Blew me away!!; The way real is woven into a story is truly awesome; I have some definitive new heros now as well; the letter made me unabashedly weep out loud. ( )

My daughter was assigned this for summer reading. A+ book. Very interesting, mixes fact with fiction well. We really enjoyed this book and time together reading it. Highly recommend.

A couple of parts I skimmed over when it was my turn to read aloud. I was not comfortable with a word used and changed it as well as I shortened the description of what was done to the children and people during the war.

It might have been a bit better for those parts if she were a bit older ( )

This book was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a light mystery and what I received for my time, was a wonderful story and a new light on living life.

A couple find a piece of an old relic in their backyard, and try to find out more about the origins of the piece. In their search for answers, they discover that there are another 2 pieces of ancient relics that seem to fit the piece they have.

What ensues is a discovery over time, and the mystery involves many historical greats, both ancient and modern. Covering a brief history of well known figures such as Joan of Arc, Albert Vanderbilt, George Washington Carver, John Adams, and Oscar Schindler among others, the reader is given a brief glimpse into certain aspects of their lives.

What do these historical greats have in common? It has everything to do with the pieces of metal, and in the weaving of this story, comes a profound life lesson.

We all have choices in life. We can choose to do or not do something. We can choose to live life with the aim to help others, and in doing so, we may find a way to fulfil the potential we are all born with. Or we may choose to close our minds to the special talents hidden within ourselves.

The story itself and the clever weaving of history into it is interesting. But what this book left me with, was an opportunity to reflect on how I've been living my life thus far, and the choices that are open to me moving forward. This book spoke to my soul. ( )

Ok, up there in my top 5 most wonderful books ever but it has some stiff and sentimental competition. ( )