Nonfiction - Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound

Lisa

                                                  photo credit: Amazon.com

In the 1950’s, Detriot was known as the Motor city, the hub of the Ford Motor Company. It also became known as Music City, the birthplace of a new genre of music that would transcend cultural and racial barriers to become the “Voice of Young America” (p.107). Rhythm Ride takes us on a journey from a small garage recording studio (known as “Hitsville, USA”), to places throughout the United States and beyond. The success of Motown was fueled by the vision and drive of Gordon Berry, who founded and ran the record company on three basic beliefs: raw talent needed to be blended with hard work; every member of the team had an important job and equal say; and respect for all people. He discovered local talented singers and incorporated the assembly-line strategy with a nurturing environment to produce polished and poised shiny stars with even brighter hits. For almost 30 years, Motown employees and performers followed a strict code of ethics, insisted on quality control, and never lost sight of their Detriot roots. The result was one of the most successful companies in music recording history, and a legion of fans that when asked, “If you only had a dollar in your pocket, and you were hungry, would you buy a hot dog or this record?” (p.32), would simply go hungry.

Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound is a fascinating book that depicts one man’s aspirations to create a music company whose songs would have mass appeal and give credit to the songwriters and performers who created them. The author transports the reader to an era in American history, exploring how cultural and political events impacted and influenced this company over the next three decades. The road map of this book truly travels through the Motown Sound and the company behind it, rarely taking a detour into the personal lives of musicians and company personnel. Although there are numerous other books about Motown, the narrative format of this selection is unique. The Groove is our guide, depicted as the beat that is always around and has witnessed all events on this journey. This book is recommended for students in middle school and beyond, and has value for both leisure reading and content area studies in music and social studies units concerning civil rights and race relations. “Just as Motown was always there to inspire us, to lift us up, to help us march past struggle – to change us – those unforgettable songs are still lifting us to great heights.” (p, 128).

Bibliography: Pinkney, A.D.  (2015). Rhythm ride: A road trip through the Motown sound. New York, NY: Roaring Book press.

Interested in learning more about Andrea Davis Pinkney or the Motown sound?
Check out these links:

               http://andreadavispinkney.com/

               https://www.motownmuseum.org/story/motown/

               http://classic.motown.com/history/

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Q5-TIC5pc

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrTMbmARUZc

               www.rockhall.com

               http://oldies.about.com/od/theculture/a/American-Bandstand-Timeline.htm

                  http://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/103-berry-gordy-jr

Award Winner - Fortune Smiles: Stories!

Lisa

                                                        photo credit: Google Images

Fortune Smiles is a compilation of six stories about relationships, responses to life challenges, and the resilience of the human spirit. Set amongst present-day and imaginary locations, the settings and circumstances of each story vary. And yet, a common theme emerges as each character encounters difficult challenges in the present while looking towards the future. In the process, they must reconcile with their past. Some want to relive the past that is filled with young love and good health; some want to recreate the past, denying events and circumstances too painful to remember; and some want to seek redemption for decisions in the past that fill them with regret and remorse. As each character struggles with making decisions, they experience moments of hope, despair, escape and discovery, and realize that life is a series of challenges and choices that cannot be undone. “Life’s full of events – they occur and you adjust, you roll and move on. But at some point… you realize that some events are actually developments. You realize there’s a big plan out there you know nothing about, and a development is a first step in that new direction.” (p. 53).

While some of the stories are more relatable than others, each one leaves the reader in suspense, wondering what will happen next in the life of each character. Each story is just a chapter or two, allowing the reader to determine how many chapters remain in their life book. As the story unfolds, we peer into the life of each person – their challenges and choices, tragedies and triumphs, their past and their present. Beyond the characters in these stories, this book also beckons the reader to reflect on their own past and their present while contemplating the future. How has our past, the challenges we have faced, and the choices we (or others) have made impacted both ourselves and the people around us? What influence do these choices and events have on the decisions we make today and in the future? “Every ticket was capable of winning if you played it right, which meant your fate was no one’s but your own.” (p. 281). Since some of the content explores mature themes, this book is recommended for high school age students and beyond.

Bibliography: Johnson, A. (2015). Fortune smiles: Stories! New York, NY: Random House.

