The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

If you haven't read this book or seen this movie then I highly recommend you do.  I read the book several years ago.  It was written for students in the 9 to 16 age level.  It is a story about an eight year old boy named Bruno whose father was high up in the SS division of the German Army during WWII.  Bruno's father moved the family from Berlin to somewhere out in the countryside.  Bruno's father has taken over as Commandant of Auschwitz.  Being an adventurous 8 year old, Bruno discovers a boy living at what Bruno thinks is a farm and whose life and circumstances are very different from his own.  Their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences .  As Bruno struggles to make sense of things going on around him, he is also faced with a truth about himself and his father.

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas was made into a movie that follows the storyline well.  I recently watched the movie again, this time with my nine year old grandson, Blake.  Needless to say it made a profound impression on him.  It is a story he will never forget.  5 stars

  

The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank, by Ella Feldman

Very interesting perspective. This fictional novel takes the premise that Peter (a member of the other family living in hiding with Anne Frank's family) had somehow escaped the holocaust and made his way to America.  An engrossing book.  If only Peter (and all the rest) had lived. Just think what a different world this would have been. This book, even though it was fiction,  made me think of Peter and Anne for months.  4 stars

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

A lovely book to read. You'll love Enzo the dog and his outlook on life. We could all take life lessons from him. If you have a pet, it may make you look a little closer and wonder what they are really thinking about. A good book with a good message.

Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall

I am very familiar with the Union Gospel Mission featured in this book. They do an incredible job with the hungry and homeless people in Fort Worth, Texas. The think I liked most about this book was that the Halls didn't just talk about the issue of hunger and homelessness, they didn't just write a check and walk away, they actually stepped in and got involved with the mission and the people. By doing so, they established a beautiful relationship with Denver. This book had a very powerful message that we all should get.

The Harlot by Saskia Walker

I don't normally read Romance novels and Harlot reminded me why. Only with Harlot, my level of acceptence was pushed beyond limit. I enjoy romantic or erotic novels but I thought this one was smut. Too much drama and every kind of deviant sex imagineable. Thrown into the pot were gay/lesbian, S and M, rape, beastiality, self gratification, just to name a few. Take the sex out of the book and you have a poorly written book. Put the sex back into the book and you have a poorly written smutty book. Sorry, I just did not like this one.   If you are really into the Romance novel genre you might give it a try, but be prepared for the sex that is not really relative to the story.  It was a turnoff for me.