As I continue reading nonfiction for the Cybils Awards, I also continue checking out what is in store for Nonfiction November hosted by four wonderful bloggers. This week, it is Book Pairings hosted by JulzReads
And this is what we have to do:
This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. It can be a “If you loved this book, read this!” or just two titles that you think would go well together. Maybe it’s a historical novel and you’d like to get the real history by reading a nonfiction version of the story.
My week one post for #nonficnov is here
Inspired Book Pairings
While I am not sure if I had seen the mention of book pairings in the #Nonficnov intro post before I started adding that Perfect Pairing section in my recent book review posts, it just means that I do have a lot of pairs already. However, most of them are non-fiction paired with non-fiction.
So, for today’s post, while I had a few book pairings in mind, I decided to stick with just one. Below is the pairing and details on each book.
The Book Pairing
The nonfiction book in this pair – We Had to Be Brave – is one I am reading still; a little more than halfway through it right now. But it has left me in all sorts of feels – the same sort I felt while reading its chosen fictional partner – The Book of Lost Names. And the main theme of both books is the same: of rescuing Jewish kids during WWII from Germany, Poland, Austria, and other impacted countries.
While the fictional book talked about rescuing kids during WWII as well, it did not mention Kindertransport anywhere; so I am guessing this rescue effort was a separate one since it is also based on true incidents from WWII.
We Had to be Brave – The Book of Lost Friends
Title: We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Publishers: Scholastic Focus
Pub Date: February 4th 2020
Genre: Children’s Nonfiction/Holocaust, History
Age-Range: 12 years and up
Source: Library
Goodreads || Book Depository ||
Like I mentioned, I am still reading this book. But I already know that it is truly a must-read. I am truly wowed by how Hopkinson has managed to make this really difficult subject accessible to young audiences.
An effective combination of well-researched information, first-hand narratives of those who lived through the events of this period, and lots of photographs as well as various references sprinkled throughout to other resources, including audio and video snippets for the reader to listen/view (as far as I have seen).
Once again, even with how much I have read, highly recommend this nonfiction read.
Title: The Book of Lost Names
Author: Kristin Harmel
Publishers: Gallery Books
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads ||Book Depository ||
Barnes and Noble || IndieBound
You can read my full review of the book in this previous post.
An excerpt of my review below:
Harmel has created wonderful characters, and then proceeded to spin together their stories – of love, sacrifice, of duty and of helping others in need first, of family, of the love of books, and last but, not the least, secret codes and math – into a book that will constantly tug at heartstrings, amaze and inspire as you read it; and then stay with you long after you close it.
Perfect for readers who love women’s fiction, WWII fiction, historical fiction, or romance, or books about books; in short, perfect for readers!
List of More Book Pairings From Recent Posts
Below I have included pairings I mentioned for nonfiction reads in recent posts (the paired books are sometimes nonfiction, other times fiction):
- Girl on a Motorcycle — Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride
- Madame Saqui — If I Ran the Circus
- Lizzie Demands a Seat!— Kid Activists
- Ocean Speaks: Marie Tharp and the Map That Moved the Earth — Dinosaur Lady
- The Only Woman in the Photo — Work It, Girl: Michelle Obama
- On the Horizon — Number the Stars; Prairie Lotus
- This is Your Brain on Stereotypes — A whole list of books here
- The Next President — Kid Presidents
- The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne — : Don’t Check Out This Book and The Landry News!
- Your Place in the Universe — A list of books related to space
- Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans — The Little Engine That Could!
- and more in the posts that you will end up in for above pairs..
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, have you read any of these books? If you did, your thoughts on those? And if you have not, which ones are you looking to read next?
I remember reading the Book of Lost Names in your previous blog, so interesting. Now I have to check out We Had to be Brave. I can’t imagine what the children went through during those times.
so true Martha
I like this idea! I enjoy nonfiction, but I also like historical fiction and I can see how those might pair well together when wanting to learn more about a period of time or a certain subject.
thank you Kate!! I sometimes do want to look into nonfiction books especially after reading about particular events, places, or people in historical fiction.. so pairing them sounds perfect
These both look like highly emotive tales that need to be on my TBR. Thanx for sharing them.
you will love them both
I haven’t read any of these, but a few are on my TBR. Your pairings are great!
thanks Monika.. be sure to check them out when you can