Is It Night or Day? by Fern Schumer Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on a true story, Chapman writes about her grandmother as a young girl who leaves Germany on her own to join an uncle in the U.S. and escape from the Nazi's.

Edith (Tiddy) was 14 years old when her parents sent her to America.  She was helped by a group of Americans (Lutheran's, Quakers and Jews) who saved European Jewish children from the Nazi's.  Similar to the Kindertransport, these people rescued 1,200 children from a most probable death in the concentration camps.

This is a good novel to pair with The Diary of Anne Frank and discuss the differences experienced by teenagers who were with their parents vs. others who were separated during WWII. Young people may question why people didn't just leave Germany and Chapman's story provides a good explanation of how difficult it was for families to pack up and leave their homes and relatives.  The story lends itself to a good discussion on how many teenagers could have done what Edith did as well as how accepting Americans were of Jewish immigrants.

A South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee.


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Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very powerful story of child soldiers in Cambodia.  It is a fictional account of the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, founder of Children of War, an organization that aids children held hostage by war and violence.

My suggestion is that you first read the Epilogue, Author's Note and Acknowledgements at the end of the book.  Then you will understand why the story is written in the voice of young Arn.

The weak at heart should not read this book.  8th grade and up can handle the story.  It is unforgettable. If you find yourself getting angry maybe you can do something to make a difference in the world.



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