Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle is about Daniel, a young Jewish boy sent alone by his family on a ship to Cuba to escape the Nazis. Daniel finds that Cuba is not very welcoming to the refugees. In fact, the only two people who seem to be kind to him are David, an old man, and Paloma, the daughter of one of the richest and most powerful men in Cuba. Paloma's father is the one who decides how much to charge in "fees" for refugees to be able to enter Cuba. It's his decisions that determine whether the refugees will be allowed to leave the ships and live in Cuba, or will be turned away and have to go back to Europe. Cuba was the last hope for many of these refugees. Paloma is determined to help them, however, by offering them kindness, food, and even a safe place to hide up in her dovecote ( a tower where she keeps doves). Daniel struggles with the realization that his family is probably never going to join him in Cuba, but overcomes his sadness when he finds a young boy named Daniel, his namesake, to take under his wing.

This was an interesting story. I didn't realize that so many Holocaust refugees ended up in Cuba. I also had no idea that Cuba was the last stop (after other North American countries) for the refugees and that they were sent back to Europe if Cuba wouldn't accept them. This story is told in free verse through the eyes of Daniel, David, Paloma, and sometimes even Paloma's cruel father. I really enjoyed this story and learned a lot about a part of history I didn't know much about before. I recommended this book to a student immediately after finishing it, and she's really enjoying it, too!

42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer is JoEllen's story, told through her own free-verse poetry and pictures, On week days she is Ellen and lives in Cincinnati with her mother, while on weekends she is Joey and stays 42 miles away on her father's farm. As Ellen, she is a 12 year old school girl who enjoys a very set schedule with her mother - complete with take out menus and evening activities neatly planned out. She and her bet friends, Tamika and Annie (who think only hicks live in the country), are plagued by typical school assignments and "mean girl" bullies. On weekends, however, she becomes Joey. She and her father experiment with cooking meals and ingredients and play games. She spends time horse-back riding and hanging out with her cousin, Hayden (who thinks the big city is filled with filth and crime). 42 miles is the story of Joey/Ellen finding herself and becoming JoEllen again.

This was a quick and easy read because of the free-verse format. I think it would be really appealing to anyone who has been through a divorce. I felt triumphant on JoEllen's behalf when she began making changes in both parts of her life, no longer allowing her physical location to define her. It was enlightening to see her working to become the person she truly wanted to be in all aspects of her life. This author also wrote Reaching for the Sun, one of my all time favorite books!

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson is about Lonnie, an eleven-year-old boy who tells his life story through poetry. He is assigned to write different types of poems in Ms. Marcus's class. Most of the poems are about his friends at school, his foster mother, his sister, and the fire that stole the lives of their parents too early. Lonnie lives with Ms. Edna, who has two grown sons. Lili, Lonnie's younger sister, lives with a different foster parent across town. The don't get to see each other very often because Lili's new mama doesn't like Lonnie. Lonnie has done a lot of changing in his eleven years. He remembers a lot about what it was like when he lived with his parents. He also remembers the group homes and the Throwaway Boys who terrorized him there. His poetry is beautiful and heartfelt, telling the story of his life.

I really liked this book! I like books written in verse. This one reminded me of Love That Dog and Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech. Locomotion was sad, but hopeful. It makes me want to write some poetry!

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is set in the Oklahoma dust bowl in 1935. Billie Jo's parents try their hardest to make ends meet, but they just can't. Dust storms pop up constantly, ripping their wheat from the ground, choking livestock, and covering everything - inside and out. Billie Jo's salvation is the piano. She plays so well that she's asked to play in small towns all around the area, for money! Billie Jo's mom becomes pregnant, and everyone is very excited about the baby, especially since Ma hasn't carried a baby to term since Billie Jo was born. Just before the baby was due, there was a terrible accident. Billie Jo's dad left a pail of kerosene next to the cook stove. Ma thought it was water and tried to use it to make tea. The tea caught fire, so she ran outside to dump it out. Billie Jo grabbed the full pail and threw the kerosene out the door, not realizing that her mother was standing right there. Her mother was engulfed in flames. Both Billie Jo and her mother were severely burned - Ma over most of her body and Billie Jo on her hands where she tried to smother the flames. Ma and the baby die as a result of the accident. Billie Jo isn't sure she can get over the feeling that it's her fault, and she can't even play the piano anymore for solace.

This was an excellent book. It is part of the historical fiction collection I assign my students every year, but this is the first time I've read it. I can see why they all like it. I think everyone can relate to Billie Jo, struggling to overcome the accident and make her way in the world.

