Nadia’s family had a plan. If ever their house was bombed they were supposed to meet at the dentist’s office. But Nadia is terrified of leaving her house because she already knows what it feels like to live through a bombing and the shrapnell in her leg is a constant reminder. So when her sister wakes her up one night to leave because the bombing is getting close Nadia hesitates a moment too long and is thrown out the front door by the force of the bomb. Her family leaves her for dead. But she’s not dead and when she regains consciousness she makes her way to the dentist’s office where she finds a note from her grandmother saying they are on the way to Turkey. So Nadia sets out on the long journey alone. But she doesn’t stay lonely for long. Along the way she meets an old man with many identities and his donkey, Jamila. They travel together to the old man’s friend’s house where they meet two orphaned boys who join them. But hiding from the Syrian Army, the rebel groups, bombers and snipers make their journey to the border very long and perilous. Last year I made a friend who was Syrian and who, five years before had fled from the war when her kitchen was bombed. This book helped me understand a little better what she went through and what other refugees are still going through today. I did not enjoy this book very much because I did not like the style of writing and it was very hard to like the main character, Nadia. She was a one dimensional character who didn’t have much personality. She was self absorbed and did not seem to realise that having perfect nails in the middle of a warring country did not matter. However, by the end of the book she became more likeable but I never really liked her enough to worry about whether she would get to the border. Even though I did not like the main character or the style of writing, Escape from Aleppo gave me a clearer picture of what is happening in Syria. I also learned a lot about Syrian culture and how and why the war started in the first place. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about what is happening in Syria but not to someone who wants a good story with a strong main character. Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2018. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
Book Reviews
The Lost Rainforest: Mez’s Magic, Reviewed by Julius Ugo, 11
Unceasing darkness. Eternal light. Both? Not possible without serious repercussions. “What, then, will happen…to those animals…born during the eclipse?” Mez’s Magic is set in the otherworldly rainforest of Caldera, an alternate reality divided between daywalkers and nightwalkers. All animals naturally fall into one of the two groups, or veils, based on their species. Only the ants walk between veils. And the animals born during the eclipse. A young panther named Mez is one of these “eclipse born”. These “unnaturals” are able to go between groups. They are blessed (or cursed) with special powers, enabling them to see and do things that regular animals can’t. Mez is an older sibling to her sister, Chumba, and she is motivated throughout the entire story by a desire to protect her little sister from harm. While she generally does an excellent job of this, eventually, Chumba is happiest protecting herself. I have an older sister who similarly looks out for me. But like Chumba, near the end of the book, I too prefer it when I sometimes have the opportunity to “fight my own battles”. And though I am a younger sibling, like Chumba, I sometimes even help my older sister out with hers. I think that is one of the most important parts of a sibling relationship. Figuring out when it’s your turn to give the support, or to get it. Throughout the story, I also came to appreciate the strong sense of loyalty that made up a dominant part of Mez’s character. She pushes herself as hard as necessary in hopes of saving the other eclipse-born animals and all of Caldera itself from the evil Ant Queen’s destructive power. Caldera is a world that is cosmetically very different from mine. While I live in flashy downtown Toronto, surrounded by light pollution, sometimes the rainforest of Caldera gets so dark that you can’t even see directly in front of you, and animals use other senses to navigate their surroundings. I come home to a hot meal made by my mom, while Mez’s whole family relies on each other for hunting help in order to eat and survive. But these unfamiliar elements, along with the more relatable ones, combine perfectly to create an interesting experience that would not be possible if the whole world of Caldera was exactly like my own. Throughout the entire book, author Eliot Schrefer mixes a shimmering rainforest setting with intriguing characters until the reader can’t help but be inspired by what the rainforest has to offer. But once the magic power component of the eclipse penetrates the plot and characters start betraying each other, the story changes from a gently moving animal fable to a fast-paced adventure that leaves you dying for more. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging animal story, spiced up with magic, and heartwarming sibling relationships. It’s about looking beyond the superficial, finding friends in unexpected places, and working together to defeat some really bad ants. Enjoy! The Lost Rainforest: Mez’s Magic by Eliot Schrefer. Harper Collins, 2017. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
Between the Lines, Reviewed by Lauren Stewart, 13
Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes tell the stories of nine teenagers connected by one powerful poetry class. It describes the teens’ hopes, dreams, and ambitions and how each is working to achieve his/her goals against all odds. While some books can be confusing when told from multiple perspectives, Grimes simplifies things for the reader by changing grammar and style to reflect each character. She also employs a unique structural element. Almost every chapter ends with a poem, reflected upon by the main character, Darrian. This helps keep the reader intrigued, amused, and on track. Reading Between the Lines greatly deepened my understanding of the purpose and power of poetry. It shows how strong friendships and one common interest (in this case, poetry) can help youth overcome life challenges. It also provides a glimpse into a world of immigration struggles and stereotypes, an unjust foster and legal system, dysfunctional families, and an unplanned child born to an unready mother. Between the Lines gives multiple examples of how you can never truly know what’s going on in a person’s life. Empathy and compassion, however, are the bonds that unite us. While I have not read any book similar to Between the Lines, I have watched a movie with a similarly oppressed main character. American Violet tells the story of a young woman living in a neighborhood under siege. She is offered a plea deal even though she is innocent. She refuses, battles the system, and rights an unconstitutional wrong. The father of one of Between the Lines main characters is not so lucky. He accepts the plea bargain in order to return to his family, but as his son says, he does not return the same. He is angry that he cannot get a decent job, that his children are hungry, and that his family has been forced to move to a smaller apartment even though he has done nothing wrong. The author comments on the complexity of the judicial system and how it plays out for poor Black and Brown males, in particular, whether innocent or guilty. Despite these heavy themes, I greatly enjoyed Between the Lines. It tells the truth but in such a way that I felt empowered not overwhelmed. Between the Lines is a book that is sure to lift your spirits, to make you feel like you can accomplish anything, all the while teaching you valuable life and history lessons. Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018. Buy the book here and support Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup in the process! Have you read this book? Or do you plan on reading it? If so, comment below!
