Tag Archives: jennifer nielsen

Resistance By: Jennifer A. Nielsen

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Resistance portrays Chaya Lindner, a Jewish teenager who lives in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War 2. When her younger sister is taken to a death camp and her brother mysteriously disappears Chaya is left all alone with her parents. To survive Chaya’s parents send her into the countryside all alone with no resources. Chaya goes to the house of old friends who live outside the ghetto system, they then recruit her to be a courier who smuggles food in and people out of the ghettos.

Chaya, inspired to do more, joins a resistance cell that raids Nazi supplies. After a few missions, something goes horribly wrong and many of her friends and colleagues are arrested or killed. Unsure where to go, Chaya enlists Esther, a cell member. They begin their journey to the Warsaw Ghetto for an even larger uprising than ever before.

I really like this book and have periodically reread it many times. I find the characters inspiring and thought the storyline kept me hooked and intrigued the entire read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, more specifically World War 2. Also, anyone who enjoys books with deep friendships and very emotional and heartfelt moments.

Resistance by Jennifer Nielsen is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Book Review: A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielson

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Over the course of one strange night, the family of twelve-year-old Gerta was abruptly divided. The rise of the Berlin Wall created an impenetrable boundary between West Berlin and East Berlin. Gerta’s family was split up; with her father and middle brother in the west and her, her oldest brother, and her mother trapped in the Soviet-controlled east.

Living in East Berlin is dangerous, with soldiers patrolling the city with guns at the ready all day long. Citizens are forbidden to watch the wall, think thoughts of freedom, or travel to the west. Any attempt of escape could end with deadly consequences. But one day, Gerta receives peculiar messages from her father and concludes that he wants them to dig a tunnel beneath the wall into West Berlin.

Gerta and her brother Fritz are at war with themselves, conflicted about whether they are ready to put their lives at risk for a chance of freedom. Gerta grows unsure of the people around her. Neighbors, friends… Can any of them be trusted? As the day that Fritz must report to military duty draws near, panic rises in Gerta and her family. Approaching is their one opportunity to escape to freedom in the west.

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen is a historical fiction novel about the aftermath of World War II and its effects on a German family living in the east. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even though it’s different from the books I normally prefer. As a historical fiction novel, it dove deep into showing the impact that wartime can have on a country and how the world around a population of people can change. At the same time, it details how a war and a corrupt government can affect the lives of individual people, their emotions, and the way they grow. I truly enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to readers of all kinds, especially those who already like historical fiction.

Happy reading!

-Lam T.

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Shadow Throne, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

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shadow_throneI was really excited for the release of the final book in the Ascendance trilogy. In it, Imogen is kidnapped AGAIN, King Vargan of Mendanwal (remember him?) launches an attack on Carthya, and ***spoiler alert*** Imogen dies.

I appreciated the fact that there was a lot of battle scenes, but, in a way, it was a bit of a let down, being of the action-adventure genre, and you’d expect a lot more of the “action” part. However, there is a little bit of romance in it as well, and that was one of the things that I didn’t really like about it; for others it may be just the thing that makes the book one of their favorites.

I had expected a lot more from the “thrilling” conclusion to the Ascendance trilogy, but if there’s nothing else to read, I say go for it. Who knows? It may be just the right thing for the reader. Appropriate for all ages, like the two books before it, it was good in some parts, and just meh in others. Overall, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it, but it’s an okay read. I would probably rate this a 7 out of 10, while the others before it were a lot better. In my opinion, after having great expectations for this book, I consider it to be a bit of a let-down.

-Linna C., 7th grade

Book Review: The Runaway King, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

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runawayking_coverVery similarly to the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, The False Prince, The Runaway King is a great book that is suitable for most ages. However, there tends to be a touch of violence, so it might be a tad more appropriate for ages 12 and up. Even though it contains a lot of action, it does have a few parts that will  make you laugh. It is a good book that combines adventure, mystery, and a good bit of humor.

If you have read the first book (see my review), you will know that the characters- mainly our hero, Sage- always managed to get into quite a bit of trouble. In this amazing sequel, their lives are in so much more danger than in the first book. Allies may be enemies and vice-versa! Secrets will be unveiled! The story unfolds quickly, not letting you escape, and things, whether good or bad, may be hiding around every bend!

I highly praise the author of the Ascendance trilogy, Jennifer A. Nielsen, for the wonders she has created for us  in the way of a book. It would be a real shame to miss out on this thrilling sequel. If you liked the first book, then you’ll love the second one. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you hungry for more!

-Linna C., 6th grade

Book Review: The False Prince

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false_prince_coverThis is my first time writing a blog. Enjoy!

The False Prince, by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a good book for people of all ages. It is a book that quite nicely combines fantasy and mystery, with an added element of suspense that always keeps you hooked.

You, as the reader, discover secrets that would never have even crossed your mind. The False Prince is the kind of book that you’d never want to put down. An excellent book that you wouldn’t want to miss out on, it is the kind of book that just makes you want to read it as often as you can.

At the beginning, our protagonist, Sage, lives in Mrs. Turbeldy’s orphanage for boys. However, one day, a nobleman named Conner comes to the orphanage and buys Sage. Sage meets three other orphan boys: Roden, Tobias, and Latamer. Connor takes the four of them away, and gives hints to what his plan would be: to choose one of the four boys, and have him take the throne that belonged to lost Prince Jaron of Carthya! The reader also learns that whoever isn’t chosen would be killed to protect the secret!

A fantastic book that you wouldn’t want to miss, The False Prince is a book that I highly recommend reading. The False Prince is only the first in the Ascendance trilogy. The second book, The Runaway King, the second book in the series, is just as great. I also recommend reading that one as well.

-Linna C., 6th grade