Interested in learning more about Fortune Smiles and Adam Johnson? Check out these links:

 http://www.wsj.com/articles/writer-adam-johnson-examines-real-human-stories-in-new-  book-fortune-smiles-1438702131

http://creativewriting.stanford.edu/people/adam-johnson

Fantasy - Red Queen

Lisa

                                                                  photo credit: Google Images

       The year is 352 in the New Era and the country of Norta is a two-class autocratic society ruled by King Tiberias. The Silvers are privileged and powerful with super-natural abilities, while the Reds are oppressed outsiders who serve as manual laborers and front-line soldiers in an endless, century-old war with neighboring countries. When the royal family discovers that Mare Barrow, a seventeen year old Red, has the power to control lightning, they entrap her into the royal court. They are intent on manipulating Mare, using her as a pawn in a game of deceit and treachery in order to maintain or gain control of the kingdom. On the other hand, Mare plans to use her new position and ability to aid the Red-led Scarlet Guard rebellion in overthrowing the government. Weeks of training sessions, secret meetings and forged alliances culminates in a failed coup attempt. After all, “…anyone can betray anyone” (p.225). As her execution seems imminent, members of the Scarlet Guard rescue Mare and take her underground. They are battered and beaten, but also defiant, determined to regroup and continue the rebellion.

            In her debut novel, Victoria Aveyard creates an intriguing story that blends together elements of fantasy, adventure, mystery and romance. Themes of trust, acceptance, sacrifice, duty and loyalty are interwoven as each side plots its’ next move in the struggle for power. Adolescent readers will relate to Mare’s emotional roller coaster as she experiences moments of self-doubt, fear, jealousy, confidence and confusion. Along with Mare, we discover our perception of events and people do not always match the reality of the situation. Life is complicated and nothing is as simple as it seems. “This world is Silver, but it is also gray. There is no black-and-white.” (p.215).  The suspenseful ending leaves the reader wanting more, and makes this story a first installment of what could be a multi-volume series. The content and reading level of this book is suitable and recommended for middle school students and beyond.

Bibliography:

Aveyard, V. (2015). Red queen. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Interested in reading more about Victoria Aveyard? Check out these links.

http://victoriaaveyard.com/

http://victoriaaveyard.blogspot.com/ 

Marvin - Non Fiction Book

Marvin

 

The book genre that we focus on this week is Nonfiction. The selected book for this genre is entitled, BOMB, the Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. This book was 2013 Newberry Honor book and a winner of Sibert medal. This book is three stories in one: a) the concept of the nuclear fission b) the production of the atomic bomb   and c) the theft of the technology by the Soviet Union. To put all three stories in one idea, the author had to keep shifting the thread of the narrative as they developed.  In one chapter you may be reading about the concept of atoms and neutrons , while  in the following chapter the reader may be  reading about the FBI tailing spies in New York or Chicago, and yet still, in another, the reader  may be reading about  famous scientist such as Einstein and Robert Opperheimer.   But, the reader is not overwhelmed with a book that is too scientific—the technical terms are all understandable. 

All this started out because a German chemist in 1939 made a shocking discovery: when he places radioactive material next to uranium atom.  This action caused uranium atom to split into two.  That simple discovery dealing with the tiniest of particles, launched a cut-throat race that would span three continents.  The players were the greatest scientists (Einstein, Robert Oppeheimer), the most expert spies and some of the most brutal dictators that ever lived (Adolph Hitler of Germany and Joseph Stalin of Soviet Union).  The prize of whoever first harnesses that technology would be world dominance.

This book is about risk-taking and morality.  I say it is about risk taking because the scientists did not know if this bomb would even work.  Some scientists even believe that this thing—this theory of “chain reaction,” might even continue exploding until it kills all of mankind.   The morality aspect comes about because some scientists started to question the idea of one country possessing such a “doomsday” weapon. 

The style of this book is that of a fast-paced fiction, but it is not—it is a non-fiction work.   Steve Shienkin does a lot of direct quotation of the main characters, giving the reader an authentic view of the thinking of the characters.   In addition, the book has a lot of white space, which helps to make it an easy reader. Young adults, in my opinion would benefit from and be taken in by the risk taking that is in the text. They would also be able to learn from that what it means to take a risk even when doubt sets in. Honestly, that’s what did it for me and would surely make it a teachable moment that I could teach my students; whom, in my opinion, are in need of some kind of great motivation.

