Haunting WWII fiction infused with mystery, suspense and time travel

Where David Threw Stones: A Haunting WW2 Tale of Courage, Love, and Redemption by Elyse Hoffman is one of those treasured reads I plan to read again. The plot takes place 30 years after WW II and is a blend of historical fiction infused with mystery and suspense merged with fantasy to create a captivating WWII story of the cursed German town of Brennenbach.

 

Book Review by Donna

About the Book

This town is under a curse and reverts back in time to revisit it’s Nazi occupation each night complete with very real SS ghosts. The protagonist, David Saidel, is a 10-year -Jewish boy sent to Brennenbach to live with his grandfather following the death of his parents resulting from an antisemitic crime. Life in Brennenbach delivers haunting secrets, plenty of mysteries, and ghost-like characters who are tangible and dangerous during the curse hours. Amid all this is David and his grandfather both need healing from a haunted past. 

I especially enjoyed how Elyse Hoffman captured David’s perspective as he gets to know the grandfather he never met and deals with his grief, guilt, desire to honor his dead parents, and the emotions of trying to make friends amid a climate of hatred and bigotry. Hoffman weaves several plot threads and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, and she brings it all to a rewarding ending well worth the read. I didn’t see it coming. Loved it.

@donnasundblad Book Review Where David Threw Stones #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #booktok #bookworm #booktour ♬ original sound Donna Sundblad

Book Review: Where David Threw Stones

If you’ve read Hoffman’s Book of Uriel, you’ll love this one, too. I didn't want to put it down. Her writing is masterful, subtly blending details that urgently pull multiple plot threads to a satisfying conclusion. I recommend Where David Threw Stones to readers who enjoy WWII fiction, ghost stories, as well as mysteries. I think people who enjoyed reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak will fall in love with this story. I award this book 5 stars. 

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and I received Where David Threw Stones as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with Black Coffee Book Tours. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

About Author Elyse Hoffman

Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. She loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: the five books of The Barracks of the Holocaust and The Book of Uriel.

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Imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into everyday life

Ella’s Dance Debut brings a magical story of a young girl’s life as a dancer, but Ella is not that girl. It is her umbrella, “Ella.” This imaginative story surrounds Ella the umbrella's life, riding the bus, going to dance classes, and getting ready for Ashton's big recital. Ella loves music and motion as much as Ashton does. When Ella learns that umbrellas will be used by the dancers, she is so excited, but things don’t go exactly as planned. For those who have read other books in this series, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Book Review by Donna

Book Review: Ella's Dance Debut

This book’s imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into an everyday scenario by telling it from an umbrella’s point of view. The whimsical, colorful illustrations by Emilia Ruminska not only bring the story to life but shine with the love of dance. With Ella’s Dance Debut, Once Upon a Dance delivers another interactive, entertaining tale for young children and early readers as Ballerina Konora joins in the story with photos that encourage kids to act out movements in the story. I love this concept. 

This interaction with the story encourages imaginative play by an award-winning ballet teacher! I give this book five stars. While it is recommended for young children interested in dance as it features ballet terms and steps, I think this story will appeal to young children who love music, and those who love to pretend even if they are not involved in dance.

Other books by Once Upon a Dance that I recommend include:

Frankie’s Wish

Daryl’s Dancing Dolls

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the authors

Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.

Their catalog of 25 interactive dance books highlights positive messages and role models throughout four main series:
 

Dance-It-Out! stories combine whimsical tales with movement and subtle life lessons (spans ages 4-9)
Dancing Shapes peeks at a professional ballerina’s journey, teaches ballet, and explores detail and form (spans ages 6-11) 
Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts deep dives into technique, tips, and insight for aspiring dancers (ages 8-12)
Prop-Based Dance Stories for Classroom and Anytime Fun debuts in 2023 to encourage scarf and parachute play.