Review: Earlier Reads, Reviewed (Briefly)

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

A sad classic. Should be required reading fo all time.

My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier

I read this book in junior high and played the part of “Sam” in a class re-enactment. I remember the book being interesting and a bit sad. Worth the read.

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

Extremely moving story about a young man claiming his adulthood. Rudi is determined to fulfill his father’s dream, a dream the man died for – but, while Rudi does turn out to be the man his father would have hoped for, the accomplishment is somewhat unexpected. The story lags a bit at times, sometimes overly descriptive, but in general this is a touching, inspirational coming-of-age-story, stressing the importance of being true to one’s self and to one’s fellow-man.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Very cute story about a lost cricket who is discovered to be a musical prodigy by his two subway friends, a cat and a mouse. A few instances of “humorous” racism (unconscious on the part of the author, I believe, but still present) against Italians and Chinese people can make the sensitive reader a bit uncomfortable, but the story is well intended and entertaining for children.