 

 

Author Shares backstory and Reads story

Interview with Author

Prezi Presentation - BOMB

Timeline of Events - BOMB

 

 

 



Non-fiction - Beyond Magenta - Kate

                                                                                                                                                Kate














































Summary:
    

      Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin is an eye opening work of non-fiction, which tells the story of six transgender or gender neutral teenagers.  Each person tells their story of first realizing when they were different, coming out, interactions afterward with friends and family, difficulties they endured, and how they came out on the other end.  The author portrays how each person’s story is different, especially when it comes to how they identify themselves. For example, Nat grew up as a female, but prefers not to specify as male or female. “For years I was she, so it’s time to switch. I gave it a run. It didn’t work.” (Kuklin, 2014, p. 81). Nat didn’t speak until age seven and had a great deal of trouble relating to other girls, especially when it came to being attracted to boys in middle school. In health class in high school, Nat realized their body was not developing as a typical female and they went to a number of endocrinologists, which determined that Nat was intersexed. Nat had their first kiss with a girl as a sophomore, but word got around and their parents were furious to the extent that all privileges were taken away and they had to be home a half hour after school.  After that, Nat stopped fell into a deep depression, attempted suicide twice in their junior year, and went to a psychiatric hospital. Now, Nat has moved out, is in hormone therapy and mindfulness support group, but keeps his mom at a distance and doesn’t speak to their father or brother anymore.     

Critique:
 

            The author interviews and tells the stories of Jessy, Christina, Mariah, Cameron, Nat, and Luke using their preferred gender pronoun.  This can create some confusion for the reader at times, but Kuklin provides enough background information to clear it up. The author uses italics to transition from one topic to the next, as well as sub-headings to reveal the upcoming subject.  However, each story is mainly each teen telling their story from when they began to feel different through where they are in transition presently.  The topics of sexual abuse, suicide, self-harm, and prostitution call for a recommended audience of high school. However, teachers could use portions of the book that aren’t quite so graphic to explore the diversity of the LGBTQ community, connect it to the hardships the all teens endure, and the need for people to feel accepted. After reading all or portions of this book, it will hopefully shed some light for teens to see how their reactions large and small affect others. 

Susan Kuklin's website: http://www.susankuklin.net/

Educator's Guide http://www.susankuklin.net/wp-content/uploads/BeyondMagenta_DiscussionGuide.pdf

Callen Lorde Community Health Center http://callen-lorde.org/transhealth/

The Year's 10 Best Transgender Non-fiction Books http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2014/11/05/years-10-best-transgender-non-fiction-books

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

Kuklin, S. (2014). Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out. Candlewick Press.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

Kuklin, S. (2014). Beyond Magenta Transgender Teens Speak Out. Candlewick Press.

 

 

 

  

BOMB - Nonfiction Book Review

Erin Perkins

2/29/16

 

Review of Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin

*Nonfiction Selection

In  Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin tells the story of building the first atomic bomb during World War II and the spies who stole the secrets about it. The story opens with a man Harry Gold scrambling through his apartment to hide the evidence of his years as a spy for the Soviet Union. Sheinkin then flashes back to the United States just before the outbreak of WWII, with two scientists searching for Albert Einstein. The two have news that they believe Germany is acquiring equipment and knowledge to build an atomic bomb. The news eventually makes its way to President Roosevelt. With the scene set, Sheinkin tells the dual stories of Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States as they try to build the world’s first atomic bomb. In America, Robert Oppenheimer gathers the world’s best scientist in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Germany invades Norway and begins creating heavy water to create their weapon, while the Soviets build a mass of spies in America in order to steal the knowledge and plans for the U.S. bomb. As these three countries compete to build the weapon, the United States emerges as the winner and then deploys their bomb in Japan helping to bring a close to the war. In the aftermath, Soviet spies are still working to gather information about the American bomb, causing many to be apprehended and arrested. Due to the alliance between Russia and allies the spies are sentenced to lighter sentences, but the tensions between the allied countries and the Soviets thickens, setting the stage for the cold war.

            Sheinkin crafts a wonderful telling of this famous story, weaving in espionage and freedom fighting that occurred in the midst of the bomb’s creation. Bomb was particularly engaging due to Sheinkin’s ability to layer the story. He didn’t simply paint the picture of how America built the atomic bomb. He placed us right in the middle of a swirling storm of tense events. We see scientists in the U.S. furiously working to create a bomb before Germany, while Norwegian freedom fighters hatch multiple plots to stop supplies that Germany is accruing. All the while, Soviet spies work to infiltrate the research on the bomb being done. Sheinkin also uses descriptive language to place readers directly in the middle of the action. In describing one plan by the Norwegian freedom fighters he writes, “Through the freezing, foot-deep water sloshing around at the ship’s bottom, they crawled to the front of the ferry. Blowing a hole here, they knew, would cause the water to rich in. The front of the boat would sink…” (p. 112). I recommend this book to high school readers. This would also be a great tool for reluctant readers doing research on this topic.

