A Refugee Story from the Spanish Civil War
This picture book relates the journey children take from war-torn Spain to Mexico. The narration switches seamlessly between the boat ride over and the horrors of war.
Figurative language is incoroprated often.
Although this is a picture book, the subject matter is more suitable for older children.
-Borrowed from the library.
" An Alphabetical beginner's guide to Pennsylvania wildlife"
With couplets, Mr. Kline describes various creatures that make their home in Pennslyvania (not all of them are "wild" like cows and goats). Mr. Schaffer's illustrations are incredible. A separate section that encourages counting (1-10) creatures is included. Alliteration is utilized in the numbers section. Some of the rhyming/word choice was a bit forced. Animal-lovers will probably know most of the information shared.
-Borrowed from the library.
As a teen, I loved Louis L'Amour novels. Reading this book brought memories of the amazing heroes in L'Amour's exciting tales. I, however, liked L'Amour's novels a lot better.
The narrator, a young boy named Bob Starrett, relates how a mysterious stranger, named Shane, arrives to a rural area in Wyoming in 1889. His parents persuade Shane to remain on their homestead, helping them with their farm. Even though Shane won't discuss his past, the Starrett family trust him and feel safe with him. Fletcher, the area's cattle dealer, wants the homesteaders' lands and resorts to bullying and violence to achieve his desires. Is Shane capable of protecting the Starretts and saving their homestead?
It seemed to me that the family's idolizing of Shane was over the top. The family's adoration for Shane was a bit sickening. At times it seemed like Shane was romatically interested in Bob's mother and she returned that affection. Yet the novel was told from a young boy's point of view so it may be an accurate portrayal and well-executed.
Categorized as "young adult".
Points to discuss/warnings: a couple of swear words, very violent (fights and injuries/death told in description), idolizing, emotional affair (not overt but enough to sense it is occurring)
My ninth grader's first module focused on short stories. I read the following short stories so I could discuss them with him and assess his writing:
1."A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett-beautiful descriptions of nature; imagery
2. "The Diamond Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant-irony, surprise ending
3. "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry-my favorite!!, humorous, irony, suprise ending
***The above three were my favorite. The rest were ok . . .
4. "The Worn Path" by Eudora Welty-well-written, incredible character depiction
5. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber-again, well-written & great character depiction-I had borrowed the DVD starring Ben Stiller but had no desire to watch it. This story made me sad.
6. "The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allen Poe-my least favorite! The solution was clever but my brain hurt by the end of reading it. . . .I could not wait for it to be finished!!
In iambic pentameter and couplets, Mr. Ferry relates the ancient tale of Gilgamesh. His rendering makes the tale accessible to junior highers, high schoolers, and adults. What a privilege to read literature from ancient times! Readers will have a better understand of ancient cultures after reading this text. I especially liked the section about the Mesopotamian flood.
I read this aloud with my eleven-year-old. We skipped some lines because of their depiction of sex.
Reading response-compare/contrast the Mesopotamian flood to Noah's flood
Warning: harlot/prostitutes, description of sex and/or breasts a few times, mentions demons & many gods
-I own this book.
For our first montly poetry theme (now called "Poetry Pie" instead of "Poetry Tea"-the boys like pie better than tea!!), I featured "humorous intellectuals". Poems by Hilaire Belloc and G.K. Chesterton were read and shared. Below are the books we read (I could only find three! Not many are readily available via the library):
1. Hilaire Belloc-An Anthology of His Prose and Verse selected by W.N. Roughead
*My fourteen-year-old memorized a short poem from this one the same day we read and shared these poems!
-Borrowed from the library.
2. G.K. Chesterton-Collected Nonsense and Light Verse selected and arranged by Marie Smith
-Borrowed via inter-library loan
My ninth grader is reading this classic for English. I was not in the mood for sci-fi so I read this graphic novel for an overview.😉😁
This graphic novel version outlines the basic plot well and also portrays enough of the characters's personalities that the reader can draw conclusions about their traits.
-Borrowed from the library.
I absolutely loved this novel. With exquisite writing, Mr. Potok portrays a friendship between two Jewish boys from two different sects and their relationships with their fathers. The plot revolves around relationships, not action. I could not believe how compelled I was to keep reading even though there was not much action, which is a testament to Mr. Potok's writing.
A beautiful coming-of-age story. Readers will learn more about the Jewish faith and traditions.
This book is probably one of my favorite "reads" this year.
Sequel: The Promise (which I want to read in the near future)
Points to discuss: Jewish faith, different views of God, some swearing
Categorized as "young adult".
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I love Kate DiCamillo's writing. Even though this book is written for transitional readers, the language is beautiful and well-crafted, and the word choice is precise and vibrant. Readers could also venture on a rabbit trail learning about the short story genre (and have someone read aloud the stories mentioned here-"The Last Leaf" by O. Henry or "The Door in the Wall" by H.G. Wells or "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes) or investigate what "carte blance" means.
