Number the Stars

What the blurb says:

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, often think about the way life was before the war. But it's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and Nazi soldiers marching in their town.

The Nazis won't stop. The Jews of Denmark are being "relocated," so Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family.

Then Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend's life. There's no turning back now.

Favorite excerpt:

From the afterword:

So I would like to end this with a paragraph written by that young man, in a letter to his mother, the night before he was put to death.

. . . and I want you all to remember - that you must not dream yourselves back to the times before the war, but the dream for you all, young and old, must be to create an ideal of human decency, and not a narrow-minded and prejudiced one. That is the great gift our country hungers for, something every little peasant boy can look forward to, and with pleasure feel he is a part of - something he can work and fight for.

Messenger

What the blurb says:

For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man known for his special sight. Once, Village was a place that welcomed newcomers and offered hope and homes to people fleeing poverty and cruelty. But something sinister has seeped into Village, and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. All along, Matty has been invaluable as a messenger between Village and other communities. He hopes someday to earn the name of Messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous Forest to spread the message of Village's closing and convince Kira, Seer's daughter, to return with him. Matty's only weapon against his increasingly dangerous surroundings is a secret power he unexpectedly discovers within himself. He wants to heal the people who have nourished his body and spirit and is willing to offer the greatest gift and pay the ultimate price.

Gathering Blue

What the blurb says:

Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can carry out. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes that she is surrounded by mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world - and to find out what exists beyond it.

The Giver

What the blurb says:

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

What I think about the book:

The Giver by Lois Lowry is a receiver of the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. Kirkus reviews calls it a richly provocative novel. It has received a lot of awards and I am not surprised.

The Giver is a combination of The Hunger Games, City of Ember and Pleasantville. Who wouldn't want to live in a perfect world where pain is almost nonexistent? Who wouldn't want to live in a world where everything is orderly. No one has to make difficult choices and fear making mistakes. Decisions are already made and instruction manuals direct the way of life.

Reading the book made me appreciate my freedom. It made me glad that I have free will. Of course I wouldn't want someone to make important decisions for me. I wouldn't want to fill out an application form so I could just have a husband and a child of my own. I wouldn't want to entrust my life into someone else's hands. Such a world is truly despicable, but it's convenient because you don't have to make choices. The Giver is truly a provocative book. It was so riveting that I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Favorite excerpt:

"Father? Mother?" Jonas asked tentatively after the evening meal. "I want a question I want to ask you."


"What is it, Jonas?" his father asked.


He made himself say the words, though he felt flushed with embarrassment. He had rehearsed them in his mind all the way home from the Annex.


"Do you love me?"


There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Father gave a little chuckle. "Jonas. You, of all people. Precision of language, please!"