Walking Through Fire by Vaneetha Rendall Risner**

 For our spring Sunday school classes, one of the classes being offered  for women only was called "Desparate for Hope" a seven session study by Vaneetha Risner. Although I was interested in attending this class, I wanted to be in a class with my husband. So I requested this book by Vaneetha to read on my own. I am so glad I did. I read it in a few days. Mrs. Risner relates the story of her life in an engaging manner. 

Mrs. Risner has endured suffering and is still suffering-polio,post-polio syndrome, the death of an infant son, and an unfaithful husband (two times). Yet through it all, she has drawn closer to Christ and has found a hope and joy in Him.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Orris and Timble #2-Lost and Found by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by Carmen Mok*

 Orris, a rat, and Timble, an owl, are best friends who enjoy meeting each night in a barn loft where Orris lives. Orris retells stories to him from the old books left behind in the barn. One night Timble does not come . . . and then another night he does not come. Orris begins to doubt the plausibility of their friendship. Afterall, owls typically eat rats! A sweet ending.

*Highly recommend. Peferct for beginning/transitional readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

My Dear Hemlock by Tilly Dillehay*

 My friend introduced me to this book and author this past winter. In the style of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, Mrs. Dillehay creates letters from a female demon to her trainee. Readers witness the temptations and pitfalls a female experiences throughout her adulthood until her death. This book addresses temptations and sins females specifically endure. 

*Highly recommend. The reader would benefit greatly by discussing this book with other women.

-I own this book.

I just asked the library to purchase Mrs. Dillehay's book, Broken Bread.  

The Secrets of Ormdale, Book 3-Castle of the Winds*

 Edith and Simon venture into Wales, hoping to make an alliance with a dragon community there. Upon arrival, Edith realizes she has been deceived. Will she and Simon ever return to Ormdale, or will she be forced to be a wife of a selfish man?

I don't know much about Wales, so this brief exposure has left me intrigued. I, however, like the story better when Edith is in Ormdale. . .I missed the characters there.

A book about sacrifice and forgiveness

I have been recommending this series to junior & high schoolers. A reference to an event in this book makes me hesitant to recommend this specific book to junior high. Spoiler Alert/Warning: Lily, a servant of Ormdale, had a son out of wedlock. Edith had assumed her uncle was the father. The reader discovers that Lily, at the age of fifteen, was lured into a barn by a male stranger with the promise of pretty ribbons. He then "had his way with her". Nothing graphic was included but enough that moms may not want their daughters to read it or want to discuss it with her (pg. 229 "He hurt me. I thought if I were still and quiet like, that maybe he'd stop. I was that scared. I couldna think. But I thought about it after. Everything I shoulda done different. He gave me a ribbon. That's why I'd gone to meet him. All because he promised me a bonny ribbon.")   The author gives the reader warning before the book begins about Lily -"There is also a short discussion of a tragic assault in Lily's past (off-page)." I so appreciate she gives her readers a heads-up.

*Highly recommend for adult and high school (see warning above)

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer by Emma Bland Smith illustrated by Susan Reagan*

 Fannie Farmer had big dreams-attend college and become a teacher. Then an illness left her paralyzed and thwarted her plans. Yet she loved to cook and pursued this interest, causing how a recipe is organized and how we cook to be transformed.

Inspiring! The author's additional background information on Fannie and the history of cooking/following a recipe is very interesting.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine by Kate Hannigan illustrated by Sarah Green*

 Readers will learn how Josephine Garis Cochrane was inspired to invent the dishwasher and the perseverance it required.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

You're a Poet by Sean Taylor illustrated by Sam Usher*

 Ways to Start Writing Poems

As Piglet and his best friend, Squirrel, explore their world together, poems burst forth from Piglet. These adorable narratives weave in how naturally poetry can emerge from us during our ordinary routines. Five types of poems are demonstrated with "how-to" pages immediately after it. Mr. Taylor has offered a way to teach poetry in a fun manner!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Seeing Green by Tilly Dillehay*

 I had never heard of Tilly Dillehay a few months ago. My friend mentioned Mrs.Dillehay's book, Dear Hemlock (being reviewed soon), which began my interest into her writing. This book addresses the pitfall of envy and its devastating effects. First, she points out how all glory is borrowed from God. Then she examines different borrowed glories that cause envy (body, charm/influence, intellect, options, creativity, competence/control, relationship).  She also gives the reader hope by offering ways to deal with envy, whose approval we need, and the glory we will experience forever.

For these concepts to take root in my mind and to transform me,  I think discussing with it someone as I read it would have been a better method than reading independently.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

How to Build a Hug by Amy Guglielmo & Jacqueline Tourville illustrated by Giselle Potter*

 When I taught elementary in the public school system, during my last three and a half years, I typically taught at least one child who was on the Austism spectrum. How I wish this book had been published eighteen years ago! The authors depict Temple Grandin's struggle with sensory stimuli in a descriptive, relatable manner. Children who are not autistic will have a better understanding of what their friends are enduring on a moment by moment basis.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Caroline's Comets by Emily Arnold McCully*

 The endpages of this book are simple yet stunning.

Ms. McCully utilizes excerpts from Caroline Herschel's diary to accurately portray this fiesty woman. Childhood illnesses stunted her growth and caused her face to be scarred. Her mother limited her to domestic work (basically the family's maid). Yet her brother William offers her an escape-to be a trained musician and THEN an astronomer! Caroline is the first woman to receive a salary for scientific research.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

One Day by Michael Rosen illustrated by Benjamin Phillips

 Mr. Rosen relates the true story of Eugene Handschuh, a Hungarian Jew and a Communist in the Resistance, and of his father Oscar Handschuh who were living in Nazi occupied Paris during WW II. The two men survive a prison camp and manage to jump off a train heading to Auschwitz. 

