Rose Under Fire

Wein, Elizabeth. Rose Under Fire. 2013. 360p. ISBN 978-142318469-0. Available at FIC WEI on the library shelves.

In this companion volume to Code Name Verity, Rose is an American teen pilot as well as an amateur poet. Tasked with flying planes from one location to the other, she has been flying since 1943 and though the war is real, with V1 bombs falling on England from the skies. Rose is friends with Maddie, who is also a pilot and whose best friend was killed in a botched escape attempt from a Nazi convoy.

Asked to fly a damaged observation plane from Paris back to England to get it fixed, Rose is forced to land in Germany and is quickly captured by German soldiers. Turned over to the SS, she is imprisoned at Ravensbrück, the notorious death camp for women. Having arrived with a truckload of French resistance women, she herself is therefore considered French.

Life is threadbare, horrific, and violent at Ravensbrück. Rose meets the Rabbits, a group of Polish girls who were gruesomely experimented on by Nazi doctors. Taken under her wing by Lisette, a matronly French woman, Rose can only count on her friendship with these women to save her life. Sustained by her poetry and by the vain hope of surviving her captors’ viciousness, Rose loses sight of days.

As more and more women become crowded in the limited space of the concentration camp, life becomes unbearable. Is Rose strong enough to make it one more day? The author of this book also cowrote American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky.

Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use to Make Everyday Products

Leahy, Stephen. Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use to Make Everyday Products. 2014. 142p. ISBN 9781-77085-295-2. Available at 333.91 LEA on the library shelves.

What is your water footprint? This overly simple question hides an immense truth that we are ignoring at our peril. Your water footprint does not only refer to the water you use and consume, but also the water that is used in the generating of energy, the manufacturing and transporting of goods, the growing of food. We use water in everything, everywhere, all the time.

In short 1 or 2 pages infographics, facts about water consumption are presented and discussed. The average American consumes 2,000 gallons of water a day, far more than the rest of the world. The very essence of life, only 3% of the planet’s water is fresh and drinkable. Of this finite resource, more than 80% is used to grow our food and make our goods. And most is not fit for reuse afterwards. A cup of coffee requires 37 gallons of water in the growing, processing, and transporting of the beans. Two pounds of bananas necessitate 209 gallons.

This book explains the problem of water shortage, and presents realistic solutions that everyone can adopt. It also introduces the concept of virtual water, the water that is not only present in any given product, such as watermelon, but also that went in the making of that product. It also makes the argument that water poor countries, such as India and Bangladesh, are exporting their water to countries that are already water rich, but that all countries are depleting water resources faster than they can be replenished. With a projected two billion more people on their way, the author does an excellent job advocating for smarter water consumption and a reduction in water usage across the world, to more sustainable levels. If we don’t, we risk not only our way of life, but life itself.

Black Cat, Vol 12

Yakubi, Kentaro. Black Cat, Vol 12. 2000. 192. ISBN 978-1-4215-1470-3. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Hoping to return to his regular size and age, Train, Sven and Eve begin their search for Dr. Tearju, the scientist who engineered Eve. Looking like an adult version of Eve, Dr Tearju has gone in hiding. Eventually, they locate her in a remote area.

But before she can help Train, shock troops from the Apostles of the Stars crash through the wall, accompanied by Echidna and a tao-powered monkey who has the ability to copy any individual. They are here to convince Dr. Tearju to once and for all join the Apostles. Meanwhile, Kyoko meets with Sephiria, number I of Chronos, and after a heated discussion Sephiria agrees to let her go as long as she does not take up arms against Chronos.

Back at Dr. Tearju’s house, Train is able to regain his size, and also masters the super bullet. Fortunately, it lasts long enough to fray the enemy’s nerves and force them back.

Winter

Meyer, Marissa. Winter. Book 4 of the Lunar Chronicles. 2015. 824p. ISBN 9780312642983. Available at FIC WIN on the library shelves.

At the end of Cress, Kai was kidnapped by Cinder and her friends, provisionally saving him from the evil clutches of Queen Levana of Luna. But as they float in space, they need to come up with an actual plan to overthrow Levana and install Cinder, the former Princess Celine, as rightful heir to the throne. At the same time, Scarlett languishes in a cage in the Queen’s animal menagerie.

