Firebrand

September 1, 2015

Gr 4 Up-A historical novel about the life of Jewish freedom fighter August Bondi. Bondi was a young man who was shaped by war in Austria and helped shape the American West with the beliefs he upheld and the choices he made. The first thing August sees upon arriving in the United States is slavery in the South, which has a lasting impact on the young boy. The Bondi family moves to St. Louis, where August stays until he is old enough to set out on his own. He works on ships up and down the Mississippi River, where slavery is ever-present. Readers get an inside look at what the country might have been like for immigrants who came here seeking a new life. The family's religious practices are mentioned throughout. Though life for a young man in the 1800s was quite different compared to today, readers will relate to August's struggles. The language and vocabulary invoke the time period well. An author's note offers additional information on the subject's historical significance, with particular emphasis on Kansas statehood. VERDICT A good title for school libraries looking to expand their U.S. historical fiction collections.-Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA

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