PDF - Christian Library Journal

HIGH SCHOOL
FICTION
wants to confess, but what about the big tennis
tournament, and what about his reputation.
They haven’t actually looked at the test; is it
really cheating if you don’t look at the exam?
Betty Gaard has created a situation that many
young people will find themselves in some day.
Is it really dishonest to not tell the whole truth?
Mike finds himself in a situation where he
knows what he should do. He can hear his mom
telling him that two wrongs don’t make a right.
He can feel God’s prompting in his heart to tell
the truth and confess. Yet he struggles with all
the other circumstances that surround him.
Instead of making a decision he just puts it off
for another day. To make matters worse, his dad
announces they are going to move. Mike is
struggling with all his circumstances, but
discovers that what he really needs is to get right
with God. The Theft offers realistic characters
and a challenge for today’s youth.
Marcia Snyder, Librarian, Missoula, Montana
Torn thread, by Anne Issacs. LCCN
95031655. New York: Scholastic, 2000.
ISBN 0590603639, HBB, $15.95.
F. World War, 1939-1945--Jews--Fiction; Holocaust,
Jewish (1939-1945)--Fiction; Concentration camps--
Czechoslovakia--Fiction; Jews--Europe--Fiction. 188
p. High school.
It is June 1943, and for two years the Nazi
armies have controlled the Polish town of
Bedzin. Eva and Rachel, along with their father,
have been forced to leave their home and live in
an attic room in the Jewish ghetto. Rachel is
often sick and weak. Eva spends most of her
time caring for Rachel, knitting, and playing
chess.
One terrifying day, however, the girls are taken
from their father to a Nazi work camp. They are
forced to work in a factory, making uniforms
and blankets for the armies. The girls struggle
against sickness, fatigue, and starvation to hang
on to love and family amidst the chaos.
In this novel, Anne Isaacs depicts the
experiences of her mother-in-law, Eva
Buchbinder. The title Torn Thread symbolizes
the threads of the spinning machine that
continue to tear, just like the girls’ lives that are
threatening to tear apart. Throughout the story
each of the girls grows in strength and
determination. Although Rachel is the weaker,
there comes a time when she is the one who is
instrumental in saving the life of her sister.
Their sacrificial love and commitment is
inspiring.
Isaacs has done a superb job of bringing this
story to life. There have been many books
written about this subject, and this is one worth
reading. You will feel as if Eva and Rachel are
sitting beside you telling you the story
themselves. You will feel their suffering and
wish you could do something to stop it. You will
see their commitment to God and their resolve
to honor him despite extraordinary
circumstances. A captivating story.
Marcia Snyder, Librarian, Missoula, Montana
Until tomorrow, by Robin Jones Gunn.
(Christy and Todd; 1.) LCCN 00008271.
Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2000. ISBN
0764222724, PAP, $9.99.
F. Americans--Switzerland--Fiction; College students-
-Fiction; Switzerland--Fiction; Romance fiction. 286
p. High school.
As you wish, by Robin Jones Gunn.
(Christy and Todd; 2.) Minneapolis:
Bethany House, 2000. ISBN 0764222732,
PAP, $9.99.
F. College students--Fiction; Romance--Fiction. 313
p. High school.
Until Tomorrow and As You Wish continue the
story of Christy Miller. Robin Jones Gunn has
labelled this series “Christy & Todd: The
College Years.” Until Tomorrow takes the
reader on an unbelievable trip. Christy, Todd,
and friend Katie all meet in Switzerland for a
fantastic vacation in Europe. Christy has been
going to college in Switzerland as well as
working in an orphanage. After Christy
convinces Todd and Katie of the need for an
itinerary that is supplemented by a tour book,
the group travels to Venice, Rome, Paris,
Salzburg, Oslo, and Amsterdam. Most of the
journey is by train. The trip is not without
mishaps as Christy and Todd temporarily breakup,
Katie gets lost, Todd goes on a side trip alone
to the Arctic Circle; also, Christy discovers that
she is not interested in teaching.
