Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson. This biography in verse is about Zhanna Arshanskaya, a young Ukrainian Jewish girl who used the alias, "Anna", and her piano-playing skills to hide in plain sight and save herself and her younger sister, Frina, during the Holocaust. Zhanna and her family were living a charmed life when the Germans invaded Ukraine. Zhanna and Frina had to leave one of the world's top conservatories where they were learning to play piano and the Nazis forced them and their parents on a frigid death march. During this march, a guard turned a blind eye and Zhanna's father urged her to slip away and live. Although Zhanna initially thought she was alone, Frina showed up later having also escaped. Until the end of World War II, the two sisters adopted aliases and used their musical talent to survive. Their escape took them all the way from Ukraine to the United States where decades later Zhanna's granddaughter, Aimée Dawson, sent her a letter for a school history project asking her what life was like when she was thirteen.

This book was one of the most riveting true stories I have ever read. It was utterly fascinating how Zhanna and Frina could hide their Jewish identities while playing piano in public. I had never heard of a story like theirs before. I also really liked the use of poetry because the author used many different types. Two of my favorites were the shape poems, "Pyramid Scheme" and "Spinning Secrets". I also thought the reverso poem, "What Goes Around Comes Around" was compelling. After reading Just a Girl by Lia Levi and learning about how World War II and the Holocaust affected the lives of an Italian Jewish girl and her sisters, I enjoyed broadening my perspective through Zhanna and Frina's story, which showcased the struggles of Ukrainian Jews during the same time period. Although life was difficult for Zhanna and Frina, they showed a great deal of courage and strength through their journey. Their story is inspirational. Additionally, this book has tons of back matter, including notes, photographs, the letters, an afterward by Greg Dawson, a list of the music pieces Zhanna and Frina played, fascinating facts about Hitler, Stalin, and music, a list of places to visit to learn more, poetry notes, and lists of sources. Anyone who is interested in survival stories and how the Holocaust affected children should read Alias Anna.

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

 

Yesterday evening, I finished reading Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. This contemporary thriller is about two high school seniors, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, who are the only Black students at their private high school, Niveus Private Academy. After they're both selected as senior class prefects, they begin getting anonymous text messages from Aces, who appears to know both Devon's and Chiamaka's secrets. Although it seems like a prank at first, as Aces reveals more about Devon and Chiamaka, they realize that Aces is intent on destroying their futures. When they make a startling discovery, they must find a way to stop Aces before the game becomes deadly.

This book was absolutely fantastic, one of the best young adult thrillers I have ever read. It had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who Aces was and what their motivation was. I found myself rooting for Devon and Chiamaka the whole time, despite their secrets, and wanted them to figure out the mystery of Aces and do something about the situation before it was too late. As I learned more and more about Aces, I was utterly disturbed by how sinister their plans really were. I loved the plot twists and the climax of this book, though, and the ending was completely satisfying. Exploring the issues of racism, bullying, homophobia, and suicidal ideation, Ace of Spaces is an outstanding choice for mature teen readers who enjoy mystery and suspense.

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser

Last night, I finished reading A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser. This realistic fiction novel is about June Yang, a girl who has to move into a homeless shelter, Huey House, with her younger sister, Maybelle, after their their dad is killed in a car accident and their mom loses her job. Although Huey House seems like a jail at first, the head of security, Marcus, makes sure that June can keep her precious viola even though instruments are against the rules. The two sisters also meet Tyrell Chee, a boy who has been at Huey House for three years and has an interest in classical music, and his best friend Jeremiah. Through their friendship, June realizes that maybe Huey House can be a home for her family. As the autumn days go by, the kids learn of a government policy to force families to move out after only ninety days and decide it's up to them to save their home.

This story was absolutely amazing. Although I felt bad for June and her family at first when they had to move into Huey House, I enjoyed how they connected with the other families and grew to truly like the place. While I thought June deserved a chance to be a kid, she was a supportive older sister who looked after Maybelle when their mom couldn't bring herself to take care of them. I also adored the friendship that developed between June and Tyrell because of their shared interest in music and playing an instrument. It was really cool how Lulu's abuela talked to a neighbor, Domenika, about giving June viola lessons and then June used the opportunity to convince Domenika to also teach Tyrell. The emotional moments in this story were quite moving and my heart broke for both Tyrell and June because of the losses they experienced both before the book began and during the story. With that said, I loved the climax and it made me happy seeing that kids can make a difference. A Duet for Home is eye-opening into the issue of homelessness and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys music and/or stories of family and friendship.