Tag archives for France
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BOOK NAME: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
AUTHOR: Brian Selznick
Have you ever read a book that was a piece of art and a great story at the same time? If not, then you’ll find that The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great book to try. In fact, it’s such a great book that they made it into a great move too and it has since won several Academy Awards. It is also impressive to say that you read a five hundred page book in one day, as long as you don’t mention that the majority of the book is pictures. However, you’ll find that this novel is like a picture book times a thousand with stunning illustrations, realistic characters, a nostalgic setting, and a mysterious adventure that will keep your eyes glued on the pages.
Hugo Cabret is a boy that lives in a magnificent train station in Paris. This boy’s father used to clean the clocks and make sure they stayed working. Hugo learned everything he knows from his father. He learned something new every day until the day his father died. Not wanting to go to an orphanage, he takes his father’s place so no one would notice his dad was gone. The only thing Hugo’s father left behind (besides his knowledge) was an automaton. An automaton is a complex humanoid “robot”. Hugo suspects his father left a secret message and when he gets it working he will understand.
On his own with no one to support him, Hugo goes through many tribulations, including to resorting to stealing. He steals food from the café, and steals small toys for parts for his automaton. The man who owns these toys catches him stealing and they come to find that they are not complete strangers.
This is a book that I think everyone should read, especially if you want to see the movie. This inspiring book is sure to be an instant classic.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Under a War-Torn Sky
AUTHOR: L.M. Elliott
I was first assigned to read Under a War-Torn Sky by L.M. Elliott for English class and wasn’t sure if I would really like it, but it turned out to be a great book filled with suspense and adventure.
The book is set during WWII and focuses on the adventures of 19 year old Henry Forester, a lieutenant in the US air force who flies fighter planes and does missions over Europe. Everything is going pretty well and it looks like Henry will make it home until his plane gets shot to the ground by German troops and suddenly, Henry finds himself behind enemy lines. Relying on the mercy and selfless bravery of others, he starts to journey through Europe back to Great Britain, where he can hopefully board a boat and sail home. Along the way he encounters many different people, such as courageous Pierre, the eight year old who hides Henry away in his family’s barn to keep him safe from German soldiers, to feisty Claudette, the teenager who desperately wants to join the French Resistance and get revenge on the Nazis for killing her family. Through Henry’s adventures and countless brushes with danger, he learns some important life lessons both about himself and about others. Will Henry manage to stay alive and make it home to the US? You’ll just have to read the book and find out!
This book got me hooked right from the first page. Although its very action packed and fast paced, its also thoughtful and well written, (which isn’t always the case with some war books.) Anyway, I think both girls and boys would really enjoy this novel
(some of my friends who are guys read it and really liked it) but I would recommend it to kids twelve and older, since it can be a little violent. Under a War-Torn Sky is a great book packed with action and adventure and I know you will love it!
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Eiffel Tower’s Daughter
AUTHOR: Bethany Huang
Swanilde is a French girl, whose world turns upside down when her divorced mother gets remarried. If that wasn’t enough, she overhears that her new stepfather is a spy for the French government. Swanilde decides to travel to her real father, and warn him. Who knows what this spy could be hiding?
On the way to her father, Swanilde meets a boy named Val, who she later finds out is her brother, who had run away many years before. Val and Swanilde reunite with their father. But then, Swanilde discovers that her family had been hiding a secret from her for her entire life. This secret is too hard to bear, and Swanilde decides to run away.
Swanilde ends up in France, Egypt, and even Greece! She goes on many journeys, which lead her to discover how important family really is.
I loved this book! While I was reading it, I could not put it down! I saw that there was a page about the author, so I decided to check it out. I was completely surprised when I found out that the author is actually ten years old! She writes amazingly well, and I strive to be like her. I hope you will read this book, it is worth your time!
BOOK NAME: A Time of Miracles
AUTHOR: Anne Laure Bondoux
The book A Time of Miracles by Anne Laure Bondoux is a great book, although it is not a book for all ages. I would say that it is a book for ages 11 and up.
Little Koumail, or “Mr. Blaise” as Gloria nicknamed him, had only lived through times of war and violence. His vision of the world was a harsh, dirty, violent place. Komail and Gloria, who was not his real mother, traveled from one refugee camp to another, trying to escape the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Who is Gloria, if she is not his real mother?” you may ask. Well, when Gloria was at the train station one day, many years before, there was a big accident. As Gloria tried to help everyone, she saw this lady in the corner, almost dying. The lady said to her, “Take my child, for I am not sure if I will survive.” Gloria took the baby and raised him as her son. In this book, you will take part in Gloria and Komail’s journey, as they try to reach the ultimate freedom in France. But at the end of the book, Gloria reveals Komail’s real story. It’s a very shocking thing, to find out that Gloria lied to him all these years. You’ll just have to read the book to accompany Gloria and Komail on their amazing travels, and find out what the true story is.
I really liked this book. Some parts may be a bit difficult to understand. You can do what I did. I asked my mom. My favorite thing about this book was how little Komail survived his childhood. It made me realize how lucky I am that I live in a peaceful time. I think Anne Laure Bondoux is a great writer. Her writing style keeps you curious to know more about the story! Something I thought was very interesting about the book was that every three or four pages was a new chapter! It’s just a type of writing I’m not used to. There was even a chapter that was only two paragraphs long! I recommend this book to anyone 11 and over.
