I enjoyed this look at yet another piece of relatively hidden history. That being said, I do not know if this story and the writing style would appeal to middle grade readers. Watkin’s prose, while engaging, reads at a higher level but not one that might be considered academic. I do recommend this book, just not for middle school students.
The prologue hooked me immediately. Reese kept me engaged in this story set primarily in the immediate aftermath of WWII as former allies begin to turn on each other chasing criminals to get an edge, forgoing justice for the sake of winning. Rees also caught me completely off guard with that ending.
Backman never misses. Although I prefer Beartown the most of this trilogy, the conclusion easily takes the second spot in the ranking. Backman continues to tell the story of this town through its people, connecting the reader so closely to these characters that the reader feels everything they do and boy do they go through it. I need to add books two and three to my home library ASAP.
El Akkad has such a beautiful impactful way of writing which he continues to astound with in this memoir. He takes personal memories and weaves those stories with the horrific accounts of the current atrocities in Gaza showcasing both the humanity of the suffering as well as the inhumanity of the perpetrators, collaborators and silent observers.
Kreizman tells her story in raw, engaging vignettes, a story of a largely invisible disability, type 1 diabetes, and how that has affected absolutely everything in her life. She shares how her body’s inability to manufacture insulin has not only affected her physically but also mentally and how it has shaped her into the person she is today. I highly recommend this memoir.
Not everyone will be interested in this book which is understandable because at first glance the topic does not appear particularly engaging. However, Steele manages to turn what appears at first glance to be dry (no pun intended) academic literature into a compelling and engaging narrative about the long, rich, culturally complex history of the planet’s most famous desert. Many times I found myself completely absorbed int eh tales, reluctant to set the book down and go to work. I highly recommend this book.
