Remember the Alan Gratz book your grade level read for summer reading? His latest book, Allies, published in October 2019, is the story of one 24-hour period in history: D-Day, June 6, 1944. We usually think about and hear and see the soldiers coming off those boats along the coast of Normandy, France, the bombardment they faced from the Germans, and the incredible loss of life when we learn about D-Day. But the invasion wasn't just getting up onto that beach. Many others were coordinating efforts behind the scenes with paratrooper air drops in the early morning hours, the French Resistance cutting telephone wires and blowing up train tracks, female news reporters and medics who tried to save lives on the beach, and so much more. Gratz weaves the stories of all these characters into his novel about the invasion, giving insight about all the events of that day. As a bonus, listen to Alan Gratz tell about these different events he researched in his own words.
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Try this Hogwarts Digital Escape Room created by Sydney Krawiec, Youth Services Librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA. Suitable for Grades 5 and up.
Sepetys writes about those little-known periods of history that really should be brought to light. Her latest book is set in Madrid, Spain in 1957 under the rule of ruthless dictator Francisco Franco. The wealthy flood to this seemingly sunny land in search of a good time while life is anything but for most Spaniards. Eighteen-year-old Daniel has traveled from Texas with his parents, his father - an oil tycoon and his mother who is anxious to visit the country of her birth. Daniel’s father expects him to enter the family business, but Daniel’s passion is photography and he sets out to capture the heart of Spain in photos and win a college art scholarship. Ana is a maid at the Hilton Hotel where Daniel’s family is staying and is assigned to “serve” his family. Her father was killed and her mother imprisoned by Franco for working with the resistance movement. Trying to keep her head down, she needs this job to support her siblings, but she finds herself trying to help Daniel with his photography and eventually getting drawn into dangerous activities, losing her job. Mystery, the dark side of this period of Spain’s history, and forbidden romance all make this novel a delicious read for high school students. |
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