On The Bookshelf WO,r, become friends — but it is a dangerous friendship. Amelie is Jewish, Lucien, who lives in Le Chambon- sur-Lignonin France, is not. Lucien, realizing now that he has something "important" to do, takes good care of Amelie. He helps hide her prayer book, and when Amelie's shoes get dirty and old, Lucien and his grand- father make new shoes for her. They make not just ordinary sabots like most in the village wear, but gold sabots with a petal design. But by the time Lucien and his grandfather are almost done, however, Amelie is gone. Lucien begins to understand what is going on around him: that his father is working for the under- ground and that his friend is in great danger from the Nazis. Though he hears when his parents tell him that Amelie will be safer elsewhere, he is sad that he will not be able to give her the shoes. But he will finish the shoes, he says, adding a bit more varnish and then adding red, "bright and strong, like the girl I called Amelie." What a nice little book. It also offers interesting his- torical information about a small area in France where farmers, risking their own lives, saved 5,000 refugees, most of whom were Jewish, from Nazi persecution. Highly recommended. S.invt But in the meantime, those moments are precious, and I am grateful for them." Great text. Unfortunately, the art does not fall into the same category. Too bad, because the words are not only compelling, they're important, remind- ing us of the wonder of being alive. The companion piece, Good Night, Lilah Toy, alas, suffers from the same prOblem: great writing, mediocre art. Shoes for Amelie by Connie Steiner, art by Denis Rodier. Published by Lobster Press (Canada), copyright 2001. 41 pages. $12.95. Lucien is a little boy who yearns to do something important, "something special, like Maman, who opened our door to people we didn't know, like my brother, who carried messages in the dark, like Papa, who was off somewhere doing secret, dangerous work." One night, Lucien wakes up to find a girl at their door. She says her name is Amelie. She and Lucien Adult/Youth Roller Hoc ey Sprin: sign up starts February 1st call Speed Skating Lessons Every Saturday 12-1 • 3 state-of-the-art in-line skating rinks • 30 Foot rock climbing wall • Bungee Trampoline •'50s style diner • Video Arcade (In a safe, supervised environment) 2/8 2002 82 With Coupon • 1 coupon per two people Expires 2/28/02 Extended hours for Midwinter Break! Call for times 4 Shylock's Daughter by Miijam Pressler. Published by Phyllis Fogelman books, copyright 2000. 266 pages. $17.99. Sixteen-year-old Jessica has high hopes — but are they too high? Jessica's father, Shylock (this book was inspired by Shakespeare's The Merchant ofVenice), is the richest man in the ghetto, though he's modest about it. He dresses poorly and he expects his family to do the same. His servants, including an orphan named readily agree, but Shylock's daughter says no. She wants more from life; Jessica says she wants to buy flowers and eat pre- serves and do everything that anyone else — anyone gentile — can do. Jessica, meanwhile, is falling in love with Lorenzo. He is a nobleman, and he is Christian. Shylock forbids his daugh- ter from seeing Lorenzo ever again; she does not obey. In fact, she decides to marry Lorenzo and live exactly the kind of life of which she has always dreamed. Soon, she is doing just that — dining on preserves and buying flowers. She weds Lorenzo, as well, and her father goes into mourning. Yet, he is sad as he remembers the times he fought with his only daughter. Times only get worse for Shylock, who is being forced to convert to Christianity. Just as this is about to happen, he runs away. Shylock's devoted servant, Dalaliah, does the same, heading for Israel. And Jessica learns that everything she believed would be so wonderful may not be what she imagined. While directed toward Jewish young readers and teens, this is not a book for the faint of heart. It certainly is fast- paced, but parents should be warned that it is filled with frightening images of ghosts and goblins, spooky creatures and witches. ❑ 5700 Drake Rd (ittst south of Walnut lake Rd.)