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 * This page is for review of books by AUTHORS whose last names begin with the letters C&D. **

** //The Girl in the Green Sweater// by Krystyna Chiger ** Contributor: Jordan M.

Although there have been a good number of books published about the holocaust, //The Girl In the Green Sweater// by Krystyna Chiger differentiates itself from all other accounts and inspires readers with an unforgettable memoir. Chiger recounts her grim, yet hopeful childhood spent hiding from Nazi persecution, as well as the years leading up to and after the war. Before the Nazis took over her hometown, Lvov, Krystyna lived "Like a princess." She had everything that she desired, "Like a character from a storybook fable."But her luxurious way of life soon ended when Nazi Germany unexpectedly came to power in 1942. Her family changed residences multiple times and ultimately ended up as refugees in the sewers of the Lvov ghetto. Their quarters were unimaginably filthy, covered in rats and mud. There was not even enough oxygen to even keep a candle burning for a long time. They lived in such disgusting and despicable conditions for over a year, and even as an optimistic child, Krystyna began to lose hope. At last, the Nazi rule of their city ended in may of 1943 and the Jews could leave their hiding place in the sewers. Even though they were no longer in hiding, their struggle did not end. //The Girl In the Green Sweater// realistically depicts what life was like before, during, and after World War Two for many Jews, and tells a memorable story in a child's perspective of the holocaust.

**//A Room Full of Mirrors//** **by Charles R. Cross** Contributor: Adam G. Growing up, most individuals have the luxury of a stable family and stable living environment. Nobody would expect that one of the greatest rock legends in history went from dirt poor to million dollar superstar in only twenty-seven years. The story and “experience” of Jimi Hendrix’s life are beautifully recalled in Charle’s Cross’s //Room Full of Mirrors//, as Cross untangles Jimi Hendrix’s life story from Seattle, Washington, to the Harlem scene, to Hendrix’s time in England, and the height of his career in Bethel, New York, better known as the legendary “Woodstock Hill.” During his early youth, Hendrix grew up in several different locations, wit several different families, as he moved fro house to house every night looking for someone who could provide him a meal. He eventually joined the Army, but successfully avoiding departure to Vietnam, he found himself in Nashville, Tennessee. In Nashville, Jimi truly began his career as a rock star, for in Nashville, “his guitar started to talk.” After traveling to the Harlem scene in New York, Jimi was given a record deal with Chas Chandler where he ould debut in london, England. England is where Jimi first became popular and where his legacy would live on for eternity. After England, Jimi appeared in all of America and returned to England various times during tours and festivals, his greatest being Woodstock. After reading this book, it is apparent that Hendrix never really died; he even said that in death “all your doing s getting rid of that old body.” Hendrix may have left this world at a young twenty-seven, but he will never be forgotten in the eyes of humanity, and the perfect reasons why are in this book.

Contributor: Ashley B.
 * Heavier Than Heaven: A Biograpghy of Kurt Cobain by Chalres R. Cross.**

// Heavier than Heaven //, a biography of Kurt Cobain, is truly a heavy topic. This biography shows the true Kurt Cobain. The book entails of his childhood struggles and creating Nirvana, while displaying how inauthentic he was as a person. His exaggerations of his family plight, and his constant telling of stories, were deliberate lies. He was convinced he was a tragic hero, yet his behavior was that of a manipulative, self-absorbed celebrity. Cobain made people think he resented the fame; unfortunately, this itself was a ploy. He craved fame with a hunger that at times seemed to go against all he said and did. He courted the media, invited the scrutiny, and then, in the same breath, denied everything he was doing. The “struggle” witnessed through the self destruction of Kurt Cobain was a contrived and premeditated endeavor. He chose to become a junkie to alleviate the obvious physical pain he experienced which involved health issues. The overuse of drugs was the demise of the Nirvana singer. His self denial of drug abuse was rationalized as part of being a musician. His life continued to spiral downward after meeting his wife, Courtney Love. She was manipulative, which led to him to abandon all rationale. His only saving grace may have been his daughter, Frances Bean, which is “…truly amazing… the will of instinct” people have, for ones they love. It became evident that he was an unstable person, screaming for attention.

