Virginia Hall the Spy with the Wooden Leg by Nancy Polette

The book I will review for the blog is Virginia Hall the Spy with the Wooden Leg by Nancy Polette. Do you know who Virgina Hall is? Do you want to know who she is? Well Virginia Hall is a famous World war II spy because she was not afraid to fight for her rights. She lost her leg in a terrible accident but was still moving forward.

She got many world awards that the world was included in and many that were just for her and her family. She had best friends, colleagues, and even her own team that she formed and trained by herself. She was determined to make her hard dream become a reality.

Reviewed by Firework101

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

The book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is about a little boy named Bruno who lives in Berlin. He has a very happy life with his mother, father, sister, grandmother, and grandfather. But then his perfect life turned upside down. His father is a very important person in World World II, so he and his family had to move to a new place which was right next to a Concentration Camp. Bruno meets a little boy who is on the other side of the fence and Bruno is very confused why he is there.

Something that I loved about this book is the random illustrations of the camp and Bruno doing things in his new house. My favorite thing to read about is World War II. I did have a problem with the book though. I don’t like the ending because it’s a cliff-hanger, and they didn’t make another book to explain the ending.

Reviewed by Watermelon

Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman is a 2018 RICBA Nominee. This is a story told through the letters that Joe sends to Charlie, his little brother. Joe is a soldier stationed in England after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He is going through training and Joe's letters takes the reader right up to the day before D-Day when the Allied troops invaded Normandy to fight against the Nazis.

This is also a story about an older brother who is trying to help his little brother with his own battle against the bullies that bother him at school. The book has plenty to offer, especially to war buffs. I especially liked that the story was told through letters and I would advise you not to skip the author's note at the end, it was very interesting and informative.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk is a 2017 Newbery honor book and so it was on my must read list. The story is set in Pennsylvania farm country, which is where I grew up. The main character's name is Annabelle and she is 12 year's old. It is 1943 and Annabelle goes to school in a one room school house with her two little brothers. Everything is fine until a girl named Betty moves in with her grandparents and starts at the school with Annabelle. Betty turns out to be a mean, violent bully and Annabelle has to try and protect her brothers and herself from Betty's threats.

This story was very suspenseful. Betty is a scary, violent bully and the author does a great job at pacing the book to heighten the tension. There is another character with whom Annabelle and Betty interact. His name is Toby. He is a war veteran who lives alone in the hills and doesn't really talk much to anyone. Because of the rumors Betty spreads about Toby, when she turns up missing Toby is blamed for her disappearance. Annabelle can't believe Toby would hurt anyone, but she's not sure. She needs more time to figure it all out. You will race through the pages of this book with your heart pounding! I know I did!

Teachers this would be a great read aloud and discussion book.

Mrs. Castro

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

In The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone, During World War II, 11 year old Felicity gets dropped off with her father’s family. Her uncle, granny, and aunt are very secretive with Felicity. They receive letters from her dad postmarked from Portugal, and there is someone referred to as Captain Derek in a secret room upstairs. Out of curiosity, Felicity joins forces with her cousin to find the answers to these mysteries.

This book is great for people who enjoy books about historical events. Also for people who enjoy a bit of mystery too. Personally I’m not really interested in Historical fiction books, but this book is an exception. Now that I’ve read this I hope to read more in the future. I hope you choose to read this amazing book as well!

~LivingTheTrashLife

Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura Williams

The book Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams is about a girl named Korinna Rehme and she is part of a Nazi Youth group.  She’s German and one night she hears noise behind the bedroom wall and she doesn’t know what it is.  If you read the book you can find out what is lying behind her bedroom wall and if you like books about Hitler you will definitely like this book.  This book is even coming to our library soon so if you want to check it out it’s a really good book.

Reviewed by sneakerhead23

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

An Elephant in the Garden is written by Michael Morpurgo.  You may know him as the author of War Horse, which was recently made into a movie.  This story is set in World War II Germany, in the city of Dresden, right before it is bombed by the Allied forces.  It is a tale of a family fleeing the city accompanied by an elephant, a young elephant, named Marlene, whom the family took home from the zoo to protect her from the bombing they knew was about to happen.  Along the way they come across a Canadian bomber who ejected from his plane when it was hit by the Germans.  Will they be able to help each other survive despite the positions their countries have taken as enemies?  I have always been fond of World War II stories.  I began reading them in school as a child, and have never really stopped.  This is a wonderful story inspired by true events.  Yes, the elephant really happened...  Enjoy!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Heroes Don't Run by Harry Mazer

Heroes Don’t Run is a book by Harry Mazer that takes place in 1994. In the story the main character, Adam Pelko is the son of a lieutenant. Follow Adam through boot camp, war, and find out if he goes home hurt or if he fights through till the end.  I would recommend this book to a friend that likes books about war.  A personal connection I made was how my Pepa was in World War 2.  I wonder what it was like to be in a war like them.

Reviewed by :sk8551

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

For a little book, with few words to a page, this one story packs power in every line.  Follow the true story of Jennifer Roy's aunt's childhood during the Holocaust in Poland at the start of World War II.  Both horrifying and fascinating, listen to history unfold through the eyes of a child.  The author's aunt really lived through the events told in this story and was one of only 12 children to survive the Lodz concentration camp in Poland by the war's end.

For any teachers following this blog.  I would mark this book a great read aloud that would lead to many great discussions.

For my students, read and be moved by this book.