Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr paintings by Ronald Himler

Recently we had homeschool friends over to present topics that interest them.  One of my youngest son's friend summarized this book and demonstrated how to fold a paper crane.  He allowed my son (and me!) to borrow this book.  

Sadako is determined to make the junior high running team.  As she trains, she begins to feel dizzy after her workouts.  She does not tell anyone until she falls over at school.  Her parents admit her into a hospital where it is discovered she has the "atom bomb disease", leukemia.  To bring her hope, her friend Chizuko makes her a paper crane, reminding her of the old story that if a sick person makes a thousand the cranes, the gods will heal her.  Sadako begins to make paper cranes out of any paper she can find. Unfortunately, she does die months later.

Based on a true story.  Step-by-step directions how to fold a paper crane are included in the back of the book.

A short but powerful book with admirable characters.  Readers will be exposed to Japan's culture.

Points to discuss: Japanese culture, WWII & the atom bomb/Hiroshima, worshipping ancestors/gods, relying on "good luck", death of a young girl, leukemia

-Borrowed from a young friend. 

The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling

 Nora and her father plan to spend her birthday exploring the base of a canyon.  Both are grieving the loss of her mom, who died on her birthday a year ago when a gunman came into the restaurant where they were celebrating.  Her mother and another mother with young boys both died saving her life and others in restaurant.  Her father has developed a mistrust of people and as a result, begins to isolate them from society.  In the bottom of the canyon he feels safe.  A flashfood arrives unexpectantly.  The two are separated and left in the cruel desert to survive.  Will Nora lose another parent on her birthday?  As she fights off the natural elements, she also battles her demons from that fateful day.  

The beginning and the end are related in prose while the meat of the story is free verse.   The poems are cleverly constructed and offer a variety of forms.  

A lot of intense emotions being processed and described.    I could have read this book in one sitting because of the perpetual action.  

Labeled as "teen fiction" because of the topic.

Points to discuss/warnings: one swear word, PTS, death of parent by a gunman, shootings, grief processing, solution to grief/pain is to believe in yourself vs. depending on God-  Nora does pray, wonder if there is a god and if there is a reason for all of the pain and evil that has been in her life.  These questions are not  answered by the end of the book.  Instead, the reader has the impression that she is stronger and more resilient because she survived impossible odds.  The last chapter shows her making mends with her friend, which offers the reader hope. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Teaflet and Roog Make a Mess by Jeanne Birdsall illustrated by Jane Dyer*

 Siblings, Teaflet and Roog, reside in Trelfdom where each year they host their Strawberry Jam Party.  Unfortunately, the inspector of neatness, Inspector Maple, sends the notice that she will be coming to inspect their home the day before the party.  Will Roog, the official baker, have time to create his delectable dishes as Teaflet tries to clean and remove animals that she is mending from various hurts/ailments? Many disasters occur throughout the day, causing the siblings to fear that they will be spending the next day cleaning the inspector's home (the punishment for failing the inspection) instead of hosting the Strawberry Jam Party.

What I loved the most about this book were the illustrations.  Ms. Dyer created all of the characters out of wool and wire, constructed all props from various materials including clay, and designed the scenes.  The ladies set up the scenes in Ms. Birdsall's shooting studio where she photographed them.  These ladies are friends and neighbors!

A sweet chapter book for transitional readers who need to build stamina.

I just wished they had included a recipe for Roog's double-chocolate cake with strawberry jam!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrrowed from the library.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

 A captivating, beautiful story of three generations of women learning how to maintain their identity and pride in their heritage as they live in North America.  

Most of the story focuses on Tara and Sonia, Ranee's daughters, who immigrate from London to New York City in the early 1970's.  Ranee's own story develops quietly in the background during the entire novel.  The young ladies' struggle to fit into the American culture yet honor their Indian heritage is palpable.  

I did not appreciate how white Americans were portrayed as materialistic and how being a Republican was a negative choice.  The people of color, however, cared about human trafficking, environmental issues, and people in general.  

I liked the sweet, solid relationship between Tara and Sonia.  Refreshing to read about sisters who support and care for each other.

Points to discuss: prejudices, feminism,  Democrat vs. Republican, early death of father, Indian culture

Category-"young adult"

-Borrowed from the library

All Creatures Great & Small Season 1 -PBS-Masterpiece**

 I am reading aloud All Things Bright and Beautiful to my eleven-year-old right now.  Since we both love the "Herriot" stories, I thought we would enjoy this new show.  Our whole family enjoyed it (including my husband who prefers fantasy/sci-fi).  He even commented on how well the characters were developed and how you come to care for them.  

