Crazy for Young Adult Books discussion

Join Krista and me!

Thanks for making this!

No problem!

I will try to join you. Depends on whether I'll get the book from the library.

Sounds good! Hope you can. I might be starting a bit late anyways. Depends on how fast I read between now and then.

How's everyone wanting to read this one? Post every 5 chapters or ?

Every 5 chapters sounds fine. I may start this early because I got my copy yesterday and can only keep it for two weeks.

I can start tomorrow as well! So that sounds good.

Great, then I guess we'll both start tomorrow. 😁

So I haven't started yet but plan to soon. I'm trying to finished today and start this tonight.

I hope you will be able to join us soon Diana!

Sounds good Krista. I started but didn't make much progress yet. I'll continue tonight.

How are you liking An Ember in the Ashes?

I ended up reaching the end of chapter 10 today. So far I like this but I'm having some trouble staying focused because of the accents they use in the audiobook.

I like it that this is (view spoiler)[ different from most concentration/extermination camp books I've read. The story seems to focus more on how the people in Auschwitz stayed hopeful and positive instead of all the terrible things that happened there. However, the author doesn't completely ignore the atrocities committed at the camp either, which I think is important. (hide spoiler)]

Their library (view spoiler)[ has only eight books. That's kind of adorable but also sad. (hide spoiler)]

I wonder if (view spoiler)[ Mr. Hirsch really is an informer and if he is, what are his motives. Is he doing it to keep the soldiers from suspecting he is breaking the rules or is there something else in it for him? (hide spoiler)]

I love it! I'm rereading it so when the library says I can have the 3rd one I'm ready. I"m on chapter 8 so I'll post when I'm done with ten :)

Ch. 10

I agree (view spoiler)[the main character is very positive and determined. I think seeing her talk about books the way she does makes me appreciate books even more. (hide spoiler)]

Mr. Hirsch (view spoiler)[- That's what I'm trying to figure out too. I don't know what to think about his reasoning. (hide spoiler)]

So I was in the car a lot yesterday and made some really good progress on this book but couldn't post. How are you guys doing on it?

Ch. 21

Dita (view spoiler)[I'm so glad she started to read to the children when everyone was so upset. I'm glad that even though their leader died their are carrying on with the school. (hide spoiler)]'

Mr. Hirsch (view spoiler)[I still find it odd that he killed himself but I really want to know if he did or if he was forced to or something. There is totally more to that story I think. (hide spoiler)]

I haven't had much time to continue this one. I'm in chapter 14. I'll try to make more progress on Sunday.

You're fine. I just had the time in the car. :)

I'm at chapter 5, hoping to catch up today!

How are you liking it?

I really like the writing style, but it's just depressing to read about that kind of atmosphere. What about you?

I'm now on chapter 18. I'll write comments when I reach chapter 22.

21 Chapters

I didn't realize (view spoiler)[ that Mr. Hirsch was gay. I definitely didn't see that coming. I also would like to know more about his suicide. I hope Dita will find out what the motives behind his suicide were. (hide spoiler)]

It's awful how (view spoiler)[they just killed thousands of people in the gas chambers. I remember from my visit to a concentration camp in Poland that when the war neared its end, the Nazis just killed the prisoners as fast as they could because they wanted to hide all evidence of the atrocities committed at the camps. It's hard to imagine things like that happening, but then again, similar things are still happening around the world. (hide spoiler)]

I wonder if (view spoiler)[ Viktor and Renee will be able to escape the camp. I hope they will succeed. (hide spoiler)]

Katriann wrote: "How are you liking An Ember in the Ashes?

I ended up reaching the end of chapter 10 today. So far I like this but I'm having some trouble staying focused because of the accents they use in the au..."

(view spoiler)[I also like the way it is a little bit more positive, but the thing about six months makes me nervous.
I am also worried about the characters. Fredy strikes me as a trust worthy person, and I hope I'm right.
I am also worried about Maggie and the officer. (hide spoiler)]

Krista wrote: "Ch. 10

I agree [spoilers removed]

Mr. Hirsch [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I also like the protagonist and her love for books. And I think that the school is such a good thing in a place full of darkness. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

I loved (view spoiler)[this book. I think it was eye opening and I thought the addition of Ann Frank interesting. Once I start this book I couldn't get enough. I got we got a bit more information about Mr. Hirsch at the end as well. (hide spoiler)]

Diana wrote: "I really like the writing style, but it's just depressing to read about that kind of atmosphere. What about you?"

Agreed, it is depressing but I just reminded myself that it is based on truth.

I'm sorry you guys, it seems I will not be able to finish this with you. My copy was from the library and it expired today. There are a couple of holds on it, so it may take me more than a month to get it back.

Aw! Well hopefully you can find this post when you are able to finish it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Katriann wrote: "21 Chapters

I didn't realize [spoilers removed]

It's awful how [spoilers removed]

I wonder if [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[This chapter was just depressing, it's incredible how cruel the people can be. I am happy that they could find a short escape in the book, now that their leader is gone.
I also hope that Dita understands why he did what he did. It's so sad that he died being ashamed of his sexuality.
What would have happened if Fredy had called the rebellion? Would they have really accomplished something?
If I'm not wrong, they are in 1944, right? According to my memory, Auschwitz was bombarded until 1945 so I'm kinda scared for the future of the family camp. (hide spoiler)]

Krista wrote: "Finished

I loved [spoilers removed]"

I hope to finish tomorrow since the chapters are so short

Katriann wrote: "I'm sorry you guys, it seems I will not be able to finish this with you. My copy was from the library and it expired today. There are a couple of holds on it, so it may take me more than a month to..."

Oh, so sorry for that. As Krista said, hopefully you'll come here when you finish it so we can discuss it again.

Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[ I am happy that Rudi was able to escape but sad that the information didn't save anyone yet. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 30
(view spoiler)[I can't believe the book mention Anne Frank, I feel so drained right now. (hide spoiler)]

Sure, I'll try to remember to come here and check out your comments when I get the book back. :)

Krista wrote: "Finished

I loved [spoilers removed]"

I am finished as well
(view spoiler)[Yes, I also loved the ending where Fredy's ending was revealed. It's sad that it happened that way, I guess that the doctor's logic was correct but it is still not justified in my opinion.
I loved the crude way to describe how the prisoners reacted to their freedom, it was so realistic since they were so dead inside.
I also liked the book a lot, something about the writing style didn't allow me to completely love it but the story was so well done. (hide spoiler)]

Katriann wrote: "Sure, I'll try to remember to come here and check out your comments when I get the book back. :)"

Great!

I finally finished this. I liked this book but I feel like my reading experience suffered because I had to take a long break. I also think I would have liked this better if I had actually read the book instead of listening to the audiobook.

Anyway, I agree (view spoiler)[ with you both that it was nice to get some more information about what happened to Fredy. And I really liked how the prisoners reacted to their freedom too. It was believable and realistic. (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad you finally finished it!

I just read this for my RL book club and I was looking for discussion questions and was surprised there wasn't much online for this book. So I started looking at GRs discussions.

I realize you all might not even see this, but I liked your discussion on the book.

My favorite part of the book were the chapters at the end after the postscript chapter.

Fredy ~ (view spoiler)[I was sad for Dita that Fredy wasn't the perfect person that she wanted him to be. But I liked Miriam telling Dita that you wanted the truth but only if it suited you. I wondered after her first disappointment why she was so insistent about learning whether Fredy committed suicide. (hide spoiler)]

Someone made the observation that Dita probably survived because (view spoiler)[of her family and having a purpose. (hide spoiler)]