Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Possibilities of Sainthood, by Donna Freitas

In this sweet first-time story by author Donna Freitas we meet 15 year old Antonia Lucia Labella, who attends a Catholic School, helps out at the family's little Italian market, and has a crush on handsome Andy Rotellini. Donna loves keeping a diary about the saints, and passionately writes to the Vatican every month (for the past eight years!) asking them to create a new living saint - - and put her in the job!

This is a delightful first-time story by Donna Freitas, who teaches at Boston University, and herself grew up making homemade pasta with her Italian mother and grandmother!

Monday, September 14, 2009

When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park

Shortly before the outbreak of WWII Japan began expanding its empire. This included overrunning Korea. Under Japanese rule the Korean people were forbidden to study Korean language, learn of their own history, or even fly their country's flag. Korean children were even given new Korean names!

Set against a backdrop of World War II is this tale of Kim Sun Lee, who during the day goes to school to learn Japanese language and culture, and returns home at night to secretly learn the Korea's time-honored ways. Tense with drama and intrigue, this is an exciting story that will spark many questions about this unique period in world history!

"You can feel the sympathy for the Koreans, and the author did a good job helping you (understand)." Haejin

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

"The author's perspective was interesting. . . . but I did not like how she mentioned drugs and several inappropriate things." Haejin

I admit, Hinton's classic young adult book can be a bit of a shock, with it's realistic portrayal of gang wars, friendship and alienation back in the '60s, so I'm sorry Haejin did not enjoy the book. Still, many others have read it (over 13 million copies sold to date) and enjoyed the tale!