Brimmer, Larry Dane. Twelve Days In May.

Brimmer, Larry Dane. Twelve Days In May. Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek  2017  109p.  $18.95  ISBN 978-1-62979-586-7            ms/hs  Nonfiction  E-BN

This slim volume succinctly captures the background and reasons for the first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce racial discrimination, describing its participants and the events that occurred as Riders on two buses traveled from Washington D.C. to New Orleans. The best page of this book for researchers is the one-page listing of participants, their ethnic backgrounds, and a short sentence on the background of each one. This feature enables easy reference when the events listing specific Riders' names are discussed. The resoluteness of their belief in desegregation as mandated by federal law, their ability to behave nonviolently, and the fierceness of their opponents are all vividly captured through photos and quotations. The last chapter tells of the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides, and provides an update on the lives of the first Freedom Riders subsequent to their historic bus ride.     

Summary: The first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce discrimination in May 1961, comes alive with succinct descriptions of events, black-and-white photos, and quotes of Freedom Riders and their opponents. Grades 5-12.                                   

Civil Rights, Discrimination, Freedom Riders     --Lois McNicol

Schulman, L.B. Stolen Secrets.

Schulman, L.B.  Stolen Secrets. Boyd's Mills Press  2017        303p.  $17.95  ISBN 978-1-62979-722-9  ms/hs  Historical Fiction            E-BN

This novel is engrossing as much for its suggestion of new possibilities as for its well-developed, believable plot.  The possibilities allow for a new interpretation of Anne Frank’s experience in Bergen-Belsen, and the drama that unravels is both startling and thought-provoking.  When Livvy and her mother make a move to San Francisco, Livvy believes it is to make a new start.  Instead, it is about picking up a relationship that she had believed to be long gone, a relationship with her grandmother.  Conflicts begin instantly: man-versus-man pits Livvy against a caregiver named Vickie, a woman who is untrustworthy and sly as a fox; man-versus-self pits Mother against her drinking (why does she relapse now, of all times? Livvy must figure this out); man-versus-society pits her grandmother Oma against a society that hated Jews in the middle of the century and now against herself as, with Alzheimers, she struggles to make sense of her fragmented memories.  It is up to Livvy to figure out Oma’s role in all this, and with the help of new acquaintance Franklin D, she embarks on a journey to self-discovery that will leave readers asking lots of questions about themselves.  When Livvy finds diary pages about a concentration camp, she realizes that her grandmother has profound secrets.  Livvy comes to believe her grandmother knew Anne Frank in her last days, or is herself Anne Frank!  This cast of characters comes together to make the reader ponder Frank’s final days.  The plot keeps the reader fascinated, and the climax and resolution are stunning.  Writing of this quality is unimaginable, as much for its creativity as for its style and message.

Summary: Livvy and her mother move to California for a new start.  Instead, Livvy finds herself embarking on a journey of discovery, first to figure out who her grandmother really is, and secondly, to help her mother recover from alcoholism.  With post-war America as the setting and the Holocaust as a compelling topic, Livvy finds herself completely absorbed.

World War II-Fiction, Holocaust-Fiction             --Martha Squaresky

Thomson, Sarah L. Deadly Wish.

Thomson, Sarah L.  Deadly Wish. Boyd's Mills Press  2017       238p.  $17.95  ISBN 978-1-62979-777-9      ms/hs            Fantasy            E-BN

This exciting adventure story is set in ancient Japan, with a female ninja warrior at its center, carrying out her mission to protect a magical pearl that shelters a demon.          This exciting adventure story, which is a sequel to Deadly Flowers, involves a female ninja warrior, Kata, whose mission is to guard a magical pearl that harbors a demon. In so doing, she must transport the pearl through unknown lands, facing one danger after another as she encounters other ninjas, thieves, samurai, and monsters. Along the way, she must make many choices: should she rely only on her own ninja skills, as is traditionally expected or accept the help of friends?  Should she use up her last wish even though the price of doing so will unleash a terrible demon upon the world?  The author has done her research into Japanese mythology, and this book will appeal particularly to those students who love all things Japanese.

Summary: This is a good book on grammar, and specifically the use of first-person pronouns, for any age (really), but geared toward upper-elementary and middle-school readers. Well organized and fun to read, it is also very informative.    
                                   

Ninjas-Fiction                                                                                  --Carol Kennedy

Thomson, Sarah L. Deadly Wish

Thomson, Sarah L.     Deadly Wish  Boyd's Mills Press     2017   238p   17.95  978-1-62979-777-9            ms/hs    Fantasy           E-BN   

This exciting adventure story is set in ancient Japan, with a female ninja warrior at its center, carrying out her mission to protect a magical pearl that shelters a demon.      This exciting adventure story, which is a sequel to Deadly Flowers, involves a female ninja warrior, Kata, whose mission is to guard a magical pearl that harbors a demon. In so doing, she must transport the pearl through unknown lands, facing one danger after another as she encounters other ninjas, thieves, samurai, and monsters. Along the way, she must make many choices: should she rely only on her own ninja skills, as is traditionally expected or accept the help of friends?  Should she use up her last wish even though the price of doing so will unleash a terrible demon upon the world?  The author has done her research into Japanese mythology, and this book will appeal particularly to those students who love all things Japanese.
                                    Kennedy, Carol

Schulman, L.B. Stolen Secrets

Schulman, L.B.            Stolen Secrets            Boyd's Mills Press     2017   303p   17.95  978-1-62979-722-9            ms/hs Historical        E-BN   

Livvy and her mother move to California for a new start.  Instead, Livvy finds herself embarking on a journey of discovery, first to figure out who Oma (Grandmother) really is and second, to find recovery from alcoholism for Livvy’s mother.  With historical fiction as the setting and the Holocaust as a compelling topic, Livvy finds herself completely absorbed. This novel is engrossing as much for its suggestion of new possibilities as for its well-developed, believable plot.  The possibilities allow for a new interpretation of Anne Frank’s experience in Bergen-Belsen, and the drama that unravels is both startling and thought-provoking.  When Livvy and her mother make a move to San Francisco, Livvy believes it is to make a new start.  Instead, it is about picking up a relationship that she had believed to be long gone, a relationship with her grandmother.  Conflicts begin instantly:  man v man pits Livvy against a caregiver named Vickie, a woman who is untrustworthy and sly as a fox; man v. self pits Mother against her drinking,(why does she relapse now of all times? Livvy must figure this out.); man v society pits Grandmother against a society that hated Jews in the middle of the century and now against herself as, with Alzheimers, she struggles to make sense of her fragmented memories.  It is up to Livvy to figure out Oma’s role in all this, and with the help of new acquaintance Franklin D, she embarks on a journey to self-discovery that will leave readers asking lots of questions about themselves.  When Livvy finds diary pages about a concentration camp, she realizes that her grandmother has secrets that are profound.  Livvy comes to believe her grandmother knew Anne Frank in her last days, or, to be Anne Frank!  This cast of characters comes together to make the reader ponder Frank’s final days.  The plot keeps the reader fascinated, and the climax and resolution are stunning.  Writing of this quality is unimaginable, as much for its creativity as for its style and message.                               Squaresky(2), Martha          Livvy’s grandmother is hiding secret from WWII