Lynne Kositsky

When Arien's parents are killed, she is sold in the market. The Chief Seer of Vor, Yaddair, purchases her and takes her home to his family. He lives much closer to the darkside of Kondar, a place where the sun never shines. Creatures from the darkside crash onto the lightside and bring with them a highly destructive plague.

Overall, I thought this book was a bust. The author tried way too hard to come up with terminology to describe common things i.e. trekken for a trip. castrel for castle, It just became annoying after a while. She would then name things, without really describing them to us. Are drogs supposed to be dogs? Are we supposed to make that assumption. Most of the characters didn't seem realistic and their personalities seemed to conflict with their actions. I think the author just threw a bunch of stuff out there without rhyme or reason. Explanations or descriptions would have been nice.… (más)

Lynne Kositsky’s science fiction novel begins with a confusing and unnecessary near-speak to which the reader must acclimate before he or she can orient himself/herself to the plot. For instance, flutterer = bird, Icer = winter, and lugger = shoe. Once the reader stumbles through this near-speak that does little to add to the story, a similarly weak plotline presents itself.

Arien is left alone on a settlement of Kondar called Katannya after her parents are tragically killed. Due to the patriarchal nature of the societies, she must be taken in, and is, by the Chief Seer of Vor, Yaddair. What follows is a perplexing mishmash of “plagues,” such as Obscurans, bat-like creatures, falling from the sky, and our heroine Arien rising above it all with hopes to reunite with her love Radol. Perhaps one to miss except for the most rabid science fiction fans.… (más)

It is an excellent young adult book about the Holocaust. The main character, Esther, is one of a group of Jewish teenagers who manage to escape Germany for Belgium and then France right before the beginning of World War II. With the onset of the war, their situation worsens, and their Red Cross camp offers them no protection anymore. Many perilous and heartbreaking events follow.
The book is based on a true story of a group of children who escaped from Germany and Austria and lived in France in a castle called Chateau La Hille, and even though the characters are fictitious, their actions are based on true accounts of people who survived.
Very good narration and excellent character development.… (más)