A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

 

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Historical Fiction, Adventure

Age – 10-13

Grade – 5-8

336 pages, hardcover

c. 2015

           A Night Divided, set in Berlin in 1961, is the story of then 8 year- old Gerta and her family waking up to find a barbed wired wall dividing their city. Her father and older brother Dominic are on the other side of the wall and cannot come back. Most of the story occurs four years later when Gerta, now 12, notices her father on the viewing platform of the wall making motions from an old song he used to sing to her involving digging. She concludes that he is asking her and her brother Fritz to tunnel under the wall.

            Attempting to escape Soviet controlled East Germany is extremely dangerous. Her best friend’s brother had tried to escape in the trunk of a car but was found and killed at the border. Now the whole family was under suspicion and being closely watched. Gerta’s mother has not the courage to do this and even her brother Fritz thinks her idea is crazy. However, Gerta is more like her father, who was involved in the resistance, and is determined to try. Eventually her brother joins her in this nearly impossible effort.  

            Nielsen does an excellent job of portraying the fear and resignation of many of the East Germans. Anyone could be a spy and trusting the wrong person could have disastrous results. Gerta and Fritz realize after a while that their apartment is bugged. Because of their father’s past political activity their family is being watched. To make matters worse it is almost time for Fritz to report for mandatory military duty. Tension continues to build throughout the story and since Gerta is the narrator the reader is drawn right into the action.

            This is a story about courage, perseverance, and the will to survive but it also a story of strong family dynamics. Even when they disagree about things, they are fiercely loyal to one another. Their mother is very against any attempt to try and escape to the west but when she realizes what Gerta and Fritz have accomplished she joins wholeheartedly in the effort. When Gerta or Fritz are exhausted, discouraged, or fearful the other one is there to support, encourage or do some of their work. Their love for one another is evident throughout the story and so is their desire to help their friends. In the end their hope, courage, and determination inspire others. In detailing a lesser known period of history, A Night Divided is also a story of true friendship, kindness, generosity, sacrifice, and regrets

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander

 

 

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander

Fantasy, Adventure

ages - 9-12

grades -4-7

206 pages, paperback

c. 1966

              The Castle of Llyr is a change of pace from the dramatic tension that ended The Black Cauldron. It deals with Princess Eilonwy’s background, introduces some new characters, and continues to show Taran’s growing maturity and self-awareness.  

            The story begins as Eilonwy is reluctantly preparing to travel to the Island of Mona to be trained as a proper princess by the king and queen there. Unbeknown to Eilonwy they also expect her to marry their son, prince Rhun. Taran is unhappy about her departure as he begins to realize how much he cares for her. Shortly after her arrival she is kidnapped with the help of the evil Chief Steward Magg and delivered into the hands of the evil enchantress Achren. Eilonwy is from the ancient and powerful house of Llyr whose women were powerful sorceresses. Achren hopes to use her powers to restore herself to a position of power.

            Much of the book describes the attempts of Taran, Gurgi, Fflewddur, Gwydion, and Prince Rhun to rescue Eilonwy. Prince Rhun is an interesting combination of a cheerful, good natured person and clumsy and naïve bungler who is often the cause of more problems. Taran’s relationship with him is further complicated by the fact that he is jealous of his potential relationship with Eilonwy and has promised his father, the king, to look after him and bring him back safely.  During their adventures the companions, except Gwydion, are trapped in a hut by a gigantic cat, Llyan, who has a great liking for Fflewddur’s harp playing and in a cave occupied by a depressed giant named Glew. When they finally reach Eilonwy they discover she is under an enchantment and does not recognize any of them.

            Though there is plenty of adventure I feel the real focus of the book is the growth of the characters Rhun, Taran and Eilonwy. Through his adventures, failures, and successes Rhun grows in self awareness and in the end is capable of great love and self - sacrifice. As Taran sees this he can put aside his jealousy and impatience with Rhun and accept him as a friend and companion. Perhaps the greatest change occurs in Eilonwy. At the start of the story she is the same strong willed, opinionated girl who likes getting her own way. At the end she is still strong willed but is using her will to save herself, her friends, and all Prydain at great personal cost. Again, without being didactic, Lloyd Alexander shows the superiority of humble self-sacrifice over the quest for power and glory.

           

 

            

Spy Runner by Eugene Yelchin

Spy Runner by Eugene Yelchin

Historical Fiction, Action/Adventure, Spy Fiction

ages 10-14

grades 5-9

352 pages, hardcover

c. 2019

         Spy Runner is a complicated book. It effectively presents the atmosphere of a small American town in 1953 during the Cold War era when the fear of Communists and foreigners was at its height. It also raises questions about propaganda, media-disseminated misinformation, and the price of truth. The narrator, 12 year-old Jake McCauley, finds himself in situations where he knows something is going on but he isn’t sure what it is. This is complicated by his sense that no one in his life is telling the truth and no one can be trusted.

