Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (book review)

Farewell to Manzanar is the true story of the trials one Japanese-American family faced when they were forced out of their home into the Japanese internment camp Manzanar in 1942. Jeanne Wakatsuki was only seven years old when she and her family left everything behind and began a whole new life in the desert behind barbed wire. At first, life is harsh and unfamiliar in this whole new environment, and even at the best of times it isn't great. But eventually, the inhabitants of Manzanar turn it into a thriving community with churches, schools, bands, and extracurriculars. For some people, Manzanar begins to feel similar to a home. But what will everyone do when the war ends, the camp closes down, and they are forced to start their lives over yet again?

This was an extremely moving book, a true story about love, loss, and a family slowly unraveling at the seams. If you want to learn about the WWII Japanese internment camps, this is a great book to start. It tells the real story of what went on and what life was like at the camps, behind barbed wire.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (book review)

"I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it."

And so twelve-year-old Esperanza begins her first year on Mango Street, the first time she and her family have ever had a real house. But it isn't a house that Esperanza feels proud of. She is ashamed of its creaky steps, the cracks in the walls, and the ordinary hallway stairs. She wants nothing more to escape from the barrio, the Latino neighborhood she and her family are now living, where men have all the power and the women around her are trapped in desperate situations from which they can't escape. Take Rafaela, whose boyfriend never allows her to leave the house for fear that she might run away with someone else. Or Sally, who married an abusive husband in order to escape her abusive father. Or Minerva, only a year or two older than Esperanza but already with a husband and two children. Esperanza doesn't want same fate to befall her as has these women. She wants to become someone independent, someone whose power is her own. Someone with a house that she can point to and feel pride. And over the course of a year on Mango Street, Esperanza learns a great deal more about herself and her dreams than she could ever have imagined.

This was a very good book. It was told in a series of short vignettes, none much more than three or four pages, all about Esperanza, her family, or other members of their community. Over the course of the book, which isn't very long, we learn a great deal about the protagonist and the culture she lives in. Esperanza is a complex and meaningful character whom one can really become connected to over the course of the book. The reader will also become attached to the various other characters Cisneros introduces throughout the course of the book, as well as their sad stories.

As far as plot goes, there isn't really a linear plot in this book. Basically, it follows Esperanza as she lives out one year in the barrio, suffering some great losses and finding out a lot about herself in the process. She makes friends and loses them, and struggles to deal with her growing interest in boys. During the course of the story, Esperanza's wish for independence conflicts with her wish for a boyfriend or husband. It soon becomes clear to her that, at least in the barrio, women cannot have one of these things without having to give up the other completely. At least not easily.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (book review)

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, is a true story about the meat we eat and where it comes from. From tuna to turkey, Foer covers it all in this shocking book about the stuff we put on our plate. When one thinks about where meat comes from, many visualize a family of farmers out in the country, with rolling fields of wheat and a red barn in the background. The truth is that these family farmers are essentially an "endangered species" now, being pushed out of business by enormous, greedy multinational corporations with one thought: money. Money is what runs the meat industry now, not concern for the workers, the animals, the environment, or the health of consumers. But this system obviously can't last; eventually it is going to fall. And it's up to us to determine how many others--animals, workers, and consumers--will fall with it.

This was an amazing book, one of the best I have ever read. It wasn't an easy book to read; there were many sad and difficult scenes, and it is obvious how horribly the animals are treated. This book gives a convincing argument for vegetarianism, both from a moral standpoint but also for health reasons--is this really what we want our children eating? But even if you don't plan on becoming a vegetarian, this is a great book that should be added to everyone's library.

Dawn of Fear (book review)

Dawn of Fear, by Susan Cooper, is the story of three young boys, Derek, Peter, and Geoffrey, living in a small town outside of London during World War II. For them, air raids are a fact of life, and they happen almost daily. Derek views them as exciting but distant. They are dangerous, but not to him. He, Peter, and Geoffrey are working on a hidden camp in the woods by their neighborhood, and it's taking up all their time and attention...until a fierce attack by a rival neighborhood gang leaves them shocked and angry. And after they carry out a dangerous plan to get revenge on the gang, Derek leaves feeling unsettled, and with new feelings on the war and on fighting in general. And then, one night, after a particularly vicious air raid, his life will be changed forever...

This was a great book! It was very fast, but also very meaningful. There was plenty of action, and the ending was very moving. It was a great war book, but different from many others, focusing on the life of a boy on the home front and how the war affected his life. I would recommend it to readers of all ages!

