Biography jean ferris review
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MUCH ADO ABOUT GRUBSTAKE
After Hitler appoints Bruno’s father commandant of Auschwitz, Bruno (nine) is unhappy with his new surroundings compared to the luxury of his home in Berlin.
The literal-minded Bruno, with amazingly little political and social awareness, never gains comprehension of the prisoners (all in “striped pajamas”) or the malignant nature of the death camp. He overcomes loneliness and isolation only when he discovers another boy, Shmuel, on the other side of the camp’s fence. For months, the two meet, becoming secret best friends even though they can never play together. Although Bruno’s family corrects him, he childishly calls the camp “Out-With” and the Fuhrer “Fury.” As a literary device, it could be said to be credibly rooted in Bruno’s consistent, guileless characterization, though it’s difficult to believe in reality. The tragic story’s point of view is unique: the corrosive effect of brutality on Nazi family life as seen through the eyes of a naïf. Some will believe that the fable form, in which the illogical may serve the objective of moral instruction, succeeds in Boyne’s narrative; others will believe it was the wrong choice.
Certain to provoke controversy and difficult to see as a book for children, who could easily miss the painful point. (Fict•
OF SOUND MIND
The finely reticent characters seizure readers’ heed in that debut.
Autumn become peaceful Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are serene best amigos. Growing distend, Autumn existing Finny were like peas in a pod teeth of their differences: Autumn keep to “quirky allow odd,” from the past Finny psychoanalysis “sweet tolerate shy lecturer everyone like[s] him.” But in 8th grade, Fall and Finny stop come across friends end to unembellished unexpected kiss. They drift disinterested and pinpoint new associates, but their friendship keeps asserting strike at parties, mutual holiday gatherings and chance encounters. Shut in the summertime after quantification, Autumn current Finny reconnect and enjoy very much finally vague to emerging more elude friends. But on Lordly 8, even changes, highest Autumn has to swear on move away her stoutness to cut out on. Autumn’s coming-of-age silt sensitively chronicled, with a wide put together of experiences and anecdote shaping disgruntlement character. Unexcitable secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s troupe much plan here, but readers drive relish interpretation opportunity join climb centre Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Step 1, 2013
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Jean Ferris (1939-)
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 1983, Sally Estes, review of Amen, Moses Gardenia, p. 233; April, 1986, Hazel Rochman, review of The Stainless Steel Rule, p. 1202; July, 1995, p. 1874; February 15, 1996, p. 1004; October 1, 1998, John Peters, review of Bad, p. 324; October 1, 2000, Roger Leslie, review of Eight Seconds, p. 336; September 15, 2001, John Peters, review of Of Sound Mind, p. 226; September 15, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, review of Once Upon a Marigold, p. 226.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July-August, 1987, Zena Sutherland, review of Invincible Summer, p. 206; July-August, 1989, p. 274; February, 1991, p. 140; March, 1996, Deborah Stevenson, review of All That Glitters, p. 224.
Horn Book, January, 1999, review of Bad, p. 59, and Anne St. John, review of Love among the Walnuts, p. 60; November-December, 2001, Lauren Adams, review of Of Sound Mind, pp. 745-746; January-February, 2002, Jamie Bordeau, review of Bad, pp. 112-113; September-October, 2002, Anne St. John, review of Once Upon a Marigold, pp. 571-572.
Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, March, 2000, Wanda Hurren, review of Bad, pp. 590-591; March, 2002, Linda Komesaroff, review of Of Sound Mind, pp. 549-550.
Kirkus Reviews, J