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Wilson, John
8 Reviews
(3)
4-6
Wilson compiles writings and sketches done by Canadian soldier R.H. Rabjohn, a trained artist tasked with mapping trenches during the Great War. Rabjohn's realistic, in-the-moment renditions of action reveal the horrors of war; the brief diary excerpts are expanded on by Wilson to complete the poignant portrait of a young soldier in conflict. A valuable addition to the WWI record. Reading list, timeline. Ind.
Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg
(4)
4-6
Orca Currents series.
In this follow-up to Stolen, Sam and Annabel head to Canada to visit Sam's mom and a dinosaur excavation site, where the teens cross paths with fossil thieves. At times, the book's references feel out of touch with its intended audience (reluctant readers), but a subplot--Sam gets jealous when Annabel befriends a young paleontologist--adds a bit of character depth.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(4)
4-6
Orca Currents series.
New to Australia, Sam is befriended by Annabel, an employee at the local museum. The two embark on a search for a legendary shipwreck but are soon distracted by the theft of the Loch Ard peacock, the museum's prized artifact. The straightforward story is entertaining but lacks the suspenseful twists of most mysteries.
Reviewer: Andrea Curtis
(4)
K-3
I Wonder Why series.
These books present information about the traits of a variety of pets including fish, cats, dogs, hamsters, and farm animals, all shown in realistic pastel-hued illustrations. Lift-the-flap half pages reveal pet questions and answers, many of which are vague and/or random. Each volume provides a very general overview for animal lovers. Ind. Review covers these I Wonder Why titles: Farm Animals and Pets.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
(4)
YA
Vicious Catholic clergymen persecute benevolent Cathars in thirteenth-century France as two childhood friends, Peter and John, explore the philosophies and futures each sect offers. Despite an intriguing topic, this exploration of faith and power ends up being too superficial. Wilson's prose is descriptive of the time, but can be plodding.
Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac
(4)
YA
Jake Clay enlists in the Union army after his brother's death at Antietam. Quickly captured, Jake is marched to a Confederate prison camp. This dark, often grisly story effectively lingers on the camp's horrific conditions: overcrowding, starvation, contaminated water, inadequate shelter, disease, and death. Though the writing can be choppy, Wilson dramatically reveals the difficult choices Jake must make to survive.
Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett
(4)
YA
Writing in his diary, teenager Jim Hay records his experiences during World War I. The story begins with Jim as a fifteen-year-old who recently losts his father in the war and his brokenhearted mother shortly after. By the end, he's a young married soldier facing the harsh realities of war. Although the book seems a bit heavy-handed at times, this is a well-written novel revealing the soldiers behind the guns.
Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto
(4)
YA
On the run during the waning days of World War II, German teenager Dieter and his younger sister encounter a wounded Canadian soldier. As Dieter tells Joe his story, a series of flashbacks depict his transformation from an average middle-class boy to a young soldier with the SS. Though some of the characterizations are strong, the dialogue is often awkwardly contrived to reveal factual information about the war.
Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta
8 reviews
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