The total for March was 38 books and 7 magazines finished, and 1 book abandoned.
The Wilderking Trilogy
by Jonathan Rogers
Book 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl
Book 2: The Secret of the Swamp King
Book 3: The Way of the Wilderking
A fantastic adventure story modeled after the Biblical story of David, set in an imaginary land but with real people and animals. Excellent for boys (and girls too). I first heard about this from Andrew Pudewa (of Institute for Excellence in Writing). It didn't take long before I could see why he likes it so much: it borrows a conflict from another story, puts it in a new setting with new characters with excellent writing -- strong imagery, humor, suspense, and moral lessons. I can't recommend this series strongly enough! These were my favorites of the month. HIGHLY recommended!!
From Book 1: Twelve-year-old shepherd boy Aidan is told by an old prophet that he is the Wilderking of the old prophecy, destined to save his people. The prophet tells him, "Where there is no fear, there can be no courage....Courage is the will to lay aside fear because your desire to do right outweighs your desire to avoid getting hurt." And the prophet's guiding advice, "Live the life that unfolds before you. Love goodness more than you fear evil." Aidan's application of that advice, "Who knows what the future holds? Only the One God. You just life the little bit of life that you can see in front of you. You live it well. And that gets you ready for whatever unfolds next."
From Book 2: Aidan ponders what his jealous brother said to him, "...that everything I ever had was given to me, that I haven't deserved any of it. … Maybe it's true." [The old prophet] threw back his head and laughed. "True? Of course it's true! ...What do you have that wasn't given to you? That's grace, man -- what you're given, not what you deserve. And that's as true for [your brother] as it is for you, as it is for me. Grace is the very air we breathe. … Your brother would rather have his own way than be happy. He's thrown away the grace he was given because it's not the grace he had in mind. … There's not much hope for a person who won't live in the grace he's been given."
From Book 3: The thing that stands out most to me from this story is the steadfast refusal of Aidan to take the kingdom by force or to fulfill the prophecy by his own effort. Makes me respect and admire David all the more. Near the end of the book, Aidan runs into the old prophet Bayard again. He tells Bayard he needs new advice. Bayard responds, "No, Aidan, you don't need any new advice. You need to heed the old advice." (So too, today, people want new advice, new "words from God." No. We need to heed the "old advice" God has already revealed and written down in the Bible.) Bayard continues, "The future is a dark path, Aidan. It's even dark for me most of the time, and I'm a prophet. But the living God always gives you light to get to the next turning. Stay in the path, Aidan. There's light enough. When you get to the second turning, the third, the twentieth, they'll be lit too. You don't need a prophet as much as you think you do, Aidan. You need to live the life the living God is unfolding before you."
Grandmother Cat and the Hermit
by Elizabeth Coatsworth
I found this book at the library book sale a while back. I seem to have an attraction to hardcover, older-looking books. This was a delightful find! A boy goes exploring with his elderly cat in the hills beyond his home and discovers a hermit living in a canyon. They quickly become friends and learn from each other. A short, fun book, easy to read, and thought-provoking.
The Snailman
by Brenda Sivers
A young boy has moved from London to a small English village with his parents. He is lonely, bullied, and unhappy when his parents argue. He becomes friends with a man who is somewhat of a recluse, and who is also misunderstood and bullied by the villagers. When the man is falsely accused, the boy stands up for him and proves his innocence. Another short, quick read with wonderful lessons.
Along Came a Dog
by Meindert DeJong
A splendid story! A stray dog protects a little red hen (the favorite of the man who owns her and 100 other chickens) from bullying by the rest of the flock because she is different. Eventually he wins over the man (who tries his best to get rid of him) and earns a home for himself.
Trial by Wilderness
by David Mathieson
A teenage girl survives alone for 6+ weeks after a plane crash. She makes her own boat and paddles her way back to civilization. Along the way decides she's not going to follow along in path her archaeologist father has chosen for her, but will instead become an engineer because she likes to make things. It's got kind of a weird ending and some bad language. Not a keeper (for me).
Call It Courage
by Armstrong Sperry
A Newberry Medal Book from 1940. Apparently another famous classic, which is on many book lists, that I've never read. A Polynesian boy is afraid of the sea after a traumatic experience as a four year old, when he and his mother were swept out to sea in a storm. He survived, but she died. Courage is highly prized in his society, but since he is afraid, he is shamed. He takes off on his own in a canoe to prove himself or die trying. He meets with a number of dangerous situations where he is afraid, but takes action anyway and discovers that courage is conquering your fear. As far as that goes, it is a good story. He does believe in and pray to various gods, with no knowledge of the one true God. He also has a brush with the "eaters-of-men", apparently a group of people who practice human sacrifice. It could be a little scary for younger children.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
This was an abridged version. I remember watching the movie in school, but never read the book. We'll probably save this one for when we study WWII.
