skip to main | skip to sidebar

Home

WPL Kids' Corner

Welcome to Worcester Public Library's Kids Corner! We're excited to share great books, media, and resources for kids, parents, and teachers. We'd love to hear from you too. If you have suggestions or comments, please let us know! Go WPL Kids!


Review from our intern, Jonlynda!

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

We are so delighted to share with you a book review from our very own children's librarian intern, Jonlynda! 


The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
 

This book was a captivating story of found family, friendship, and growth. This story teaches young children and teens the importance of loving and believing in oneself and knowing what real love truly is. 

The book takes place during the Chernobyl accident and in 1941 during World War II. Though the setting is set in Russia during one of the worst accidents in world history, the author does not allow that to overshadow the main characters and the plot of the story. The three main characters in the books are Valentina, Oksana, and Rifka. Oksana and Valentina have mirroring lives with fathers who work in the same section of the plant, mothers who work, and being only children. Despite all of their similarities, there is one thing that distinguishes them from each other, which is the fact that Valentina is Jewish. 

Each chapter is written from a different perspective that takes the book to greater heights whilst also keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The many trials that we see Valentina, Oksana, and Rifka go through creates fantastic character growth and impact. The author masterfully makes the readers go from hating Oksana at the beginning of the book to crying for her when she was hurt. Oksana and Valentina also go from being enemies to being best friends, demonstrating that people can change if they are willing to and that you can choose what you think. 

This book also shows children that being hurt is never okay or their fault and teaches them the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. The background plot of the Chernobyl disaster and the second war provided a well-informed and a well executed plot point whilst also creating a contrast between the happiness that grew between the girls despite the difficult times.

Also available in eBook format


-Jonlynda


at April 25, 2023 0 comments
Email This BlogThis! Share to X Share to Facebook
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Search This Blog

Popular Posts

  • Women's History Month Book Recommendations
    March is Women's History Month. In celebration, we have made a list of inspiring books and podcasts featuring strong women. Picture Book...
  • January Programs!
    Happy Winter! We have some great new January programs and accompanied materials in our collections that we're excited to share with you!...
  • Books to Read if You Like Dog Man
    The Dog Man movie came out January 31! By now, many of us have read the entire Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey many times over, and we're ...

Blogger news

Blogroll

Blog archive

  • June 2025 (2)
  • May 2025 (1)
  • April 2025 (1)
  • March 2025 (2)
  • February 2025 (2)
  • January 2024 (1)
  • November 2023 (1)
  • July 2023 (1)
  • May 2023 (1)
  • April 2023 (1)
  • March 2023 (6)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • December 2022 (1)
  • November 2022 (2)
  • October 2022 (3)
  • September 2022 (1)
  • August 2022 (1)
  • July 2022 (1)
  • June 2022 (2)
  • May 2022 (3)
  • April 2022 (2)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (4)
  • November 2021 (2)
  • October 2021 (5)
  • September 2021 (2)
  • July 2021 (1)
  • June 2021 (3)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (5)
  • March 2021 (6)
  • February 2021 (3)
  • January 2021 (6)
  • December 2020 (6)
  • November 2020 (3)
  • October 2020 (7)
  • September 2020 (2)

Search This Blog

Powered by Blogger.

Report Abuse

Contributors

  • Alyssa
  • Cara
  • Stacy S
  • Unknown
  • Unknown

Pages - Menu

  • Home

© WPL Kids' Corner - Designed by Theme.fm, Google blogs templates by Blog and Web.