            Jake never knew his father who left to serve during World War II when Jake was an infant and is currently listed as missing in action. Jake is convinced that his father is being held as a prisoner of war by the Russians in Siberia based on something he heard on the radio. Consequently when Jake’s mother rents out his father’s study to a Russian border because money is tight, Jake is angry and suspicious of the man who he assumes must be a Communist spy. Jake takes it upon himself to find the evidence that will prove that this man, Victor Shubin, is a Communist spy.

            As Jake pursues his investigation he realizes he is being followed by two men in a black car. He also notices a man with a gold tooth standing outside his house at night and then two FBI agents turn up at school to question him. Still unwilling to confide in anyone except his best friend, whose father is a major in the Air Force, Jake continues his dangerous investigation resulting in his being battered, beaten and exhausted. There are also several attempts on his life. When the students at his school find out a Russian is living at his house he is bullied and shunned by all his former friends, including his best friend. At this point Jake begins to question, for the first time, all he has been told about communist sympathizers and realizes that what his teacher had said about not believing all you hear on the radio might actually be true. Surprisingly there are a few times that Victor Shubin actually helps Jake out of a difficult situation.

            This is a book with lots of action and the plot moves along quickly. The chapters are short and usually end with a cliff hanger. Grainy black and white photos that look like they had been taken by a spy camera enhance the mood. Tension builds throughout the book and there are several plot twists near the end. Violent things happen to Jake during his investigations, such as nearly being run over, strangled and shot at, which is why I recommend it for a middle school audience. Jake survives it all  and in the end all the puzzling situations are resolved. Jake’s comment to his mother at the end of the book leaves the reader with an interesting thought. “Lying didn’t keep me safe. It made it worse.”

 

 

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

Adventure, Fantasy

Grades 4-7

Ages 9-12

229 pages, paperback

c. 1965

        The Black Cauldron is a Newbery Honor Book and the second book in the Chronicles of Prydain series. This is a darker, more serious book than The Book of Three but there is also much humor which keeps it for being too heavy. This time Taran and his companions are facing a greater evil and the stakes are higher. It is decided that the Black Cauldron, which Arawn uses to create his deathless warriors, must be destroyed. To accomplish this the band, along with Gwydion and other strong warriors, must travel deep into Arawn's domain. Once there they discover someone else has already taken the Cauldron. Then begins the long quest to find the Cauldron and destroy it.

          All the main characters from the first book return and several new characters are added. Adaron, the son of the Chief Bard, is a noble young man full of wisdom and can see things in dreams. Prince Ellidry, the youngest son of his family and thus without much of an inheritance, is arrogant and prideful. There is constant tension between him and Taran for most of the book. King Morgant and King Smoit are renowned warriors, but where Smoit is good-natured Morgant is vain and tends to keep his own counsel.

As the company retreats, they are chased by Arawn’s guards as well as the dreaded Huntsmen of Annuvin, ruthless warriors who grow stronger when one of their company is killed. They escape but are separated from the rest of the warriors.  Eventually they learn that the Cauldron has been taken by three mysterious women and is now hidden in the dangerous Marshes of Morva. The choice to seek the Cauldron themselves is a difficult one and it is surprising that Adaon, who was put in charge of the band, defers to Taran who decides to go forward. On their way to the marshes Adaon asks Taran to take care of his few precious possessions should harm befall him. The most precious is a brooch he wears that helps him see things clearly and gives him wisdom in dreams. When Adaon saves Taran’s life from the Huntsmen and is mortally wounded and Taran wears the brooch he realizes just how precious it is. With his new wisdom Taran can lead the band safely through the dangerous marshes but is forced to make the difficult decision to give the brooch to the three enchantresses in return for the Cauldron. He then learns the only way to destroy the Cauldron, which was the intention from the start, is for a living person to willingly enter it to die. Devastated by this news they decide to bring the Cauldron back to Caer Dallben and hope the old enchanter Dallben has some wisdom about what to do with it.

The task of carrying the Cauldron is nearly impossible and requires Taran to give up all hope of being a hero as he must promise to Ellidyr, whose help and strength is needed when the Cauldron gets stuck in the mud, to say that it was Ellidyr who found the Cauldron. Ellidyr had earlier abandoned the group to seek the Cauldron himself. Another significant betrayal occurs as they near the end of their journey, illustrating the power of the Cauldron to tempt good men to evil in their quest for power.  Just as good men can turn to evil so an evil man can repent and from an unexpected source comes a willing victim to enter the Cauldron and destroy it.