Six episodes are featured, starting with James arriving in Darrowby and then how he adjusts to Siegfried, Tristan and the Dale people.  He meets his future wife, Helen, in this season.

Although the producers changed some of the story lines, my son and I still liked it just as much of the book.  The producers maintained the characters' personalities, quirks and traits well.  

Of course, the scenery is stunning.  The show is filmed on-site in Yorkshire Dales.  My eleven-year-old and I want to visit the Dales someday!

**Highly, highly recommend.

Warnings: smoking, drinking (every episode ), James becomes drunk in one of the 1st episodes, Tristan lies/deceives often

-Borrowed from the library

Beatrix Potter, Scientist by Lindsay H. Metcalf illustrated by Junyi Wu

 I love Beatrix Potter's stories.  It was interesting to learn about the "scientific side" of Ms. Potter!

For some reason, I did not like the illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta illustrated by Frank Morrison

 Using the flashback techinque, readers learn how George Washington Carver develop a love for gardening and plants.  His perseverance and success are celebrated through this picture book.

-Borrowed from the library.

Diana's White House Garden by Elisa Carbone illustrated by Jen Hill

 Based on a True Story

Diana Hopkins lives in the White House with her father, Harry Hopkins, FDR's chief advisor.  All around her others are "doing their part" to help on the home front during WWII.  After a series of mishaps, she discovers her niche. . .the White House's garden.

-Borrowed from the library.

Shake a Leg, Egg! by Kurt Cyrus

 A mother goose and her goslings anticipate the last egg to hatch.  They encourage it to emerge by describing the world around them.

Bold, expressive, captivating illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ojiichan's Gift by Chieri Uegaki illustrated by Genevieve Simms

 Mayumi and her parents visit her grandfather each year in Japan.  During her visits she and her grandfather work in his garden.  When her grandfather cannot reside in his home, Mayumi designs a portable,  unique garden for both of them.  

Sweet portrayal of a relationship between a granddaughter and grandfather.

-Borrowed from the library.

Monet Paints a Day by Julie Danneberg illustrated by Caitlin Heimerl*

 To revisit our study of Monet, I read aloud this picture book to my sons.  Picture books are my favorite method to learn about a person, a historical event or a concept.  Picture books  permit the author/illustrator to focus on one aspect/event and delve deeply into it.

Ms. Danneberg focuses on one day when Monet was painting the giant stone arch, the Manneporte.  Tiny fact boxes reveal additional interesting information.  The author's note shares an overview of Monet and the beginnings of impression art.  Two other pages zoom in on his painting techinques.  

The artist, Ms. Heimerl, illustrates with an impressionistic style.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Unbroken-DVD*

 Rated - PG-13

To support our study of World War II, my fourteen-year-old read the young adult version of the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.  He found Louis Zamperini's life story amazing and inspiring. 

He and I watched the movie together (I have not read the book.).  I could not believe all that Louie endured and actually survived!!  An absolutely incredible story. He was a remarkable human being.  The movie ends when Louie returns to the United States and is reunited with his family.  After his return, Louie struggled with alchoholism.  Attending a Billy Graham crusade, he accepts Christ as his Savior and lives a full life, serving God and others until his death at age of ninety-seven years.  The movie does share some of these later life events in a few sentences at the end of the movie.

 My son thought the book was more graphic in its description of the abuse Louie experienced as a POW.  He also liked the book better because it revealed a lot more details about each part of Louie's life.  

*Highly recommend. (see warnings)

Warnings: war violence, death, some language, Louie tries to look up a woman's dress at a track meet, cruelty and abuse at POW camps

-Borrowed from the library 

Book we own-

Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang *

A Memior of the Cultural Revolution

 Ms. Jiang relates the horrors and turmoil she and her family endure during Mao's reign in communist China.  As the cultural revolution continues and her family's legacy unfolds, Ji Li must decide with whom should she stand, Chairman Moa or her family?

*Highly recommend, but read "warnings/points to discuss".  I did not like the positive way communism was depicted in The Forward.

Warnings/points to discuss: Ms. Jiang and her family are Muslims and pray to Allah.  She is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with her teacher (they say that is the only reason she has excelled at school).  She mentions a sanitary belt (for menstration).  Violence, cruelty, abuse (physcial, mental and emotional) is intense.  In the forward, Mr. Hwang depicts Mao in a more positive light than I think he deserves!  He also says the Communists changed China in many positive ways!

Recommended for mature junior high students and older.