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (book review)

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman, is the story of the wife of one of the most beloved presidents of all time, Franklin D. Roosevelt. But Eleanor Roosevelt herself was a powerful force in the world of politics. She was a champion of civil rights, women's rights, and much more. She traveled the world to learn about ordinary citizens and the problems they were suffering from, then did something about those problems. By the time of her death in 1962, she was just as loved, if not more loved, than her famous husband. This was a very good biography of Eleanor Roosevelt; it was in-depth but easy to understand and very quick to read. The book was descriptive but it wasn't filled with excruciating details, and I would recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in learning about Eleanor Roosevelt's life.

The Grapes of Wrath (book review)

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, is the story of the Joad family, who have been forced off the farm they have lived on for generations, in the midst of the Great Depression. They head to California, dreaming of a lush green land of endless opportunity. The jouney is long and hard, and not everyone will survive. But when they get there, the Joads finds that California is not at all like they dreamed it would be. The camps they are forced to live in are crowded, dirty, and unsanitary. Work is scarce and jobs never last long. But the family still clings onto the hope that somehow, someday, they will find another home.

I'm happy to say that this was a very good book. Parts of it read slower than others, but I generally found it very interesting. It was very long, more than 600 pages, but a worthwile read. The ending seemed very abrupt, though, almost as if it was just the end of a chapter as opposed to the end of the book. Overall, however, I would definitely recommend this book. I've only read one other book, by this author, The Red Pony, which I didn't enjoy. This was much better.

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop (book review)

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop, by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, tells the story of the man who was perhaps the most well-known artist in the Pop Art movement. It was impossible not to notice him, with his crazy wigs, wild friends, and huge parties, not to mention his art, which was different from anything the public had seen before. Warhol compared making his art to working in a factory, even naming his studio the Factory. He took images of popular products and people and silk-screened them, mass-producing paintings of soup cans, coke bottles, boxes, and more. Warhol was different, but he wasn't afraid to be so, and he changed the art world forever.

This was a very good overview of Andy Warhol's life, quick but packed with information. Anyone interested in this artist, young or old, would find this to be an interesting and informative book. It covered his life in short chapters, from his childhood to his death, with several pages of pictures in between, of Warhol, his friends, and some of his famous paintings.

Lord of the Flies (book review)

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is the story of a group of schoolboys who are the only survivors of a plane crash. Stranded on a remote island, they decide that they must build a large fire so that they can be rescued. By day they frolic on golden beaches and swim in sparkling waters. But at night they dream of a hideous beast roaming the island. Soon, their fear brings out the worst in them and they begin to act like savage animals. More than one boy will be killed before they are rescued...

Okay, I apologize. I know this is really oversimplified, but I just didn't want to give anything away.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely creepy and not for the fainthearted, but it always had plenty of action and was never boring. I'd recommend it to almost anybody, but especially fans of the Island and Flight 29 Down series, because this book is reminiscent of those, but a bit more brutal.

All Shook Up (book review)

All Shook Up, by Glenn Altschuler, is a nonfiction book chronicling the story of rock n roll through the lives of famous rock n rollers, critics of the music, and teenage fans. It discusses rock n roll's connections with race, sexuality, and the generation gap. This book gives an in-depth look at the people who were responsible for the rise of rock n roll, which was anything but an ordinary style of music at the time.

If you want an in-depth but easy-to-read approach to rock n roll, this is the book for you! I never tired of the topics that the author brought up, and I learned a lot about the conflicts facing America during the time of big rock n roll stars such as Elvis Presley. This was truly a fascinating book!

A Stillness at Appomattox (book review)

A Stillness at Appomattox, by Bruce Catton, is the story of the last year of the Civil War, from the second battle of the Wilderness to the surrender at Appomattox Court House. The book goes into great detail about each battle, stating not just the rudiments but also interesting little facts about the generals and soldiers fighting. There was a great deal of direct quoting from the soldiers themselves, which was highly interesting. The book detailed the highs and lows of camp life during 1864-65. During the battles, the writing and the maps provided gave me a sense of direction and let me feel as if I was marching to the scene of the fight, and I appreciated that.

However, at times I found the writing a little dry. Occasionally I had to read a paragraph over once or twice in order to fully understand its content.

Even readers with little or no background information on the Civil War would find it easy to read this book. The writing is (for the most part) very understandable, and Catton provides a great deal of background information. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history or the Civil War.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I am using this as an alternate for the Book Awards Challenge.

