Sarah’s Key

By Tatiana de Rosnay

Fourth Tuesday Book Club

This book connects the past with the present.  It is a novel, but its story weaves around actual events that each of us needs to know happened.  It tells about a young girl and the Velodrome d’Hiver roundup, which took place on July 16, 1942 in Paris, France.  It is also a tale of a middle aged American woman who married a French man and is living in Paris during the twenty-first century.  Each of these two individuals discovers more about themselves because they are thrust into situations that force them to do what they know is right.  This is a story of secrets—secrets held by a nation, by families, and by individuals.  The secrets hurt each one until they finally give up their secrets and admit to themselves what really happened.  Those who failed to expose their secrets suffered in the end.

The Velodrome d’Hiver roundup took place in Vichy France, the portion of the country controlled by the German Nazi government.  The French puppet regime did what they had to do to stay in power.  Their police and government officials took trusting French Jews and herded them into a local stadium.  The conditions that these citizens experienced were terrible.  The Jewish families were later shipped to Auschwitz where they were gassed.  The book describes a family that is taken from its home, treated horribly, and then torn apart.  We are all familiar with the horrendous treatment of Jews and others during the Holocaust.  This story, however, dwells on the experience of a ten-year-old girl named Sarah. 

The first part of Sarah’s Key switches back and forth from the events of 1942 to the involvement of Julia, an American writer who was living in Paris in 2002.  Her immediate family consists of Bertrand, her extremely attractive French husband, and Zoe, their 11 year old daughter.  Other family members become important to the story, like Bertrand’s father Edouard, his grandmother, Mame, and Bertrand’s sisters.  Julia works for an American magazine that publishes articles about France.  She is assigned the job of covering the 60^th year anniversary of the event that most of France wants to forget.  It is her discoveries, the secrets that her family has maintained for decades, and the mystery of what happened to Sarah that drives the story. 

The author does a fine job of connecting the two events in history.  She doles out one small clue after another to keep the reader involved in not only Sarah’s story but in Julia’s also.  Finally we find that the two stories connect, and, just like Sarah sixty years before, Julia’s life is changed forever.  It is a marvelous story that we recommend highly.      

Key Ideas from different club members: 

Educational, I learned about historical events that I did not know about before; Compelling; Good read; Intriguing; I liked the way the author wove the past and the present; Unable to put it down; Very sad.

The Club Members rating this book:

Kirk Baker, Linda Bowman, Pat Gombita, Pat Kuna, Lee Ann Schrock, Sharon Shaffer, Bill Simmons, Lynn Simmons, Helen Skalski, Deb Stewart and Linda Troll

Club’s Average Rating:  3.95 of 5             Rating Range: 2 to 5

The Book Thief (Must Read)

by Markus Zusak

Published by Alfred A. Knopf

Copyright © 2006

 

“The Book Thief” is a dramatic and amazingly haunting story of ordinary people in Germany during World War II. The perspectives of this tale, however, are anything but ordinary.

 

Death, it is everywhere. Dying of old age or sickness is bad enough, but oh so often humans die at the hands of other humans. It is a wonder we haven’t exterminated ourselves. In this story we are taken to a time and a place where this had never been truer – Germany during World War II. It is in this hellish place that the personification of Death chooses to show why we (humans) are worth the effort, and it is through the story of a young girl.

 

Liesel is on a train with her mother and brother. They are bound for the town of Molching near Munich where the two siblings will be left with new foster parents. On the train ride Liesel’s brother dies and she and her mother are forced to get off at the next stop to arrange for his burial. It was in this place that she stole the first of many books.

 

After her brother is buried they board another train to finish their trip. Liesel is left with her foster parents, the Hubermann’s. Rosa Hubermann is a loud woman with a lethal mouth and Hans Hubermann is a quiet man with a kind heart. It is in this home where Liesel learns to read, and it is here that she learns that words can have great power for good and for bad. Poor Liesel will see both first hand as her life intertwines with that of a Jewish street fighter, the German Jesse Owens, various fanatical Germans, and of course her foster parents.

