BOOK REVIEW: AUDACITY BY MELANIE CROWDER

Title: Audacity
Author: Melanie Crowder

Genre: Historical Fiction, Novels Written in Verse

Series: Stand Alone

Book Summary:(via Goodreads) A gorgeously told novel in verse written with intimacy and power, Audacity is inspired by the real-life story of Clara Lemlich, a spirited young woman who emigrated from Russia to New York at the turn of the twentieth century and fought tenaciously for equal rights. Bucking the norms of both her traditional Jewish family and societal conventions, Clara refuses to accept substandard working conditions in the factories on Manhattan's Lower East Side. For years, Clara devotes herself to the labor fight, speaking up for those who suffer in silence. In time, Clara convinces the women in the factories to strike, organize, and unionize, culminating in the famous Uprising of the 20,000. 
Powerful, breathtaking, and inspiring, Audacity is the story of a remarkable young woman, whose passion and selfless devotion to her cause changed the world.

Characters: Clara, Mama, Papa, Marcus, Nathan, Benjamin, Pauline, Joe

What I Loved: I loved loved LOVED this book. I'm not, generally, a fan of fiction written in verse, but this was executed perfectly. The writing was eloquent without straining the flow of the story. It truly felt as though you were inside Clara's thoughts. I have been on an historical fiction kick lately, having loved The Salt of the Sea and Orphan Train. This book was also on the book list for our academic reading team, and a lot of my students (both girls and boys) raved about this one.
It is also obvious that Melanie Crowder thoroughly researched her subject matter, the time period, and Clara Lemlich's life. The text is so rich that, when Clara is describing walking the street of New York, I could hear, smell, and see the city around her.
I also picked up this book because, having recently read A Handmaid's Tale and How to be a Woman for a feminist book club that Janine and I both belong to, I have been looking for something about women in American history. I think if a historical fiction novel is well-written, it makes the reader want to read more about it's time period, it's characters, and it's true story. Audacity certainly accomplished that.

What I could have done without: There isn't much I can find to be critical of in this novel. I didn't give it five stars on Goodreads because I only give 5 Goodreads stars to books that I consider "great literature"--books that affect me profoundly and which will resonate with me. Still, as young adult literature, I consider this great writing. The thing that frustrated me, and I think this is a result of the verse writing, is that I didn't feel as though I grew to know the other characters very well. Clara's family, Joe, Pauline--they all seemed rather two-dimensional.

Final Grade: A-

Review by Nicky

BOOK REVIEW: THE WITCH HUNTER BY VIRGINIA BOECKER

Title: The Witch Hunter

Author:  Virginia Boecker

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal

Series: Not that I could find

Source: Digital Copy Courtesy of Edelweiss

Book Summary:  (Via Goodreads) Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. When she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to die at the stake. Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can track down the person who laid a deadly curse on him. As she's thrust into the world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and all-too-handsome healers, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate

Characters: Elizabeth, Caleb, John, Fifer, Blackwell

What I Loved: Where to start, where to start?!  There was so much I loved about this book!  First I LOVE historical fiction so this book to start was right up my alley.  The setting is the 16th century England and from the start you really feel as if that is where you are.  Kings and queens, an internal struggle for power intermixed with the descriptions of an English village and life in it make you feel as though you are right there.  One of my next favorite things is anything dealing with the supernatural and I love the take on it in this book.  You are led to believe that these supernatural beings are the “bad ones” and Elizabeth and the other witch hunters are doing their noble duty and riding the country of them.  However as the story progresses and you learn along with Elizabeth that not everything is as it seems. This change of thought process is complicated for Elizabeth and those around her trying to understand how she became what she was.  I also loved Elizabeth.  Yes, she is a strong character but what I loved more was that as she was discovering the deception and twisted truths behind her training and upbringing she was struggling with loyalty, truth and consequences of choices. Things that all of us struggle with (in our own ways) from time to time and its these struggles that make her a totally believable, and relatable character.  The supporting cast of characters also should not be overlooked,  they are unique and interesting,  each adding so much to the story. This is one of those stories that grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go!

What I could have done without:.  I will be honest in saying that there wasn’t much I didn’t like about the book.  It was a great read that my students will love to read!

