"Yellow Star" by Jennifer Roy

4 of 5 stars.

The Basics: This novel is a first-person narration by Syvia, a Holocaust survivor of the Lodz ghetto in Poland. It was actually written by her niece, the author Jennifer Roy, based on multiple interviews and phone conversations. The book follows Syvia's years in the Lodz ghetto from the time she was 4 to the time the ghetto was liberated by the Russians when Syvia was about 10 years old. The book includes background information in the beginning of each section pertaining to what is going on during the war as the plot of the story continues.
 
My Thoughts: I love that this novel is written in free verse. It is so fitting since Syvia is a young girl when she enters the ghetto. The questioning and innocent nature of a child is expressed in this free verse format. I read this book with my students and they absolutely loved it. It was informative and gave insight into the feelings that many experienced during this awful time in history.
I have read that some of the plot was a bit exaggerated which I did sense as I read the book. It seemed like Syvia's family got lucky too many times and the way in which her father handles some situations seemed a bit fictionalized. Either way, the story was good and allowed insight into the procedures and life in a ghetto during the Holocaust.

Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!

"The Kill Order" by James Dashner

4 of 5 stars.

The Basics: This novel is the prequel to The Maze Runner. I absolutely loved that series so I figured that I must finish the series by reading the last book (which was actually the prequel). The book follows Mark as the sun flares first begin and the world starts its apocalyptic course. Mark happens to be with his crush, Trina, when the sun flares scorch the Earth. They run into a group of people including Alec and Lana, two hardcore military personnel. Throughout the course of the novel we learn how and why the Flare virus was spread. Also, the cruelty of the post sun-flared world with the introduction of the Flare is cruel and sad.

My Thoughts: The action in this book is constant, which makes it very interesting. There are not many "down parts" to this book. The action keeps coming and coming and coming. BUT, where is Thomas and the Gladers? They have nothing to do with this book which is why I was kind of put off by the novel as I read. The world in which The Maze Runner is set is created within this book, but the characters that we loved in The Maze Runner don't make an appearance. The epilogue of this novel sets us up for a brief insight into when Thomas was taken by WICKED.
Either way, this book was good because it gives the reader a look into Dashner's disturbing world but I thought I would have some kind of closure on Thomas's early interactions with WICKED, but that did not happen.
Either way....

Remember, teachers read fun stuff too!