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This book started off very strong for me. I really enjoyed Ishiguro’s writing style, but then the story bogged down in the middle, and by the ending, I was really mad. I didn’t like [...]]]> This review will contain spoilers, so don’t read on if you want to read this book in the future!

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This book started off very strong for me. I really enjoyed Ishiguro’s writing style, but then the story bogged down in the middle, and by the ending, I was really mad. I didn’t like how it ended AT ALL. So they do nothing? They just coolly accept their fate? That, to me, proves to me that the “students” were soulless. They never truly loved each other from my perspective, and they couldn’t see that they could at least TRY to get out of their situation? I’m wondering what Ishiguro’s point here was. Is he saying they had a soul or not? If you’ve read the book, please give me your take!

(Oh, and another thing. . . is disorientated a word? I always thought it was disoriented. Just another thing that irked me.)

2005, 288 pp.
Rating: 3.5

1989, 144 pp.

Newbery Medal

Rating: 4.5

This was an excellent children’s book. I read it in a couple of hours while the rest of my family was at the movie theatre.

Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen live in Copenhagen. They are neighbors and best friends. Ellen and her family are Jewish [...]]]> Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry

1989, 144 pp.

Newbery Medal

Rating: 4.5

This was an excellent children’s book. I read it in a couple of hours while the rest of my family was at the movie theatre.

Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen live in Copenhagen. They are neighbors and best friends. Ellen and her family are Jewish and World War II is going on; consequently they are in very real danger and Annemarie’s family does everything they can to help them.

I can’t really say much more without giving the whole story line away. This book fascinated me because many of the details are based on factual evidence. Books like these truly make history come alive and make the reader eager to do more research on the subject.

Highly recommended.

Lisa – June 19, 2007

I read this one this week as well. I thought it was good but didn’t love it. I think this is in part because I recently read The Book Thief which overshadows this one. I posted a short review this morning.

Trish – June 19, 2007

I loved loved loved this book as a kid (I think we read it in 4th or 5th grade) and I re-read it again as a YA. I guess I should now read it as an adult!As a side-tid-bit: I learned the word disdain from this book. I can still remember how the babysister disdained her fish shoes. Quite an impression.