Imogene's Last Stand

IMOGENE'S LAST STAND
by Candace Flemming
illustrations by Nancy Carpenter

2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet List

Elementary

Imogene Tripp is a young history buff who is fighting to save the museum in the Liddleville Historical Society.  She uses her cleverness, wit, and knowledge of history to show the townspeople the importance of preserving history for future generations.  Things are not looking good for Imogene and the Historical Society until a very special person joins her cause.

IMOGENE'S LAST STAND is a fun book that will inspire young readers learn more about history and to take a stand for what they believe.  Nancy Carpenter's adorable illustrations capture Imogene's spunk and charismatic personality. The endpapers of the book contain short biographies of the historical figures Imogene quotes in her quest.  I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of Imogene in the future.

Purple Heart

PURPLE HEART by Patricia McCormick
2011 Tayshas Reading List
Teen

An excellent book trailer was created by Carmen Escamilla of Laredo, Texas and is available at 4shared through the following link:

https://www.4shared.com/video/mmUEM99u/Purple_Heart.html

Eighteen year old Private Matt Duffy wakes up in an Army hospital in Iraq suffering from a traumatic brain injury after an RPG exploded in his vicinity.  Matt receives the Purple Heart medal for his injuries, and yet he struggles to remember the details of what took place and make sense of it all.  He is especially troubled by visions of a small Iraqi boy, Ali, whom he had befriended.  Matt questions whether Ali was also injured in the fighting and whether Matt himself could have been responsible.  As Matt gains strength in the hospital, readers will be touched by the close bonds he has with his fellow soldiers and his determination to return to his squad and continue with his mission.

I would recommend this book to students interested in the military and in learning about the day to day life during war.  I felt this book was an honest representation of what war is like and that Patricia McCormick was able to reveal that war has no real winners.  Although the young men and women in Matt's squad create many diversions to help them forget about the harsh realities of war,  some of what they face will be forever etched in their minds.