Classics (or otherwise old books)
Laddie: A True Blue Story
by Gene Stratton Porter
This is the most realistic book by Gene Stratton Porter that I've read. Not as melodramatic as Freckles or Girl of the Limberlost, and not as much cursing as in Freckles. It is loosely based on the author's childhood and named after her beloved brother who drowned when he was young. The story is told from the perspective of "Little Sister", the youngest of 12 children. She was a surprise baby and thinks that many of her family didn't want her, except for her older brother Laddie. She has trouble knowing when to speak and when to keep quiet. There are two plot lines: one about the little girl's growing up on a farm in the years after the Civil War and one about Laddie's courtship of a neighbor girl. The girl is called "Princess" and is a fairly recent immigrant from England. Her family is somewhat reclusive, and the community perceive them as too proud to mix with "common folk." Laddie, as most all of the author's protagonists is practically perfect in every way. I had some trouble following the narrator's train of thought; perhaps it was purposefully imitating the way a young child jumps from one topic to another, but it was distracting enough that I almost abandoned the book halfway through. But I stuck with it, and the plot/suspense picked up and carried me through to the end of the book. There were maybe few instances of using the Lord's name in vain, but not nearly as many as in Freckles. The characters talk more about faith in God than in the author's other books, although the little girl's theology is mixed up. There is one chapter that non-traditional schoolers will appreciate: Little Sister loves nature and hates being cooped up in the school room with a very unpleasant teacher. She learns far more from her family's nightly memory exercises and recitation of poetry than she does in school. Her wise father takes her out of school, lets her run around in nature, and study books whenever she wants at home. She absolutely thrives in this environment, exults in her freedom, and learns far more than she did in the classroom. As a homeschooler, I found that chapter to be the best one of the book. While many people seem to just adore Porter's books, many other reviewers seem to have conflicted feelings about them. I fall into the latter category. I've read three so far; they do end up with an interesting plot, but the "practically perfect protagonists" and the resolutions to their problems are quite unrealistic. I have one more of her books on my shelf. I may give that one a go before I decide whether to continue pursuing the rest of her books or conclude that she's just not my favorite author.
Dickens: His Work and His World
by Michael Rosen
Includes a brief biography of Charles Dickens, describes the influences of his surroundings on his stories, and discusses a few of his more famous novels. A good overview of his life and work.
Just for Fun
A Dragon Used to Live Here
by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Two noble children who live in a castle meet a grumpy woman in charge of a group of scribes. The woman, Meg, tells them tales of their mother's youth, especially the time she was captured by a dragon and imprisoned in the tower of the castle. The story is told over multiple days as they all prepare for a surprise anniversary party for the children's parents. The children learn that Meg and their mother used to be good friends, but something happened to estrange them. The children are determined to get them to be friends again. The book is written almost completely in dialog, with very little descriptive narrative. I found that a bit odd. Also, the ending was a bit lacking in punch. Overall, it was an ok read. Not something I would buy to keep; but not something I would prohibit the kids from reading. My 10 year old was intrigued and read it in about 2 days.
Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key
by S.D. Smith and J. C. Smith
As the back cover says, this fantasy adventure story is "in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas." I could definitely see hints at Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, and Star Wars. One of the characters even quotes Han Solo, and another character echoes his famous "I have a bad feeling about this." Jack Zulu is a half-African, half-Appalachian 12-year-old living in Virginia, aspiring to be a major league baseball player and seeking to escape his rural town in West Virginia. He loves to read and is fed many old fantasy sagas by the owner of a small bookstore in the town. He gets a bit more than he bargained for and finds out that the stories are real and there is a portal from his town into the "Wayland" -- which is a world between worlds, a world connecting 12 realms, of which Earth is only one. Jack's mentor (the bookstore owner) has characteristics of Gandalf and Yoda. Jack has to make a choice between an offer from the evil, bad guy and doing what is right (Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader). At one point, I wondered if I was going to hear, "Jack, I am your father."
