tells the story of Isabel and her sister Ruth, two sisters who are about to be freed from slavery. But, by an unforeseen mischance, they are sold and sent to New York City, during the tumultuous year 1776. There, they live with their cruel new masters, the Locktons, who are quite loyal to the king. When a rebel slave enlists her help by spying on her masters, she at first refuses, but decides her and Ruth's freedom is worth any risk. However, her reward ends up not being what she hoped.
Wow. This book was heart-wrenching and extremely difficult to read. Not because of any obtuse language or lack of interest, but because the subject of the book pulls at the heartstrings. Isabel's life seems to be one cruel event after another, followed by more painful twists of fate. I felt like crying and yelling at different times. A book that evokes those kinds of emotions is not to be forgotten soon. Having read Octavian Nothing (reviews here and here) recently, I've been thinking more about slavery during the Revolutionary War. The founding fathers noble ideas of equality and freedom for all do start to sound a little false in light of some of their treatment and notions of slaves. A book definitely meant to inspire thought and discussion. And beautifully written. Go read it, as soon as you can!
RATINGS:
s-factor: none.
mrg-factor: none.
v-factor: ->->
Cruelty to slaves and prisoners.
Overall rating: *****
unravels the story of Clary, a seemingly ordinary girl who discovers she can see beings that others can't. She is drawn into a world of half-humans when her mother is kidnapped by a demon and she must find a way to save her. She receives help from Jace, a shadowhunter or demon-killer, who seems to be able to hold his own against all kinds of frightening creatures - vampires, werewolves, faeries, and demons. She also unwittingly involves her mundane (human) friend Simon in this world of danger. Will she be able to discover what her mother's kidnapper seeks before it is too late? Will she be able to accept the truth about her own past?
continues the exciting story of Amy and Dan Cahill as they race against their vicious family to get the next clue. They travel through Europe chasing and being chased as they seek hints and leads to the clue. Sometimes, they even have to do a little breaking and entering, not to mention flat-out stealing to get ahead. Will they manage to find the clue before the others?
continues Greg's junior high adventures (see first two book reviews 
by Neil Gaiman
by Kathi Appelt
by Margarita Engle
by Ingrid Law
by Jacqueline Woodson
by Melina Marchetta
by E. Lockhart (reviewed 
by M.T. Anderson (reviewed 
by Terry Pratchett
by Margo Lanagan
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is the story of Jack Swift, a seemingly ordinary teenager, except for his heart surgery at birth. When he turns 16, however, and accidentally misses taking his heart medicine, he discovers he has a strange new power. He learns that he is not an ordinary teenager, but a warrior heir, one of the weirlind, a person with special powers derived from a stone in his chest. As he tries to comprehend this, his Aunt Linda pulls him and his friends into a dangerous search for a powerful weapon. But, that is only the beginning of the danger.
is the story of Rose Nolan, an immigrant from Ireland who becomes the sole provider for her younger sister in America. She finds work with a Jewish friend at the Triangle Waist Factory. And then the fire happens.
is a beautiful story about the author's return visit to her hometown of Prague after a forty year absence. As she walks the streets and sees familiar and unfamiliar sites, she remembers her own experiences growing up and escaping from the Nazi occupation. Her story, both past and present, is interesting and beautifully recounted.
is a beautiful retelling of the myth East of the Sun, West of the Moon. The Lass lives a quiet life with her family until a mysterious polar bear comes for her, promising wealth to her family if she comes to live in his castle. She goes with him and thus becomes a part of an ancient curse that she must try to break. When she makes a mistake, she must find a way to an impossible place to fulfill an impossible task.
takes place a few years after 
is the fifth book in the Ranger's Apprentice Series (first four reviewed 
is more about the adventures of Antsy Bonano (see first book review 
is the first book in a new exciting kids series. It sets the stage for an enormous scavenger-hunt-type mystery. Amy and Dan Cahill, along with other members of the vast Cahill family, are chosen to solve the 39 clues to become the most powerful of the Cahill family history. But, are they prepared to face the danger involved in this task?
is the thrilling conclusion of the Inkheart trilogy (first two books are 
