The Mozart Question by Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo writes so simply but with so much impact. The story is nominally about a young journalist who has an interview with a famous violinist. The journalist is told not to ask him the “Mozart question”. Of course, she does somehow come around to it and thus begins the story of how musical inmates of certain concentration camps were made to play classical music (and especially Mozart) as trains of new inmates came in to the camps.

While these musical inmates were better fed and treated, it left them with terrible guilt which they continued to live with even after the war. Young readers would need to have some background information about the Holocaust to understand the full meaning of the book.

A small free kiss in the dark by Glenda Millard

Skip has gone from foster home to foster home and never fitted in so he wanders the streets, finally finding a sort of friendship with an old man called Billy. When a war begins, survival gets harder, especially when three extra people get added to the group. There is no certainty that any of them will survive.

When the war began by John Marsden

This is the first in a series about a group of teenagers who are camping in a very isolated bush area when Australia is invaded. There are many in the series. Imagine if you and your friends were the only ones around to help save your country from invaders. Exciting, scary stuff.

This is a trailer for the movie which is to be released later in 2010.

Sarny: A life remembered by Gary Paulsen

Sequel to Nightjohn. This is everything that happens after Nightjohn leaves. It begins in 1930 with Sarny looking back over her life and thinking about her life.

Sarny takes us through her loves, children, liberation and the frantic search that she sends herself on during the fighting of the Civil War. Instead of heading north away from the battles, she heads south – you’ll have to read it to find out why.

Despite all the terror and horror of war that she lives through, she has many opportunities later in life. But she remains true to her character – following on from what Nightjohn has taught her – that education is everything for her people – no matter what.

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

A very short but incredibly powerful novel about slavery in the Southern States of America before the Civil War. Nighjohn comes onto the property and teaches Sarny, a twelve-year old girl, how to read. The cruelty of the era is out there for you to read about. It is incredible to believe that such suffering was inflicted on one group of human beings, simply because of the colour of their skin.

Nightjohn knows that the only way that things will change is if the slaves can read and learn. The sequel Sarny is even more interesting.

City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

It takes me a while to give in and read these really popular books. But I did and I have to say that I was really disappointed. While I thought “Twilight” was a great read with lots of tension and excitement, I found this one a bit ridiculous with the demon hunters and stuff. I suppose I’m not much of a fantasy reader to start with.

So sorry to disagree with the many girls who have read and loved the whole series – I won’t be reading the other two. But then, that’s what reading’s all about – we’re all different (thank heavens) and we won’t always like what other people do. So you should try it if you haven’t read it, and see if you agree with me or the many girls who love this series.

Little Paradise by Gabrielle Wang

Mirabel loves designing dresses and is nearly finished school. But it’s 1943 in Melbourne and there are soldiers everywhere to attract young girls. Mirabel falls for a Chinese soldier and the consequences of this love have life-changing consequences.

This is based on a true story. Her bravery following her man to Shanghai and even into dangerous parts of China during wartime show her true qualities. this is a great read – lots of excitement and interest watching her family try to come to terms with the events in her life.

The Kites are Flying by Michael Morpurgo, ill. By Laura Carlin

Set on the West Bank, a photojournalist from London meets a young Palestinian boy with his herd of sheep. They connect but the boy does not speak. Rather, he spends his time making kites and is fascinated with the journalist’s camera. Alternate chapters are narrated by the boy.  Events lead to the journalist getting more of a film than he expected. A beautifully told novella by the master of story.

http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/home/ his website – all about the books as well as activities and videos about his writing

How I live now by Meg Rosoff

How I Live Now

OMG!! I had held off  reading this book seeing it was hardly ever on the shelf. and everyone raved about it so I didn’t see a need to read it. But then I got curious – was it as good as everyone made it out to be.

Short answer? YES!!! I was taken in completely by the narrator – Daisy – listening to her story. How she went to stay with her cousins in England when a war was brewing and how they were left to fend for themselves after the war broke out, separating the family from the only adult – Aunt Penn.

The love story bit I’ll leave for you to read, but I can understand why it caused a bit of a furore. But it is  a very deep love and seems to bouy Daisy through the events of the war. I can’t say much else, but read it. Apparently a first novel – I know Meg Rosoff has written other books – think I might give them a go as well.