Refugee 87

This survival story was quite mature, but I believe it is important and timely.  Stolen from his home by soldiers, Shif and his best friend are taken from their homes and imprisoned.  They learn from their cellmates that many people in their country who the army feels threatened by are taken and never heard from again.  Shif and Bini are chosen to escape and tell the stories of  the others who can never leave.  They escape and try to begin their journey toward freedom.  It will take strength, sacrafice, courage and hope.  (FIC FOU)

Dead Voices

This is Katherine Arden's sequel to Small Spaces, a Great Stone Face nominee this year.  Ollie, Brian and Coco think they are going to have a wonderful skiing weekend away together.  But they get snowed in at a new lodge that used to be an orphanage and the kids start seeing things and having nightmares.  When Ollie gets trapped behind a mirror in another dimension hunted by ghosts, Coco has to use all her bravery and wits to outsmart the Smiling Man and get her friend back.  (FIC ARD)

White Bird

R. J. Palacio has added a beautiful and moving story to the Wonder series.  This graphic novel highlights the story of Julien's grandmother, a Jew in France during WWII who had to go into hiding to escape the Nazis.  Like Wonder, it is a story of acceptance and kindness.  She is saved from the concentration camps by a boy from school.  As one would expect, this is a troubling, yet important subject.  There is some violence and blood in the book, although not a lot.  The story rather focuses on the sacrafice and humanity of those caught in Hitler's horrific net of hate.  (GN PAL)

Lifeboat 12

This Great Stone Face nominee this year is a historical fiction story in verse, based on a true story of survival.  During WWII, English children were sometimes sent to Canada to stay with families so they would be safe.  Ken was excited for the adventure.  But when his cruise ship is torpedoed by a German Uboat, all passengers have to board lifeboats and abandon ship.  Because they are part of a huge convoy of ships, they think that they will be rescued shortly.  But that does not happen.  It was exciting and heartbreaking, knowing this really happened.  At the end of the book, the author has provided many pages of the research and primary source documents, including photos,  on which the story is based.