Torn Thread

Twelve-year-old Eva and her sister have been forced to leave their home in Poland and are imprisoned in a Nazi labor camp. There they must spin thread on treacherous machinery to make clothing and blankets for the German Army. As Eva struggles amid ever worsening dangers to save her life and that of her sick sister, readers witness how two teenagers strive to create home and family amidst inhumanity and chaos. Written in exquisite prose, this story of heartbreak and hope that is rich in detail and symbolism will deeply move readers of all ages.

Anne Isaacs was born in Buffalo, New York, where she lived until she left for college. As a child, Anne read constantly, selecting books such as Wind in the Willows and Romeo and Juliet. Her favorite book was Little Women, and she grew up to have a life much like the heroine Jo; maintaining a career as an educator, a mother, and a children's book writer. In 1967 Anne left Buffalo for the University of Michigan where she received degrees in English Literature and Environmental Education. Today she lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Published in 2006, Pancakes for Supper, is loosely based on the plot of Helen Bannerman's classic story, “Little Black Sambo.” But in writing Pancakes for Supper, Anne Isaacs decided to create the first completely American retelling of this beloved story. The characters in Pancakes for Supper, including five animals, are indigenous to New England in the early half of the 19th century. The main character, a spunky new heroine named Toby, has what it takes to stand up to a ferocious wolf, cougar, bear, skunk, and porcupine. The clarified butter, or ghee, of the original tale becomes, in Pancakes for Supper, fresh-tapped maple syrup from the Vermont trees that still supply America with the most famous of pancake toppings.