 

“The Book Thief” is a different take on an often written about time period. Many Holocaust novels seem to be written from the viewpoint of a Jewish person; however Zusak’s protagonist is a young German girl who is displayed as something of a heroine. This is interesting to me, because we generally like to pigeonhole Germans from that era as being horrible people who were rabid supporters of “the Fuhrer.” Zusak puts some cracks in that stereotype, to help us see that there were those who were likely very good people, who were caught up in a very dangerous situation. 

 

I also thought that the author pulled off an interesting twist in perspective, by making the narrator of this tale be the death personified, the grim reaper if you will. I don’t believe in the immortality of the soul as the author suggests it at times; however as a fictional storytelling device it works well as a way to insert an outside/otherworldly view or opinion. I’m not sure if this has been done before, but I genuinely liked it. I think the story would have been good without it, but it is such an emotional tale that it helps give the reader some distance and some foreshadowing to prepare them for what is to come.

 

Though this book was written for young adults, some books transcend age limitations. “The Book Thief” tells a story that portrays what is beautiful and what is ugly about the human creature, and the way in which we use words. This book should be on the must read list of anyone 13 to 113.

Sugaring

Sugaring

By Jessie Haas

Illustrated by Jos. A. Smith

Published by Greenwillow Books

Copyright © 1996

 

I was born in Northwestern Massachusetts, just south of the Vermont line. This is still very much near the heart of maple sugaring country. As a matter of fact we only lived a few miles from Gould’s Sugarhouse which was on route 2 also called the Mohawk Trail. Living in rural New England spoils a lad when it comes to maple syrup; no Mrs. Butterworth’s or Log Cabin for me. Though I no longer live in New England I am very fortunate to live in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania which is also a maple syrup producing area. It is because of my love of maple syrup that I read the children’s picture book “Sugaring.”

 

Early spring is sugaring season, and Nora is collecting sap with her Gramp. The sap itself tastes like sweet water. And they can’t wait to get it back to their sugar shack to make it into something even sweeter, maple syrup. Nora also helps her Gramp as he boils down the sap. When they finally have maple syrup Nora thinks that the horses should have some since they did all the hauling.

 

“Sugaring” is entertaining and informative look at the charming and old fashioned process of maple sugaring.  It provides us with the simple details of how sap is collected and turned into maple syrup while at the same time telling the story of a girl who thinks that all workers, even horses, should be rewarded for their labor.

 

Of course, sadly, maple syrup is rarely collected with buckets, horses, and sleds anymore. Often they use tubing that is gravity fed down to the sugarhouse. And while wood is still used to heat the evaporators some producers use oil or other fossil fuels. If you are fortunate though you will still find an operation that keeps the old fashioned tradition of making maple syrup alive.

 

“Sugaring” is a great book to read with inquisitive children (ages 4-8) who want to know where maple syrup comes from. I plan on making its reading an addition to my own personal maple festival.

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes

Edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Published by Amulet Books

Copyright © 2012

“Explorer: They Mystery Boxes” is a beautiful, fun, and original collection of short graphic fantasy stories created by 8 excellent comic writers and illustrators.

Under the Floorboards (by Emily Carrol) is the story of a young girl who finds a box under the floorboards of her bed. In the box she finds a note and a wax doll. This doll is alive and while it seems helpful it soon lets its true colors show.

Spring Cleaning (by Dave Roman & Raina Telgemeier) is the story of a young boy who has to clean out his closet. His brother suggests that he sell some of his stuff online, but when he tries to sell an odd box it catches the attention of three very eager wizards.

The Keepers Treasure (by Jason Caffoe) tells the story of an intrepid treasure hunter who makes it through a land filled with dinosaurs, chest-deep bogs, and “glacial wastelands” only to find that his final destination comes replete with a Labyrinth and its guardian who will lead him to the box he’s looking for.

The Butter Thief (by Rad Sechrist) tells the story of a little Japanese spirit who likes to steal butter from the refrigerator until grandmother traps it in a box. That is when the fun really starts for her granddaughter who just has to see what she actually caught.

The Soldier’s Daughter (by Stuart Livingston w/Stephanie Ramirez)is the story of two siblings who have lost their father in a war. The daughter feels a compulsion to seek vengeance for her father’s death. A stranger with a visionary box shows her what she must do.

