Although Helen believes it's “pretty,” she is forewarned by Lydia’s mother of the meaning of the star, “Stars at morning, better take warning. In her first book, Kang's palette contains only browns, grays, yellows, and redsmuted colors, forming the geometric interiors of barren apartments.

Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt - Publishers Weekly Star of Fear, Star of Hope by Jo Hoestlandt - Publishers Weekly

After exploring their desires and identities, the recovered puppets put on the older sister's play, a story that, though she couldn’t have known it, has beautiful symmetry with the puppets’ adventures. This is a good addition to a classroom social studies lesson on tolerance and friendship, as well as the Holocaust. Like Richter's Friedrich (1970) for older readers, this picture book dramatizes the Holocaust from the point of view of a gentile child who watches the mounting persecution of a Jewish friend. A woman named Helen, remembering her ninth birthday, still regrets the angry comment she made that day to her Jewish friend Lydia -- who disappeared the next morning when the Nazis began rounding up the Jews and arresting them.As a result of this layering of perspective, the characters and story have depth through minimal means (sketchy details, snatches of conversation).

Star of Fear, Star of Hope - Jo Hoestlandt - Google Books Star of Fear, Star of Hope - Jo Hoestlandt - Google Books

That night, someone started desperately knocking at the door, the woman was wearing a star, just like Lydia, and she was saying she was “Madam Eleven O’Clock”. Jo Hoestlandt does well in providing a personal touch to tell her past experience from the perspective of Helen. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. We may not experience the same things as our friends, we have our differences, which we should learn to appreciate. The distressing events of the Holocaust are shown with new eyes from an outside perspective to aid students in understanding this troublesome time.

It's hard to determine why this spoof of an espionage thriller won the European Literature Prize in 1990. The simple storyline brings together a complex combination of elements—ghost stories and fights between friends who suddenly find themselves in the context of war—all of which are penetrated by an equally complex narratorial voice, capable of differentiating among subtle shades of emotion.

Star of Fear, Star of Hope - Hoestlandt, Jo: 9780802775887 - AbeBooks Star of Fear, Star of Hope - Hoestlandt, Jo: 9780802775887 -

The pastel pictures in sepia tones are understated, with an old-fashioned, almost childlike simplicity. Goncourt-winner Echenoz offers a cheeky take on the dubious pleasures of the afterlife in this slim, sly novel, which tracks the adventures of a musician after he dies. Told at the beginning of the story, this quote brings chills knowing the possible outcome for Lydia and her family. Suffused with bittersweet regret, this sensitive picture book from France begins with the reminiscences of an old woman. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions.But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. The story is about two girls; one is Jewish and her name is Lydia and the other girl her name is Helen.