Tag Archives: War

The Baghdad Clock

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This story, narrated by a teenage Iraqi girl in the midst of the first Gulf War mixes dreams with real life and fantasies with reality.  She huddles in an air raid shelter with her friend Nadia and the two imagine a world not torn apart by war.  They share dreams, hopes, desires, and first loves.  As they grow older and the bombs continue to fall, their friends begin to flee the country.  The use of metaphor, dream interpretations, and soothsayers helps build the narrative and the sense of place and time.  mjw

Title: The Baghdad Clock Author: Shahad Al Rawi Publisher: Oneworld Publications, London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Arabic Translator: Luke Leafgren Original Publisher: Dar al Hikma Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-78607-324-2 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Baghdad, Iraq Author’s ethnicity: Born in Baghdad Author’s residence: Dubai Awards: 2018 Shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction Subjects: Air raid shelters, Biography, Coming of age, Persian Gulf War – 1991, Teenage girls

The Breadwinner

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Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Her father is a history teacher.  He is arrested by the Taliban for having a foreign education and put in prison. This leaves the family without anyone who can earn money and buy food, since according to Taliban rules, women cannot go out on their own.  Parvana cuts her hair and wears boys’ clothes so that she can become the family’s breadwinner.  This is the fifteenth anniversary edition of the four-volume story. It includes a new forward by the author, a new map, and a glossary.  There is also an animated, award-winning movie and a graphic novel based on this inspiring novel. mjw

Title: The Breadwinner Author: Deborah Ellis Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press. Toronto Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Groundwood Books Original Copyright: 2000 ISBN: 978-1-55498-767-8 Paperback pages: 176 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario Awards: Middle East Book Award Subjects: Afghanistan, Girls and women, Taliban. Refugees

Escape From Aleppo

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Fourteen-year-old Nadia is accidentally separated from her family while fleeing from war-torn Syria in 2013. She meets an elderly man who agrees to help her. She eventually makes it to Turkey. Inspired by current events this coming-of-age novel deals with the horrors of the war. In the first part of the book, Nadia flashes back to more pleasant times of her life. Senzai does a wonderful job of describing Aleppo before and during the war. This is an informative and exciting story. mjw

Title: Escape From Aleppo Author: N.H. Senzai Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4814-7217-3 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S.  Subjects: Arab Spring, Middle East, Refugees, Secrecy, Syria-Civil War 2011, Wars

A Different Pond

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This quiet story is about a young Vietnamese boy and his father who go fishing early in the morning in Minneapolis so that the family can have food to eat. They don’t fish for recreation. They bond as the father tells the boy about fishing in his homeland of Vietnam, as well as a bit about the war where he was a soldier. Beautifully illustrated in vividly colored, graphic novel panels, the book conveys a powerful message. Notes from both the poet-author and the illustrator are included. mjw

Title: A Different Pond Author: Bao Phi Illustrator: Thi Bui Publisher: Capstone Young Readers. North Mankato, Minnesota Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1479597468 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Minneapolis Author’s ethnicity: Vietnamese Author’s residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota  Illustrator’s ethnicity: Vietnamese Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2018 Caldecott Honor Subjects: Asian Americans, Fathers and sons, Fishing, Emigrants and immigrants, Poverty, Vietnam

Mister Doctor: Janusz Korczak And The Orphans Of The Warsaw Ghetto

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Polish educator, writer, and doctor, Janusz Korczak (Mister Doctor) founded an orphanage for children in Warsaw. His remarkable story is told from the perspective of one of the orphans. In November of 1940, one hundred and sixty Jewish children, led by their beloved Mister Doctor, were forced by the Nazis to leave their famous orphanage on Krochmalna Street and walk to the other side – the ghetto. Their new home on Chlodna was nothing like their orphanage, but they would cling to their hope and celebrate their Jewish identity. Their final march on August 5, 1942, took them to trains bound for Treblinka camp, north of Warsaw. This is depicted in a powerful foldout of the children and Mister Doctor. Gray and sepia mood-setting drawings portray the horror and hope beautifully. An afterword, “About Janusz Korczak” offers details of his life. Further Reading and Resources are included. mjw

