Friday 56 is hoste
d at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading! Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.
Like Ruta Sepetys for middle grade, Anne Blankman pens a poignant and timeless story of friendship that twines together moments in underexplored history.
On a spring morning, neighbors Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko wake up to an angry red sky. A reactor at the nuclear power plant where their fathers work--Chernobyl--has exploded. Before they know it, the two girls, who've always been enemies, find themselves on a train bound for Leningrad to stay with Valentina's estranged grandmother, Rita Grigorievna. In their new lives in Leningrad, they begin to learn what it means to trust another person. Oksana must face the lies her parents told her all her life. Valentina must keep her grandmother's secret, one that could put all their lives in danger. And both of them discover something they've wished for: a best friend. But how far would you go to save your best friend's life? Would you risk your own?
Told in alternating perspectives among three girls--Valentina and Oksana in 1986 and Rifka in 1941--this story shows that hatred, intolerance, and oppression are no match for the power of true friendship.
Book Beginnings
share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.
Pripyat, Ukraine, Soviet Union
April 1986
Valentina
Valentina wondered where the birds went. They weren't waiting on the sill when she went to the sitting room window that morning.
A pretty good first line for a book that takes place after the disaster that we know as Chernobyl happened. But as the book begins, it is an ordinary morning, or so the citizens of the area believe. It has me wanting to read on.
THE FRIDAY 56
RULES:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader.
If you have to improvise, that is okay.
*Find a snippet, short and sweet.
Page 56
Chapter 9
Oksana
After breakfast Oksana's mother turned on the radio to listen to the news.
The explosion of the nuclear reactor has already occurred, so will this be main topic of discussion as we Americans would expect it would have here in the U.S, Remember this is the U.S.S.R during the years of the Cold War.
Such a terrible event. It's great that the friendship is explored in such a good way. It's certainly a book i'd read.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite intrigued by your book. Looks like a great read, whether you know of the event or not. Have a great week ahead! Stay safe!
ReplyDelete