Janie Chang’s — The Library of Legends *****

Janie Chang’s — The Library of Legends *****

With the invasion of the Japanese into China in 1937, students at Minghua University leave their campus and escape on foot inland. Each student carries an original volume of the Library of Legends — a 500 year old collection of Chinese myths. Among them is Lian who learns from a letter that her mother is headed to Shanghai, but it is safer for her to stay with her professors and students. They walk mostly at night to avoid being spotted by enemy aircraft and while she walks, Shao and Sparrow befriend her. When they start out, it seems like a adventure, but soon they encounter starving refugees, Japanese bomber planes and death. 

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Susan Morgan’s — Bombay Anna *****

Susan Morgan’s — Bombay Anna *****

This is a fascinating biography of Anna Leonowens who pretended to be British, covered up her past, even from her children, and became the nanny to the King of Siam’s children. She travelled the world, then settle in Canada to raise her family during the Victorian era when women stayed at home.

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Christy Lefteri’s — The beekeeper of Aleppo

Christy Lefteri’s — The beekeeper of Aleppo

Nuri and Mustafa run a business selling honey and royal jelly from their hives in Syria. When life in Syria becomes dangerous, Mustafa sends his family to England, but neither he nor his cousin can leave their bees. Only when rebels burn all their hives does Mustafa leave, but Nuri’s wife, Afra refuses to budge.

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