Whatzit (by Johanne Matte w/Saymone Phanekham)is a comical tale of alien warehouse hi-jinks. When Deet gets a big promotion by his grandpa to help with stocking the Grand Universal Exhibition he finds that the job might be more than he can handle when he finds and opens a box marked “?”.

The Escape Option (by Kazu Kibuishi ) is a story about a seemingly random hiker and the extinction of the human race. James is hiking in the wilderness where he happens upon a huge mechanical floating box which sucks him in and gives him the option of saving himself from mankind’s fate.

Kibuishi has given us a collection of graphic stories/comics that are unique and different from each other in all ways but one. Each story contains a mysterious box. Whether it is the box, that is unusual or what is in the box, these writers/illustrators have created stories that are thoughtful, haunting, and even funny. Some of the stories have morals and some have punch lines, but all of them are well written and colorful. I particularly enjoyed “Whatzit” and “The Escape Option” because I don’t think there are enough alien stories anymore. Comics/graphic novel fans of any age will enjoy this compilation, but it is most suited to children ages 10 and up. 

The BFG

By Roald Dahl

Illustrations by Quentin Blake

Published by Farrar • Straus • Giroux

Copyright © 1982

The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is just another example of Roald Dahl’s childlike imagination combining with his social awareness, making for a moralistic tale that children can’t help but like.

Sophie lives in an orphanage. It is not a very nice place to live because the supervisors are very strict and love to punish children. One night Sophie could not sleep, and even though she knew she could be punished she got out of bed and tiptoed to the window where the moonlight was beaming through. When she looked out the window the homes and streets all around were quiet and there was nothing moving about. Soon however, she noticed a large shadowy figure looking into people homes. As he got closer to the orphanage Sophie went quickly back to her bed. But soon the large creature was at the orphanage and he reached in, grabbed Sophie, and ran speedily away.

Sophie was fortunate however, she had been kidnapped by the BFG. Had it been any other Giant she would have been eaten on the spot, but the BFG did not like to eat people.  He merely skulked around so that he could blow good dreams into children’s rooms. The BFG had to kidnap Sophie because she had seen him, and she certainly would have told everyone what she had seen first thing in the morning, and then they would have tried to capture him.

The BFG had problems enough back in Giantland without worrying about being caught by people. In Giantland the BFG was actually a runt; the other giants were twice his size. They were mean, cruel, and people eaters. They took every opportunity they could to bully the poor BFG, and every night they would run off to various countries and eat unsuspecting people. But now that Sophie was living with the BFG in Giantland this would have to stop.

In the BFG Roald Dahl tells the enjoyable story of an orphaned girl and a friendly and funny talking giant who become friends and find away to stop the mean giants. The funny made up words and names in this book are pure Dahl. While it is written from Sophie’s viewpoint, it is the BFG who steals the show because he is so silly and lovable. What I really enjoyed about this book was the lesson behind the story. While each creature has its own morality (rules for what is right or wrong) humans are the only ones that think it is okay to purposefully hurt others of their own kind. Giants would certainly never do this. Even though the other giants treat the BFG badly they would never kill him. This isn’t my favorite Dahl book, but it is one of my favorite morals. And this is a book that children 7 and up would likely enjoy.

Tuesdays with Morrie

By Mitch Albom

Published by Doubleday

Copyright © 1997

For years I have been hearing female library patrons tell me how good “Tuesdays with Morrie” is. I resisted the urge to read it; I told myself that if that many women liked the book then it had to be a “Women’s” book. I just knew it would bore me to death. This book was published in 1997. It is now 2012, 15 years later, and I’m still hearing how good the book is. So, after all these years of ignoring people I finally broke down and read the book…

Morrie Schwartz was a child of Russian immigrants who ended up becoming a professor of sociology at Brandeis University near Boston, MA. One of his favorite pupils was Mitch Albom, who after losing contact with him for nearly 20 years decides to visit him when he finds out that Morrie is dying of Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Mitch and Morrie renew their friendship, and in turn their student/teacher relationship. Eventually Mitch decides to visit Morrie every Tuesday as they did in college, to discuss life, death, and everything that comes in between. Through this final “class” with his mentor, Mitch is able to evaluate his own life and the direction that it took, and Morrie got to enjoy his passion in life which was to enjoy the company of others and to help them as much as he could.

