I've been reading alot of non-fiction lately. I'm still working on Prairie Fires, but I just couldn't help scooping up some more non-fiction to add to my pile.
This one actually blends fact with fiction, but it is inspired by the story of Dita Kraus, who was a Jewish prisoner at the Nazi death camp.
The 'library' consisted of only eight battered books, but since books were forbidden, she risked her life to protect them and circulate them among the other prisoners.
This book has gotten quite bit of attention recently. I've been reading about it in publishing magazines, hearing about it on NPR, and seeing articles pop up online about these women. They worked in factories, painting clock faces with newly discovered radium, and it was too late before we discovered the horrifying effects they would suffer as a result of their exposure.
This book was easy to dive right into. With discussions on common language, ("You guys" referring to a group of men and women, sexist expressions ("You throw like a girl"), the messages we receive about our bodies from fashion magazines and advertisements, and the words we use to refer to female genitalia. The foreword is by Emma Watson, and so of course if Hermione/Belle is impressed with the book's content, then it's worth a read.
I would recommend adding this to a highschool/YA collection, but some of the tongue-in-cheek remarks, terminology and sarcasm might be too much for a middle-school audience.
No comments:
Post a Comment