Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer

THE ROYAL DIARIES SERIES

Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer

Scholastic

Published in 2000

ISBN 0439129087

214 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



The story of the very last Grand Duchess of Russia, Anastasia, told through a fictionalized diary by Carolyn Meyer in the Royal Diaries series/line.

Let's start with what urged me to check it out from the library. I decided to checked it out because I just love The Royal Diary series and the Dear America series since I love historical fiction. :D

I know this is for middle school and below, so it won't have all the elements that a young adult or adult book will have, so I will try not to go into the lack of details. For a middle school book, it does have the right amount of details and big words. Though, the one thing I can't forgive is how the diary entries are so out of place in the beginning that it is actually kind of boring, but it gets interesting once War World I starts up. Once those entries show up, it isn't that boring since they come pretty much in order and you can make sense of it. Yeah, so that is only thing I really don't like about the book, and that is the only reason why it is a 4 star instead of a 5 star. ;)

Now for the things I loved. I just loved how you can tell the author did her research over the matter, and she tried to keep it as accurate as she possibly can. Also, you can almost imagine how it might of felt like to live during World War I as Anastasia --- or, maybe, as any young, rich noble girl in Russia. Second thing I loved is that you can almost sense almost the kind of personality Anastasia might of have --- the mischievousness and playfulness almost pop out of the pages. And like all the Royal Diaries, I like the history notes, pictures, and other information the books usually come with. Also, I like how both the Royal Diaries and the Dear America books are pretty much fast reads --- I finished this one in pretty much 1-2 days. :D Oh, I also love the historical aspects of the books. :)

While like with most of the Royal Diaries or Dear America books, if you know the history, it already kind of spoils it, but what really makes these books special is how the authors in those series can pull off how a young teenager might have felt during that time and give that person a personality you can imagine relating to. So, despite being an adult, I still enjoy these book series because of the history and the other things I mentioned above.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Carolyn Meyer
Goodreads: Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer
Library Thing: Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer
The Book Lover: Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914 by Carolyn Meyer

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

HAUNTED MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 01

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

Random House

Published in 2008

ISBN 9780375846977

325 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Zack Jennings is a normal eleven-year-old boy, except for the fact that he can see ghosts. Him, his father, and his new stepmother move from New York to Connecticut, but when they arrive there things are not what they appear to be. You see, there is the huge tree in their backyard, and Zack knows there is something evil about it. His new stepmother, Judy, has also seen ghosts near the house. Are the ghosts all connected in some way? And why does the evil spirit in the tree want to kill him?

Another supernatural book, but it is one about ghosts. Also, it's a junior fiction book. Yeah, I know, way off my level, but I like to read around. :)

Like almost all mystery books, it starts off kind of slow and boring, which is always annoying in books. Though, it starts to pick up the action, suspense, and mysteriousness after they move to Connecticut, where the haunted tree is at. And the mystery part is kind of annoying since the author doesn't leave that many clues for you to figure out what happened, instead the author lets the characters figure it out on their own. So if you want a mystery, where you can solve it from the clues, this isn't a book you want.

Another thing that is slow-moving are the characters, though they do eventually have some growth, errr... most of them anyways. I especially like how the relationship between Zack and Judy, his stepmother, grows. Why? Because you mostly only see books mention how mean the stepmothers are or how they mostly ignore the kid, but with this book, they actually get along towards the end.

Another thing that I like about this book is that it tells the story using mostly descriptions and details, instead of mostly dialogue. I tend to be more harsh on books that have more dialogue than ones that tell the story in paragraphs summarizing what most others use dialogue for. I like books like this one a lot. :)

Anyways, it is a good ghost novel, despite the slow-moving parts, so go read it. :D

Another thing, this book has a series. This book is the first one in that series. The second one is called The Hanging Hill, and the third one, which isn't released yet, is called The Smoky Corridor. I'll try to read them, if my library orders them. >.<

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Chris Grabenstein
Goodreads: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Library Thing: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
BC Book Reviews: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Bookhound: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Mrs. McGriff's Reading Blog: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

 

Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

Scholastic Press

Published in 2000

ISBN 0590603639

188 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



During the Nazi invasion of the Polish town of Bedzin, Eva along with her father and sickly sister have been forced to leave their home and move into a tiny room inside the Jewish ghetto. When the Nazi decide to raid their town for people to be placed in work camps and other kinds of camps, Eva's life takes a turn for the worse. During one of these raids, her sickly sister is imprisoned in one of the work camps, and so, her father arranges for Eva to join her sister, Rachel. Now, without her father and other family beside her, Eva is forced to spin thread on machines to make blankets and uniforms for the Nazi army. She now is having to make choices that may buy some more time for both her and her sister. What dangers will happen to her as she is trying to live in a dangerous time when her life is constantly threaten by the Nazi? And, most importantly, will her sister and her make it out alive?

It's another junior book, but I really like history fiction, especially about World War II. The first time I read this book was around middle school, I think. ^^;

It's a very short book, but it is very interesting with details and events from a real girl's life. I would have liked a little bit more description about the characters, but since this is a junior book, I won't complain that much about it. Though, the only things I really find interesting is that the book is based on a true story, and also it takes place during the time period I like learning about.

Anyways, it's too short for my tastes, but it is very well written for elementary or junior high students. Any higher level than that and the book might be a little too short for you to enjoy. Unless, you really like short books, books about this time period, or books with history in them.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Anne Isaacs
Goodreads: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
Library Thing: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
The Book Blog: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
Tark's Picks: Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

 

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

Wendy Lamb Books

Published in 2006

ISBN 9780553487831

240 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Ebook)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Despite the child labor laws in 1910, at twelve years old, Grace and her best friend, Arthur, are expected to quit school and go work in the mill with her family. With the high-risk job as a doffer, Grace has to learn how to do the work right, so that her family won’t lose any pennies for their household. Grace is noticing that Arthur willingly to do anything to get out of mill, and Grace tries to stop him. She tells him that help will be coming, not to give up hope. When Lewis Hine comes, they believe their prayers have been answered. Though, will Lewis Hine be able to keep the promises he made? Will their hopes be raised by this event, only to be destroyed later?

This book shows a certain creativeness since the author uses a picture that Lewis Hine took of a child working in a mill during the 1900's as inspiration, instead of making it up from thin air. She even adds Lewis Hine into the book, which makes it even more like the actual history. It kind of read like those Dear America or Royal Dairies books. And, like those books, it includes the actual history that the author find out about the photographer and the girl in the 1910 picture.

Counting on Grace is very well written and lets us know how horrible even America's history is --- like involving child labor and how lax the law was enforce during that time. It leaves you thinking and grateful for how Lewis Hine and the Child Labor Commission changed the laws, so that children wouldn't have to work that young and get those injuries like the characters in the book.

Even though it is only a junior level book, it there is enough history, emotion, and description to get you interested and thinking about how different things actually was. So, even though this might be way below your reading level, it is a great read for your children.

Books like this, where it involves actual history, are also my favorite. :)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Elizabeth Winthrop
Goodreads: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Library Thing: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Read, Read, Read!: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop
Meeyauw: Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop