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Here's what happened in my reading last week! It was a busy week, so I have fewer books, but each one will be a great one for certain people. I enjoyed them all! From the intro to this book on Goodreads: "When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. Going into, Jarrett was worried: Wouldn't it be depressing, to be around kids facing such a serious struggle? Wouldn't it be grim?"
Jarrett Kroscoczka turns the early worries about being chosen to be on the crew for this special summer camp week into days he will always cherish, friendships that have stayed for a lot of years, and the memory of a few kids who blessed him by being who they were, in spite of serious illness. Allowing us readers to get to know those kids and to know his counselor buddies, how the whole camp felt like someone had found the best place in the world was a wonderful experience for me, too. Just knowing that volunteers make camps like this happen for those who in need made me re-read it yesterday, to be sure I didn't miss anything. I hope you who are reading this review won't miss reading it either!
I enjoyed Krosoczka's visuals of the night scenes, which were full of fun activities for everyone, and the expressions, mostly happy, sometimes alarmed or sad, on both the kids' and the counselor's faces. As the week continued, faces became more relaxed and happy nearly always, until the goodbyes.
It's 1942, this time in occupied Paris and 12-year-old Miriam lives with her parents in the quarters set aside by the Nazis for Jewish people. Her father has been arrested and they know very little. Miriam (Miri) is shy and doesn't like going to stand in line for the small bits of food available but she does. This one time, nearly home, a roundup has started, and Miri cannot make it home but is pushed onto a bus with her neighbor and her young child, Nora. Right before, very near to her home, she hears a loud noise, thinking it a shot, thinking it was her mother killed. Then, on the bus, the neighbor begs Miri to take Nora when they get off, and run! That is the beginning of the story, filled with tension and worry, filled with a 12-year-old who must be cautious, learn who to trust, adults and then, roommates in a Catholic boarding school run by nuns. It is summer, and not all the kids are there, but two are, and one seems to look at Miri with mistrust. She knows to be so careful. There is much more to this story, a nearby castle, with both history and a way to get across the River Cher to a safer area of France. Imagining such a life for a young one is not unrealistic for that time. Many children had to act, to help others and to save themselves. This Miriam learned about courage during this time, along with some helpers, and some magic, too. Kmberly Brubaker Bradley make an interesting choice in this story, one I liked reading yet in creating something about such a perilous and tragic time for those persecuted, I'm unsure if the magic doesn't make less of the true stories of those who continually fought and took life-threatening chances to save people, young and old.