Is It Night or Day?

Title: Is It Night or Day?

 

Author: Fern Schumer Chapman

 

Summary: In 1938, 12-year-old Edith, a Jewish girl, is sent away to America from her German village in the beginnings of the Holocaust. The only problem is that none of her family can come with her on the journey, however she does already have one sister awaiting her in America.

Life in America is hard, and each day, Edith struggles to raise money to buy the passes for her family to join her. The uncle and aunt she is staying with are rather unkind to her, though she develops an understanding with her cousin.

The book takes Edith over the course of about 4 years, and throughout those years, Edith grows and learns to adjust to life in her new country; America.

 

Comments: I loved this book. What I especially liked, is that this book is based off of the true story of Fern Schumer Chapman's own mother. How amazing is that?

Edith is likeable and her situation is saddening. Every step of the story, the reader will be cheering and rooting for her as she makes it through her extremely difficult journey.

This book has so much to offer. Edith grows so much over the 4 years. She travels from childhood to adulthood. Even in her different and tough situation, she has a lot of the same interests and insecurities as regular teens do, even in today's day. This makes Edith a very relevant and relatable main character.

This book would be best enjoyed by someone in the 10-12+ age range; a child who knows and understands the events of this time, can handle tragedy, and is able to handle a rather heavy yet hope filled book.

As much as I love this story, and as much as I would recommend it to everyone, I do wish that it had been longer in some parts and maybe a bit more detailed. It seemed to me like Edith's years in America passed by over the span of just a few chapters. I would've liked a longer book, or maybe even a trilogy series so that I could have more information rather than short snippets from her life over her years in America. Perhaps this was not a possibility in the publishing of the book, and either way, it does not matter because I am totally pleased with this story.

I felt a sort of connection to this book, though I can't exactly place my finger on why I did feel that way. I think it has a lot to do with this being a true story, and it also has a lot to do with the heartfelt writing of the author.

 

Rating: 5 stars!!!

 

 

A Year Without Autumn

Title: A Year Without Autumn

 

Author: Liz Kessler

 

Summary: Jenni Green and her best friend Autumn are on their annual vacation with their families. They are so excited to go swimming, horse riding, museum touring, and maybe a daring adventure or two. But one day, Jenni decides to use an abandoned elevator in the vacation building and she steps off the elevator to find herself a year forward in her life. As if it isn't scary enough to jump a year forward, Jenni sees the haunting events that will happen throughout the year. Jenni realizes that she must change the past to save the future.

 

Comments: This book was certainly captivating - it was a page turner. Sure, it was maybe a little predictable and it only took me about an hour and a half to read, but the book had the power to keep me reading from the beginning to the end in all one sitting.

The tragedies that happen over the course of the future that Jenni sees are rather drastic and tragic too. (Brother tragically injured, divorce, new sibling. etc. - I don't want to spoil the book) This book is a book that I could probably recommend for 8+, though the tragic health injuries can be scary at points for young readers.

 

Rating: 5 stars