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    A Faraway Island

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    by Annika Thor
    Hardcover
    In the summer of 1939, Jewish sisters from Vienna, 12-year-old Stephie Steiner and 8-year-old Nellie, are sent to Sweden to escape the Nazis. Once their parents can flee to Amsterdam, the family plans to move to America. However, the world war intensifies and the girls remain, each with her own host family, on ... ... more

    by Annika Thor
    Hardcover
    In the summer of 1939, Jewish sisters from Vienna, 12-year-old Stephie Steiner and 8-year-old Nellie, are sent to Sweden to escape the Nazis. Once their parents can flee to Amsterdam, the family plans to move to America. However, the world war intensifies and the girls remain, each with her own host family, on a rugged island off the western coast of Sweden. Nellie quickly settles in to her new surroundings. She’s happy with her foster family and soon favors the Swedish language over her native German. However, Stephie finds it hard to adapt and is worried she may never see her parents again. She feels stranded at the end of the world with a foster mother who’s as cold and unforgiving as the island itself. This is the background, but also the beginning of the real story as changes in attitudes, circumstances and life itself occur. This is the first of four books in a quartet featuring the Steiner sisters. The books were bestsellers in Sweden, have been translated into 17 languages, received high ratings from American parents, were adapted into a Swedish television series, and won the author — Swedish writer and librarian Annika Thor — many awards. This book is an excellent companion of Number the Stars listed below. Age level, 8 and up.
  • by Jean Betty Stuchner
    Hardcover
    Designated as fiction, experiences like the ones in this book really happened during World War II, but stories describing life in Scandinavia during the time of Nazi occupation generally went undocumented until recently and therefore their stories weren't well known. This story, somewhat reminiscent of Anne Frank, centers on a 10-year-old Danish boy, ... ... more

    by Jean Betty Stuchner
    Hardcover
    Designated as fiction, experiences like the ones in this book really happened during World War II, but stories describing life in Scandinavia during the time of Nazi occupation generally went undocumented until recently and therefore their stories weren't well known. This story, somewhat reminiscent of Anne Frank, centers on a 10-year-old Danish boy, David, and his friend Elsa. The reader gets caught up in the intrigue and, along with David, tries to understand why life has changed so much since soldiers arrived in Copenhagen. David's parents, Jewish bakers in Copenhagen, are always worried. David's sister goes to school early, comes home late, or sometimes doesn't come home at all. The mandatory secrecy and silence of those times contribute to the reader's suspense, but also to David's frustration. Uncertainty and excitement are heightened as young David is asked to run a special errand, an errand that will change his life forever. A bonus recipe at the end of the book and illustrations by award-winning artist Cynthia Nugent help bring this secretive story to life. The recipe's special name, "Mama's Honey Cake Recipe for a Sweet New Year", reflects the optimism that kept the Jewish Danes going during these years. For ages 8 and up; 100 pages.
  • by Lois Lowry
    Paperback
    For Annemarie, life in Copenhagen is a complicated mix of ordinary home and school life, food shortages, and the constant presence of Nazi soldiers. To her courage is something dragon-slaying knights do in the bedtime stories, but soon Annemarie's bravery is tested. Set in 1943 when Nazis occupied Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen is asked ... ... more

    by Lois Lowry
    Paperback
    For Annemarie, life in Copenhagen is a complicated mix of ordinary home and school life, food shortages, and the constant presence of Nazi soldiers. To her courage is something dragon-slaying knights do in the bedtime stories, but soon Annemarie's bravery is tested. Set in 1943 when Nazis occupied Denmark, 10-year-old Annemarie Johansen is asked to perform a heroic deed and aid her uncle. "How brave are you, little Annemarie?" Uncle Henrik asks, and thus the story's action begins. Through Annemarie's eyes, the reader learns about the Danish Resistance and how they smuggled nearly 7000 people across the sea to Sweden. Lowry has taken adult themes such as loyalty, friendship, and courage and put them into a child's perspective. This book won Lowry the Newbery Medal and the ALA's Notable Children's Book Award, and was declared by the School Library Journal as the Best Book of the Year. This book pairs well with A Faraway Island listed above. For ages 10 and up.
  • by Mary Casanova
    Hardcover
    This historical fiction novel, set in 1942 when many Norwegians were secretly fighting for their country while it was under Nazi occupation, centers around 12-year-old Marit whose village has been bombed. In this suspense-filled story, Marit is faced with a new harsh world where she watches the Nazis take her blankets, teacher, security, ... ... more

    by Mary Casanova
    Hardcover
    This historical fiction novel, set in 1942 when many Norwegians were secretly fighting for their country while it was under Nazi occupation, centers around 12-year-old Marit whose village has been bombed. In this suspense-filled story, Marit is faced with a new harsh world where she watches the Nazis take her blankets, teacher, security, and friends. Their parents send Marit and her brother to live on an island with their grandfather and aunt. Eventually, Aunt Ingeborg is one of the schoolteachers sent away for refusing to use Nazi propaganda in her classes. Little is spoken about the war, and it is hard to know whom to trust: some Norwegians (like Marit's parents) work for the Resistance, others work with the Nazis. To further complicate Marit's life, she is asked to help an injured Norwegian Resistance fighter. How she handles this challenge, whether or not she can keep a code secret, and if her family is reunited, and her aunt safely released is up to the reader to discover. This is a thrilling adventure story by an accomplished Minnesotan, Mary Casanova, an award-winning author of children’s novels and picture books. She lives on the Minnesota-Canadian border, but writes about places she visits and understands. The Klipfish Code reveals what Norwegian people did to preserve their dignity and freedoms, and teaches about difficult choices, loyalty, discerning the truth, and keeping secrets. It was written during and after Casanova's onsite research in Norway. The heart of the Norwegians, the brave stance of Norway’s educators, and the spirit of a patriotic young girl blend to make this a truly enjoyable and informative novel. Ages 9 to 13; grades 4 through 7.