A gripping exploration of war-induced trauma, identity, and transformation.
A 12-year-old Ukrainian girl arrives in Canada after World War II and struggles to make sense of her jumbled memories of battle-scarred Germany.
After five years in a displaced persons camp, Nadia Kravchuk arrives in Brantford, Ontario, accompanied by her adoptive mother, Marusia. When Nadia’s fellow classmates are convinced by her blonde hair and blue eyes that she is a Nazi, Marusia repeatedly assures Nadia that’s not the case. Eventually, Nadia safely relives her trauma in order to solve the puzzle of who she really is—not Nadia Kravchuk nor Gretchen Himmel, the German identity she assumed to survive, but someone else entirely…Larissa, the younger sister of Lida, the protagonist of Skrypuch’s Making Bombs for Hitler (2016). The author once again deftly sheds light on lesser-known aspects of the Ukrainian experience during WWII. Via flashbacks and nightmares, she gradually fleshes out Nadia’s painful history of abduction from her original family and subsequent placement in a German household. As further explained in the author’s note, this was part of the Lebensborn program, an effort to identify and mark blond and blue-eyed Ukrainian children as Aryans and force them to live with Nazi families in order to augment the building of a master race.
A gripping exploration of war-induced trauma, identity, and transformation. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-23304-9
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2018
A delightful celebration of friendship, fandom, and finding the confidence to be yourself.
Four girls with the same first name bond over music, middle school, and friendship.
A new school year and the dream of attending a Taylor Swift concert set the stage for a sweet, relationship-driven story. Shy, anxious Taylor Bennett, who goes by “Teffy,” starts fifth grade feeling out of place—until she meets three other girls named Taylor, each a devoted Swiftie like her. There’s loyal, bold athlete Taylor “TS” Shaw, imaginative, fast-talking Taylor “Tay Tay” Johnson, and outspoken, magnetic Taylor Perez. Their shared name and their love of the pop star’s lyrics spark an instant connection that helps Teffy push past her fear of making new friends. Together, the Taylors face cafeteria drama, social setbacks, and the ultimate quest: finding affordable tickets to the Eras Tour. The story captures middle school experiences with authenticity and humor, centering on girls who lead with kindness, creativity, and self-empowerment. The conflicts stay age-appropriate—friendship politics, shifting lunch tables, the development of a sense of identity—but the emotional stakes feel real. Teffy’s internal monologue, her admiration for her namesake, and her slow-building confidence are especially resonant. Musical references, an inclusive cast (the Taylors are cued white, Black, and Latine), and a cozy Indianapolis school setting enrich the narrative. Concert dreams and friendship bracelets add charm to this upbeat, affirming tale.
A delightful celebration of friendship, fandom, and finding the confidence to be yourself. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781546176770
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
A delightful concept well executed, this volume is sure to find many fans.
Four sisters in a Muslim, Pakistani American family star in Khan’s (Amina’s Voice, 2017) 21st-century update to a beloved classic of American literature.
The narrator is Jam (short for Jameela), a seventh grader bent on becoming a journalist. Her family newsletter, Mirza Memos, is all hers, but on the school newspaper she fights to make her voice heard about publishing important subjects. Her older sister, Maryam, is in high school. Maryam’s beauty is what people notice, but she is also studious, responsible, and caring. The youngest, Aleeza, brings out the worst of Jam’s temper, while gentle Bisma brings out Jam’s protective, loving instincts. Exit Baba (their father) for an international work contract; enter Ali, a cute British Pakistani boy who befriends all the girls, but especially Jam. Add money problems and the sudden discovery of a serious illness for Bisma, and you have a carbon copy of Little Womenthat feels comfortingly familiar yet also entirely new, like an old friend given a makeover. The characters are believable and endearing, and their problems are emotionally weighty. The ways they find to support each other through difficulties, to fight, and to forgive highlight the reasons why Little Womenstill finds adoring fans. Cultural content such as Jam’s article on microaggressions and the Mirza family’s no-dating rule (despite Ali’s flirtation) add interest as well.
A delightful concept well executed, this volume is sure to find many fans. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9209-6
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
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