Book Review - The Far Away Brothers

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

The Far Away Brothers (Adapted for Young Adults):

Two Teenage Immigrants Making a Life in America

by Lauren Markham

After ending up on the wrong side of a gang in El Salvador, seventeen-year-old Ernesto Flores must flee to the United States for his safety. His identical twin brother Raul soon follows for his own safety. After facing a treacherous journey to cross the border, the boys are met with a challenging life in the States. Ernesto and Raul are fortunate they have their older brother who had traveled North years early, making certain things more manageable. However, since he also traveled illegally to the States, there are still several obstacles. 

Names and certain aspects were changed for privacy reasons, but this is a true story—the book adapted from the adult novel of the same name. Ernesto and Raul’s story is the main focus, but readers also get insight into the family they left behind. Their story is eye-opening into what immigrants go through to get to a safer life in the United States but still met with challenges. Certain aspects of the story are a little heavy but handled in an age-appropriate way. At times the story reads like fiction, making it easier to read for those who aren’t non-fiction fans. It is just important to remember that while names may be changed, this story is not made up. 

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Book Theme Graphic - Non-Fiction

 

E-books - MORE Non-Fiction

• Sabotage: The Mission to Destroy Hitler's Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb
• A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg
• Also available on Hoopla
• The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin
• Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town by Warren St. John
• Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

E-books - Non-Fiction

• Life Inside My Mind ed. by Jessica Burkhart
• The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
• Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
• The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
• We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai

Book Review - Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Rising Water:

The Story of theThai Cave Rescue

by Marc Aronson

            In 2018 twelve Thai soccer players and their assistant coach Ekapol decided to go explore some caves after a game. Around midnight, their families were worried when they still weren’t home. Luckily some teammates knew where the boys went but unfortunately the cave was flooded with the boys and Ekapol somewhere inside. Thai rescue workers, with help from rescue workers from other countries, banded together to find and rescue the team to bring home safely.

            This is the true and fascinating account of what happened during the Thai cave rescue. The author breaks down the days of when the boys were missing, found but still trapped, and being rescued. For those who followed the story on the news probably know much of what the author shares. Those who didn’t will be surprised at what was done and how they all managed to survive and be rescued.

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Book Review - We Are Displaced

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

We Are Displaced

by Malala Yousafzai

            *Refugee (n): a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.

            Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girl’s education and Nobel Peace Prize winner. She is also a refugee, forced to leave her home in Pakistan with her parents and brothers. In this book, she shares not only her story but brings together the stories of other girls who are refugees. The road to safety for these girls was not an easy one. Some were separated from their family by who was granted asylum and who wasn’t, while some had family who died along the way. Some may break your heart, while some may also inspire. What all these girls have in common is that for their safety, leaving their home was their only option, and Malala choice to help share their stories.

            The topic of refugees is a big one today, making this an important read. It is an odd feeling knowing the stories these girls share happened in recent history. As the narrative is broken down into individual stories, this makes it easy to stop and process each story before going on to the next one. Malala also prefaces each section with how she came to know these girls and decided to share their story.

*Definition taken directly from Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online

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Book Review - Shout

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

Shout

by Laurie Halse Anderson

            Laurie Halse Anderson is an award winning author who is now sharing her personal story. Maybe you are familiar with her books (Fever 1793, Ashes, Twisted, Wintergirls, Prom, and Speak), maybe you are not. Anderson’s story in Shout is similar to Melinda’s in Speak. She is a survivor who no longer wishes to remain silent and is now calling for others to also speak up and take action. Most importantly, allowing others to know that they are not alone. 

            This is a beautifully written novel in verse. Anderson shares her experience, the downward spiral her life took after it, and pulling herself together again. With the subject matter being on the tougher side, this read may be difficult for some at the present moment or overall. For those who can handle the topic addressed, this is highly recommended.

            Read the review for the graphic novel version of Speak here.

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Book Review - The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

The Family Romanov:

Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

by Candace Fleming

This is the well-known ending: Nicholas and Alexandria, the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia were murdered, with their family, by members of the Revolution. But why? And what happened before? Find out about the Romanov family, the experiences of the peasants in Russia, and how the two worlds collided.

If you got your knowledge of this family from the 20^th Century Fox’s animated film Anastasia (have teens your age even seen that film? but then again there is the musical which I’m sure is closer to the film than the real story), anyway, if you have seen the movie or musical, you are in for a rude awakening. The real story of this famous family is a lot more horrific than the beginning of the movie portrays. The history of the Romanov’s is an interesting one and there are pictures to aid in history.

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Book Review - Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

📖Recommend for Grades 7 and up📖

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

by Deborah Heiligman

Tells the story of brothers Vincent and Theo based on letters they wrote to each other and others throughout their lives. Shares how the world would not know Vincent van Gogh the artist had it not been for Theo.

If you are not a fan of Vincent Van Gough or reading about artists and art history you are likely not to enjoy this book. However, if you are a fan, this isn’t one to miss, nor is it a bad choice if you need to read nonfiction for school. The story of these two brothers is a fascinating one but not one you can easily read through.

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