Watercress by Andrea Wang illustrated by Jason Chin*

 A young girl struggles appreciating her Chinese heritage and is embarrassed when her parents stop to pick watercress in a muddy ditch.  When she refuses to eat the cooked watercress at dinner, her mother shares about her childhood in China during the great famine.  Learning a bit about her family's history, she begins to accept her heritage.

Beautiful illustrations (Of course . . .Jason Chin is the illustrator!!) capture the mood.  When the mother shares her story, the illustrations are a different hue.  Two of my favorite illustrations are when Mr. Chin depicts the family at the table at the start of the famine and then after her brother dies.  The effects of the famine are deeply pronounced in the later illustration.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth illustrated by Romina Galotta

 When Ms. Sigwarth was young, she and her family were homeless for six months (they lived with various family members).  She found comfort and stability in the library and with the librarian.  Using this experience, she has written a picture book to say "thank you" to her librarian ( and all librarians).  She is now a librarian.

-Borrowed from the library.

Schooled by Gordon Korman

I am searching for humorous books for my eleven-year-old.  I won't be handing this book to him to read, though.

Capricorn has been homeschooled all of his life by his grandmother, Rain, on a hippie commune.  When Rain falls out of a tree and breaks her hip, Capricorn must attend public school and interact with the "real" world for the first time.  Will he survive eighth graders' malicious actions towards him?  

Each chapter has a different point of view.  I felt like the characters were not well-developed or were shallow.  The book centered on typical middle school drama.  Since I find these behaviors irritating, I may have a bias versus a book that depicts this age group well.

-Borrowed from the library.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte*

My fourteen-year-old will be reading this novel for his English course this coming year.  Even though I began the book feeling a bit intimidated, I quickly settled into the story and was surprisingly delighted with it!  In fact, when I was not reading it, I would find my mind wandering into Jane's world and longing to read the story without interruption! Not many stories have captured my mind like this in a long time.

Volume 1 focuses on Jane as a ten-year-old and finishes with her rescuing Mr. Rochester from a fire.  Volume 2 delves into her time at Mr. Rochester's house and her unexpected romance.  Volume 3 finds Jane learning to be independent and also discovering what true love is.  

A thought-provoking novel that provides the reader with romance and mystery.

*Highly recommend for high schoolers and adults.  (over 500 pages long)

-I own this book.

After my son reads this novel, I will be watching the 2011 Jane Eyre movie with him.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry*

 Seven girls live at Prickwillow Place with Mrs. Plackett as their headmistress.  When she and her brother die during their weekly Sunday dinner, the girls decide to cover up their deaths and live life without adult supervision.  Their plans quickly disintegrate  . . . trying to bury the siblings in the backyard without being seen, the killer is still on the lose, and it seems like an influx of people are suddenly interested in Prickwillow Place.  

Lots of humor and quirky characters.  The plot is well-developed and is suspenseful.  This book amused and entertained me immensely!  I, however, would not recommend it for elementary age students.  It is labeled "young adult". 

Heads up-death, morbid, one girl is a flirt and likes the attention of men

*Highly recommend for teens and older.

-Borrowed from the library.

Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli*

 My aunt, who is currently in her eighties and fraktur artist, recently gave me this book.  The story features Christopher Dock, a Mennonite teacher who was highly regarded.  My aunts, uncles,  and parents attended a private school named after him.  

Eli Shrawder and his family have arrived from Germany to Pennsylvania to start a new life where they can worship freely.  As Eli adjusts to school, he finds himself wanting to impress his teacher, Master Christopher, but his mischievous nature interferes.  Through discipline and prayers, Eli becomes a more disciplined student and person.  

An insightful view of the early settlers in Pennsylvania and the Mennnite culture.  Frakturs decorate the chapter headings. I love how the endpages display a map of Eli's area.

*Highly recommend (especially when learning about the Mennonites and early settlers).

-I own this book.

Go and Do Likewise-The Parables and Wisdom of Jesus by John Hendrix

 Through unique lettering and artwork, Mr. Hendrix shares a variety of Christ's parables.  He clearly states in his author's note that this book is "neither exegetical nor hermeneutical".  It is a retelling for children.

-I own this book.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle*

 A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

This was my first Sherlock Holmes mystery!  Captivating and very well-written.

Watson, Sherlock's assistant, relates the events surrounding family lore and horror through direct narrative, letters, and  journal entries.  The old family curse seems to be afoot when Sir Charles Baskerville dies suddenly after an encounter with "the hound".  When his closest relative arrives to the  homestead, it seems like someone or something wants to bring him to his death too.  Sherlock and Watson sort through the tangle of lies to uncover the culprit.  This novel is definitely atmospheric.  

*Highly recommend.

Points to discuss- Not knowing some characters are married, other characters pursue a romantic relationship with them.  Nothing inappropriate is described.  Physical abuse (one character threatens his wife, verbally and physically, when she wants to expose him.  Again, no graphic details are given.)

-We own this book.

*original & unabridged 

The Tempest text set

 After reading The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt, my eleven-year-old wanted to read The Tempest.  Usually whenever we read a Shakespeare play, we first read a picture book or graphic novel of it before reading the actually play.  Below are two books we read.

William Shakespeare's The Tempest retold by Bruce Coville illustrated by Ruth Sanderson*

Beautiful paintings.  Well-written story.

*Highly recommend.

Graphic novel-Graphic Shakespeare -The Tempest adapted by Daniel Conner illustrated by Cynthia Martin  --I found that this version was more challenging to understand.  Mr. Conner used the orginial language for most of the dialogue.  The format/layout for some reason distracted me.  If I had not read the above picture book, I would have been a bit lost!  I do like graphic novels and normally enjoy the format.

 

The following books we may read later this year (my fourteen-year-old will be reading The Tempest this year for English):

-No Fear Shakespeare- The Tempest edited by John Crowther

-Updated Edition-Folger Shakespeare Library -The Tempest edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine

Soon we will be listening to the following audio of the play-

Twenty-One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld illustrated by Matt Travares*

 The story of how the tomb of the unknown soldier comes to be and how prestigious and honoring it is for soldiers to have a shift guarding it.  The narrative alternates between the unknown soldier and the preparation of the guard and the duty of the guard.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin

 The Callery pear tree ,which grew at the base of the Twin Towers, relates the horrific events of 9/11 and its recovery.  

The illustrations are powerful.

Consideration: In the author's note Mr. Rubin attributes one part of the tree's healing "through its own inner strength".  He also stated the tree was a creature.  

-Borrowed from the library.

You Have a Brain by Ben Carson with Gregg Lewis & Deborah Shaw Lewis*

 A Teen's Guide to T.H.I.N.K.  B.I.G.

Mr. Carson candidly shares about growing up in poverty and how he seized opportunities to rise above seemingly hopeless situations.  He refused to adopt the victim mentality.  He also credits his relationship with Jesus Christ as key to his life choices and outcomes.  Reading this autobiography, young adults will be inspired to pursue the many opportunities available to them.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from a friend.

Windows on the Parables by Warren W. Wiersbe*

 Throughout this past school year, my sons and I read and discussed various parables.  Mr. Wiersbe's book provided additional points to consider and to discuss.  I especially appreciated the last section of every chapter entitled, "Have You Met Yourself in This Parable?".

*Highly recommnd.

-I own this book.