Salt to the Sea by: Ruta Sepetys

Amazon.com

A heart wrenching tale of a group of misfits daring escapades during World War 2. Fighting hunger, wounds, language barriers, and persistent russian attacks each wonderful character has his or her own motives. Only one thing brings them all together, passage aboard the Gustloff. Evacuation may be their only chance at survival. Having already braved such hardships the Wilhelm Gustloff appears to be a light shining gallantly through the darkness. Unbeknownst to them this beacon of hope will turn into one of history's greatest maritime disasters. Wills will be tested, friendships strained, alliances broken, and once again death will strike a mighty blow upon his victims.

Ruta Sepetys is a world renowned historical fiction author who is not afraid to show the true horrors of history. Time and time again she has brought the hidden past to light in gruesome yet glorious displays, Salt to the Sea lives of to her fantastic legacy in more ways then one. She wields words like an artist with a paint brush. The scenery and events play like films for all readers. It is with no doubt I can say that any who read this book will find either a lesson to be learned, a thought to be pondered, or a life to be cherished. It is with that I push you, dear reader, to find yourself lost in the pages of this magnificent novel, and simultaneously get lost in time. 

The Slave Dancer: by Paula Fox

Image from Amazon.com

Jesse Bollier was heading down to get some groceries for his mother... but on the way, he was kidnapped! When the canvas bag is pulled off of his head, it is revealed that he is on a ship. Purvis, a crewman, tells Jesse that he'll be playing his fife for kings and princes, but the sick reality is that he's really on a slave ship, and that he has to play to make sure the slaves don't die.

I personally liked the book. By all means, it wasn't my favorite [I was kinda forced to read it...], but it was still good. It had an interesting plot, and I actually thought it was real for a while [it isn't, it's just historical fiction].

I had a few problems with it, one being that it was kinda hard to keep up with the characters and who was who and what their motive was... seriously, how did the guy who befriended Jesse turn into a total jerk?

Either way... it was kind of confusing, but overall a good book.
I give it 3.5/5 stars.

Les Misérables By: Victor Hugo

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France, 1789-1799. This is the period of the revolution.
During this time Jean ValJean was condemned to 5 years of hard time.  For multiple attempts at escape he ends up serving 15-20 years. He escapes around year 18 and 19. Once escaping he flees into the countryside. Only to be rejected by all he asks for help. He searches for days tired a weary he come to the house of the bishop. The Bishop shows poor Jean ValJean hospitality and kindness. The experiences Jean has change his outlook on life.

After he leaves the Bishop's house he swears to be a good man for the rest of his days. And acting upon his vow he becomes the  mayor of Montreuil-sur-mer. He is a good man who helps all people and when he sees that a women has been through great hardships in his name he is devastated. He wants to help poor Fantine and that he does he saves her from the ruthless Javert who is always tracking and pursuing Jean ValJean.  He lets her live in his home and tends to her every need. He even saves her poor child Cosette from the ruthless Therniaders. But alas at the sight of seeing Javert again kills Fantine (who never saw her child again). Jean ValJean and Cosette are sent into a world of down spinning doom. A life of hiding and a life of hope. They lead their live the best they can while running from Javert. But there can be no happiness for them. For how can they be happy when after all they are The Miserables.

Les Misérables is a wonderfully written book. It's language and imagery is astounding. The way it pulls at every heart string is truly incredible. The reader feels the pain and misery, but also the love the characters feel. Victor Hugo is a true literary genius. A quote I particularly like in this book is in the dedication it states the following; "... in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use." -Hauteville House 1862

The Liberation of Gabriel King by: K.L. Going

This book falls into the category of Historical Fiction.

KL Going

Gabriel King is a wuss. He is literally scared of almost everything he encounters, and he especially doesn't
want to go to the fifth grade. Frita, his best friend, will take no more of this. She wants to be able to experience with fifth grade with her best friend. So, to solve this problem, Frita decides that they should make Gabriel more brave. Gabriel makes a list, a long list, of his fears to cross all of them off, so that he will be brave enough to go on to the fifth grade. With this, great tribulations and challenges continually come his way.

I really liked the plot and the idea of the book, but the writing just made it all the worse.

What I didn't like about this book was that it wasn't very descriptive at all, and since it is set in a different time period, there was a lot of room for mistakes for me to make.

I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars.

Vango: by Timothee de Fombelle

Vango is a story about a boy named Vango who wants to become a priest in 1935, but on the day where he's going to be a priest, he is framed for a murder and chased by the police. Unfortunately, that is the ONLY notable thing that I can say. It is the only thing I can actually follow in the plot!


Link to Amazon Page [if you want to read it...]

This book was absolutely hard to follow [and I have to create a book report on it... REGRET], and there are a few characters that I can seem to catch...
Vango: The main character(?), the one running from the police(??), and apparently... part of a love triangle????? Or at very least in a relationship?!?!?!
Superintendent Bourland: The main police officer chasing Vango... I think. And I think he's hitting on a girl who's half as old as him... creep.
Ethel: Apparently, IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH VANGO. ?!?!? And Bourland hits on her. But at least she keeps Vango hidden? Not that the police ever get close. They're always in the wrong country. SO yeah.

There are plenty of other characters, but they don't play too much to the main plot. As for the ending [NON SPOILER], it's very open, and makes you wonder what the heck is happening and why it ended there...
Apparently, there is a sequel, but that isn't actually an excuse for just having a really weird ending. ANd note. This is not supposed to be a metaphorical book. It's a historical fiction. I'm not saying that there can't be metaphors in a book, but it's not meant to send the whole ending into nonsense.
I don't suggest reading this book. It might just be me, but it makes no sense. Overall, I give this book a 2/5.

Image source

Outrun the Moon

Screenshot from Amazon.com

Hello, Bode Book Reviewers!

I know it's summer, and I know that some of you are reading (maybe not this...but something!) Don't forget that you are free to post here over the summer if you'd like! :) I've been doing some reading, and I'd love to share some of the awesome books that I've read so far!

Today I'd love to talk about Outrun the Moon by Stacy Lee. Set in the early 1900s in San Fransisco, California, Outrun the Moon is about 15 year-old Mercy Wong. Mercy has grown up in the boisterous and beautiful China Town, but she wants to do more than marry and work in Chinatown forever. She aspires to go to a fancy school for girls and someday run her own business.

However, her story begins in April of 1906-- when an event was about to shake the world of San Fransisco very literally. She must cope with the aftermath-- and continue to struggle with the stereotypes and difficulties of being Chinese in world that focuses more on her looks than her abilities.

Lee does a fantastic job describing Mercy's life through vivid imagery and dialogue. I love the way that the book taught me about a point of view and a historical event that I don't know a lot about. She does a great job showing the events of the story rather than telling us what happens. I did struggle a little bit with the beginning of the book-- it's a little slow and focuses primarily on character development rather than action. If you stick through it, however, the climax and end of the story make it worth the journey!

I'd give Outrun the Moon a 4/5 stars.