THE DOUBLE CROSSING by Sylvia Patience: A Middle Grade Historical Fiction Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway

 Sylvia Patience, the author of The Double Crossing (Paper Angel Press, 2023), reached out to me with a request to review her historical middle-grade book. She suspected that it was a book that would interest me and she was right.

REVIEW

I first learned about the ocean liner, the St. Louis in Barbara Krasner's picture book, Liesl's Ocean Rescue. One of Alan Gratz's characters in Refugee was a boy on board the luxury ocean liner. This novel is a unique in-depth story of the ocean crossing told from alternating points of view of thirteen-year-olds, Hannah Coen and David Jantzen. Like the other books, it takes place in 1939 and the 937 passengers are escaping Nazi Germany in hopes of finding a safe haven in Cuba. 

Quickly the reader learns that Hannah's father was arrested during Kristallnacht and sent to a concentration camp. Her mother promises to join her as soon as possible but Hannah is distraught over leaving her. She meets David who is traveling with his family. David's father is Jewish and his mother is Aryan.  Although their backgrounds and personalities are different, Hannah and David bond over bird watching.  

Early in the book, there are hints of problems to come. David's father hears a rumor that there might be problems landing in Cuba. Leo, a friend who is a steward for the pro-Jewish Captain Schroeder, tells them that the Nazi propagandists have been trying to get Cubans to change their minds about admitting the Jews. Hannah worries about why they would get sent back; if Hitler is starting a war, and if she'll ever see her parents again.

Hannah and David overhear conversations among the Nazis on board. Specifically, they learn of Gestapo official Otto Schiendick's plan to gather secret documents from Robert Hoffman. Although both kids are nervous about what to do with the information, Hannah is determined to stop Schiendick from carrying out his plan--no matter how dangerous that is. It is at this point in the story, that their different perspectives become very interesting. Hannah concludes that they must do something; David thinks they have no options. The following is from Hannah's POV.

As we descended the stairway from the bridge deck, David whispered, "See? If even Captain Schroeder can't do anything, what can we do?"

"If the captain can't do anything we have to. Whatever he says. Even if we get in trouble. Because we know about it. And it's wrong. It could mean war!"

And from David's POV: 

Since our talk with the captain and my argument with Hannah, I'd been going around and around in my head. If you know something is wrong, do you have to try to stop it? Even if you don't have much of a chance? Even if it's dangerous? And even if the grown-ups in charge tell you not to?

Together, they face the disappointment of not landing in Cuba and the hardships on the return voyage. Although separated once they return to Europe, the ending suggests that are reunited. It's a sweet conclusion that leaves the reader wanting to know more.

                                                ****                                 

I enjoyed the role that birds played in the book. In the beginning, Hannah and David rescue an injured petrel. They hide him in a lifeboat whey they push small bits of food down his throat. When Leo asks what it was like to be Jewish in Germany she answers, "Kind of like what's happening to Peter," she said. "He's trapped and can't get out. He probably feels scared and helpless."  After the ship is prohibited from landing in Cuba David observes, "Like the birds flying over the ocean, rumors flew on board." 

Even if you have read other accounts of the St. Louis, you will find this touching, suspenseful story a worthwhile read. 

MINI-INTERVIEW

Carol: What was the inspiration for this story?

Sylvia: I first saw an article in a news publication that talked about the St. Louis' 1939 voyage. It caught my interest. I'd never heard about it. This was probably around eight years ago. I immediately thought it would make an interesting story to write, started doing research, and read some other books about it and the time period in Germany. The story grew in my mind.  

Carol: What was your path to publication?

Sylvia: As far as publication, as you probably know it's very difficult to find an agent these days, let alone a publisher. I sent out a lot of queries. I was very lucky to hear of Paper Angel Press, as they had published works of another local author. They are an independent publisher and have done an excellent job with the book, and my other book, The Weaver's Daughter. 

BACK MATTER

I appreciate how Sylvia pulled together so many facts when she wrote The Double Crossing. As soon as I finished it, I read her Author's Note and Glossary. The Author's Note provided all the factual information about the important secondary characters who were real people. I hope you'll take the time to look at the links I provided in this review; you'll see how Sylvia's impeccable research was woven into this fictional story. It almost goes without saying that this would be a great curriculum resource when studying WWII. 

GIVEAWAY 

I'm giving away my copy to one fortunate reader. Please leave a comment by December 13 along with your email address if you are new to my blog. I'll do my best to get it into the mail ASAP so you can give it to your favorite middle-grade reader or add it to your library's shelves. Share this on social media or sign up for my blog and you'll get an extra chance. As usual, if you are a teacher, home-school educator, or librarian, you'll get an extra chance. If you prefer, email me to enter. U.S. addresses only. 

                                                    ***

Congratulations to one of my teen bloggers, Janelle Epko, who won the Ebook of A Study in Terminal. 

ETHEL'S SONG: Ethel Rosenberg's Life in Poems: A Review and Giveaway

 It's interesting to read a book when you know the ending even before you start. I knew the Rosenbergs were killed because they were suspected of spy activity. But I didn't know the events that led up to that tragic conclusion.

