“Open your eyes, concludes the man, and see what you can with them before they close forever.” From multiple award winning Anthony Doerr, All the Light we Cannot See is one of the best books to read for this challenge. Told in non-chronological order, the book takes place from 1934 - 2014 focusing on two main characters, Werner Pfennig, and Marie-Laure. Marie-Laure is a 6 year old French girl living with her father in Paris. Her father, Daniel Leblanc works in the History museum where a diamond called the sea of flames is displayed. At this time Marie-Laure is going blind. Her father then teaches her braille and makes beautiful models of Paris so she can learn her way around the city. As war breaks out in France in early 1940, Marie-Laure and Daniel move to Saint-Malo with her Uncle. Daniel was tasked with keeping the sea of flames safe and away from the Nazi, as legend says who ever owns it lives forever, but everyone he loves will die. Werner is a 8 years old German boy who grows up in an orphanage worrying about growing up only to be a miner. He come across a radio and is instantly hooked on learning about science, and engineering. With his new found passion comes great new opportunities. He is offered to study at the National Institute, a Nazi school for Hitler Youth. He quickly passes with flying colors and works with Dr. Hauptmann on new radar based tracking technology. He is then deployed with this new tech on the front lines of Russia and them France. As he travels through Nazi occupied Paris and soon ends up in Saint-Malo when he and Marie-Laure cross paths. Werner finds Marie-Laure hiding in the basement of her house after the city was bombed. Werner is then arrested by American troops and dies by stepping on a German land mine. Marie-Laure goes on with her life as a scientists in Paris with a daughter and granddaughter. As I said, this book has got to be one of the best books to read for this challenge. As the majority of Decorah's residents were born and raised in America, this book offers amazing perspective on how it would be to live in France and Germany during WWII. Not only that, but most chapters are less than four pages long. Each chapter switching between the two characters. This book is great because it appeals to everyone. Everyone can gain insight from this story. Learning what it is like to be blind, or being a young soldier on the front lines, heck even both sexes are included in this book as main characters. All in all this book will have something to teach you about someone different than yourself. My insight from the book come from Marie-Laure, the blind French girl. I couldn’t imagine being blind, especially during this time period. I really love how her father shares her struggle by making models of cities so she can learn her way around. It’s also pretty amazing the amount of trust she has to put into other people. I think this is something everyone struggles with , especially me. Most the time I don’t want people to help because it's hard to adjust to change and difference. Marie-Laure is a great example to keep trying and trying even if it takes you years until you get it right. She never gave up learning how to see and find her way home even after her vision was gone. If she can do that. Then me and you, we can do anything. Gabe A.
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AuthorSTenth grade students at Decorah High School share how they're reading outside of their own experiences and how it has changed them. Categories
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November 2022
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