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
So, here's another famous Newberry winner I'd heard about but never read before. Unfortunately, I couldn't get through the second chapter before I abandoned it due to using the Lord's name in vain and other unwholesome language. Now I think I know why my mom wouldn't let me read it when I was kid.
Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech
Sometimes Newberry Medal books are just superb. Sometimes I wonder who was on the committee and what in the world they were thinking. For most of this book, I was leaning toward the second opinion. A plot twist at the end, pushed me toward the first opinion. I thought this was going to be another Indian/pioneer story, but it's not. It's set in modern times (mid-90s, when it was written). A 13 year-old girl named Sal is traveling cross-country with her grandparents, trying to get to Lewiston, Idaho in time for her mother's birthday. Her mother had left the family and had traveled this same route that Sal and her grandparents are taking. Sal knows that her mother is not coming back home, but the reader is not told why. Throughout the trip, Sal tells her grandparents the story of a classmate named Phoebe Winterbottom. Phoebe's story is intertwined with Sal's own processing of her mother's leaving and of her dad's move from the farm to the city. In a sudden twist at the end, we learn what happened to Sal's mother and all the little hints throughout the story that didn't seem important come back and make sense. It really is a powerful story about dealing with loss, grief, and traumatic experiences. The title comes from the saying, "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins." Sal learns that many people are carrying hidden hurts and burdens inside. The way we view others and their actions changes when we find out what those hurts are. Sal comes to realize this about herself as she relates the story of her friend.
Three things spoil the story for me: 1) unwholesome language (not as bad as Bridge to Terabithia, and most would consider it mild, though it grows stronger as the book goes along), 2) 13 year-olds constantly trying to kiss, 3) praying to trees instead of God. Though not necessarily inappropriate, the scene where Sal's baby sister is stillborn and the mother hemorrhages to the point of needing a hysterectomy might be too much for some kids.
Sounder
by William H. Armstrong
Another puzzling Newberry book. The father of a sharecropping family tries desperately to feed his family through his meager wages and hunting possums and other critters with his faithful coon hound, Sounder. At last, he resorts to stealing a ham from somebody's smokehouse. He is arrested by the cruel sheriff and his deputy, who shoots Sounder as he tries to follow. The dog crawls off somewhere, supposedly to die, and the boy spends much of the book looking for the dog and for his father, who has been sentenced to some unknown number of years of hard labor. Eventually, both dog and then father return home, both crippled. They go for one last hunt. The father dies; the dog dies soon after. One majorly disturbing scene is when the boy envisions the cruel jailer dying like a bull he once saw strangled by a chain. I can kind of see why adults would want kids to read this book: it gives a glimpse into the hard life of a sharecropper and his family and the cruelty and oppression of blacks by their former slave masters. On the other hand, I can also see why kids would NOT want to read this book. It's slow moving, not a whole lot of plot, and not really about the dog Sounder at all. It's a bit difficult to pull out a moral that this story is trying to teach.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte
Adapted by Jane E. Gerver
An adaptation, obviously intended for children, evidenced by the page count of 115 pages and the annoying vocabulary words and discussion questions included with each chapter. Could be used as a summary and introduction to the story prior to reading the original, but of course it loses much of the richness of the original story. Maybe it would be better to just wait until the kids are old enough to enjoy the original?
A Man Called Norman
by Mike Adkins
I heard the author recounting this story many years ago (probably when I was in high school), so when I saw this on the library sale shelf, I picked it up. It's a powerful story of how God used the author to befriend and care for a man nobody understood or cared for. It's about how God used Mike to bless Norman, but even more how God used Norman to change Mike's heart. Highly recommended.
Constance : A Story of Early Plymouth
by Patricia Clapp
As the subtitle says, this is a story of the early years of the Plymouth colony. It begins at the point of their arrival off the coast of Cape Cod and continues several years as the colony grows to over 200 and becomes more self-sufficient in providing food for themselves. It is different from most stories about this time in that it is told from the perspective of the daughter of one of the "strangers" rather than one of the "saints." The difference is quite noticeable as the main character complains and grumbles quite a bit about her situation. Parents should be aware that the main character engages in a lot of flirtatious behavior, kissing various men, and arousing their desires and jealousy.