-Borrowed from the library.

Nine A Book of Nonet Poems by Irene Latham illustrated by Amy Huntington

 Ms. Latham was a guest teacher on Writers on Writing workshop at Read Aloud Revival where she taught the attendees how to write a nonet poem.  I purchased this book so the boys could be familiar with this type of poetry before the workshop.

A nonet is a poem that either starts with a line that has nine syllables or ends with nine syllables.  The lines in between either decrease or increase by one.  I was amazed at the wide-variety of topics Ms. Latham included in this tiny book.  Each poem was related somehow to the number nine.  

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, each of my boys wrote a nonet and shared it with Ms. Latham.  She kindly responded, adding insightful comments and thoughtful compliments.  

-I own this book.

The Night Walk by Marie Dorleans*

 What a stunning book!  

A mother wakes up her two children for a night walk.  The family of four (the father goes too) leaves their house in the middle of the night to walk through the village, through the woods, to the open country to see a spectacular view.  

Award-winner in France-Prix Landerneau.

Ms. Dorleans utilizes imagery and although the writing is sparse, each word is powerful and well-selected.  The art is incredible.  The way she inserts light into the darkness is breath-taking and reveals she has studied her subject and is a very talented artist.  The illustrations certainly add more to the story.  Even the endpages are part of the story.

As I was reading it, it reminded me how I felt when I read Owl Moon by Jane Yolen.  These two books would be a perfect pair to read together and compare.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Strategies: asking questions, inferring

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus**

 

Sarah Mackenzie from Read Aloud Revival  recommended this book recently.  Of course, I immediately requested it from the library.  

I absolutely loved reading this book.  The characters were well-developed.  Even the minor characters had distinct personalities and depth.  The word choice and quality of writing were superb.  As I read it, I was reminded of the elated feeling I had while reading The Incorrigble Children of Ashton Place or The Penderwicks . . ."Now THIS is quality writing...why don't they publish more books like this??!!"  So many books today are published because of an agenda.  As a result, the quality of the story and character development is minimized for the sake of agenda.

Humor, loyalty to family, and book titles abound!  Although the ending is predictable, not all of the questions the reader may have are answered.  

When William, Edmund, and Anna's grandmother dies, they are orphans with large inheritance.  Their lawyer decides to send them into the countryside with other evacuees during WWII.  He thinks maybe they can find a family who will adopt them, but requires them to keep their inheritance a secret.  After living in two awful billets, the children wonder if they will ever find a family who will be their family.  Thankfully the library and the librarian provide solace during this tumultuous time. 

Points to discuss/warnings: WW II, death (book opens at the grandmother's funeral), bullies-some boys are physically and verbally cruel to the kids, prejudice (The librarian's German husband is missing.  Rumors abound about him deflecting to the Nazis), Edmund speaks without thinking and is sometimes rude, the boys have to kill rats to make money (the killing is described), lying

**Highly, highly recommend.

-I own it.

Apollo 13-DVD

Starring Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon and Gary Sinise 

Since we studied the "Space Race" the other week in history, the boys and I watched this dvd over our lunch break for a couple of weeks.  Watching this movie, viewers will develop a deeper appreciation for our space program.  Very exciting!  

Rated: PG 

Warnings: swearing, a few sexual contents-the opening scene at a party one of the men is explaining a  concept to a woman, which can be interpreted as very sexual (younger kids will have no clue about the innuendo), a man and a woman are together in a shower, Lovell's wife drops her wedding ring while showering-you don't see her chest or full body, but I made my boys turn their heads.

-Borrowed from the library.

Nothing to Prove by Jennie Allen*

 Mrs. Allen's writing points the reader to Christ and that He is enough.  She challenges the reader to find satisfaction, connection, rest, hope, and grace in Him alone.  Mrs. Allen is personal, caring and engaging as she writes.  The reader can sense through her writing that she is genuine and speaking from the heart and experience.

As I read this book, I confessed, cried and asked God to change me in many areas.  

A couple of lines I want to remember (I would have highlighted many passages and would have written on many pages if I had owned this copy!)- 

pg. 94 "We want to do things for God without spending time with God.  It is an epidemic in the church, and we wonder why we are so empty and unhappy.  God built us for Himself, and all of our attempts to manage life apart from intimacy with Him only further expose our ache for Him."

pg. 109 "We are made for dependency on God.  We were built for that.  Because God is invisible, we put our neediness on people, and that becomes unhealthy one hundred percent of the time. . . ..People will eventually disappoint you. . . .They aren't enough either."

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via inter-library loan.