Bibliography

Sheinkin, S. (2012). Bomb: the race to build -and steal- the world's most dangerous weapon. New York: Roaring Book Press.

Interested in reading BOMB or checking out more by STEVE SHEINKIN? Check out these links...

Steve Sheinkin Website

Macmillan Publishers - More on BOMB

 

Need to learn more?
History Channel info on the Bomb

Manhattan Project Virtual Museum

 

Spies during WWII

Non Fiction Review: The Bomb

Kelsey

Bomb:The Race to Build --and Steal-- the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon Review

Sheinkin, S., & Colvin, J. (n.d.). Bomb: The race to build--and steal--the world's most dangerous weapon.

     The nonfiction book written by Steve Sheinkin is about the production of the atomic bomb, which can be deduced from the title of the story. The story begins with a bit about Gold to gain the reader’s interest. He is being discovered by the FBI for spying and giving information to the communist party. From there the story goes back to the discovery of Fission in Germany. The style of the book was very helpful to readers, because it was set up to be more of a narrative told by many people throughout the story’s timeline. The book gives focus to many aspects of the bombs development such as who built it, the roadblocks they hit along the way, people who were crucial to development, spies who aided Russia and their reads for doing so, the impact of the war on development and resources, Germany’s attempts to build the bomb including how other countries interceded with those efforts, and The USSR’s ability to obtain the information needed and thus build and test a bomb in a very small time frame. The set up of the book allowed one to learn about influential people such as Oppenheimer, the Secretary of War, Truman, Gold, Hall, Fuchs, etc. the end of the book emphasizes the changes that occurred and the scary truth that remains now that the world has been building and collecting as much atomic weaponry as they can. The last line of the book I found to be very gripping: “In the end, this is a difficult story to sum up. The making of the atomic bomb is one of history’s most amazing examples of teamwork and genius and poise under pressure. But it’s also the story of how humans created a weapon capable of wiping our species off the planet. It’s a story with no end in sight. And, like it or not, you’re in it.” (Sheinkin, pg. 236)

         There are many aspects of this book that help it to motivate the reader. One piece is the authors ability to transition between people and places so seamlessly. I continued to understand the information, and my interest in the topic never diminished because I learned so much and gained so much perspective on the topic. Another great aspect of this book is the “non text book feel” of this book. The writers of history are the winners of war and often that creates biased perspectives to allow the winning side to appear favorably to the world. In this book all perspectives are acknowledged and all biases are considered. This allows the reader to make up his/her mind about the people being written about. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any young person middle school and up. This author did a powerful job of giving the reader as much information as possible, but in terms at are understandable and well explained. By reading this a young person can gain not only the content, but also an understanding that every side and each person has their own perspective on a story. In a situation there is not always right and wrong or good and bad.

More Resources

http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/beyond-the-textbook/25484
http://www.atomicheritage.org/history/using-atomic-bomb-1945
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki/videos/atomic-bomb
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/military/nazis-and-the-bomb.html

Fantasy - Every Day - Kate

          

 

Summary:

                Every Day by David Levithan is part one of a thought-provoking trilogy of the daily life of A who wakes up in the body of a new sixteen year old every day as he has been doing all of his life. While it’s not what he would prefer, A has learned to not make waves as he navigates through each day, until he meets Rhiannon. After spending the day with Rhiannon as her ungrateful, distant boyfriend Justin, A has fallen in love and in the next few days comes back as four different people in order to spend more time with her. A summons up his courage and tells Rhiannon his incredible story and eventually, she believes him and falls in love with him too. However, this proves difficult as A sometimes wakes up several hours away from Rhiannon and in order to get to her skips school, lies, and one time leaves a boy named Nathan on the side of the road sleeping in a car only to be woken up by the police with no memory of how he got there.  After meeting Nathan’s Reverend Poole and learning that there are more people out there like him and he can learn to stay in the same body for more than a day, A decides to say goodbye to Rhiannon. He wakes up on Day 6033 in the body of a boy named Alexander who shares many of the same values as A and Rhiannon and explains to her that he must leave and she can begin dating Alexander so that she can have a chance at being happy in the way that he can never make her. The next morning on Day 634, A wakes up as a girl named Katie and decides to run, where is not divulged.  