There is much action in this story but what really drives the story is the characters and the difficult choices they must make. Alexander presents issues of friendship, loyalty, honor, and self-sacrifice in compelling but not didactic ways. He raises questions of what is heroic, good leadership and how to judge those who turn from good to evil and evil to good. Taran began the quest for the Cauldron with his new sword, given by Dallben, full of excitement and hope for glory. He returns much sobered and wiser from the adventure. He comments to Gwydion, “I had longed to enter the world of men. Now I see it filled with sorrow, with cruelty and treachery, with those who would destroy all around them.” Gwydion also reminds him “but there are equal parts of love and joy. Think of Adaron and believe this. Think , too, of your companions. Out of friendship for you, they would have given up all they valued; indeed all they possessed.”

 

 

Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Adventure, Fantasy

grade 4-7

ages 9-12

190 pages, paperback

c. 1964

            The Book of Three is the first book in the five- book series called The Chronicles of Prydain. It is a classic epic fantasy adventure for younger readers and can be enjoyed by older readers as well. It is inspired by Welsh mythology but is not a retelling of the Welsh myths. I think one of its best elements are the characters and especially how the main character, Taran, develops throughout the series. I also find the theme of the true cost involved in the battle against evil to be both inspiring and a more realistic view than what is often shown in the superhero world.

            The Book of Three introduces the main characters that will continue through the series and establishes the main conflict between the forces of good and evil that are fighting for control of the imaginary land of Prydain. All the major characters are well developed and shown with their virtues and weaknesses, often in a comical way. Taran, who is given the title of Assistant Pig-Keeper, because he longs to be important and heroic, is stubborn, impatient, prideful, and sometimes rude. He also tends to blame others for his mistakes. By the end of his adventure he has grown in kindness, learned some leadership skills, and takes responsibility for his own mistakes, and sometimes those of others as well. He also develops a more accurate picture of what a hero really is.  Eilonwy is a strong-willed, opinionated, talkative, and somewhat scatterbrained princess. She is also an enchantress. During their journey she too grows in her ability to be kinder, generous, and self-sacrificing. Gurgi is a curious character, part man and part beast. In the beginning he is cowardly, whinny, and mostly interested in getting fed. As Taran learns to treat him with kindness and respect he becomes a loyal, brave, and selfless member of the company. Fflewddur Fflam is a king bored with his duties, and a would-be bard given to excessive exaggerations about his bravery and accomplishments. He also becomes a truly brave, loyal, and selfless companion.

            There are also other characters taken from the Welsh legends. Gwydion, the noble warrior, and prince of Prydain's House of Don, Arawn, the dread lord of Annuvin, the land of the dead, the Horned King, war leader of Arawn, Hen Wen, the oracular pig under Taran’s care and Dallben, the old enchanter who has taken care of Taran since infancy. Gwyn the Hunter and his hounds also have some bases in Welsh Mythology. Their presence normally signifies death.

            Taran’s adventures begin when Hen Wen becomes frightened and runs off into the forest. Taran immediately runs after her though he has been forbidden to enter the forest. He quickly becomes lost, encounters and is wounded by the Horned King then found and helped by Gwydion. Taran is initially disappointed by Gwydion modest appearance but gradually comes to realize “it is not the trappings that make the prince, nor the sword that makes the warrior.” Gwydion needs to find Hen Wen to discover what she knows of the Horned King and since it is too dangerous to send Taran home himself it is decided that they will both seek Hen Wen. They are captured and separated. Taran meets the Princess Eilonwy, who helps him escape from the dungeon, the bard Fflewddur Fflam, and Gurgi, half man half beast. Believing that Gwydion is dead they decide to travel to Caer Dathyl to warn the Sons of Don that the Horned King and his army of Cauldron Born, deathless warriors, are coming to attack them.

            Taran and his companions face many dangers as they continue their perilous journey trying to avoid running into the Horned King and his warriors. Along the way Taran makes some bad and some good decisions. In the end the companions, by working together, do reach their destination. Through Taran eyes we see that that to be a great hero one does not need to be the greatest swordsman or most powerful magician. It is our choices that make us heroes and our friends and companions who make us great, and these lessons are told with a generous dose of humor. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

           

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Fantasy, Adventure

grade 6-8

ages 11-13

320 pages, hardcover

c.2020

       

            Race to the Sun is similar in tone to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson Series in which mythological characters and contemporary culture are combined. Nizhoni Begay is a 7^th grade Navajo girl with a burning desire to be famous and popular. Unfortunately, the only way she has been noticed lately is for her mistakes, such as missing the basketball being thrown to her at a critical time in the game and having it hit her in the face. The distraction was caused by her newly awaken power of recognizing monsters in human form. Mr. Charles, the businessman in the stands, and potentially her dad’s new boss, is a monster. He is extremely interested in Nizhoni and her slightly younger brother Mac. He has plans to use Mac’s power over water to help his oil and gas company in fracking and to kill Nizhoni, who is a monster-slayer, so he can release all the monsters who have been imprisoned in the past. Nizhoni slowly becomes aware of Mr. Charles plans, especially when her stuffed horned toad, Mr. Yazzie, comes alive and begins to tell her more about her ancestry. Mr. Yazzie tells Nazhoni that she and her brother Mac are the Hero Twins of Navajo legend and it is their destiny to fight these monsters. This will require them to travel to the sacred land of the Navajo and find four sacred objects that must then be presented to Spider Woman. She, in turn, will help them journey to the home of the Sun. They will ask the Sun for the weapons they will need to fight the monsters. They will also have to pass four trials on their way to the Sun. Nazhoni’s best friend, Davery, accompanies them on the quest.