Final Grade: A

Review by Janine

Historical Fiction Display: Teens From Other Times

Historical Fiction Display: Teens From Other Times, November 2012

This display was inspired by YALSA's "Popular Paperbacks" list from way back in 1998.  We included some of their titles and then added some of our own.  There seemed to be a lot of historical fiction titles in my most recent book order, so I thought this would be a good way to feature them.

                                     

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston

REVIEW BY NICKY

This book has so many elements that fall into my “favorites” category: scrapbooking, art, journaling, the 20s, flappers, New York City, Paris, etc.  This was a very new and unique concept among YA books, so it has been circulating a lot in my library and is often recommended through word-of-mouth.

The story is told through the journal of Frankie Pratt, a bright young girl about to graduate from high school.  She receives a scholarship from Vassar, but her widowed mother is unable to come up with the remaining portion of the tuition.  After a brief romance with a young man, Captain James, Frankie is able to go to Vassar after her mother ingeniously comes up with the money.  Once at Vassar, Frankie is immersed in a world of wealth, privilege, and intellectuals.  Her degree and her writing experience take her to New York City upon her college graduation, and then we follow the adventurous young woman to Paris and the exciting life of are, expatriates, and cafes, where she, once again, crosses paths with the handsome Captain James.

There is quite a lot of story here, despite the text actually appearing in snippets on the page—surrounded by art, photographs, and memorabilia.  Surprisingly, the images on the page do not draw your attention away from the story, which is a testament to Preston’s story-telling ability.  However, I did become so involved in Frankie’s story, that I find myself wanting to go back to the book to actually look at all the scrapbook elements on the pages.  Despite my joy at having found such a unique gem of a book, I was somewhat disappointed in the end.  *****SPOILER ALERT*****  I admit to feeling somewhat disappointed that, with her education and writing talent, and after all of her adventures in exciting cities, Frankie comes back to her hometown to “settle down” and marry a high school beau.  I picture Frankie married to the young doctor, staying at home, caring for her mother and a brood of children.  I am not saying there isn’t honor or happiness to be found in such a life (one that sounds quite a bit like mine—one I am quite happy with), but it just seems to me that Frankie’s character would have been discontent with such complacency.    

Book Review: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
REVIEW BY NICKY
I picked this one up because it's going to be our last discussion book of the school year with our high school kids.  I had tried reading it a while back, but put it down after just a few pages.  This time, as I am on one of those non-stop reading kicks where you just don't want to stop, I was a bit more eager to try it out.

The book reads like an actual biography, complete with "historic photographs" and footnotes.  The framework for the story is that our young narrator has been given "secret" journals of Abraham Lincoln.  Who has provided these journals?  A vampire named Henry Sturges.
Lincoln's life-long pursuit to kill all vampires begins at an early age, when his beloved mother is killed by a vampire to whom his father had unpaid debts.  During a near-fatal battle with a vampire, Lincoln is saved and nursed to health by Sturges, who becomes Abe's mentor in killing his fellow un-dead.  Sturges opens Lincoln's eyes to the true history behind slavery: that slaves are used to feed vampires in the south, and that the vampires plan to enslave all of mankind.  Lincoln has always been opposed to slavery, but now he knows the "true horrors" behind the southern slave trade.  He begins to fight vampires through politics, and eventually, the civil war.  All the while, Abraham is struggling with his own personal suffering.  The loss of his mother affects him throughout his life.  Loss seems to permeate Lincoln's years: his infant brother, his sister, friends, his own boys... Abe can't seem to escape death.  But what of his own?

I'll have to admit, I sort of had a love-hate relationship with this book.  I liked it in the beginning.  I loved reading about Abe's childhood and guessing what parts of the novel were based on real facts. Somewhere in the middle of the novel, however, I started to lose interest.  Maybe I thought it was a bit over-the-top.  Maybe I just lost sight of the fact that this was supposed to be a fun novel and not a biographical work.  There were parts that were a little too violent for my tastes, but I know kids wouldn't mind.  However, as the book went on, my heart really started to ache for the former president who suffered so much loss in his lifetime.  I started to really appreciate the strength of this man, and all the while, he is slaughtering vampires!  And then... the end!  Oh, how I was angry at the way it ended.  I don't want to spoil this for anyone, so I will leave it at that.  But I am anxious to have this discussion with our high school students to find out what they think!  I'm also looking forward to seeing the movie... anything by Tim Burton has the potential for movie greatness!  Here's the trailer: