Margin Notes

Bluebird is a book that will have you gripping its pages and turning them frantically to see what happens next, skipping over chapters, going back to chapters, and throwing the book because you are scared about what is going to happen on the next page. Reading Bluebird is not for the faint of heart!

Bluebird is about a young woman who is caught up in the aftermath of World War 2 and the power games surrounding those who had been involved in the experiments conducted in concentration camps. The story jumps back and forth between her new life in America and her past in Berlin. This combined with the addition of flashback scenes creates a vivid, dynamic plot that sucks the reader deep into the story.

As suggested by the above introduction, I would not give Bluebird to every reader. There is intrigue, conspiracy, and fictional events that are based on real history–subjects that many readers enjoy. However, it does also include brutal action, mind manipulation, parental abuse, and torture. This thrilling novel should therefore be recommended with some caution. Sharon Cameron pulls you into this world and her readers are left at the edge of their seats, waiting for the roller coaster ride to end–and the end never comes until you’ve suddenly reached the last page and you’re left processing the magnitude of what you have just read.

Taheera is currently working on her BEd at the University of New Brunswick, focusing on English and Music. Her free time is taken up with her many hobbies, including cooking, knitting, writing, and of course, reading. Some of her favorite genres include historical fiction, letter biographies, and adventure fantasy.

“Life is like…”

I believe that this community recognizes that different text forms can have value and impact a reader strongly, so I am happy to have the chance to share with you all a manga that moved me greatly.

Yoru Sumino is well known for her light novel I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, but today I would like to recommend the manga adaptation of her light novel I Had That Same Dream Again. The story follows Nanoka Koyanagi, an elementary student, as she attempts to find an answer to her school assignment “What is happiness?” She explores this topic through discussions with her three unusual friends, while also dealing with loneliness and other personal struggles. The manga has many relatable storylines, and I feel that all readers will be able to connect with the story in some way. It has a simple, yet profound, message that kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime. I Had That Same Dream Again leaves readers asking themselves as well, what is happiness for them, and I think this is a valuable question for students to reflect on.

Though the protagonist is a young child, this manga is targeted towards teenagers as it does deal with some serious topics. This is a coming-of-age story, though it has its own unique twist on the genre, which I will leave readers to discover themselves. Though many will predict the reveal early on, this does not take away from the emotional impact of the story in the slightest. Yoru Sumino manages to delve thoughtfully into the themes of family, friendship, courage, identity, happiness, and more in a contained and concise text. Content warnings for self-harm, suicide, and bullying.

Rowan Little is a pre-service teacher currently studying at the University of New Brunswick. They have had a passion for English as long as they can remember and are eager to share their passion with their future students.

“It took me going far away

To feel this close to you

It took dreaming of a memory

To change what I thought I knew.”

David A. Robertson’s The Barren Grounds is a book I hope many get the chance to read. The Indigenous author and public speaker recently published The Barren Grounds in the fall of 2020 as Part One of the Misewa Saga. It is marketed as a middle-grade book although I believe it would be a fantastic read for any student who enjoys themes such as fantasy, adventure, and self-discovery. The story follows two Indigenous children Morgan and Eli who have been placed in the same foster home in a white suburban Manitoban town. Morgan is our protagonist, a strongminded avid reader who at times is a little hard-headed and blunt, offering comedic relief during tense scenes. Morgan has been through several foster homes and struggles to remember who her family is – only dreaming brief visions of a woman speaking to her in Cree. Although she is apprehensive about opening up to her foster family, she bonds with Eli over his hauntingly detailed drawings. While hanging out in the attic, the two discover a portal to another world that is stuck in a cycle of wintery famine. There Morgan and Eli meet a stoic Fisher and witty Squirrel, and the two children help them reclaim their land from the infections of human greed.

The Barren Grounds is a story of losing yourself and finding yourself, of insatiable hunger and contentment, of greed and generosity, and of fear and courage. If Cree is not a language that you’re familiar with, I recommend pairing this book with the audio version as there is Cree dialogue throughout the chapters. The audiobook helped to further immerse me into the land of Misewa and hear the language as it is spoken. It is a story rich in Indigenous culture and tradition and would open any reader’s eyes to the heartaches Indigenous families across Canada face after being separated from their loved ones, their languages, and their cultures. This book will make you laugh, cry, and put you back together again.

Sarah Levita is a pre-service teacher in the Bachelor of Education program at the University of New Brunswick. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and language from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and has a background in teaching English as a Second Language. She loves to write, travel, and spend time with her Pomeranian, Chloe.

The Girl that Fell Beneath the Sea is a beautifully written historical fantasy that reimagines the classic Korean fairytale “Shim Cheong”. Mina, the novels protagonist, takes the reader from a cursed Korea, forgotten by the Gods they love, and plagued by war and violent storms. An unsuspecting heroine, Mina, sacrifices herself to become the Sea God’s bride to break the curse and save her people. However, Mina soon realizes that the Sea God’s underwater
kingdom where spirits, immortals, and mythical beasts roam, is just as dangerous as it is enchanting. As she races against a ticking clock to save her village, Mina will form unbreakable bonds with magical friends and allies, but never forgets what she holds most dear.

Axie Oh’s standalone novel is perfectly suited for a younger YA audience. Oh cleverly explores themes of free will versus destiny through each characters’ relationship to the idea of fate. Fate is both literal in the red-string that connects soul mates for eternity, but acts of agency, bravery, and loyalty are also required in Oh’s world for characters’ to meet their fate. Through beautifully interconnected realms of mortal and supernatural, Oh also confirms the power of love and family to overcome all.

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will enjoy this novel for its similar themes of friendship, love, culture, history, and nature. However, any reader that enjoys magical settings, enchanted characters, adventure, mystery, and mythology, will love The Girl Beneath That Fell Beneath The Sea.