Tituba of Salem Village
by Ann Petry
A thought-provoking look at the Salem Witch Trials, through the eyes of the slave Tituba, one of the first accused as a witch. I would recommend this book for high school age and up as a great discussion starter regarding what really happened in Salem Village, how it compares to the Biblical description of witchcraft, the dynamics of mob hysteria, and how the "trials" were conducted compared to Biblical (and modern) standards of justice. Also, how the whole affair could have been prevented if people were truly living according to the principles and laws of Christ and the Bible, rather than focusing on just one aspect (witchcraft is forbidden). Hmmm. Yes, I could see a high school essay coming out this. :-) But even if not that formal, this would be a good book for a family discussion, though I would be cautious about allowing young children with less discernment read it by themselves.
Daniel Boone: Frontiersman
by Janet and Geoff Benge
A biography of Daniel Boone, written for maybe middle school age. Action-packed and fast-paced. Makes me very glad I don't live in frontier times and makes me respect those who did. It was interesting to note an observation Boone made : The British and Americans killed or mistreated their captives (even of their own "kind"), but the Indians(often) adopted the captive settlers to replace the men they had lost in battles. Of course, both sides did plenty of brutal killing, and Boone lost two of his sons to Indian attacks. Lots of violence and fighting, though not extremely graphic. Younger and/or sensitive readers might not like it.
Indian Captive : The Story of Mary Jemison
by Lois Lenski
A young white girl is captured from her frontier home in Pennsylvania and adopted by the Seneca Indians. Though she is very homesick and heartsick at first, she is treated kindly and learns to appreciate her Indian family, even choosing to stay with them when given an opportunity to return to the whites. Based on a true story, from 1758.
I am Regina
by Sally M. Keehn
Regina is captured by raiding Indians when she is 11 years old, while her father and brother were killed. She lives with her captors for 9 years before being forcibly returned to the white men, along with many other captives. She has forgotten much about her past life and doesn't even remember her name. She does, however, remember the Bible stories and passages she heard and memorized as a child and can speak them in German, though otherwise she only speaks in her Indian tongue. She finally recognizes her mother by means of a hymn they used to sing together and which she sang to herself throughout her captivity. This is a similar story to Indian Captive, but a little darker. Regina experienced less kindness that Mary Jemison, though she still grieves being separated from them after 9 years. Parent caution: there is one scene of attempted rape, and also a brief conversation about "becoming a woman." I wouldn't recommend this book for young or sensitive children.
Saturnalia
by Paul Fleischman
This is another Indian captive story, but in reverse. A young Narraganset boy has been taken captive after his people are ambushed and destroyed during King Phillip's War (late 1600s). This is the summary of the book that prompted me to get it: "Fourteen-year-old William is a printer's apprentice in 1681 Boston -- but he's also a captured Narraganset Indian trying to find a link with his past." I thought it would be a more in-depth look at this boy's life among a foreign people (like Indian Captive or I am Regina), but it was not. The story jumps around between a number of characters and that makes it seem a bit disjointed. One character is a womanizer, spending much time watching the bodies of various women whom he meets in the streets. He does get his come-uppance when one girl he pursues dumps a full chamber pot out the window on top of him. The title of the book comes from a pagan Roman holiday on the winter solstice during which master and slaves exchanged places. Other traditions from this holiday bear a strong resemblance to modern day Christmas celebrations. The author does write vividly and colorfully, skillfully using simile, metaphor, personification, irony, and satire. Sometimes he's downright funny. But the story was kind of strange and not what I was expecting, so I didn't care for it so much.
Once on This Island
by Gloria Whelan
A 12 year old girl and her older brother and sister care for their farm in Mackinac Island in the Great Lakes while their father is away supporting the Americans in the war of 1812. There's not a lot of character development or growth, but the story does give a glimpse into the time period and the conflicted loyalties people experienced during the war.
Amos Fortune : Free Man
by Elizabeth Yates
A powerful story! I highly recommend it! Based on the true story of a man "born free in Africa, enslaved in America, purchased his liberty (and that of several others), professed Christianity, lived reputably, and died hopefully." Best quote: "It does a man no good to be free until he knows how to live, how to walk in step with God." After the Wilderking trilogy, this was my next favorite of the month!
Freedom's Wings : Corey's Underground Railroad Diary
by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
The fictional diary of a young slave boy who escapes with his family on the Underground Railroad. Set in 1857-1858.
Harriet Tubman : Freedom's Trailblazer
by Kathleen Kudlinski
Another one in the series "Childhood of Famous Americans." Describes Harriet Tubman's life growing up as a slave, escaping, then returning multiple times to help the rest of her family to freedom.
Blackthorn Winter
by Douglas Wilson
Set in the early 1700s, a young boy named Thomas joins a ship's crew, run by an honorable man named Captain Monroe. Unfortunately, they are attacked by pirates on his first voyage. Thomas learns a lot from the honorable captain as they spend times as prisoners of the pirates. And yes, there's buried treasure involved. Best quote: "Always keep your word."