Franklin worries about everything. As soon as a new worry creeps into his life, he jots it down in his notebook. One night he hides his notebook under his bed (he worries that Stella, his little sister, may find it, read it and become scared or worried by his listings), and its contents create nightmares. Will he be able to sleep through the night ever again? One night he spies his neighbor Eugenia Lincoln awake while he is making warm milk for himself. He ventures over to her kitchen and finds a surprising friend. Then she takes him to Buddy Lamp's Used Goods. A whole new world awakens for him in the store and his new friendship with Buddy Lamp.
*Highly, highly recommend. I think this book is my favorite from the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series.
-Borrowed from the library.
A turtle and badger each have their favorite spots to sit. Little do they know a rock is falling from the sky and about to land . . .
Divided into five parts, the book relates the interactions between a turtle, a badger and a snake. The entire story is told exclusively by dialogue, which is a perfect for beginning/transitional readers to practice fluency and stamina. The book could be turned into a mini reader's theater too.
Dry humor At times sensitive readers could become upset because it appears that harm may befall on the characters.
-Borrowed from the library.
Only Kate remembers the last time they saw their parents. Her mom promised that they would be reunited as a family someday. Ten years later and many orphanages later, Kate is still fulfilling her promise to protect her brother Michael and her sister Emma. When Emma is rude to a potential foster parent, the orphange director sends the siblings to a faraway orphanage as a punishment. While exploring the dilapidated manison/orphanage, they are transported back in time and encounter some interesting individuals, an evil countess and appalling monsters.
The plot is fast-paced. The characters are distinct and well-developed.
To consider/warning: violence (descriptive), the children can be rude to adults, monsters, theme of abandment (by parents), very evil characters, lots of peril
Part of a trilogy.
-Borrowed from the library.
Typically I would not read a young adult novel like this one. The author, however, attended the same school as me (I never interacted with or met her) so I was intrigued.
Immediately, I loved reading it simply because her descriptions of my home town brought back warm memories! Setting is not enough to keep one reading, though! Her character development and well-crafted plot hooked me. I found myself wanting to stay up all night to read it! She addresses challenging topics well: under-age drinking, a rape, alcoholism, teenage bullies/cruelty/fickleness.
New to Millington Valley, studious Molly cannot believe football players are paying attention to her and even inviting her to a party. With her widow mother working two jobs, the apartment is lonely. She welcomes the attention.
A few weeks later, after school has begun, Molly and Wade, the star football player, leave a party early because Molly has something to tell him. Wade has been drinking. When he totals the truck and leaves the scene of the accident to go for help, his life is altered beyond his imagination. Molly is scarred permenantly physically from the accident. But something horrible had happened before the accident but is block by her amensia. Only if she remembers will she heal.
I was impressed how Ms. Christie handled Wade's alcoholism and his recovery: depicting the how he started drinking, how he hid it, his recovery, and rejoining "society" after therapy.
Labeled as "young adult".
Topics to discuss/Warnings: heavy issues: underage drinking (& parents allowing it), some pot use, swearing, crass talk (teenage boys . . .), inferred sexual activity between the teens/b.j., a rape (not graphic)
-Borrowed from the library.
Over quite a few months I read aloud this delightful narrative to my eleven-year-old before bed. James Herriot is one of my favorite authors. Being able to reread his books to my son is a highlight of my day!
Herriot relates his treatments and interactions with the unique people and their creatures in Yorkshire. Humor abounds. Descriptions of the landscape entice the reader to venture into rural Yorkshire. Each chapter is an example of a superb personal narrative. Herriot's closing sentences are apt and concise. I always anticipate what his closing line will be!
Because of our love for this series, my son and I were excited to learn about the BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small. We borrowed Season 1 from the library. Our entire family enjoyed the episodes. We are looking forward to Season 2 in 2022.
**Highly, highly recommend (but see warnings).
Warnings: some swearing, abundant alcohol use (sometimes characters get drunk), tobacco use
- I own this book (and the entire series!).
Originally published in 1936, this book will still appeal to readers in the twenty-first century.
Barbara Buncle needs money. She decides to write a book. Since she has no imagination (so she claims), she writes about what is in front of her-her observations about the lives in her little English village, Silverstream. She uses the penname, "John Smith". When residents read the book, they are either outraged or amused (mostly outraged). They develop schemes to discover who John Smith is. Can Miss Buncle outsmart her wily neighbors?
I loved reading this delightful book! I may be reading more books by D.E. Stevenson in the future.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done
Read Aloud Revival is hosting a book club featuring this book this fall. They will be applying Mrs.Adachi's principles to homeschooling.
In a personal, affirming tone, Mrs. Adachi addresses why we are tired and frustrated and then shares how to remedy this perpetual state of weariness. Her systems are logical, practical, and applicable. She offers a lot of examples, step-by-step, how to apply each principle for ordinary tasks. The thirteen principles are: decide once, start small, ask the magic question, live in the season, build the right routines, set house rules, put everthing in its place, let people in, batch it, essentialize, go in the right order, schedule rest, & be kind to yourself.
If the reader applies just one principle consistently to her life, it could transform her life!
Although it seems like she may be Christian, she does not include God and her beliefs often.
-Borrowed from the library.
