November 9th, 1938 was nicknamed the night of broken glass, and it was on this day that Michael’s eyes were opened to the horror that was the nazi’s. Shops were destroyed, Jews were beaten, killed, and arrested. Soon Michael discovers that his parents, the ambassadors for the Irish embassy in Berlin, are secretly collecting information for the allies against Germany. With his photographic memory and determination to bring justice to a Hitler ruled Germany, Michael will help with the cause however can even if it means becoming the most convincing nazi youth. He will uncover secrets that the nazi’s are hiding, that only he can prevent.

Projekt 1065 by award winning author Alan Gratz is a masterpiece in writing giving an accurate representation of World War 2. He shows the terrible truths of the time and the way the citizens were brainwashed in a captivating plot and immersive story. With perfect descriptions and thrilling plot twists you will be interested in the book the entire way through. This book is an example of an amazing historical fiction book, and I believe that many people will enjoy this novel.

Christian is living in terrible conditions inside of communist Romania, and as the citizens of surrounding countries revolt for a change of government Christian might house the power to alert everyone not directly involved. Every day he is starving, tired, and paranoid, every Romanian is being watched, and any secrets will be uncovered. Soon his whole world is forced to change when he is pulled out of school and has to make a deal to preserve his family's lives. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys Is a beautifully crafted story with an eye-opening plot. It has unique insights and a variety of interesting characters. Every chapter is equally as impressive with a storyline that keeps you reading. I Must Betray You is an amazing historical fiction book that I recommend to everyone.

Nazi Germany, 1938, Josef, a Jew, is given the chance to leave on a boat, and it may be his only chance for survival. Cuba, 1994, Isabel must voyage to America on a raft, leaving everything behind. Syria, 2015, when the civil war almost cost Mahmoud his life he has to flee the country. The three children must face many hardships on their treacherous journeys to try and reach salvation. From sharks to bombs it will take every bit of dedication and hope they have. Refugee by Alan Gratz is a masterpiece in historical fiction and a perfect demonstration of the past. The book does a phenomenal job at exploring different perspectives and getting you involved with the characters. This book has great descriptions that easily get you immersed in the story. Refugee is an impeccable novel that everyone should read.

Although I usually do not like historical fiction novels, this book managed to surpass my expectations and become one of my favorites. The Blackthorn Key follows the story of Christopher Rowe, the apprentice of the renowned apothecary Benedict Blackthorn, and takes place in 17th century England. In the beginning, Christopher lives content, creating medical remedies and cracking codes with his kind master, although he sets off a couple of explosions along the way. But a string of apothecary murders begins to work its way through England and hits closer and closer to Christopher's home, with rumors of the killings being tied to the mysterious Cult of the Archangel. When the murderers eventually kill Benedict, Christopher discovers a cryptic note left by his master right before his death and finds himself hunted by the killers, and as he deciphers Benedict's last message, he uncovers the secrets to a powerful weapon that has the potential to destroy the world.

This novel is thrilling and fast paced, and although its plot is dark in nature, Sands brilliantly incorporates some laugh-out-loud humor into the book. I loved Christopher's personality; he is easygoing and playful, but also incredibly clever and serious when he needs to be. The little nods to the historical aspect of the novel were very enjoyable, especially if you do know what was happening in England during the time period this novel is set in. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing what happens next, and the ultimate reveal of the mastermind behind the killings serves as a stunning climax to the novel. As this book is the first in a series, I will surely read the rest of the novels and keep an eye out for Sands' other works. I recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, fantasy, mystery novels, and puzzles.

“The Clue is in the Pudding” by Kate Kingsbury is a delightful read for those who enjoy a delicious mix of bone-chilling mystery and delightful drama. In it, Cicily Baxter, owner of the Pennyfoot Hotel, is hoping to have a very merry Christmas this year. She is planning on entertaining her guests at her annual Christmas party in order to draw in business. Alas, not everything is going as planned. Her head maid has gone to visit family, and the replacement is the most opinionated, fussy, and unfriendly person she has ever met. She causes all sorts of trouble with the rest of her staff. When things seem unable to get any worse, a guest dies mysteriously in his room, and the new maid is chief suspect. However, things are not exactly what they seem, and motives begin popping up left and right amongst the guests. Can Cicily sniff out the murderer before Christmas arrives? As part of the Pennyfoot Hotel series, it may require some thinking from the reader to fill in the holes of the characters’ backgrounds if they have not read any of the other books. The plot is somewhat long, but it is worth it once the end comes! For readers who like romance, suspense, and drama all in one, this book is sure to be a real treat!