Title: Mister Doctor:  Janusz Korczak And The Orphans Of The Warsaw Ghetto Author: Irene Cohen-Janca Illustrator: Maurizio A.C. Quarello Publisher: Annick Press, Canada Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Paula Ayer Original Title: Le dernier voyage Original Publisher: Les Editions des Elephants Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-55451-861-6 Paperback pages: 68 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography Book setting: Poland Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Italy Awards: 2016 Sydney Taylor Book Award, Notable Book.  2016 USBBY Honor List of Outstanding International Books Subjects: Ant-Semitism, History, Holocaust, Jewish children, Orphans, Orphanage, Poland, Warsaw, World War II

The Librarian Of Auschwitz

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Fourteen-year-old Dita is imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz and selected to be the librarian of the eight smuggled books that the school possesses. There are also six “living books” that are stories remembered and told by other detainees at the Family Camp, Block 31. The school is a secret school, as teaching the children to read is forbidden. Spanish author Iturbe describes the horrors of the death camp in straightforward prose. This sophisticated novel with mature themes is based on the experiences of real life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus. mjw

Title: The Librarian Of Auschwitz Author: Antonio Iturbe Publisher: Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lilit Thwaites Original Title: La Bibliotecaria de Auschwitz Original Publisher: Editorial Planeta Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1627796187 Hardcover pages: 432 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Poland Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Subjects: Books and reading, Concentration camps, Germany, Holocaust, Jews, Libraries

Three Balls Of Wool (Can Change The World)

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Narrated by an eight-year-old child, a family moves from 1960s Fascist Portugal to Communist Czechoslovakia in search of a better future. But the new country is far from ideal. Graphic designs on pale gray paper capture the darkness of the new city. The buildings are gray boxes and everyone wears monotone, orange, green, or gray sweaters knit in the same pattern. The mother unravels the sweaters and mixes the colors and stitches, knitting different bold checks, zigzags, and stripes. A foreword by Amnesty International gives the history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Back matter gives the history of Portugal from 1962 to 1974. Maps, as well  as the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights are included.  mjw

Title: Three Balls Of Wool (Can Change The World) Author: Henriqueta Cristina Illustrator: Yaro Kono Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books Copyright: 2017 Translator: Lyn Miller Lachman Original Title: Com 3 Novelos (O Mundo Da Muitas Voltas Original Publisher: Planeta Tangerina, Portugal Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-59270-220-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Portugal, Czechoslovakia Author’s ethnicity: Portuguese Author’s residence: Portugal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Portugal Subjects: Europe, Knitting, Needlecrafts, Refugees

How The Squirrel Got His Stripes

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Long ago, King Rama was expelled from his father’s kingdom and sent to the forest with his faithful wife, princess Sita, and his loyal brother, Laxmanan. They lived there happily until King Ravana of Lanka tricked Sita. Rama then waged war on Ravana and set off to battle. They traveled until they came to a vast sea. Men and animals worked to complete a bridge. They clever black squirrels helped by covering themselves and their bushy tails with sand and dirt that they shook over the cracks in the bridge to fill the cracks. When the bridge was complete, Rama thanked the squirrels. As he stroked their dusty backs, their black fur beneath the dust was revealed and that is how the squirrels got their stripes. This tale is referred to in the Ramayana of India. The story emphasizes the dignity of labor and that even the smallest contribution is important in some way. The small-format book is enhanced by colorful folk-art illustrations inspired by miniature paintings of medieval Europe. mjw

Title: How The Squirrel Got His Stripes Author: Sam Perera Illustrator: Alex Stewart Publisher: Popsicle Books, an imprint of Perera Hussein Publishing House, Sri Lanka Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-955-0041-08-4 Paperback pages: 28 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book, Folktale Book setting: Sri Lanka and India Illustrator’s residence:  U.K. and Sri Lanka Subjects: Bridges, Folktales, Ramayana, Squirrels, Monkeys