Contributor: Garrett W.
 * //The Lion of Wall Street: The Two Lives of Jack Dreyfus// by Jack Dreyfus**

Many frown upon the lives of people on Wall Street, possibly because of jealousy of success, and other times for political reasons. However, not everyone on the famous street in New York City is cold hearted. “The Lion of Wall Street: The Two Lives of Jack Dreyfus” is a motivational autobiography by Jack Dreyfus himself. The remarkable tale of Mr. Dreyfus starts with humble beginnings as a young Jewish boy living in eastern Pennsylvania. As the character ages, he becomes an avid golfer, a college student, and a member of the National Guard. Jack Dreyfus then found himself with a unique opportunity to work on Wall Street. Starting out as a customs broker at Merrill Lynch, Dreyfus worked his way up the corporate ladder. Years later, while still in the same company, Jack and a friend of his opened Dreyfus & Co. on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. This was the beginning of the man’s economic climb. Successfully making money on Wall Street was a challenge but in over fifty years of working, the firm Dreyfus & Co. grew to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet along that journey, Jack found himself diagnosed with epilepsy, and fell into a form of depression. A doctor prescribed him a “remarkable medicine,” PHT, and seeing wonderful effects, he opened the Dreyfus medical foundation. Using his wealth, Jack Dreyfus advanced research for people suffering from such diseases. This is a happy-go-lucky book with a serious undertone, not just telling the story of one of the most influential men to touch Wall Street, but also the tale of a modern day saint.

//** Tha Dogg Father **//** by Snoop Dogg ** Contributor: Dan C.

Everyone loves an inspiring underdog story; well, the book //Tha Dogg Father,// by Snoop Dogg//,// fits this mold. Calvin Broadus, also known as “Snoop Dogg,” appeared to be the perfect stereotypical gangster; he even had the background to go along with his appearance. Snoop was born in Long Beach California, and his dad left soon after. This already sounds like an impossible situation to thrive in, but it grew worse. Soon Snoop became caught up in the wrong crowd, started doing drugs, and found himself kicked out of his house. Desperate for a new home, Snoop had to settle for sleeping in the back seat of his car. Was this a no win situation? Snoop did not think so. He soon met with Dr. Dre, and got a shot at fame by featuring in Dr. Dre’s album. With his career on the rise, Snoop handled the fame humbly; he attributes what he learned on the streets to his success, as it was the inspiration for most of his songs. With his newfound fame, Snoop still gave so much back to the community, becoming like a father figure for the youth in the area. Snoop’s story was not a pretty one; nobody believed a fatherless boy from the ghettos of Long Beach would ever amount to something. But, he proved everyone wrong, and in the process went from rags to riches, making his very own, underdog story.

**//Quiet Strength// by Tony Dungy** Contributor: Austin C.

The Super bowl is an accomplishment any football player strives for, and is an incredible honor to win. It is challenging, rigorous, and is an emotional subject for many football-loving Americans. In his book, //Quiet Strength//, Tony Dungy records his childhood, life, and NFL experience, while he and his team strive for the ultimate goal, the Super bowl. Tony grew up in a family full of sports, he writes about his affiliations with multiple teams and how they each helped him through high school and life. Years later he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers under coach Chuck Noll, where he “develops himself mentally, physically, and spiritually”. After Dungy has played for multiple teams and gets married, he becomes coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He raises them up from the worst team in the league to making the playoffs four years in a row. He must have done a great job coaching, because after he left, they went on to win the Super bowl. Years later, after he left Tampa and started coaching the Colts, he was faced with the hardest part of his journey, losing a family member. As Tony was sitting at his desk only a few weeks before the playoffs he got the life-changing news that his son had lost his life. Both the Tampa Bay and Indianapolis fans come together to support the Dungys through their hard times. Incredibly, just weeks after the terrible incident Tony led his team to the Super bowl, where they faced their rival, the New England Patriots. This retelling of Tony Dungy's road to the Super bowl takes the reader through the life of the first African American coach to win a Super bowl, and poignantly illustrates the joys and the hardships of coaching an NFL team.