shipping them off to the death camps. The poems show the view point of the Jews, as well as the SS guards and the non-Jewish people who were removed from their homes in order to build the ghetto. It’s a slim collection of poems, but it’s definitely moving, showing lost love, broken lives, and more.

3.5 stars.

Flesh and Blood So Cheap

Flesh and Blood So Cheap
By Albert Marrin
Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. 182 pgs. Middle Grade/Teen Nonfiction

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught on fire and 146 workers died, either trapped inside the building or leaping out the windows to their deaths. This event horrified the New York community, and investigations into working conditions ensued. This event had a profound impact on American life, and Marrin provides readers with a great understanding of the event. He discusses the workers (many of whom were Italian and Russian Jewish immigrant girls, working as breadwinners for their families), the garment industry (including sweatshops and factories) and the strike that took place shortly before the tragedy, the tragedy itself, and the aftermath. The book rounds out with a comparison of sweatshops of the past with sweatshops in developing nations today.

A highly informative book, it actually spent less time talking about the fire itself and more time talking about the conditions that led up to it and on the strike preceding it, but it gives a great look at why something like this tragedy occurred--how workers were desperate for jobs but trying to improve working conditions, while employers were looking for cheap labor and used shameful tactics to get it. Informative and interesting, I read this in one sitting.

4.5 stars

Amelia Lost

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart
By Candace Fleming
Schwartz & Wade Books, c2011. Middle grade/Teen Nonfiction

In 1937, Amelia Earhart disappeared while completing one of the last legs of her flight around the world, vaulting her into the status of a legend. Before that, though, she was a little girl who loved an adventure, a teenager dealing with her father's alcoholism, and a young woman who initially thought she might want to be a doctor and then decided she wanted to fly and carefully courted the spotlight to vault herself to the status of a hero.

Here, Fleming gives readers insights into who Amelia Earhart really was, in a biography that clearly demonstrates Amelia's spunk as well as some foibles, such as how her future husband already had a wife when he and Amelia met. It's told in alternating chapters about Amelia's last radio contact and the people who heard her but couldn't find her, and chapters about her life. All in all, I vote this one of the best pieces of young adult nonfiction I've ever read; it's easily accessible to readers, has an inviting format, and is informative and entertaining. I was hooked from the first page and wholeheartedly recommend this book to history buffs, anyone wanting to read about spunky women, and those just looking for a great read. Five stars.