A sobering book

-Borrowed from the library.

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice by Amy Alznauer illustrated by Anna Bron**

 All of her life Marjorie loved nature and mathematics. When she expressed her desire to study art and geometry, her parents instead recommended that she become a secretary.  Within her quiet life as a mother of five children, Majorie continued to study shapes and to learn about math and geometry. Through an announcement in Scientific American , December 1975, Marjorie learns that possible pentagons that tessellate were still waiting to be discovered. Marjorie ends up finding many more pentagons. It wasn't her degree or her desire for money or fame that bolstered her determination; it was her love for geometry and art.

**Highly, highly recommend.

Inspiring! When teaching about M.C. Escher, parents and teachers can introduce Marjorie Rice, an ordinary woman who pursued an interest without the goal of recognition.

The illustrations are mathematical/geometrical and beautiful. The author alternates the history of fitting shapes together and Marjorie's life until they merge. The illustrator defines each focus with a border (shape history=tan rectangular  border, Marjorie's life=no  tan border)

Consideration: old-earth worldview

-Borrowed from the library.

 

All Creatures Great & Small Season 5 DVD*

 A return to the Yorkshire Dales during WW II- 1941

Skeldale House hosts a skeleton crew-Siegfried & Mrs. Hall, Helen & Jimmy, and Carmody 

Each character navigates doing "their bit" for the war effort. This season is better than Season 4 because Tristan returns! My son and I were delighted for him to add his spunk and humor to the episodes! (It was sad to see Carmody leave, though.) The episodes seem to becoming more dramatic but are still wholesome and uplifting.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Considerations: They drink on a regular basis.

Dino Poet by Tom Angleberger

 A graphic novel

A dinosaur learns the finer points of poetry from a frog he wants to eat. To save himself, the frog distracts the dinosaur with poetry lessons. In the end, a friendship and a poet are born.

Reluctant readers and reluctant poets will enjoy this book.  A basic introductory to poetry and different poetry forms

-Borrowed from the library

The King of All Things by Shay & Catherine Gregorie illustrated by Breezy Brookshire*

 First of all, any book illustrated by Breezy Brookshire is going to be lovely to view! The illustrations will bring joy and delight to the readers. This sturdy "board" book introduces deep truths about God. Toddlers and preschoolers will understand how incredible, how powerful, and yet how personal God is.

*Highly recommend. (it may be one that I buy for friends with a new baby!)

-Borrowed from the library.

A Day at the Beach by Gary Schmidt & Ron Koertge

 The beach beckons all types of people to spend a day in its beauty and in its delight. Each person playing and relaxing on the beach possesses a unique story. Mr. Schmidt & Mr. Koertge reveal over twenty-five very diverse middle school perspectives/lives during one day at Rockcastle Beach, NJ. I loved how the authors caused some of the characters to meet, to interact, and to impact each other. Beginning and ending the day with siblings, Jackie & Simon, running on the beach was an apt way to begin and end the story.

Although I love Gary Schmidt's books, this one was not a favorite (see below why). It is a clever concept and well-written. The diverse characters and their stories are intriguing.  I just didn't agree with the worldviews they presented. 

Warnings/considerations: One character mentions that her parents divorced and her mom has a girlfriend, one Dad tells his son that he has good taste in girls (creepy!!), a group of girls walks the boardwalk where a group of boys checks them out and flirts with them-when one of the boys messes up a compliment, things become a bit messy/mean, a girl interacts with a girl with Biblical knowledge, who people may conclude she is a "Christian", this "Christian girl" is quite pushy and not kind in sharing her beliefs, a few swear words

Old School by Gordon Korman

 I loved reading about Dexter Foreman, homeschooled by his grandmother and her elderly friends at The Pines retirement village. Because she has not filed any paperwork all of these years, a truancy officer arrives and requires Dexter to attend Wolf's Eye Middle School as a seventh grader. Initially Dexter hates it there. The building is falling apart (He cannot resist fixing things, even a collapsed step.); the kids' education is inferior. Then his wish comes-he is expelled from the school. Suddenly he is a celebrity. The kids, who prior would not interact with him, demand he returns. Chaos abounds at Wolf's Eye Middle School. Will Dexter choose to stay home or return to public school?

I loved Dexter's elderly friends and how they taught him with excellence. I also loved how the author forms friendships with unlikely ages-the elderly and the middle schoolers.  The author points out the quality education Dexter received at "home" but also emphasizes the importance of Dexter being with kids his own age. 

The chapters are told from many different perspectives. The perspectives are repeated throughout the story.

Considerations: middle school drama, catty, petty middle school behavior/friendships,  Dexter's only friend from his childhood who is his age, shows up, looking very pretty-he notices, discuss homeschool vs. public school,an elderly friend passes away, the ending is a bit dramatic and not quite credible

The House on the Canal by Thomas Harding illustrated by Britta Teckentrup*

 The author and the illustrator share the history of the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during WW II. Dates are tucked up in the upper right hand side of every two-page spread. I found this book fascinating! I also enjoyed these duo's book, The House on the Lake.

Older readers will appreciate this book more than elementary or younger.

*Highly recommend for junior high, high school , and adults.

-Borrowed from the library.