As You Wish picks up the story with the trio
attending college in the United States. Katie
wants a boyfriend but first must forgive her past
boyfriends for dumping her. Christy finally
admits she loves Todd; unfortunately, Todd has
a serious car accident which lands him in the
emergency ward for surgery.
These books are longer than the original Christy
Miller series. Unfortunately, the trip through
Europe is a little unbelievable even with some of
the mishaps. Katie and Nancy go through
changes but Todd seems a bit too perfect.
However, fans of the series will want to read
these two books to finally see Todd propose to
Christy.
Connie Weaver, Church Librarian, Newville, Pennsylvania
A winding road to freedom, by Randall
Wisehart. LCCN 99052469. Richmond,
Ind.: Friends United Press, 1999. ISBN
094435047X, PAP, $15.00.
F. Coffin, Levi, 1798-1877--Fiction; Haviland, Laura
(Laura Smith), 1808-1898--Fiction; Slavery--Fiction;
Underground railroad--Fiction; Afro-Americans--
Fiction. 184 p. High school.
After two years of freedom, Cassie finds herself
huddled in shackles while kidnappers plot her
return to slavery. A fight erupts and one
kidnapper ends up dead; Cassie must decide if
she will voluntarily return to slavery to rescue
her son, Jacob. One of the slave catchers,
Fairfield, assures her that if she agrees, he has a
plan. Cassie and Fairfield walk all the way to
the Kentucky farm. When they arrive, Fairfield,
not really a slave catcher, tells Cassie she must
play the part of a willing slave until he returns
for her and Jacob. Her presence at the farm
brings her close to Jacob, but angers other
slaves. She obeys the master, watches and waits
for Fairfield’s return, and gets better acquainted
with Jacob. Then another slave’s betrayal
changes everything. But Zeke, also a slave,
carries Jacob to safety. The master beats Cassie,
who lives and later escapes.
Luke Thomas, a young white man from Ohio
and a friend to Cassie, figures largely in Randall
Wisehart’s A Winding Road to Freedom.
Through him readers meet Levi and Catherine
Coffin, Laura Haviland, John Fairfield, John
Jolliffe, and Rev. William Casey, real people
who assisted with the underground railroad.
Wisehart thoroughly researched that movement
and those who participated in it. His research
adds credibility and important information,
though he developed Luke, Cassie, and the other
slaves from his imagination. The background
material helps illuminate the situation at that
time, but its recounting tends to interfere with
the story.
AWinding Road to Freedom lacks a literary
writing style as well as precision editing. Even
so, Cassie captures a reader’s heart.
Betty M. Hockett, Freelance Writer, Teacher, Speaker, Newberg,
Oregon
A year down yonder, by Richard Peck.
LCCN 99043159. New York: Dial Books
for Young Readers, Penguin Putnam,
2000. ISBN 0803725183, HBB, $16.99.
F. Grandmothers--Fiction; Country life--Illinois--
Fiction; Illinois--Fiction. 130 p. High school.
This sequel to the earlier Newbery Honor
winning A Long Way From Chicago (Puffin,
2000) revolves around Mary Alice, a 15-yearold
who grows up during the recession of 1937.
Her parents are without work, and send her to
live with her grandmother, a woman who is
known for arousing tense emotions in her
neighbors. Grandma Dowdel, whose rampages
were seen through the eyes of her grandson,
Joey, in A Long Way From Chicago, here has
Mary Alice as an accomplice. While the
activities and life in this small Illinois town are
not easy, by the end of the year Mary Alice
comes to see the love in the heart of her
formidable grandma.
The hilarious story makes this a great readaloud,
and older teens will gain historical
perspective on the challenging years of the
depression in small-town America. In addition
to receiving the Newbery Honor, A Year Down
Yonder was a National Book Award finalist, and
an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Richard Peck has written over twenty novels for
young readers. Christian libraries and schools
can add this title, sure to entice interest and
provide a positive view of life and relationships.
Leroy Hommerding, Director, Fort Myers Beach P.L. District, Fort
Myers, Florida
S P R I N G 2 0 0 1 5 2 C H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L