A novel about a civil war veteran alone (or at least he thinks he is) in the American frontier, Dances With Wolves is an exciting adventure story about belonging and acceptance for those different from you set in the 1860s. Lieutenant Dunbar, the main character, must come to terms with his Native American neighbors, his internal struggles, and his own past.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to, and it even made me laugh out loud several times. I really liked the description and the way Blake writes. I would recommend this book to anyone aged eleven or twelve and above, because of violence and one or two adult themes, though all of it is done very tastefully. Although technically there are no cowboys in this story, this book had a cowboy kind of feeling because of its setting and the characterization of Dunbar. It was quite entertaining and versatile. It is somehow both a lighthearted book and an in-depth commentary on how relationships define us as members of the same species, despite cultural boundaries and mentalities.

This book is about a motherless fourteen year old white girl named Lily. She must learn to overcome her own prejudice and grief, in addition to her struggles at home, which would not be possible without the help of three African-American beekeeper sisters and their unwillingness to give up on her. Although there is some adventure (there are conflicts with racists and Lily's father), mostly this book is a coming-of age novel and about Lily's search for a place where she belongs, growing up in the American South of 1964.
I personally strongly disliked this book, because I found the main character insufferable, but I can appreciate the writing style and
the thoughtfulness that was put into it. If you are looking for a coming-of-age story in which the writing is very descriptive and honest, maybe this book is for you.

The Things They Carried was a book I had to read for school, but one I started to enjoy. I love the way the author uses very descriptive language to portray every setting and character, making you feel like you are right there with them. The book does a greta job at addressing various moral dilemmas in society and how the "societal rules" change during times of peace and war. Overall this book was not my preferred genre, however the writing is superb and it is a great book to challenge thinking. While it may be hard to relate to characters at times, it definitely makes you stop and think about yourself and where you are.

As I'm working my way through Pulitzer winners and finalists, I approached Housekeeping with skepticism. I knew nothing about this book other than its inclusion on these lists for "high literature." Having now read it, this book completely underwhelmed me. I'm going to include this with other books of literature like One Hundred Years of Solitude or Ulysses , both of which I found extremely boring and lacking of any kind of plot that I could latch onto. At least this was short and had some occasionally flowery prose.

Even now, thinking back on what I read, I can't pick out anything significant that happened in this book. That I'm having trouble remembering what it was about should indicate how little impact it had on me. I vaguely remember there being something about an aunt who was a drifter and the bigger metaphor of "home is where the heart is." And, of course, extrapolating to the title, I can estimate that we must keep our hearts clean so we can live our best lives. Of course, this is all spitballing as even the synopses I've read to remind me of the plot don't help much either.

If Housekeeping left me with anything, it was a feeling. Like an ephemeral sense that the words that were used were meant as fluid poetry in narrative form. Would I recommend this book on its feeling alone? Probably not. But that's fine. Just because a book has many accolades and lots of people like it doesn't mean that I also have to enjoy it. Perhaps I'm more of a shallow reader for not "getting" these books of high literature, but I also know life is too short to spend time on unsatisfying books.

The essence of a deep poetic treatise on life but in an extremely boring package, I give Housekeeping 2.0 stars out of 5.

"An Emotion of Great Delight" is a captivating journey through the depths of euphoria, evoking a profound sense of joy and wonder in the world of a Muslim girl named Shadi. The author masterfully navigates the complexities of human emotions, painting vivid scenes that resonate with readers on a deeply personal level. Each page is infused with a palpable energy that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. While the book undoubtedly delivers on its promise of delight, there were moments where the pacing faltered slightly, hindering the overall flow. Nonetheless, this minor flaw is overshadowed by the sheer brilliance of the author's storytelling, making "An Emotion of Great Delight" a must-read for anyone seeking to experience the full spectrum of human emotion.