I am indebted to my daughter, Shoshannah, for these reviews. Any errors are mine.
All-Of-A-Kind-Family follows the life and adventures of five little girls Jewish girls growing up around the turn of the 20th century. Each of the girls takes center stage, as the life and times of a culture, and an era, are explained to the reader in a fun and sensitive style.
I love this book!!!!! I could never get enough of the adventures that these girls go on. I'aIWays identIfied with Sarah, but enjoyed the romance of Ella, and the' trouble that Henny always managed to get into. And I loved the fact that no matter what happened, the girls always remained, sisters.
Critique: This book is very enjoyable. Not only is it a more difficult book to understand concept wise, culture, and mor~_mature thoght processes required to interpret the family dynamics; but told in simple, yet vivid language. This book doesn't seem as difficult to read as it actually is. Very well written.
This book also provides insight into family/sibling relationships. This book literally tackles the diverse personalities that can form and grow up in one household. So . if children today feel that life with siblings is difficult, they can see that dealing with siblings has always been enjoyable and frustrating.
This is the story of a non-Jewish girl and a Jewish girl in Denmark who are becoming young women at the same time the II World War breaks out in Europe.
The setting of this book is right in the middle of an occupied Denmark during World War II. Through this setting the suspense is set up as Ellen is nearly caught, except for the fact that Annemarie had an older sister who happened to have dark hair, just like Ellen, when she was young, only she is dead now and Ellen can assume her spot. <
The plot is riveting as Nazis attempt to find the Jews who are being hidden by the Danes and at the same time catch the Danes who are hiding the Jews. In the meantime the Danes are attempting to find new and better ways to hide the Jews and to sabotage the Nazis' all the while appearing to be living their' everyday lives.
Journey insists on the fact that his mother has always been a mother to him and Cat and will someday come back and get them. Cat doesn't have nearly the same illusions of a reunited family and lets her younger brother know that. Cat at one point was a photographer, but couldn't get her pictures to turn out right so she turned the camera over to her grandfather.
The moment grandfather got a hold of the camera he started taking pictures. Family pictures daily, and then pictures of everyone else in their everyday activities. Groans can be heard when Grandpa calls for everyone to come out front, or downstairs for a photo.One day Journey picks up the camera and takes a picture of his grandfather. Also, all through the story Journey has memories of his mother come back to him, and a pair of arms that hold him close and comfort him. One day when Journey calls the family together for a picture on the couch, Journey falls into his grandfather's lap.
And then Journey remembers. His grandfather is the one that comforted him. From then on Journey claims his grandparents as his family, even when his mother attempts to come ~ back into his life. Because Journey understands what true family is, and that through pictures his grandfather has attempted to give him a family history.
This was a refreshing story to read after having read the stories about Sarah, Plain and Tall. MacLachlan isn't repetitive or use the same story line to convey a very important and sad story. I like her style and perspective on issues of the day. I like the z.. sensitivity that she pours into her stories as well as the truth and honesty about the / 7=- contemporary Issues.
This story is honestly presented. MacLacWan doesn't make the answers easy or simple tocome by. But the resolution evolves through the growth of each of the characters in the story.
This is a painful story. There aren't easy answers to this issue and the author doesn't cheat the reader or the story by making the answers easy. The whole story has a hopeful tone to it.