NOT NOTHING by Gayle Forman

 

Alex is twelve years old. He is trying to adjust to the new normal of living with his aunt and uncle. He isn't sure if he will see his mother again or not.

Josey is 107 years old. He lives in Shady Glen, an assisted living facility. He doesn't speak because he doesn't see any reason to communicate anymore.

Alex and Josey meet when Alex is assigned volunteer work at Shady Glen. Alex is under court supervision because of a terrible thing he did. He doesn't want to be around these old people, but it's either that or the judge will send him to a juvenile detention facility.

This is not the way Alex wanted to spend his summer, and it gets even worse when he meets Maya-Jade. She also volunteers at Shady Glen, and it turns out she is Alex's boss. She has him washing everything with bleach and helping with activities for the old people Alex describes as zombies. It isn't until he is sent on an errand to Josey's room that he begins to see the value of his time with the elderly.

Author Gayle Forman's new middle grade novel is a book that should be read by everyone. The parallel stories of Alex and Josey are sure to touch hearts and convince all readers that everyone has something to contribute to the world. NOT NOTHING will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. 

THE ENIGMA GIRLS by Candace Fleming

 

Author Candace Fleming gives readers yet another great nonfiction book. THE ENIGMA GIRLS tells the story of ten teenagers during WW II. These girls ranging from 17-20 years old enlisted in the WRENS and served as code breakers. 

They worked at Bletchley Park, a secret location in England. Beginning in 1940, their work was to break the ciphers used by the German to follow their movements and uncover their battle plans. Ciphers were changed on a daily basis so the girls had to work quickly to determine the meaning of the coded orders and report them so action could be taken to prepare for and defeat the enemy. In 1945 alone, more than 6,000 women worked to decode and translate information from the enemies.

The work was tiring and stressful. Everyone was sworn to secrecy. They didn't even discuss these secrets among themselves for fear of revealing critical information that could result in the death of troops or civilians. These girls later married and had families who didn't even know what contributions they made for the war effort.

Some thirty years after the war ended, facts began to surface about the Enigma girls' significant efforts to direct the paths of British and Allied forces during the war. Author Candace Fleming's research into these brave individuals is presented in THE ENIGMA GIRLS.