Book Review: Out of Hiding (coming to America, young girl in hiding during WW2)(OT)

Out of Hiding: A Holocaust Survivor's Journey to America, by Ruth Gruener (Scholastic, 2020, $6.99 PB, 208pp, 11 years and up, grades 4-7) Review by Skye Anderson

A Hidden Childhood

Ruth Gruener, nee Luncia Gamzer, was born in Ukraine but moved to Poland with her parents when Hitler came to power. As a 9-year-old Jewish girl, she was hidden by family friends when it became too dangerous to live in their Nazi-imposed ghetto - and she was separated from her parents, only to be reunited with them much later.

This is the story of a hidden childhood and of the little girl who survived, along with her parents - both, miraculously. It is also the rarely written account of being in one displaced persons (DP) camp after another after 1945 until finally, permission was granted to emigrate to the United States.

It is also the story of their rough sea voyage to Boston in 1949 and then on to New York City, living with relatives for months and learning about America while navigating highschool.

Again, Ruth makes friends only to have to move on.

A Common yet Uncommon Account of a War, Survival and the Aftermath

Books abound about Holocaust survivors and thank goodness. However, many of them read like reports: "I did this and then I did that and then . . . . " Author Gruener writes as a young girl which creates a compelling story. Short chapters and fairly large print help make Out of Hiding a fast read.

This reviewer read faster and faster until the war ended, then got bogged down as events moved too fast and became report-like, with less depth. We also noticed the front cover is in color with the exception of the background (Boston Harbor) and pictures the harbor from a ship with the 'camera' behind the girl. We can easily depict a series of questions about Ruth's life for classroom discussions.

Book Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer (highschool; mystery/psychological thriller/horror/suspense/slasher)(OT)

I Know What You Did Last Summer, by Lois Duncan (Little Brown, 240pp PB, ages 12+. grades 7 and up, 1973/2020, $2.50) Review by Skye Anderson

So, you missed the fuss about I Know What You Did Last Summer? But you are familiar with the title yet don't really know what it's about? 

It's Never Too Late to Read a 'Classic'! 

This reviewer finally read it and couldn't put it down. And now I hear it's a movie.* And on TV. And with sequels: "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer."

Generally when both a book and a movie version appear, one after the other, one prefers the version he/she saw (read) first, knowing they are two different modes and therefore cannot be entirely identical. In this case, this reviewer wholeheartedly prefers the book version - it is less horrific. The movie version is merely based loosely on the book and is more extreme. Therefore, if your favorite genre is not slasher, I would recommend the book.

The Plot Thickens

Two teenage couples are returning home one night when their car accidentally hits someone. Being teens, they are not sure what to do. Is he dead? Did anyone see the accident? After discussing, they call in the accident to the police and go home. (Being 1973, the call cannot be traced due to no cell phones yet.) The four then make a pact to never talk about the accident. They soon part ways.

(Their characters, however, are well-written. This is a book that has both a well-constructed plot and believable characters - normal teens placed in rare adult situations .)

Fast Forward a Year

One of the boys is in college athletics, one of the girls has dropped out of high school to pursue a career on TV, the other girl has been accepted to a Seven Sisters college and the fourth teen worked as a laborer several states away but has returned to their hometown.

One of the four receives a note: "I know what you did last summer." Another receives a newspaper clipping.  .  .  .

And . . . .

Now I can't wait to read Killing Mr. Griffin and other Duncan books!

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*Sarah Michelle Geller (Helen), Freddie  Prince,  Jr. (Ray),  Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie), Ryan Phillippe (Barry)

Book Review: The War that Saved My Life (WW2, England, young girl)(OT)

The War that Saved My Life, by Kimberly Bradley (Puffin Books, $8.99PB, 352pp, 2016, ages 9-11, grades 4-7) A Newbery Honor book. Review by Skye Anderson

Another Pollyanna or Perhaps Anne?

It is WW2 and British children in London are being sent to the countryside for safekeeping, from the expected Nazi bombs. Written from the viewpoint of a pre-teen girl who escapes (with her younger brother) from a difficult home situation and 'mistakenly' is sent to temporarily live with a single woman caretaker in Kent, The War that Save My Life is just what we like - fairly large print with short chapters, cliffhangers, and a little bit of England and history. It will remind you of Pollyanna or Anne of Green Gables: our Ada, though, is a real character who grows to love and to be loved in the midst of troubling times.

Intriguing Title and Front Cover

We found this book so incredibly good we wanted it to last forever yet also found it to be a 24-hour book - one we couldn't put down. We heartedly recommend Newbery books!

Ada is a mature young girl whose disability embarrasses her mother who takes it out on her. Ada is a young girl who believes she doesn't deserve love or good things (she has listened to her mother and taken her words to heart). Ada is a girl who stays inside and takes care of her little brother. 

Then comes the evacuation which also serves as an escape. But upon arriving in the countryside, nobody wants to take in the two youngsters so they are put up with a single woman who seems crusty at first but who understands 10-year-old Ada's fear of becoming too close as time goes by. Time, and horses, and a military airfield.

Horses and Heroes

Ada becomes a hero but discussions of the book will also reveal other heroes. The reader will read voraciously and come to see Ada's fears in people they meet and live with at times. We are all afraid of becoming too close, but hopes and dreams do not die.