**spoiler alert** I've listed this as "nonfiction," which isn't actually true, but it's an account based on the author's conjecture about actual histo**spoiler alert** I've listed this as "nonfiction," which isn't actually true, but it's an account based on the author's conjecture about actual historical info, so for my own sake, this is where I'm putting it. It was an interesting and enjoyable read, especially once I realized it was based on an actual person who was involved in some pretty important deeds in the Revolutionary War. I'm sad that it ended badly, but that's part of history, so...
Rating: PG, but there is some oblique mention of sex (married, hooray!), so if your kid isn't ready for that and for major sadness and injustice, then buyer beware.
Merged review:
I've listed this as "nonfiction," which isn't actually true, but it's an account based on the author's conjecture about actual historical info, so for my own sake, this is where I'm putting it. It was an interesting and enjoyable read, especially once I realized it was based on an actual person who was involved in some pretty important deeds in the Revolutionary War. I'm sad that it ended badly, but that's part of history, so...
Rating: PG, but there is some oblique mention of sex (married, hooray!), so if your kid isn't ready for that and for major sadness and injustice, then buyer beware....more
Really really good, an intense story about the paranoia and fear and the struggles of this time period. It gives you the feeling so well, immersing yoReally really good, an intense story about the paranoia and fear and the struggles of this time period. It gives you the feeling so well, immersing you in the time and place and atmosphere. History is my weakest subject area, and I appreciated learning a lot here, as well as knowing that real life isn't always very neat.
Rating: PG-13. I mean, it's basically set in a real-life dystopia, so Bad Things happen. Nothing feels gratuitous, nor does it feel like the story is relishing the terrible stuff. Quite the opposite. So, hard subjects, but very reasonable to the story....more
A really good glimpse into the life of this refugee in this camp. Definitely worth the read, also a very quick read. It's been a while since I read itA really good glimpse into the life of this refugee in this camp. Definitely worth the read, also a very quick read. It's been a while since I read it, so I can't give a lot of detailed review, but I was glad I read it....more
Whoosh. It's hard to say I "liked" this book, considering the subject matter. But it was fascinating and scary and intense, for sure. And also very, vWhoosh. It's hard to say I "liked" this book, considering the subject matter. But it was fascinating and scary and intense, for sure. And also very, very gruesome. Do not read if you are squeamish. I felt weird that I find the subject so fascinating until I remembered there are tons of people (including many described in the book) who dedicate their lives to studying things like Ebola precisely because they, too, find it fascinating. So there you go--it's gruesome and horrifying, and I still enjoyed learning about it. (Although I did have to avoid imagining things visually, and even then some parts were... unpleasant.)
Clean rating: The subject matter itself is pretty much R for gore. Ignoring that, there's still some bouts of pretty heavy swearing. It's not everywhere, but it's definitely very present....more
Not at all what I expected, and I wish I'd given it a chance sooner. It's written in free verse, and it's a lovely, compact telling of the experience Not at all what I expected, and I wish I'd given it a chance sooner. It's written in free verse, and it's a lovely, compact telling of the experience of a Vietnam refugee. I recently read Where the Wind Blows, an adult memoir of the same experience, which I think helped me understand this one better and read between some of the lines. The book really captured this experience, I think, in a way accessible to younger kids.
Clean rating: PG, just for scary situations in the beginning and for hard, sad things.
Side note: It's not strictly a memoir, but a lot of it is based on the author's life, so I tagged it that way....more
This one was a hard read but a good one. So many terrible things these people went through! The struggles of the refugees were devastating and overwheThis one was a hard read but a good one. So many terrible things these people went through! The struggles of the refugees were devastating and overwhelming, but the hope was incredible.
Rating: Feels weird to rate a memoir, but the point is just to make mention of content, so I'll call it PG-13 for content (violence, including sexual violence, suicide attempts, many near deaths, adultery, etc., etc.). Nothing gratuitous or glorified (well, the adultery is considered totally normal in the culture), but plenty of hard subject matter....more
This was a wonderful novel, sort of late middle grade, about an Iranian girl living in America before and during the Iran hostage crisis. It was such This was a wonderful novel, sort of late middle grade, about an Iranian girl living in America before and during the Iran hostage crisis. It was such an interesting look into a quirky, fun character and also into the history surrounding that period. In light of current attitudes for many about "foreigners," it was also full of insight into how it might have felt to be living through such prejudice and fear.
It makes me think, too, about what it might mean to "always rely on the kindness of strangers." I think one of the great gifts of belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that no matter where you go there are people who are not strangers. I'm grateful for that and recognize how helpful that has always been for me. It also makes me want to be one of the kind strangers to other people.
Rating: PG, I think. There may have been swearing, but I don't remember since I read it a couple months ago. If so, not much....more
A powerful, painful read. Full of hard stuff, things that were realities for those in France in the war. I thought it was worth reading, and really goA powerful, painful read. Full of hard stuff, things that were realities for those in France in the war. I thought it was worth reading, and really good book club discussion material, but I'm not excited about reading it again. It gave lots to think about--moral dilemmas, how would you behave in this situation, the importance of resilience, etc.
Rating: PG-13. Most of the content here is obvious--thematic stuff, violence, death, uncertainty, lots of pain and suffering. Also some sexual violence that was extremely disturbing but not extremely descriptive and definitely believable for the situation. Not gratuitous but not glossed over. Not for the faint of heart or the young. The only other rating-related content is a small section of sexual content (that for me felt unnecessary but was not highly descriptive, was mostly fade out)....more
I'm torn about how to review this one. There are two separate elements here for me, and my feelings about the two are quite different.
1. The story ofI'm torn about how to review this one. There are two separate elements here for me, and my feelings about the two are quite different.
1. The story of this man, how he adapted and really thrived through his blindness. This is an amazing story and one that can certainly make you think about the nature of reality, how we hold ourselves back, and where joy comes from. Also, his experiences in the French Resistance and the concentration camp are intriguing and admirable.
2. The writing itself. This is why I couldn't give the book a higher rating. The story suffers from being told in a way that I think is very to get into and makes the author incredibly hard to relate to. First, he hardly ever tells specific stories of his life. It's mostly just things that frequently happened and he sort of summarizes them. It makes for very dry reading. Second, he uses "always/never" very liberally. This makes it feel a lot more unreal and unrelatable than I think it could have been. Anyone who says "I was always happy" or "I never made a mistake" too often is going to lose some credibility.
Do I think the story is worthwhile? Yes. So I think it was highly readable? No. You really have to be willing to wade in. Honestly, I wouldn't have finished it or gotten nearly as much out of it if I hadn't read it for book club. My friend who chose it really made me think about it more deeply, which I appreciated. Still, it was hard to read.
Content rating: PG-13. There's a couple of brief weird discussions about sex and such, but that doesn't count against it at all. They are frank and matter of fact. The only reason for the 13 is because, hello, it's WWII and there is a lot of death and awfulness in the concentration camp. But even then it's largely implied and suggested rather than actually dwelt on. ...more
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