The Social Porcupine

The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson Buy here. My Rating: 5 stars Genre: Medieval Japanese Novel Back Cover: Who is the man called Sabura, the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the poor? And what is his connection with Yosida, the harsh and ill-tempered master of feudal Japan's most famous puppet theater? Young Jiro, an apprentice to Yosida, is determined to find out, even at risk to his own life. Meanwhile, Jiro devotes himself to learning puppetry. Kinshi, the puppet master's son, tutors him. When his sheltered life at the theater is shattered by mobs of hungry, rioting peasants, Jiro becomes aware of responsibilities greater than his craft. As he schemes to help his friend Kinshi and to find his own parents, Jiro stumbles onto a dangerous and powerful secret.... My Review: All over the land the poor are dying of hunger. The rich have plenty, but still this is not a safety for them against death. Starvation has made the people...

PG-13: War, violence, brief language and some disturbing images. My rating: 5 stars. World War II is all around Louis Zamperini, former star Olympian Athlete. In the air, surviving multiple times, witnessing death, and more, he just wants it to be over. His memories of the past come to him, reminding him of the struggles he had over come, and the good times that were no more. But the words of his older brother keep him going. "If you can take it, you can make it." After surviving a dangerous plane landing, Louis and his team embark on another mission only to crash out on the ocean. The survivors stay alive on a raft, praying to be rescued. For days, they go through many harrowing, near-death encounters only to be rescued by something even worse. The torture, humiliation, starvation and horror that follow test him to his limits. No one should survive. Most would give in. But Louis remembers "If I can take it, I can make it." Even if he doesn...