Regular readers of this blog will know that fantasy is not my typical genre, though I have enjoyed several series such as The Wilderking Trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Wingfeather Saga, and The Green Ember Series. This new story is by the same author as The Green Ember, co-authored with his 16-year-old son. That is the main reason why I pre-ordered this book. I wasn't exactly sure I would like the book, based on the description, but I have liked his other books, so I thought I would give it a try. I have to say, I wasn't thrilled with it. I guess it was just a little too weird for me. The other fantasy series that I mentioned are mostly pure fantasy worlds -- they don't claim to be in specific places or times on Earth (except for Narnia). Narnia has a little bit of travel between "our world" and Narnia, but it mostly takes place in the fantasy world of Narnia. Jack Zulu contains daily going back and forth between worlds through a special gate, but there are also "thin places" where beings from one world might "leak through" into other worlds without going through the proper channels. I thought it was kind of odd to set the story in 1984 West Virginia. Somehow, it kind of interfered with my ability to "suspend disbelief" and enter into the fantasy world. The earth characters talk about praying; one goes to a Catholic church and one to a Baptist church. But then in this "Wayland" there are characters who seem to be worshiping the sun and have other mythical/sacred creatures and ceremonies. The Earth people seem to talk about the real God we know from the Bible, but then they claim all these other worlds and peoples really exist too and creatures can travel between them. That is probably the breaking point for me. I can't reconcile those two things. There is also the 12-year-old boy's infatuation with a female friend that makes him inept and ridiculous whenever he's in her presence. That may be realistic, but I don't favor promoting boy-girl romances at this age. I almost abandoned this book in the middle, but I kept going because I wanted to give them a chance. While the plot was intriguing and the ending was mysterious enough to lead to more books in the series, I don't think I'll be keeping this book or reading future episodes. It's just not my "cup of tea."
Lost in the Barrens
by Farley Mowat
This is the kind of book I grew up on -- adventure/survival stories set in northern Canada. Two boys, one white and one Indian, get separated from their group on a hunting trip. They must use all the survival skills to survive the bitter winter weather. In the end, they make it back home and help bring peace and understanding to two differing tribes who feared each other.
Geography (read-aloud)
Books set in Delaware:
Annie Jump Cannon, Astronomer
by Carole Gerber
Picture book biography of a woman from Delaware in the late 1800s to early 1900s who helped categorize many stars according to their temperature.
High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs
by Lisa Schnell
Describes the lifecycle of horseshoe crabs (which are really crabs) that come up on beaches in Delaware Bay every year to lay their eggs.
Blue Chicken
by Deborah Freedman
The state bird of Delaware is the Blue Chicken. This book has nothing at all to do with that. But it is a hilarious picture book about a chicken in a drawing that tries to help the illustrator but spills blue ink all over the place. Delightful!
Becoming Babe Ruth
by Matt Tavares
A picture book biography of Babe Ruth, describing his troubled childhood, life at a reform school, and rise to fame as a major league baseball player.
A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall
by David A. Adler
The story of Thurgood Marshall as he grew up in a time of segregation but ended up being a justice on the Supreme Court.
Goliath: Hero of the Great Baltimore Fire
by Claudia Friddell
The story of a large draft horse who served in the Baltimore Fire Department and showed great bravery during a particularly bad fire.
by Shana Keller
A picture book biography of the famous slave turned abolitionist, as he gave some of his bread to hungry white boys who would teach him how to read and write.
Books set in Mississippi
Freedom School, Yes!
A picture book about a young black girl in Mississippi. A young woman comes to teach the people in her community as part of the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project. They face many threats from whites who don't want them there. But she learns to not let being scared get in her way.
Casey Jones
by Stephen Krensky
A tall tale based on the real-life Casey Jones, a train engineer who sacrificed his life trying to stop a speeding train from hitting a freight car on the same tracks.