            Race to the Sun is an exciting, fast moving story. It is narrated by Nizhoni which allows you to see her transformation from an insecure, self-centered girl with anger management issues to a brave, self-sacrificing girl who has a healthy appreciation of both her strengths and weaknesses. The book also deals with the importance of family and cultural identity, forgiveness, friendship, and the hard work and sacrifices necessary to be a real hero. Nizhoni learns to face and conquer her fears during the trials and learns the importance of working together with others during the great battle with the monsters. She also learns the truth about her mother’s departure when she was an infant and that forgiveness can heal many old wounds. Elements of Navajo culture, such as respect for elders and appreciation of the natural world are also illustrated. References to the four sacred mountains and their guardians as well as the mention of other holy people could inspire further research into Navajo mythology.

     Race to the Sun is part of the Rick Riordan Presents series of books that seeks to find authors of minority cultures that can tell stories reflecting their cultures. Race to the Sun is an action, adventure fantasy that uses Navajo mythology as its backdrop. However, as I looked at reviews of the book, I discovered that some traditional Navajo people did not like the book. Their objections included some distortions of the traditional myths and some trivializing of the sacred figures in the myths. A further discussion of this can be found at https://americanindiansinchildrenslit. Roanhorse is a Native American but not a Navajo. However, she is married to a Navajo and wrote this book for her daughter. In the Author’s Notes she states that she wanted to share the beauty of the Navajo culture with both Navajo and non -Navajo kids and to show heroes that Navajo kids could relate to. She also identifies herself as a fantasy writer, not a cultural expert.

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Historical Fiction, Adventure

ages 11-14

grades 6-9

336 pages, hardcover

c. 2019

            Words on Fire is a thought- provoking story about a little- known period in Lithuanian history. Russia occupied Lithuania from 1795-1918. After an uprising in 1863 – 1864 there was a 40-year ban on the Lithuanian language, press and books. This was the Tsar’s attempt to make the people adopt a Russian identity, but the people resisted. Some of the most courageous people were the book smugglers who risked their lives to bring people books in their own language and about their culture.

            This story begins in 1893 when 12-year-old Audra’s peaceful and sheltered life on the family farm is violently disrupted by the arrival of Cossack soldiers who arrest her parents. She barely manages to escape to the forest with a package her mother begged her to bring to a lady in a near-by village. Audra, whose name means storm, has chosen not to learn to read or write and is deeply troubled to learn that both her parents have chosen to risk their lives to smuggle books. She decides to deliver the book but has no plans to become involved in book smuggling. However, as she meets the individual book smugglers and does learn how to read and write, she becomes an enthusiastic, and skillful book smuggler.

            The story is told from Audra’s perspective and it is interesting to watch how her thought processing changes over time. At the beginning of the book she describes herself as “the girl who watched life from afar but rarely participated.” After she has learned to read and begins to understand the importance of the books in preserving the identity and culture of her people, she looks at herself differently. “I’d seen a glimpse of myself as I wished to be, a reflection of who I might become if I allowed courage to enter my heart, or ideas to enter my head…. When I imagined the girl I wanted to be, it was the girl who smuggled books.” This transition requires a lot of painful decisions. She desperately wishes to save her parents from being sent to the labor camps in Siberia and is given the opportunity if she will betray her new friend Lukas to Officer Rusakov.

            Lukas, another young book smuggler, Milda, the woman Audra brings the first book to, and Ben, an older book smuggler, are well drawn, courageous and self-sacrificing characters. Shortly after Lukas meets Audra he tells her a version of a Lithuanian folktale involving a brave girl and an evil snake trying to steal her family farm. While telling the story Lukas comments, “we’re all at risk of becoming the snake one day. The moment we start to choose what’s easy or safe, instead of what’s right, we start to become the snake.” This is the challenge the book smugglers face every day.

            This is a book that illustrates the importance of ideas and ideals and the sacrifices that are often necessary to protect them. It shows the importance of loyalty in friendship and the costly personal sacrifices that are sometimes required to keep them. There is also a moment of humor as Audra uses magic tricks, she learned from her father to trick Cossack soldiers. An inspiring, thought provoking, beautifully written book that I would recommend.