Allies

Dee is really too young to be in the army.  At age 16, he lied to enlist and fight against Hitler's army, but that isn't the only lie he's told.  His name is really Dietrich, and he was born in Germany.

Now he's waiting in a boat at Omaha Beach preparing for D-Day with his best friend, Sid, hoping they can make it through the day alive.

Samira's mother works for the French resistance, but when she is captured by German soldiers, Samira must decide if she will try to rescue her mother or try to relay their message to the resistance fighters.

Henry always wanted to be a doctor, but he faced discrimination as an African American.  When he joined the army as a medic, he hoped the men would begin to see him as a fellow soldier, but the army has its share of racists, and the German army is shooting at everyone on D-Day, medic or soldier.

There are other characters from different countries, all Allies in the war against Hitler, who tell their part in the story of the D-Day invasion.  It will take a global alliance to bring down Hitler, and many soldiers will not last the day.

This newest book from Alan Gratz treads familiar WWII territory, but on the restricted timeline of the D-Day invasion.  The multiple timelines could be difficult to track, but that fast pace and confusion adds to the reality of war Gratz conveys in the book.  This is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy WWII stories and for Gratz's legion of fans.  The author also successfully conveys the idea that humanity must unite against injustice and oppression.  Recommended.

Look Both Ways

This is a collection of ten short stories about kids making their way home from school all connected by the idea of a school bus falling from the sky.  There are the kids who steal pocket change to make enough money to buy something special on the way home.  There is the kid whose friends try to help look better before approaching his crush.  What about the skateboarding who has an unfortunate run-in with some bullies on the way home?  Or the kid who doesn't want to be a bully but joins in anyway to save himself?  Finally, there the kid whose mother is the crossing guard.

You will meet them all and more in this book.  I really enjoyed most of the stories, which are more like vignettes, but it was a little disappointing to realize the book would not return to their stories.  Some of them felt more like the first chapter than a complete story.

I normally love Jason Reynolds, but this book didn't really do it for me, and I think a lot of kids will be frustrated with it, too.  Honestly, the school bus falling from the sky felt like a tease by the time you get to the end and figure out what it really is.