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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow! This would make an excellent tween book club pick. Rich with potential for related programming about genealogy, oral histories, journalism, misinformation, pandemics, and more. I’m not surprised this made the National Book Award longlist!
This book was well crafted. It took me a little while to warm to it but after I figured out everyone’s role in the story I was engrossed. I particularly liked the twist because I didn’t see it coming.
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well paced story appropriate for middle grade readers.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Grief
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Stunning, heartbreaking story of survival in Stalin's Soviet Ukraine. Based on the author's own family history, this story will break your heart multiple times, in multiple pieces. Intelligent and thought provoking, this should be a staple in classroom libraries. It will spark discussions on Communism, survivor's guilt, effects of propaganda, the immigrant experience, being proud of your heritage and family history, female reporters, journalism, COVID fears, separation from family, and reverence of the elderly in our communities. With alternating male and female protagonists, this book is accessible to everyone. Highly recommended.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced