Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


A Place for Delta by Melissa Walker

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on July 30, 2010
Posted in Books Read in 2010Children's BooksEnvironment  | 6 Comments

Written for children between the ages 0f 9-14, A Place for Delta is the story of Joseph, an 11 year old boy who is asked by his aunt Kate Morse to come to Barrow, Alaska to help care for an orphaned polar bear cub, Delta. Off course, he jumps at the chance and with his parents permission, he spent the entire summer in a scientific research centre, really a shack, in the Arctic.


This story in not just a cute animal story for kids. It has several layers that has appeal for adults as well. It is a multi-generational story of the Morse family and weaves together a plot of mystery, global warming, politics, love, and friendship.

While in Barrow, Joseph becomes friends with Ada and together they investigate how Delta became orphaned. They finally bring the information they gather to the adults and get help. It becomes clear that the oil companies are somehow involved. 
 by Richard Walker in A Place for Delta (c) 2010
Winner of the 2010 International Book Award for best Children’s Fiction, A Place for Delta is destined to become a classic, with rich illustrations by Richard Walker of drawing and wood cuts and simple yet elegant writing by Melissa Walker. Walker uses a well developed story and plot without the more modern devices such as witches and vampires. It is the kind of book that I read and loved as a child. Now, as an adult, I loved this story and it will stay with me for a long time.
Melissa Walker has been a Professor of English at the University of New Orleans and Mercer University and a Fellow in Women’s Studies at Emory University. She’s a vocal advocate for civil rights and for wilderness. Her previous books include Reading the Environment (W.W.Norton, 1994) and Living on Wilderness Time: 200 Days Alone in America’s Wild Places (Univ. of Va. Press, 2002). She lives with her husband Jerome in Atlanta and spends much of the summer in Alaska.
5/5
Thanks to Lisa Roe, Online Publicist for this book.
Also reviewed by:

Beth Fish Reads
Reading Vacations

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Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Restitution by Kathy Kacer

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on July 27, 2010
Posted in Books Read in 2010WWII  | 12 Comments

Restitution is the true story of one families’ struggle to escape Czechoslovakia right after Hitler’s invasion. Marie Reeser, the matriarch of the family enlists the aid of her husband, Victor’s non-Jewish business associate, Alois Jirak to help her hideaway the families’ valuables to claim back later. He is also given power of attorney. A big part of the belongings were four paintings which, she adored. She then arranges for her two children, Karl and Hana and herself to meet up with her husband, Victor in France. From there, they escaped to Toronto, Ontario Canada.

Soon after the war ends, Marie and Victor return to Czechoslovakia, in part to reclaim the family’s belongings, including paintings that Marie loves so much. The Communist party has taken over the family home and there is no way to re-claim it. However, Alois Jirak is still there but does not want to give up the paintings and with the Communist party taking over the country, Marie and Victor are forced to flee again, without the beloved paintings.
50 years later, well after Victor and Marie’s death, their son Karl receives a letter from Alois Jirak’s grandson. He says that he inherited four painting but found out that they are rightfully owned by the Reeser family and would like to return them if possible.
What follows is the story of how Karl finally gets the paintings back. It is a story of friendship, betrayal, an “honest” smuggler, and restitution. Told seamlessly in part memoir and part fiction by ghost writer, Kathy Kacer Ms. Kacer writes a suspenseful story that reads like a novel.
I highly recommend it!
4.5/5
Thanks to Annie Paikeday, Marketing/Editorial Intern for Second Story Press for this book.
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Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Thanks again to Anna Balasi of Hachette Books for making this giveaway possible.

The Winners are:
Just Mom
Nfmgirl (already won)
MJ

Congratulations!  I emailed all three of you.  Please respond with your shipping address within 3 days to claim your prize.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.