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

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Nine-year-old Bruno and his family leave Berlin in 1942 to take up residence near a concentration camp, where his father will be commandant. Unhappy and lonely, Bruno disobeys his parents and goes out exploring near his new home. He finds Shmuel, a Jewish boy, behind a barbed-wire fence. They become friends. They do not understand the true nature of the camp. Bruno wants to help Shmuel find his father, who has mysteriously disappeared. He sneaks into the camp, wearing a striped prisoners’’ outfit. The two boys are taken on a march with other inmates. Briuno’s family never sees Bruno again. This tenth anniversary edition of the book, told from Bruno’s point of view, features powerful illustrations. There is also a 2008 award-winning movie adaptation of this international bestseller. mjw

Title: The Boy In The Striped Pajamas Author: John Boyne Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2006 ISBN: 978-0-399-55931-0 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Germany Author’s ethnicity: Irish Author’s residence: Dublin, Ireland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Irish Illustrator’s residence: New York Subjects: Auschwitz, Concentration camp, Holocaust, Jews, Nazis, Poland, World War II

One Half From The East

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Ten-year-old Obayda’s father lost one of his legs in a bomb explosion and the family is in need of some good fortune. They move from Kabul to s small village. Obayda is dressed as a boy, a bacha posh. This is a longstanding tradition in Afghanistan. Families without a son designate a preteen daughter to fill the void with a simple physical transformation involving swapping clothes and cutting hair. Before she reaches puberty, she is changed back and resumes life as a girl, a gender that enjoys far less freedom and privilege. Obayda becomes Obayd and everything changes. She meets Rashim, another bacha posh. They become friends, explore the village, and play sports, but there is no forever as a bacha posh. This heart-stirring and enlightening coming-of-age story includes an author’s note. mjw

Title: One Half From The East Author: Nadia Hashimi Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-0-06-242190-6 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Afghan Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2017 South Asia Book Award Highly Commended Subjects: Bacha posh, Child marriage, Gender, Prejudice and racism, Self-esteem and self-reliance

My Beautiful Birds

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Sami, his family, and his neighbors are escaping the bombs that have destroyed their Syrian home. Sami is heartbroken because he had to leave behind his pet pigeons. Once they reach the refugee camp and safety, everyone settles in as best they can. But Sami is not interested in soccer or painting. His life seems pointless. He cannot forget his birds. When some birds – a canary, a dove, and a rose finch – fly into the camp, Sami feeds them and provides material for their nests. This helps him begin his long healing process. Rich, textured illustrations fashioned from Plasticene, polymer clay, and other mixed media complement this moving story of one young refugee’s experience in the Syrian civil war. An author’s note gives information about refugee camps and the Syrian conflict. mjw

Title: My Beautiful Birds Author: Suzanne Del Rizzo Illustrator: Suzanne Del Rizzo Publisher: Pajama Press.  Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-010-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Syria Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Subjects: Birds, Homelessness, Illness, Loss, Middle East, Poverty, Refugee camps, Refugees, Syria

Canada Year By Year

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This amazing history book features one milestone per year of Canada’s 150-year history. Ten chapters are filled with sidebars, biographies, quotations, trivia, and fascinating illustrations. In 1910, the first chocolate bar in North America was developed in New Brunswick as a quick snack for fishermen. In 1922, Joseph-Armand Bombardier attached a car motor and an airplane propeller to a sleigh to create a snowmobile. In 1932, 17-year-old Joe Shuster sketched the first Superman. And in 2009, more than one-fifth of all smartphones used around the world were made by a Canadian company called Blackberry. This is the story of the people, places, and events that have shaped Canada. Back matter includes an index and an illustrated list of great Canadians – artists, athletes, politicians, and more.mjw

Title: Canada Year By Year Author: Elizabeth MacLeod Illustrator: Sydney Smith Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 22016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-397-4 Hardcover pages: 96 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Picture book, Information, Nonfiction Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Awards: Smith has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Canada, History, Reference