Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Ages 10 and up

Annemarie is in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1943, when Nazis have taken over.  At first, Annemarie doesn’t think much about it, as she hasn’t been directly affected.  Eventually, her best friend Ellen, and her family, are in danger so Annemarie takes greater steps to be brave, courageous and to see as much of the truth as she can handle.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

Ages 11 and up

The book is written in freestyle verse, from the viewpoint of Billie Jo, the female protagonist. Billie Jo, her father, and her mother (who is with child) live in Cimarron County (in the panhandle of Oklahoma) during the dust storms of the 1930s.  Billie Jo describes life, and the way that her family tries to keep going in spite of the dust and dirt on everything they own.  Early on in the story, Billie Jo’s mother (and the baby) after a horrible accident that was caused by carelessness.  The rest of the story is about how Billie Jo and her father exist around each other while they each grieve.

My Rating:  5 Stars