THE ROAD FROM HOME * GREEK SOUL-MEMORIES OF A DETROIT CHILDHOOD

The Road from Home by David Kherdian This Newberry Honor book is the story of Veron, an Armenian girl who survived both the 1915 Armenian genocide and the 1922 Smyrna catastrophe. It's written in the first person and it's unbelievable that a person could survive so many hardships and so much pain. The book covers the years from 1907 to 1924, and takes Veron from childhood to young woman betrothed to a man in America. I loved reading the details of her life with her family in their village before the march and other events that would take her family and leave her orphaned. Somehow, the goodness of others and her sweet tough nature helped her at each juncture. She always made good decisions in spite of it all. It's a memoir from the heart and mind of an amazing woman. If you only read one account about the Armenian Genocide, this is the one I'd recommend. It's for all ages.

Greek Soul-Memories of a Detroit Childhood by Stelyani Sandris - I started this book last night after finishing Road from Home, and couldn't put it down until I'd finished it this morning. It's one of the more poignant and unique books you'll ever read. Stelyani was Estelle Changas, and throughout her life she wrote about her childhood growing up in Detroit. Her family was poor after her father died young, and her own experiences and memories, as well as those of her family, changed and shaped her and stayed with her through her life. Probably riding around on her shoulder and rattling around in her brain, the way mine do. In these stories, she put her heart on her sleeve.