Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Forgotten Names & Counterfeit Mom; Movie: Summer Camp

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

Books: The Forgotten Names & Counterfeit Mom

Today we are recommending The Forgotten Name by Mario Escobar. At times, hopeful and encouraging, at times heartbreaking, this novel is based on the true story of a group of Jewish children whose parents made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II France by relinquishing all rights to their children to save them. This is also the story of the people who helped save them and of Valerie Portheret a woman who lived 50 years later and was determined to match the children on the list of those saved to their new identities.  Valerie's portion of the book is given short shrift, however. Her work alone could fill an entirely different novel. 

It is hard to keep track of all the characters in this book because there are so many of them. The book just barely touches on most people's stories. However, despite that it is still worthwhile because it shines a light on an important but little-known historic incident when a group of people banded together and did what was right and saved the lives of 100 children. It reminds us that we should always have the bravery to stand up for what is right. One person can make a difference, and together we can make an even bigger difference.

Today we talking about Counterfeit Mother by Deborah DiSesa Hirsch. Unable to conceive and carry a child to term herself, Hirsch's son Phillip was born with the help of an egg donor. Because of this, although she always clearly loved her son, she had trouble thinking of him as her own. Her story is not very relatable, however,  because clearly, a child does not have to have any of one's genetic material for a person to accept and love that child as their own.  Plenty of people adopt children and those children are no less than their child than if the child was born to them and plenty of people have stepchildren who become their own.  

It isn't that Ms. Hirsch seemed unhappy that her family line would not be passed on through her child. It seems more a matter of not feeling entitled to be his mother because of the fact that did not share any genetic material and that there was someone out there who had more of a right to him or at least a claim on him because she did share his genetic material. However, that seems like a personal thing and not something that happens to every person in her circumstances. Luckily, however, Ms. Hirsch was able to resolve her feelings and realize that no matter how he was conceived, Phillip was, in fact, her son, giving birth to him and raising him made him her son even if there was another woman out there who actually shared his genetic material and helped conceive him. 

Movie: Summer Camp

Today we are talking about Summer Camp. This movie is the story of three friends who bond over numerous summer camp seasons and then more or less lose touch but are reunited at a camp reunion. This movie is extremely cliche, unrealistic and at times downright cringy. It starts off with the three being confined to their own cabin because they don't fit in with the other kids. That kind of thing would never happen and what kind of lesson would it be if it did? Luckily, this is not a good film for kids for so many other reasons because that is not a lesson we should want our kids to learn that to be different means you should be set apart.

The film stars Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton, and Alfre Woodard. They play respectively, the cliched roles of the woman who has to learn to stop being so controlling, the woman who has to learn to let go and not be such a workaholic, and the woman who has to learn to take charge of her own life. They are three terrific award-winning actresses who do their best with what they are given. They all deserve to be in a much better film, however.

Summer Camp is in theaters now.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Book images used in this post are our own.  Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us here, and we will look into the matter.