Robert E. Lee (book review)

Robert E. Lee, by James I. Robertson Jr., is a biography of one of the most respected American figures in history. Robert E. Lee grew up in fancy Virginian society, and he associated himself with Virginia from the start. When Lee was only four, he was forced to leave his family's mansion due to his father's bad business dealings. However, he did have a good childhood, and became the chief servant for his mother, whose health was rapidly declining. Lee had as good a formal education as existed in Virginia during those times. But what to do next? He had no inheritance, and he didn't want to become a businessman. Young R.E. Lee decided to become a soldier.

In Spring of 1825, Lee was accepted into West Point. He became one of the most successful cadets at the academy. In his senior year, he held the highest status a West Point student could earn--he had no demerits. Lee graduated second in his class in the year 1829. He joined the Engineer Corps, the elite branch of the army.

In August 1846, Lee received orders to head to Texas to fight in the Mexican-American War. He became close friends with General Winfield Scott there, and they developed a kind of father-son relationship. Lee proved an excellent soldier, with his courage and determination, which helped the Americans to win major battles in Mexico.

But soon the war was over. In 1852, Lee became the superintendent of West Point. While he held this office, Lee was known for kindness. He did not enjoy disciplining students, and when a cadet was to be expelled, Lee always gave them a chance to resign first.

In March of 1861, Lee was asked to lead the U.S. Army against the secessionist Southerners. Lee politely refused the offer. He could never go against his native Virginia. After Virginia seceded, Lee was asked to command the "military and naval forces" of the state. Lee accepted the offer. Now he had to prepare his state for civil war. This proved a difficult job for Lee, but not impossible. When the Union attacked, his army drove them back.

For the majority of the next few years, it seemed that the South was winning. They had stunning victories at Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Second Bull Run, and Chancellorsville. The turning point occurred at a sleepy town in Pennsylvania--Gettysburg. Here Lee was badly defeated by a former West Point comrade, George Gordon Meade. And after Ulysses Grant assumed command of the entire Union army, there began a game of deadly hide-and-seek. Eventually Lee was driven out into the open, where Grant besieged him at Petersburg. Finally, in spring of 1865, Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The Civil War was over.

Although this book mainly contains information about Lee's war years, it has one final chapter, about Lee as a national symbol. And that is what he remains to this day, despite the fact that his spectacular military genius was used against the Union. Maybe it is the fact that Lee was such a formal, kindly man. No matter what, we can all agree that Lee remains a great figure in American history, and he always will be.

Ulysses S. Grant (book review)

Ulysses S. Grant, by Steven O'Brien, is a biography of one of the most interesting figures in American history. Grant has a reputation as an alcoholic general, but does he deserve that reputation? In fact, most of Grant's drinking took place before the Civil War, when he was a failed businessman deep in debt. This interesting book discusses why Grant failed in business yet still made a great general. There was one incident that took place during his childhood which caught my eye. As a child, Grant was great with horses, but not so great with people. His father lent him $25 to buy a horse from a neighbor. Jesse Grant told his son to offer $20 at first, then $22.50 if the seller refused, and finally $25. Young Grant walked up to the man and proudly informed him,

"My father says I am to offer $20 for the colt, but if you will not take that, I am to offer $22.50, and if you won't take that, I am to give you $25."

Not only did the man take Grant's 25 dollars, he also told Jesse about his son's blunder. Jesse then spread the news around, perhaps to teach Grant a lesson. But Grant never did learn; his overly trusting nature combined with his lack of business sense would be his downfall later on during his life as a businessman.

Business may have been one thing, but war was another. Grant, during the Mexican-American war, showed traits that would make him a great general later on--he stayed calm in the face of danger, was incredibly brave, and willing to take great risks for victory. The soldier's life agreed with him; he gained weight and a healthy complexion. But when the war was over, Grant found that his next army assignments were anything but pleasant--he was sent to California to oversee the Gold Rush. It was here, during the long and dreary months at the army outpost in California, that Grant took up drinking. He returned home an alcoholic. Grant took up business to support his wife and children, who were about the only things that gave him joy during these times. It was an endless cycle of failed jobs and debt.

But when news came that a civil war was approaching, Grant lightened up a bit. Here was another chance to do what he was good at! Grant eagerly sided with the Union, and during the course of the first few years, won the Union victories at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, and Vicksburg. In early 1864, Grant assumed duties as the lieutenant general--a rank that hadn't been occupied since the time of George Washington. Grant started on a campaign to crush the Confederate general Robert E. Lee and his elusive Army of Northern Virginia. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The Civil War was over.

