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A Different Kind of Courage
Fearing for their safety, Zina, Bertrand, and their families must leave the south of France before the Germans arrive, setting off to find an American woman, Martha Sharp, who will be able to help them reach the U.S.
170 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1996
About the author
Ellen Howard
29 books10 followersChildren sometimes ask, "Do you write about your own life?" I have to answer that I do not. The reason is simple: My own life is boring. Yet I would not trade it for anyone else's.
I grew up in a large and loving family--parents, grandparents, and three children all under the same roof, a big white house in Portland, Oregon. At school, I was able, but not brilliant. I liked to draw. I liked to play pretend. I liked dolls, too, right through eighth grade, and only fear of what others would say made me give them up then.
Most of all, I loved to read! And I dreamed of a time when, a grown-up married lady with thirteen children, I would write books.
But childhood dreams have a way of getting lost. It was not until I was in my mid-thirties, after marriage, a child, divorce, and remarriage, that I was able to complete college. By then, my family included not only my daughter Beth, but my husband's daughters, Cynthia, Laurie, and Shaley.
It was in college that an important thing happened. I rediscovered stories and remembered my dream of writing them. My first published book was a story for children (CIRCLE OF GIVING, 1984).
Since then, our daughters have grown up. Now we have seven grandchildren. I work at home, writing. I speak at schools. I teach writing. I give speeches to teachers, librarians, and others. But most of the time, I am at home, gardening, cooking, washing, and ironing . . . and writing.
I know my life sounds boring, but for me it is filled with all the adventure, excitement and drama I can find and make in books. To me it is the best kind of life!
I grew up in a large and loving family--parents, grandparents, and three children all under the same roof, a big white house in Portland, Oregon. At school, I was able, but not brilliant. I liked to draw. I liked to play pretend. I liked dolls, too, right through eighth grade, and only fear of what others would say made me give them up then.
Most of all, I loved to read! And I dreamed of a time when, a grown-up married lady with thirteen children, I would write books.
But childhood dreams have a way of getting lost. It was not until I was in my mid-thirties, after marriage, a child, divorce, and remarriage, that I was able to complete college. By then, my family included not only my daughter Beth, but my husband's daughters, Cynthia, Laurie, and Shaley.
It was in college that an important thing happened. I rediscovered stories and remembered my dream of writing them. My first published book was a story for children (CIRCLE OF GIVING, 1984).
Since then, our daughters have grown up. Now we have seven grandchildren. I work at home, writing. I speak at schools. I teach writing. I give speeches to teachers, librarians, and others. But most of the time, I am at home, gardening, cooking, washing, and ironing . . . and writing.
I know my life sounds boring, but for me it is filled with all the adventure, excitement and drama I can find and make in books. To me it is the best kind of life!
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 19, 2013
gr 4-6 169pgs
1940 France. Fictionalized account of the "Child Emigration Project" that evacuated twenty seven children from France to the United States. The story alternates between two children Bertrand and Zina from the time of the German invasion of Paris until they are on the ship for America. Bertrand is haunted by his escape, along with his mother and baby siter, from Paris and isn't happy that his mother keeps shifting from place to place. After the school where she'd been staying closes, Zina just wants to stay with her parents. Instead Bertrand and Zina, along with the other children are sent away and left to try to understand why their parents sent them away.
1940 France. Fictionalized account of the "Child Emigration Project" that evacuated twenty seven children from France to the United States. The story alternates between two children Bertrand and Zina from the time of the German invasion of Paris until they are on the ship for America. Bertrand is haunted by his escape, along with his mother and baby siter, from Paris and isn't happy that his mother keeps shifting from place to place. After the school where she'd been staying closes, Zina just wants to stay with her parents. Instead Bertrand and Zina, along with the other children are sent away and left to try to understand why their parents sent them away.
Displaying 1 of 1 review