LARA'S GIFT

LARA'S GIFT, by Annemarie O'brien (Knopf,  August, 2013)(ages 8-12).  It's 1914 and Lara, the daughter of the Count's borzoi keeper, wants more than anything to some day be appointed kennel steward herself.  But with the birth of a baby brother (only men can be kennel stewards), she is afraid that will never come to pass.  Worse, she's promised to keep her mysterious visions secret, even though they may be the only things that can save the dogs she loves.

LARA'S GIFT offers a well-researched and fascinating tale of a girl striving to find her place.  Atmospheric and evocative, LARA'S GIFT is both satisfying and heartwarming.

BLIZZARD OF GLASS: THE HALIFAX EXPLOSION OF 1917

BLIZZARD OF GLASS: THE HALIFAX EXPLOSION OF 1917, by Sally M. Walker (Henry Holt 2011)(ages 10+).  In December 1917, the Belgian relief vessel Imo collided with the munitions carrier Mont-Blanc in Halifax Harbor.  The resulting blast has been called the largest man-made explosion before the invention of the atomic bomb.  Two towns were flattened and nearly 2000 people were killed.  And the day after the accident, a blizzard dumped a foot of snow on the devastated area...

BLIZZARD OF GLASS offers a thorough and compelling look at a little-known disaster, with interviews of survivors and hair-raising accounts of the event and its aftermath.  Altogether, it's a gripping tale of horror, survival, and hope. 

THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD: BOSTON 1919

THE GREAT MOLASSES FLOOD; BOSTON 1919, by Deborah Kops (Charlesbridge, February 2012)(ages 8-12), offers a fascinating look at one of the weirdest incidents in Boston's history. On January 15, 1919, a two million gallon tank of molasses explodes, destroying buildings and drowning a small Boston neighborhood in sticky goo.  Altogether, twenty-one people would die in this freak accident. 

In compelling fashion, Kops covers the story first from the perspective of individuals affected on the day itself -- men, women, and children going about their daily business until buildings collapsed around them and they were swamped in the viscous mess -- and then the tragedy's aftermath, including the subsequent lawsuits and testimony.  Sidebars provide additional period context and flavor.

     

THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT

THE WATCH THAT ENDS THE NIGHT, by Allan Wolf (Candlewick Press 2011)(ages 12+), tells the story of the Titanic's fateful voyage, from the point of view of sundry passengers, crew, stowaways, and, functioning like the chorus in a Greek tragedy, the iceberg itself.

Wolf does a terrific job of weaving together the threads of the lives of the passengers, providing context to them as individuals and not merely survivors or victims.  Altogether, a compelling, engrossing read. 

An extensive author's note illuminates Wolff's research and provides additional information on the individuals highlighted.

DANGEROUS WATERS: AN ADVENTURE ON THE TITANIC

DANGEROUS WATERS: AN ADVENTURE ON THE TITANIC, by Gregory Mone (Roaring Brook, March 13, 2012)(ages 9-12).  Thirteen-year-old Patrick Waters has managed to secure a job as a steward aboard RMS Titanic in a highly unconventional manner.  There he befriends a young book collector who carries with him a copy of Francis Bacon's Essaies that just might hold the key to alchemy.

Also aboard are a stowaway and his partner, who are trying to secure the volume and the formula for turning base metals to gold for themselves.  Can Patrick uncover the plot and divine the secret of the Essaies?  Or is he destined to go down with the ship?

In DANGEROUS WATERS, treachery and adventure abound as readers are offered a glimpse into a bygone era.  In short, DANGEROUS WATERS provides a fascinating look at the most famous shipwreck of the 20th Century, with an appealing protagonist, a richly-drawn setting and, yes, an iceberg.  

HATTIE BIG SKY

HATTIE BIG SKY, by Kirby Larson (Delacorte 2006)(ages 12+). In late 1917, sixteen year old orphan Hattie Brooks is bequeathed her uncle's homestead claim in Vida, Montana. Tired of being shuffled from remote relative to remote relative, Hattie heads out by herself to prove the claim.

When she arrives, she finds hard work, bad weather, and new friends. Through it all, she shares her experiences with old friends back in Iowa and on the Western Front, and encounters the anti-German prejudices of the day.

A 2007 Newbery Honor Book, HATTIE BIG SKY is an elegant and sweet story of one girl's quest for independence and family.

WINNIE'S WAR

WINNIE'S WAR, by Jenny Moss (Walker 2009)(ages10-14). In her debut novel, Moss delivers a poignant story of living in a time of and, through, death.

It's the autumn of 1918; the war is almost over, but the town of Coward Creek, Texas, is bracing itself for the Spanish flu that has already killed thousands across the country and in nearby Houston.
With a family that's still living with the effects of the 1900 and 1915 hurricanes, Winnie decides she must do more than merely cope -- as friends, family, and neighbors succumb, she must help, but how?

Told in a compelling first-person voice that successfully captures small-town, early-twentieth century Texas, WINNIE'S WAR is a moving tale of how individuals respond to tragedy and death. Winnie and her friends are complex and likeable. Well-drawn major and minor characters alike mirror and amplify Winnie's conflicts in ways that will resonate with readers.