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Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
AR book level: 4.3, Points: 11
Genre: historical fiction
Before I picked up this book, I had recently tried to read another of Sherri L. Smith's novels, Orleans. I didn't like the way that one was written and couldn't even make it through the whole book, so I wasn't certain I would like Flygirl. But a friend recommended it and loaned me her copy, so I was determined to give it a chance. Turns out I liked this novel a lot! Ida Mae Jones is the main character, a 19-year-old girl living in Slidell, Louisiana in the 1940's just as the United States enters World War II. When Ida Mae's older brother goes to war, she feels helpless at home and wants to be able to contribute something to the war cause. And because Ida's passion is to fly planes (her father taught her on a crop duster), she joins the Women Airforce Service Pilots in Texas. Tension develops as Ida leaves home for the first time, makes new friends, and encounters gender and racial prejudice.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
AR book level: 3.6, Points: 9
Genre: historical fiction
This story takes place in Eastern Europe during World War II. Fifteen-year-old Lina and her family are deported from their home in Lithuania and kept as political prisoners of the Soviet Union. Lina takes us with her as she struggles for survival across the harsh landscape of Siberia. It's hard to say I "enjoyed" this book - it's an emotional experience as you get to know Lina, and parts of it are a little difficult to get through. However, the novel is born out of an important and interesting moment in our world's history and is definitely worth a read.
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles Book 1) and Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles Book 2) by Marissa Meyer
Genre: science fiction
My new favorite sci-fi series! These books have everything - action, suspense, humor, and romance. Some readers might find the plot a bit predictable, but it doesn't really matter because it's so fun you want to keep reading anyway! The title characters are smart, kind, strong young ladies willing to stand up for themselves and what they know is right. I love that the author has worked in little details from traditional fantasy stories like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. It's an interesting contrast to the fascinating futuristic world the characters live in. In the Third Era humans have colonized the moon; countries on Earth have recovered from a fourth world war but are now dealing with a deadly plague; and Cinder and Scarlet find themselves up against the villainous Lunar Queen in a struggle for the future of their planet. Plus, the book covers are kind of awesome.
Cinder AR book level: 5.8, points: 14
Scarlet AR book level: 5.8, points: 16
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
AR book level: 5.1, Points: 15
Genre: science fiction
The main character, Matt, lives in the futuristic country of Opium, a small, wealthy area of land between the United States and Mexico. He doesn't know it at first, but Matt is a genetic clone of the 140-year-old leader of Opium, Matteo Alacron. The first part of the book goes a little slowly but towards the middle, when Matt realizes what being a clone means for his future, things really pick up and get interesting. If you're a fan of dystopian science-fiction, give this one a try.
Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse
AR book level: 4.2, Points: 4
Genre: historical fiction
This is an historical novel about a 12-year-old Russian Jewish girl named Rifka. It's fictional, but the author drew upon real stories from her own family to write the book. Rifka's family decides to leave Russia to escape Jewish persecution and make a new home in America, and this is the story of her difficult journey to freedom.
I really enjoyed this book - it was a pretty quick and easy read. Rifka is a likable character. I became involved and interested in her story the first few pages in, and the ending is satisfying. There's not a lot of action; this is a character study of a young girl and her experiences of the world. If you like that kind of book and you're a fan of historical fiction, I recommend it!
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