Saturday, October 29, 2016

Almost Autumn by Marianne Kaurin - OPTIONAL

Kaurin, Marianne Almost Autumn, 288 pages.  Scholastic, JANUARY 2017.  $18.  Language: PG (11 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence – PG (some beatings).

1942, Oslo, Norway.  Hitler and the Third Reich are exerting more and more influence upon life in occupied Norway.  Ilse and her family, Jews,  are having hardships, but nothing so drastic that they are trying to leave the country.  Her biggest worry is whether the boy downstairs really likes her or not.  Hermann, the boy, has worries of his own; he is working with the Norwegian underground to spirit Jews to safety.  But when it comes to help Ilse and her family, he is a little reluctant, and in some cases he is also too late. 

It wasn’t until 148 pages into this book that I actually became interested it what I was reading.  The characters’ normal lives proceed slowly, with only glimpses at the problems caused by the Nazis – slow enough that it will lose most student’s attention.  I wouldn’t recommend this unless you have a pressing need for more Holocaust books.

MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

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