Critique:

            The author tells the story in daily chapters that tell of A’s experiences living as a new person from Day 5994 to Day 6034. Levithan takes time to describe the various characters that A inhabits and really demonstrates an understanding of who they are based on accessing their memories. For example, “That he was meant to be a boy, or at least to live as a boy, to live in the blur between a boyish girl and a girlish boy” (Levithan, 2012, p. 254). The author frankly describes the things that go through A’s mind when he inhabits more difficult bodies, such as an overweight boy. Specifically, “But then I’m conscious of my sweat, of how my fleshy arm must feel against the back of her neck. I’m also conscious of my breathing, which wheezes a little if I exhale too much.” (Levithan, 2012, p. 273) While none of the acts are carried out, there are brief discussions of sex, self-mutilation by cutting and suicide. Therefore, the recommended audiences for this book are mature middle school and high school age.

 

David Levithan's website: http://davidlevithan.com/

Bibliography

 

Levithan, D. (2012). Every Day. Alfred A. Knoph.

 

Award Winner - Out of Darkness - Kate

 

Photo Credit: Google Images 

Summary:

                Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez is a heartbreaking work of historical fiction, which takes places before, during, and after the 1937 explosion of the New London School in East Texas.  Before the story begins, the father of the main character, Naomi, has drowned, and her half Caucasian half Mexican mother has passed away after delivering her twin half-siblings, Cari and Beto.  Seven years later, the twin’s Caucasian father Henry sends for them, and Naomi to come live with him and be a family, but it is later revealed that Henry wants Naomi to become his wife.  However, Naomi is disgusted by Henry because he sexually abused her as a child, as well as being emotionally abusive to her and her mother.  Plus, Naomi has fallen in love with an African American boy, named Wash, which is completely against social norms at this time.  They plan to escape to Mexico together with the twins, but tragically Henry kills Naomi and Wash after he learns of their affair.  The story ends with Beto killing his father, Henry, and then escaping with Wash’s family to live with his grandparents in San Antonio where he excels in school and goes on to college to study English, as well as write his memoir.  

Critique:

            The author tells the story in short, 3-4 page chapters that alternate between different character’s points of view: Naomi, Beto, Cari, Wash, Henry and The Gang, who are the Caucasian students in Naomi’s classes.  Perez takes time to describe the various settings using many sensory details, such as “High in the branches, tree frogs sang shrill serenatas.  The sharp, clean scent of pine was in the air.” (Perez, 2015, p. 38). The racism towards Wash for being an African American and Naomi for being of Mexican descent is evident throughout the book. For example, “You sure that’s the right one? Niggers all look the same to me.” (Perez, 2015, p. 349).  Due to the topics of masturbation, oral sex, sexual abuse and rape of Naomi by her step-father Henry, the recommended audience is high school age.

 

Ashley Hope Perez's website: http://ashleyperez.com/ 

The Day a Texas School Exploded, and a Generation Died http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/texas-school-tragedy-remembered-75-years-later-143104106/611155.html  

Podcast from NPR - 75 Years Later: The Day The Town School Exploded http://www.npr.org/2012/04/06/150063910/75-years-later-the-day-the-town-school-exploded 

Survivor tells how he escaped school explosion that killed 293 by switching chairs with his classmate http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2114188/Survivor-tells-escaped-school-explosion-killed-293-switching-chairs-classmate.html

Bibliography

 

Perez, A. H. (2015). Out of Darkness. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Lab.

 

 

 

 

First Flight Around the World - Non-Fiction/Terrie

 

First Flight Around the World - The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won the Race
review by Terrie

Summary:

     In 1924, four Douglas Cruisers departed Seattle carrying eight American army airmen, both pilots and mechanics, in a race among multiple nations to be the first to fly around the world.  Their journey through 28 countries in 150 days was fraught with danger and excitement, fear and awe.  The timing of their flight, just a few years after the end of World War II presented special barriers, both physical and political.  The airmen faced crashes on land and in the ocean, engine failures, wild seas, thick tropical foliage, icebergs, deserts, illness, broken bones and sleep deprivation.  When only six of the original team landed back in Seattle to finish the race, Lieutenant Arnold said he wouldn’t do it again, “not for a million dollars.” (Grove, 2015)  He also said the best part of the trip was the end, being finished “with the worry and the strain of it all.” (Grove, 2015)  Despite the trials, all the men were proud to be the Americans who completed the first flight around the world.   

