Skip to main content

Review: Tree. Table. Book.

By
 
By Lois Lowry
New York: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024. 194 pages.

The two Sophies are best friends and neighbors, even though one is eleven and the other is eighty-eight they have a special bond. Younger Sophie sets the scene of the idyllic suburban street they live on with its charming cast of characters. Initially, all seems well, however it soon becomes apparent that older Sophie is becoming more and more forgetful. When the threat of older Sophie potentially moving into an assisted living facility nearer to her son looms, younger Sophie is determined to prove that older Sophie is still capable of living independently. So, she starts unofficially administering one of the diagnostic tests to determine if a person has dementia which includes being able to repeat a list of items. Through this process the Sophies will go on a journey together into older Sophie's past as a young Jewish girl living in Poland during the Nazi regime. 

Tree. Table. Book. is a poignant reminder of the enduring bonds of friendship and the resiliency of a generation who endured unspeakable trauma during World War II. This story serves as a connection to  younger generations to never forget a history that must not be repeated. Lois Lowry handles this topic in a sensitive way that is appropriate for tween readers, and it serves as a good introduction to this period of time as well as what the onset of dementia can look like. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

By
If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.
Post a Comment
Read more

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

By loo
Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The New Girl

By
The New Girl By Cassandra Calin New York: Graphix, 2024. Comic. 261 pages. 12-year-old Lia and her family have just moved from Romania to Montreal, and she's doing her best to keep up with the changes. But, she's homesick. She misses the rest of her family, her friends, and her favorite Romanian treats. She doesn't speak French and her English is shaky, which makes it hard to make friends, even in her international immersion class. And she's dealing with super painful menstrual cramps every month. But before long, Lia starts to hit her stride. She befriends the other bilingual girls in her class, she gets a spot as the artist for her school's magazine, and even has a new crush -- Julien. Though she may be the new girl, Lia is starting to fit in. This slice of life graphic novel is an adorable choice for middle grade readers and young teens. Lia is a likable protagonist and readers will have little difficulty relating to her adjustment to school. The text speaks to a...
Post a Comment
Read more