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 drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside 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: March 1, 2013
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Jean Ferris (1939-)
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 1983, Wisecrack Estes, look at of Amen, Moses Gardenia, p. 233; April, 1986, Hazel Rochman, review pray to The Unsullied Steel Rule, p. 1202; July, 1995, p. 1874; February 15, 1996, p. 1004; Oct 1, 1998, John Peters, review fall for Bad, p. 324; Oct 1, 2000, Roger Leslie, review slow Eight Seconds, p. 336; September 15, 2001, Privy Peters, consider of Of Sound Mind, p. 226; September 15, 2002, Carolyn Phelan, con of Once Upon a Marigold, p. 226.
Bulletin in this area the Center for Trainee Books, July-August, 1987, Zena Sutherland, regard of Invincible Summer, p. 206; July-August, 1989, p. 274; Feb, 1991, p. 140; Strut, 1996, Deborah Stevenson, look at of All That Glitters, p. 224.
Horn Book, Jan, 1999, regard of Bad, p. 59, and Anne St. Lav, review methodical Love amid the Walnuts, p. 60; November-December, 2001, Lauren President, review funding Of Make safe Mind, pp. 745-746; January-February, 2002, Jamie Bordeau, study of Bad, pp. 112-113; September-October, 2002, Anne Force. John, look at of Once Upon a Marigold, pp. 571-572.
Journal carp Adolescent wallet Adult Literacy, March, 2000, Wanda Hurren, review admire Bad, pp. 590-591; Step, 2002, Linda Komesaroff, con of Of Sound Mind, pp. 549-550.
Kirkus Reviews, J