Critique:

     Tim Grove, Chief of Museum Learning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum, has created a book that has all the hallmarks of an enthralling visit to a museum wrapped in an adventure story.  The primary documents and photos lend the first person perspective that give this beautifully designed book its fascinating connection to reality.  Mr. Grove obviously knows and loves his subject as it shines out of the colorful pages.  He provides personality to these adventurers, showing them in real situations, through the photos and his word choice.   This book is recommended for upper elementary through adult.  The format and content make it a book with wide appeal. Reluctant readers will enjoy the non-fiction style, mixed with the illustrations and photographs.

Bibliography

Grove, T. (2015). First Flight Around the World. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

 

For more information about the First Flight Around the World:

Smithsonian National Air and Space - http://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/first-flight-around-world

A little in advance- A Centennial Celebration of the First Flight - http://www.firstflightcentennial.org/the-first-flight-around-the-world/

First Flight Society - http://firstflight.org/crew-of-first-around-the-world-flight/

Nonfiction: Symphony for the City of the Dead

                                                                        Carrie                                     
         
                                           
                                            Photo Credit: Google Images

                                     

The Symphony for the City of the Dead tells the story of 20^th century Leningrad through the lens of a gifted composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. Born under the czars to an affluent middle class family, Shostakovich witnesses the successful October Revolution that brings Vladamir Lenin and the Communist party to power. Lenin states that the arts should be accessible to all proletariat. The renaissance that is born in this assertion allows Dmitri to flourish as a composer, eventually seeing his works produced as far west as Philadelphia. Later, when Stalin ascends to power and attends Shostakovich's third symphony, Shostakovich is rightfully nervous. Stalin’s scathing review of his composition in Pravda brands him an “enemy of the people,” who is all but outcast.  Such criticism from the tyrannical leader leaves Shostakovich fearing for his life. Hundreds of thousands of Russians are being purged and sent to Siberian prison camps for accusations of being counter-revolutionaries. Stalin is so steadfastly focused on purging anyone who could challenge his rule, he neglects to see a real threat that is at his border: the Nazi army ready to lead them into a world war that will cost the Soviets 27 million lives. Leningrad is sieged, and the Nazi’s blockade the city after destroying the stores of food that would feed the remaining 2 million residents. As his family subsists on smaller and smaller rations of bread, and as German bombs bombard the city, Shostakovich fervently composes his seventh symphony, named the Leningrad Symphony after his beloved city. Eventually his family is evacuated, this time to Moscow, unfortunately on the eve of a German assault on that city. They are transferred further to the east, where Shostakovich is able to finish his work. At great effort, the symphony is transported to Allied nations across the globe, and he piece is performed all over the world. Americans who hear it are so moved that they increase rations of food and charitable gifts to the battle weary Russians. Germans who hear it must concede that Russians who could compose such profound work may not be “sub-humans” after all. But the most profound effect is on the people of the City of the Dead, Leningrad.  Emaciated Leningrad musicians scarcely have the strength to play the music, in fact three die in rehearsals. But eventually they perform for their city, and it is a moment of triumph for the starving Russians. It makes them feel like human beings again. Before long, the tide of the war turns and Germany is defeated.  

                This is a book I would only recommend for older high school students. Stories of the purges and the rampant starvation in Leningrad are dark and unsettling. It was not uncommon for starving people to resort to cannibalism. While some ate from the dead, there are stories of active attacks on the living, including a woman who tried to cook her grandbaby two days before the old woman died of starvation. It is impossible to read this book without listening to the described symphonies, and for that reason, reading the book took a long time. I was constantly stopping to listen to and reflect on the music described. I can imagine a Russian history teacher partnering with a music teacher to teach this content. Overall this book is a powerful story about the sacrifices and character choices that Russians made in order to survive one of the hardest centuries in history. The power of the arts is also paramount. Shostakovich’s music allowed people to embrace humanity in a world that seems to have forgotten how to be truly human.

Works Cited

Anderson, M.T. (2015.) Symphony for the City of the Dead. Somerville, MA. Candlewick Press.

Websites

Leningrad Symphony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd8iAe4WhMM

MPR Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 http://www.pbs.org/keepingscore/shostakovich-symphony-5.html

NPR Power and Struggle in a Soviet Symphony: http://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2014/11/05/361810167/power-and-struggle-in-a-soviet-symphony

NPR Amid Hunger and Cold, An Unforgettable Symphony Premiere http://www.npr.org/2014/11/02/358124326/amid-hunger-and-cold-an-unforgettable-symphony-premiere?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=classical&utm_term=music&utm_content=202503

Part One Interview with author MT Anderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNkzTYN9_XU

Part Two Interview with author MT Anderson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR5jzbLiBk8