Rosa
by Elaine Cunningham
An A Beka Reading Program book for 6th grade. Tells about a migrant family working for a while in Yakima, Washington. Since Rosa moves a lot, she has had to change schools often and finds it hard to make friends. A pastor's daughter befriends her and invites her to attend the Christian school at her church. She easily makes friends there and actually enjoys school for the first time. She also hears about Jesus and the way of salvation.
Secret in the Maple Tree
by Matilda Nordtvedt
A young Norwegian girl, Hilda, growing up in Minnesota learns lessons about honesty, thankfulness, forgiveness, and trusting God. First in a series of three, from Abeka Books.
Song of the Brook
by Matilda Nordtvedt
Hilda and her family move from Minnesota to Washington and find things not quite as they expected. They learn to deal with envy and be content, expecting that "the best is yet to come." Sequel to Secret in the Maple Tree from Abeka books.
Message of the Mountain
by Matilda Nordtvedt
The third in the series. This one follows the tale of Hilda's brother John as he wrestles with questions about God, evolution, temptation, and friendship.
Renegade in the Hills
by Andy Thomson
Fifteen year old Josiah Eagle wants to be on the right side of the law, but is trapped by his pa's outlaw lifestyle and hunted by the greedy cattleman who bullies the town and lynched his father. He finds friends who believe in him, help him, and lead him to true hope and life in Jesus. A Bob Jones Press book.
The Doll People
by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin
A fun story about a family of dolls who come to life when humans aren't watching. With the help of a new family of dolls, Annabelle Doll goes searching for Auntie Sarah who has been missing for 45 years. Delightful story that I devoured in 2.5 hours.
She's Wearing A Dead Bird on Her Head!
by Kathryn Lasky
This is a picture book about the start of the Audubon Society and the campaign to outlaw the slaughter of birds for the sake of ladies' fashion. I first heard about this book from an Audubon Society representative who spoke at our nature center a year or two ago. I found it on the library book sale shelf this month and snatched it up.
Big Jeremy
by Steven Kroll
A tall tale about a giant named Jeremy who helps out his friends on an apple tree farm.
Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Whoooo
by Eth Clifford
Flatfoot Fox, aka "The greatest detective in the world" solves the case of an owl who has lost his "whooo" and can't make a sound. He is assisted by Silly Goose and Secretary Bird.
The Rescue
by Mary Cunningham
A short story about a boy and girl who go on a vacation with their mom in a cabin in the mountains. the mom gets hurts and a severe storm and flash flood trap them in their cabin. They are rescued by a neighbor just before the cabin is washed away.
Albert Einstein : Young Thinker
by Marie Hammontree
From the series "Childhood of Famous Americans". Describes Einstein's youth in Munich, Germany and his trouble in school. Some teachers didn't think he was very bright! That's because he didn't spend much time on any subject except math. It also describes his humility, even as an old man and very famous -- he was willing to help some young children with their math homework.
Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross
by Augusta Stevenson
From the series "Childhood of Famous Americans". Describes the childhood of Clara Barton, the baby of her family. She was extremely shy and bashful, except when it came to caring for sick or wounded animals or people. Then she forgot about herself and just jumped in to do what needed to be done.
Thomas A. Edison : Young Inventor
by Sue Guthridge
From the series "Childhood of Famous Americans". The best part was when his first teacher kicked him out of school for asking too many questions. So his mom homeschooled him because she agreed with young Tom, "How am I going to learn if I don't ask questions?" And when he was older, he decided he wanted to read every book in the Detroit library, so he measured the shelves and made a plan to read a foot of books every week. But he got discouraged because they kept adding more books. So he revised his plan to read only a foot of science books. No wonder the man had so many ideas!
Inexpressible : Hesed and the Mystery of God's Lovingkindness
by Michael Card
This book is written by one of my favorite Christian songwriters. I had the opportunity to hear him in concert last November and he mentioned that this, his latest book and CD, were due out in December. I started it in January, but it took me a couple of months to journal my way through it. The book is an exploration of one of the most difficult words in the Hebrew Bible to translate. His working definition of hesed is "When the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything." Here is a summary quote from the last chapter: "Hesed is the defining characteristic of God. It is linked to his compassion and graciousness. It is expressed in his willingness to forgive wrongdoing and to take upon himself the sin, rebellion, and wrongdoing of his people. As an expression of his lovingkindness, God allows his people to experience the consequences of their sin, as he promised Moses in Exodus 34:7. Even this is an expression of his hesed."