Now a new chapter in Grant's life was starting. He returned home a hero. Everyone loved him and wanted him to run for president. After Andrew Johnson's presidency, Grant was elected to office. His family loved it at the White House, and so did Grant, but the famous general made a very bad president. He was involved in countless scandals. However, Grant was still elected to a second term. After his presidency was up, Grant didn't know what to do. During these years, he had no real home, but moved from house to house, staying with fans and relatives. But Grant still didn't know what to do with himself. Then, he had an idea. He started working on memoirs of his time fighting in the Civil War. Grant worked on this project until he died. They were published after his death to great acclaim. While working on the project, Grant felt himself slowly dying, and on July 28, 1885, the great commander of the Union army passed away.

For Love of Insects (book review)

For Love of Insects, by entomologist Thomas Eisner, is a book devoted to his discoveries about the lives of arthropods. Although the title uses the word insects, Eisner's research isn't limited to them. He also talks about whipscorpions, spiders, and millipedes. The book mainly discusses chemical defenses, but it also has a chapter mainly devoted to the mating and reproduction of a certain kind of moth, and one devoted to insect camouflage.

I found the chapter about orb weavers especially interesting, because it talked about the web structure and how the spider decides when something is safe to eat and when it isn't. But honestly, I really enjoyed the whole book. I was glad for the full-color photographs, because they helped me see what he was talking about even better. I also learned a ton of new facts about insects and other arthropods, and it wasn't at all hard to understand because of the author's easygoing style. This is a must-have for any bug-lover's collection!

This is a substitute for the Nonfiction Five Challenge. It also fills in the slot for my "E" author in the A-Z Challenge.

The Red Badge of Courage (book review)

The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, is one of the most famous Civil War stories ever published. Unlike most novels about this subject written at the time, it focused on the life of a common foot soldier, not a famous general or hero.

The book begins when the main character, Henry, joins the army with one goal in mind: to become a hero. At first he enjoys this new life, but as the day of battle draws near Henry begins to form a doubt in his mind. Is he really capable of becoming a hero, or will he turn and run when he finally gets a chance to fight? When the day of battle comes, he is at first calmed by his spectacular performance in the fight, but when the enemy forms a furious counter-charge, Henry can't help himself--he runs.

After the battle is over and the young man is lost, he feels a deep sense of shame. He yearns to rejoin his regiment and prove himself worthy of the rank of hero. But first, Henry joins up with a group of wounded soldiers heading off to the hospital. Seeing all these brave men, he feels even more ashamed of himself. Why couldn't he have stayed and fought?

Eventually Henry finds his regiment, who, fortunately, didn't notice his shameful act. But there is another battle coming up. Will Henry finally set his mind at ease and earn his place among the other brave men?


I greatly enjoyed this superb Civil War novel. I really connected with Henry, who I got to know a lot while I read. When he proved himself in battle, I felt proud. By reading this book, you can really get a sense of what a grueling ordeal these poor men went through. But there were also the moments of joy, like winning a battle. I truly felt like one of these men when I read this book! I absolutely loved it!

The Killer Angels (book review)

The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara, is perhaps the best historical novel that I have ever read. It told the story of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of people like Robert E. Lee, Joshua L. Chamberlain, and James Longstreet. As I read, I felt like I was on the battlefield, experiencing it firsthand. It began when the Confederates were just moving into the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg, and ended after Pickett's Charge. This book was extremely informative, even though it was a novel. And going to the actual battlefield this past week brought it alive even more. When I read the book from both Confederate and Union points of view, I really began to find that I cared about what happened to both sides. These were people, not just soldiers or enemies.

I also watched a movie, Gettysburg, based on the book, and I was surprised by how similar they were! Most movies based on books aren't that good, but this one was phenomenal!

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history or the Civil War. Don't be afraid that it uses too much military jargon, because I found it to be an extremely readable book.

To Be a Slave (book review)

To Be a Slave, by Julius Lester, is a collection of true stories told in the words of the slaves themselves. There are stories of how slavery in the United States began, of how the slaves came to this country, of life on the plantation, and of freedom.

All the stories are incredibly sad and give us a glimpse of what it was like to be a slave in those days. What made these stories all the more moving was the fact that they were true, and told from the mouths of the real slaves. It made me appreciate the strength and courage of the slaves even more. I highly recommend this book to everyone.