Anyone who reads the first page of this book knows that the ending for Morrie Schwartz is not a good one. He is going to die. Some people when faced with the inevitability of a terminal disease just give up or get bitter, others, like Morrie, decide to live and love as long as they can. While this book tells the story of Morrie’s road to death, death is not what Morrie’s focus is. The intent of Morrie’s last class is to teach Mitch (and by extension others) how to live. He said: “Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” In this small book Albom presents Morrie’s unconquerable spirit. Even in the face of certain death he has a zest for life. He squeezes every last drop purpose and feeling out of his life that he could.

“Tuesdays with Morrie” is not a “Women’s” book; it is a book for people. It is a book bent for reflection. As I read this Mitch’s narrative I found myself wanting to be Morrie. No, not the Morrie he was only weeks away from certain death, but the Morrie who had lived his life in such a way that he did not fear it. I wanted to be the Morrie who had a happy life; the one who loved to read, talk, teach, swim, walk, and even dance.

Then of course, I wished that I was Mitch. To have such a profound and loving individual to teach me and call me his friend would be so uplifting. I am actually happy to say that I do have friends like this. Maybe not as well educated and profound as Morrie, but mentors none the less, who take a positive view of life; people who love me and who motivate me to be a better person.

Whether you have such a mentor or not, read this book. There are so many lessons in it that I know, or have heard before, but sometimes we need a good quick reminder. “Tuesdays with Morrie” is just such a reminder.

Calico Joe

By John Grisham

Published by Doubleday

Copyright © 2012

John Grisham departs from his normal fare of legal thrillers and gives us an enjoyable story about America’s pastime, forgiveness, and redemption. 

When the Chicago Cubs first baseman and his counterpart in AAA went down with injuries the team found itself in need of a first baseman and they reached down into their AA system and called up Joe Castle in the summer of 1973. Joe was a wide eyed kid with a quick bat and even quicker feet; while he might have been nervous he wasn’t intimidated. He goes on a torrid, record setting, hitting streak to start his career and helps lift the Cubbies from the middle of the pack up to first place in their division. It was the feel good story of the year. Every young boy wanted to be Joe Castle, including Paul Tracey.

Paul Tracey was the 11 year old son of another Major Leaguer, Warren Tracey, a streaky starting pitcher for the New York Mets nearing the twilight of his career. As terrible as Warren often was on the pitchers mound he was even worse as a father and husband. Paul wanted to emulate his father and gain his love, but having a new baseball hero caused conflicting emotions. When Paul’s father and hero met on the baseball diamond something happened that changes the life of these three forever.

30 years later, as Warren is only months away from dying, these events set Paul on a path to find out if there is one shred of decency left in his father.

Calico Joe is a quick and enjoyable read told from the perspective of Paul Tracey. Grisham freely admits that he takes liberties with dates, names, places, stats, and etc. Though I’m a baseball fan, I don’t mind. I know you can’t take fictional players and insert them into realistic history without messing up the space time continuum. One thing that does bother me a little is that Grisham has made our hero, Joe Castle, almost Herculean. The feats that he attains on the baseball diamond, while I guess not impossible, are so unfathomable that you might have to change its genre listing to fantasy fiction.

That being said there were many things I loved about this book. The relationship between Paul and Warren isn’t sugar coated, and in the end it isn’t magically fixed. I hate it when writers let dysfunctional family members off of the hook too easily, because life isn’t like that. One minor act of redemption cannot overshadow years of neglect and abuse. I also liked that Grisham tackled some of baseball’s unwritten rules, especially the unwritten code for throwing at a batter.

In the end I think Grisham has adequately mixed baseball with family drama. It might not be the timeless classic that baseball fans always hope for, but like a utility infielder it was strong up the middle with a serviceable bat. And at a mere 198 pages it is a really quick read.