Meanwhile, Princess Winter, Levana’s stepdaughter, has grown up to be beautiful and admired by the people of Luna. First introduced in Fairest, she refuses to use her lunar gift to control others, but in the process is afflicted by visions and a hint of madness. In love with her guard Jacin, she tries to stay clear of Levana and feeds Scarlet in secret.

Eventually Cinder and Kai decide that the best plan is to conduct the wedding ceremony on Luna. Then they can infiltrate the planet and lead a popular uprising against Levana and her minions so she can reclaim her throne. If only it were so simple.

The plan goes awry immediately when the queen has Kai’s ship searched. All manage to escape except Cress, who is left behind. One by one, the members of Cinder’s party are peeled off, forming smaller groups of operatives. And as they spread throughout Luna, with the vain hope of overthrowing the queen, it will cost them all everything, and then some. This just might be the day the wicked queen and stepmother wins after all ...

Black Butler, Vol 2

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol 2. 2007. 192p. ISBN 9780316084253. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Sebastian tries hard to maintain the Phantomhive household, but he is thwarted at every turn by the staff he manages. From failed laundry to the yard’s destruction and an explosion in the kitchen, there is no rest for the weary in the butler’s life.

But then a distraction arises. Ciel Phantomhive must go to London and solve the crimes of a serial killer. There he meets his aunt, Madame Red, her companion, Mr. Lau, and her own useless butler. They discuss recent events. Jack the Ripper has been slaughtering prostitutes and stealing their uterus for some dark ritual. After a cursory investigation, only one human could have committed these crimes: the Viscount of Druitt. Ciel, Sebastien, and Madame Red agree to infiltrate the Viscount of Druitt’s party to stop the murderer.

But when the murderer turns out to have otherwordly help, the game suddenly becomes deadly ...

The story continues in Black Butler Vol. 3.

Tips & Tricks for Evaluating an Argument and its Claims

Athans, Sandra K. and Robin W. Parente. Tips & Tricks for Evaluating an Argument and its Claims. 2015. 64p. ISBN 978-1-4777-775592. Available at 808.03 ATH on the library shelves.

How do you evaluate the validity of an argument? The Common Core has transformed reading, focusing more on supporting evidence with textual information. Most informational text make an argument, either in favor of, against, or with a neutral position. Those arguments present claims to support their central idea. But as a reader it is up to you to determine whether an argument made is supported by facts or whether it is in fact inaccurate.

This book provides the reader with specific techniques and advice on how to successfully evaluate and argument and its claim by using evidence from informational texts. It presents two pieces for and against animal rights and immigration, two topics that evoke strong reactions. The expert then guides the reader through a rigorous analysis of the text by looking at the evidence submitted to support the argument made by each side, and then condenses these claims and their supporting evidence into a T-chart.

This is a great way for readers to refresh their reading techniques as well as acquire new ones and examine how reflecting on their own reading skills can help them become better readers.

Other books in this series include:

• Tips & Tricks for Comparing and Contrasting Text
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Ideas, Events, and Individuals
• Tips & Tricks for Evaluating an Argument and its Claims
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Structure and Evaluating Ideas
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Text and Citing Evidence
• Tips & Tricks for Determining Point of View and Purpose
• Tips & Tricks for Evaluating Multimedia Content
• Tips & Tricks for Summarizing Text

Fullmetal Alchemist. Vol 5

Arakawa, Hiromu. Fullmetal Alchemist. Vol 5. 2002. 188p. ISBN 978-1-4215-0175-8. Available in the graphic section of the library.

On their way to meet with Izumi Curtis, their old alchemist master, Edward, Alphonse and Winry stop in the town of Rush Valley, where the best mechanics live and try to outdo one another. This is heaven for Winry. But not for Edward, who loses his watch to a crafty pickpocket. In the ensuing pursuit, the Elric brothers manage to capture the thief but not without causing a lot of damage to the town.

The thief agrees to introduce them to the best auto-mail mechanic in the world, and they arrive in his remote location just in time to help in the delivery of his daughter in law’s first baby. All three are suitably impressed by this small miracle of life.

The Elric brothers continue on their trip and are finally reunited with Izumi. She, however, refuses to answer their questions until they explained what really happened to them. So Edward begins telling the tale of their youth and how they  first mastered the principles of alchemy ...

The story continues in Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 6.