Review: The Path Divided by Jeanne Moran

THE PATH DIVIDED

Risking Exposure, Book 2

by Jeanne Moran

Middle Grade Historical

295 pages

Every choice has a consequence.

When a magical picture frame reveals the danger facing a teenage traitor, her best friend hatches a plan to sneak her out of Nazi Germany. Options are few. Choices are desperate.

Decades later, an aged Nazi hiding under an alias plans to die with his secrets intact. Confronted with his role in the fate of his sister and her best friend, he must decide: maintain his charade or face the consequences of the path he chose so long ago.

In this powerful conclusion to Risking Exposure, interwoven tales of guilt, sacrifice, and hope crack the thin divide between personal safety and loyalty to those we claim to love. 

MY TIDBITS

With lots of tension, emotion and a tiny dab of magic, this is an intriguing tale which brings a bit of World War II to life in a way appropriate for ages 10 to 16.

After her parents' death, Rennie works on a farm and leads a quiet life as a girl in Nazi Germany should. She wonders how her best friend, a girl suffering from polio, is and hopes that after her disappearance that she's fine. Scarred by their father and the brutal murder, Werner, Rennie's older brother, fully supports the Nazi cause and is disturbed by his sister's attitude to the undesirables. Rennie doesn't want to do anything to hurt her brother, but she also can't turn a blind-eye, especially when it comes to her best friend. Thanks to a magical picture given to her, Rennie can see the paths change color with each decision she makes. But each decision, while helping one side, puts the other in danger. Rennie hopes to find a way to save both her brother and friend, or maybe must choose only one.

This is the second book in the series, and while it isn't extremely hard to sink into book two without reading the first one, I would still recommend reading them in order so as to fully understand the circumstances and characters.

This book is written from different points of views and time lines. While Rennie lives during WWII, Werner's part is placed more in the future, long after the war has ended. Both also include flashbacks, which help the needed emotions and situations slide together. By doing this, the author has done a wonderful job at bringing across the depth of the attitudes surrounding the characters and makes it easier to understand their decisions and the impact it made on their lives.

Unlike many books which take a look at this time period, the author brings the problems and difficulties across in a way young readers can connect with. Rennie is a normal girl with a golden heart. Her concern for others and recognition of the situation around her make her easy to root for. It also becomes clear how difficult it is to make certain decisions when placed at a type of crossroads. I found the magical painting to be a wonderful way to bring this problematic across. Every decision and action has consequences, and not all are always the way we'd hope them to be.

The plot hits upon issues which are appropriate for the age group, and while it is sold as a young adult book, I'd recommend it even for upper middle graders. It takes a more personal, every-day life view of WWII and brings Germany and some normal citizens' problems across in a very realistic way. But the steady pacing and tension situations make sure this isn't only a read for those interested in history. It's a gripping read which will draw even more history-shy readers in


And here she is...

In her career as a pediatric physical therapist, Jeanne Moran helped hundreds of children with disabilities gain strength and motor skills. That left her spare time (ha!) to teach Sunday School, direct an after-school program, organize an international student-athlete exchange, and help plan and implement construction of a new community playground. Along the way, she learned a bit about tang soo do and sudoku, tap dancing and German, whole foods cooking and the joy of selling on eBay. Anything to avoid cleaning!

Jeanne writes fiction and non-fiction for young and young-minded readers surrounded inspirational quotes, vinyl records, countless books, and innumerable dust bunnies.  

http://jeannemoran.weebly.com

Review: Risking Exposure by Jeanne Moran

RISKING EXPOSURE

by Jeanne Moran

Middle Grade Historical Fiction

184 pages

 Munich, 1938. Nazi Germany. A timid Hitler Youth member contracts polio. Photographs she takes of fellow polio patients are turned into propaganda, mocking people with disabilities – people just like her. She too has become an outsider, a target of Nazi scorn and possible persecution. Her only weapon is her camera.

    This historical fiction novel unveils a lesser-known side of the Nazi agenda, the pogrom against people with disabilities. A sequel is in the works.

MY TIDBITS

Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, this story tackles some very difficult, historical themes. Still, the author does a tremendous job in presenting the happenings in a manner kids ages 9+ can easily delve into, sympathize with and digest.

Sophie is a normal, fourteen-year-old girl, who following the law, takes her place in the Hitler Youth. Her talent as a photographer promises her a special role in the group, one she's proud of until she realizes what that really means. Her doubts in the Reich's intentions deepen when she contracts polio and finds herself facing life as a 'cripple'. The growing rumors surrounding her father aren't helping matters either.

Sophie grabs from the very first page with her natural personality, a little self-doubt and a good gut feeling when things aren't as they should be. Although fourteen, there's still a bit of 'kid' in her and her friends, which makes her simply easy to like. Her character doesn't come across as old-fashioned or out of date, but rather seems as ordinary as a girl today. Her reactions and fears are very realistic, and the danger of the world around her hangs like a darkening shadow the entire way through without becoming overwhelming. It's simply a perfect mix.

This may be placed in the past, but the historic scenes come to life with descriptions which pull in but never weigh down. Although foreign, the settings are easy to picture and nothing seems forced or out of place. This is a world familiar enough to dive into and become a part of. Every now and then, a German word is thrown in, just enough to grab attention without ever causing confusion. To help out with the foreign terms (and as a fun language extra), a short glossary is also added at the very end. 

There are several important messages in the pages. Although the horrid circumstances surrounding the Jews is touched upon, this book focuses in on another group disliked by the Nazi regime--'the useless eater'. It also focuses on courage, learning to accept ones self, and standing up for what is right. In other words, this book is packed and leaves the reader with something to think about long after the book is set down. It's a historical fiction kids will get immersed in and enjoy, and is even fitting for a classroom situation.

But even with all of this, the book is simply a wonderful read that never has a boring moment and keeps a reader glued to the pages the entire way through. I can highly recommend it.

And here she is. . .

JEANNE MORAN!!!

- Challenge and change energize me. In my career as a pediatric physical therapist, I’ve helped hundreds of children gain strength and motor skills. That left me spare time (ha!) to teach Sunday School, direct an after-school program, organize an international student-athlete exchange, and help plan and implement construction of a new community playground. Along the way, I've learned a bit about tang soo do and sudoku, tap dancing and German, whole foods cooking, and the joy of selling on eBay. Anything to avoid cleaning! I write fiction and non-fiction for young and young-minded readers surrounded inspirational quotes, vinyl records, countless books, and innumerable dust bunnies.

 You can find her on her website : http://jeannemoran.weebly.com/about-me.html