Barbara Krasner's choice of writing Ethel's Song (Astra Publishing, 2022) in free verse poetry is perfect. The poems are written in a variety of forms which lends interest and beauty to the book. By the end of the book, I was convinced that Ethel had written the poems herself; Barbara had captured her voice so well.

REVIEW

The book takes the reader from Ethel's ten-year-old self in 1925 to her death in 1953. As I frequently do when I'm reviewing a book written in poetry, I'll let snippets of the poems speak for themselves. 

                    WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GIRL - 1925

Some girls may place their ambitions

in hope chests. But here on Sheriff

Street, here in the tenements

of New Your City's Lower East Side,

we children of immigrants sweep them

under the beds like dust. (p. 9)

                                      *****  

        THE FOUR QUESTIONS REVISITED - 1937

Why does a government allow its people to live in poverty?

      Not all governments allow this. Look at Russia. 

Why can't we just believe in what makes sense to us?

         The Republicans don't make sense.

      The Democrats (sorry, Mr. President) don't make sense.

       The Communist Party matches what I believe in.

Why must there be hate?

      We hate what we don't understand.

       We hate people we don't understand.

Why must there be war?

       I can't answer this one. (p. 57)

Rosenbergs in a park in 1941.
https://www.rfc.org/about-us

                                  INVASION  

......

The fascists are coming.

Only the Communists stand

against them. This is our only chance.

Father Joe, Josef Stalin,

Premier of the Society state,

leader of the Communist Party.

You are out there on your own

to face the enemy. (p. 69)

                    *****

            ONE SONG TO SING- 1944

.....

I want to choose one song to sing

to bring some to laughter, some to tears,

all to recognize nothing good comes from war.

But I don't know what song that would be. (p. 104) 

                CHARISMA

[Julie's] brought Dovey and Ruthie

into his network of people to help the Soviet Union.

 

I prefer to stay out of it.

I don't need a code name other than Mommy. (p. 111)

WE'RE BEING WATCHED

.....

I'm not naive, really, I'm not,

but how could helping

the Soviet Union

defeat Hitler

make us the bad guys?

My brother has done nothing wrong

as far as I know. Expect that he's not that bright.

We have done nothing wrong

as far as I know. (p. 150) 

                                        ***** 

         THEY SAY 

We are Communists

Julius is a spy

Passing vital secrets to the Soviets

Compromising American democracy

Betraying all Americans

Committing

      Treason

       Conspiracy

       Espionage.

The Feds are crazy. (p. 157)

Ethel's poems from prison are simple yet heartbreaking. 

            

            STUBBLE

At home, we use screens to keep out

undesirables--soot, insects, pigeons.

Here when we're allowed to visit,

a screen separates me from Julie.

I can see his stubble, feel his breath,

but I can't touch,

I can't kiss,

I can't hold.

We are in the same place

at the same time. And yet we aren't. (p. 227)

Throughout the trial and appeals, the Rosenbergs pleaded innocent. Unfortunately, Ethel's brother, Dovey, told lies that implicated them both. Years later, Dovey admitted his lie on Sixty Minutes. 

The back matter includes an epilogue in which the story of the Rosenberg's two sons share their journeys. There is also a timeline and extensive bibliography. 

GIVEAWAY

If you want to add this book to your personal or school collection, please leave a comment (with your email address if you are new to my blog). U.S. addresses only. The giveaway ends on May 16 but I am going away for two weeks. I will get the winner her book when I return. If you don't immediately see your post published, be patient. My internet will be spotty and I will see it eventually. Librarians and educators get two chances!

 

Liesl's Ocean Rescue and a Giveaway!

Congratulations to fellow blogger, Rosi Hollenbeck, who won an autographed copy of Maggie Dana's book, "Riding for the Stars."

******

Liesl's Ocean Rescue, an historical picture book struck a personal chord for me. It begins with the awful events that surrounded Krystallnacht; an event which deeply affected my paternal grandparents. Like Liesl the main character in Barbara Krasner's story, my mother also escaped Nazi Germany at a young age and took an ocean voyage to America. But unlike Liesl, my mother's ship docked in New York City and her family quickly traveled to Ohio to establish a new home.

Based on the true story of Liesl Joseph Loeb's voyage on the MS St. Louis, Liesl's journey was different. When the ship attempted to enter Havana on the way to America, the Cuban government refused permission to dock. After almost a week of negotiations, the ship--filled with over 900 individuals trying to escape concentration camps--was forced to return to Europe. Although Liesl's family came to America two years later, over two hundred of their fellow passengers did not survive the war. 

Although every page is full of black and white illustrations by artist Avi Katz, this poignant picture book will best be appreciated by children from 8-10 years old. It will enhance classroom instruction about the Holocaust, bring alive the difficulties that immigrants often face, and offer a great starting point for discussions about war and freedom. A teacher's guide can be found here.

I would like to pass along my gently-used Advanced Readers Copy of this book. To enter, leave me a comment by Friday, November 28. If you are a teacher or plan to donate the book to a classroom library, let me know and I'll enter your name twice.