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate is about Kek, an immigrant from Sudan, just learning how to survive in America. His father and brother were killed in Africa and Kek barely made it out alive. His mother was separated from him when soldiers attacked, and no one knows where she is. Kek is brought to the United States to live with his aunt and cousin, who have also been affected by the violence in Sudan. Kek is amazed at the modern technology and customs in America, but continues to hold on to his own beliefs and ideas about life. He also continues to believe that his mother is alive and will one day join him.

This was a great book. It is told in verse, so it's a quick read. The broad ideas within the story are relevant to everyone's lives - this isn't just a story about an immigrant trying to survive in America. It's a story that could be about any one of us, struggling in a new place, learning new things, trying our best, making mistakes, overcoming obstacles, etc. This is one of the 2009 - 2010 Maud Hart Lovelace nominees.

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Glass by Ellen Hopkins is the sequel to Crank. Glass takes off where Crank ends, with Kristina living at home with her parents and her new baby. For awhile, things are OK. Kristina falls into a pattern at home and everything is fine. She feels the constant pull to crystal meth, but is able to stay away from it, especially since she doesn't really have any connections in her home town. That all falls apart when she reconnects with her old friend's sister. Suddenly Kristina is thrown back into her wild ways and is even letting her alter-ego, Bree, show her ugly side. After nearly missing her own son's baptism and falling into a sleep so deep that she didn't wake up to his screams when he rolled under a chair, Kristina's family has had enough. They kick her out of the house, telling her she is not allowed to come home until she is clean. Unfortunately, this was not the "wake-up-call" they were hoping for. Kristina continues to spiral downward and it appears there is no net to catch her.

I liked this book almost better than Crank. It was just the thing to answer my question, "Then what happened?" This book is definitely for a mature audience due to the drug use and physical scenes. From what I know about meth users, this book seems to do a good job showing what life is like for the user, family, and friends - tragic.

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg

All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg is about Matt Pin, a young Vietnamese boy who has been adopted by a family in the U.S. just after the Vietnam War. This story details Matt's struggle to fit in at his school, where the other students see him as the enemy. Many of his classmates' siblings went to fight in the Vietnam War and never came home. Their anger about their loved ones' deaths is taken out on Matt. Matt also struggles with his memories of his mother and brother. Matt never knew his father, an American soldier who abandoned them. Matt's brother was terribly injured in a landmine explosion, and Matt believes it was his fault. His mother, trying to keep him safe, sent Matt with the American soldiers to go to America for a better life. Matt, however, thinks she sent him away as a punishment for what happened to his little brother. Matt's adoptive father teaches Matt to play baseball, and he's really good. He even makes the school team! But, it's even harder for him to fit in there, because he is mercilessly taunted by his own teammates. This story is about Matt's search to fit in somewhere, to feel loved, wanted, and worthwhile.

I loved this book. It is a quick read because it is written in free-verse. The suthor does a wonderful job at weaving all parts of the story together. The reader feels so sad for Matt and all he's been through, but also feels some compassion for the kids at his school who lost siblings in the war. This is a thought-provoking, well told story about a very sad time in history.

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech is the sequel to Love That Dog. In Hate That Cat, Jack has moved on to the next grade in school, and his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry has moved up with him! The poetry that Jack writes this year focuses on cats. First, on how much he hates them, but then, when he gets a tiny black kitten for Christmas, his poems change. Jack also struggles with what poetry means. His Uncle Bill doesn't think any of the poems Jack likes or writes are true poetry. Jack, however, thinks a lot about what's in his heart. He thinks about hearing and seeing and feeling the words. This is especially meaningful to Jack's mother, who is deaf and communicates through sign language.

I was SO excited to read this book! I have loved every book I've ever read by Sharon Creech, this one included. It was a quick read because it is written in free verse format. There were parts where I laughed out loud and one part where I was close to tears. Any time I have reactions like those to a book, I know it's a good one. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry, anyone who doesn't like poetry, anyone who likes animals, and anyone who doesn't like animals (especially cats!).

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Crank by Ellen Hopkins is about 17 year old Kristina. One summer she goes to Albuquerque to visit the father she hasn't seen in years. While she is there she meets her first boyfriend who introduces her to crank. Kristina begins acting less like herself and more like her alter ego, Bree, as she spends more and more time high. When she returns home to Reno, her spiral downward becomes even worse and she eventually becomes pregnant. Kristina faces many issues as she makes decisions that impact her own life, the lives of her family members, and the life of the unborn child she carries.

This book is written through a series of poems, describing Kristina/Bree and her experience with crank, love, loss, and life. The author's note explains that the story is loosely based on the experiences of her own daughter. I enjoyed this book, although it is definitely for more mature readers.