By Lois Lowry
Sandpiper, 1989
Genre
Historical Fiction
Awards
- Newbery Award (1990)
- National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature (1990)
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (1991)
This touching story about the difficulties of growing up is cast during WWII. Annemarie Johansen is growing up during the German occupation of Denmark and sees how the German policies and prejudices are affecting her best friend's family, who is Jewish. Annemarie is torn through most of the story between the world of children, where innocence and lack of understanding are a protective shield that prevent her from having to deal with the atrocities going on around her (like the death of her older sister, Lise), and the world of adults, where she feels like she is being drawn when she is called upon to help protect her friend's family but she doesn't feel like she quite belongs here yet. Tweens can relate to this main character; despite not being a situation similar to WWII, they will recognize Annemarie's struggles with growing up and be able to see things in their own life that put them between childhood and adulthood, teetering on an edge and unsure of which way to land.
Opinion
Lois Lowry's writing style does not disappoint. Just like her previous books, this story draws the reader into the world of the characters, causing their emotions to be felt by the reader. Since this is written at a level intended for elementary school, possibly middle school, more girls are likely to identify with the book as there is a female main character, but boys can identify slightly with Peter Neilsen and his part in the Resistance.
Ideas
Great for a project on WWII or for an assignment about historical fiction; also good for a display of younger age appropriate books for these two topics.
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