Anne Blankman

AN UNDEREXPLORED CHAPTER OF HISTORY: The Chernobyl disaster was one of the most devastating episodes of the twentieth century, and its impact continues even today, but it's rarely been written about, especially for young people. It is considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history. Anne Blankman's treatment of it is like Ruta Sepetys for middle grade.

PAGE-TURNER: The stories of Valentina and Oksana, two girls fleeing from Chernobyl, are suspenseful and gripping, and the occasional chapters from Rifka's point of view will have readers on the edge of their seats in this commerically written multi-POV read.

A MOVING, MULTIGENERATIONAL STORY THAT CELEBRATES FRIENDSHIP AS WELL AS MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS: This powerful story is as much about the lasting importance of friendship as it is about family.

A THOUGHTFUL EXPLORATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM: In this unfortunately timely novel, anti-Semitism gets a nuanced exploration, from the alternating perspectives of a Jewish girl growing up in an intolerant Soviet Union and a non-Jewish girl raised in an anti-Semitic home who comes to discover the prejudices she was taught are unfounded.

MAKING HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS: The Blackbird Girls connects the events of World War II to the events of the 1980s Soviet Union, and draws parallels to today, much the way Allan Gratz's Refugee makes connections between different eras in history. This is a great classroom read.

POWERFUL DEPICTION OF OVERCOMING ABUSE: The thoughtful and well-researched portrayal of Oksana's character overcoming the trauma from her abusive parents is reminiscent of Ada, the main character from The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.