Amazing Grace by Bruce Hindmarsh & Craig Borlase**

 The Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song

I read this biography aloud to my 16/17 year old son, starting at the end of last school year & finishing it today.

What a compelling story. Mr. Hindmarsh and Mr. Borlase relate the story in an engaging manner-from the writing to style to organization. They bring Mr. Newton to life. They also weave in other important historical figures that interacted with Newton throughout the biography. Any biography Mr. Borlase helps write is guaranteed to to be captivating and well-written.

This biography is not dry. It is for the reader who loves people, hearing their life story, and learning how Christ transforms.

**Highly, highly recommend, but see warning.

Warning: Some content is not suitable for younger children. I recommend it for junior high & older. One could read it aloud to elementary & not read certain materials. Newton was initimate with many women when he sailed (no graphic details are included), Newton drinks a lot & is drunk often during a time period, other characters drink to a drunken state, Newton lies & is disrespectful to authority, graphic details how the slaves were treated & also how Newton was abused by P.I., William Cowper's story is included, giving details about his depression, suicide attempts, and his unbelief, cancer (Newton's wife dies from breast cancer), other people's mental breakdowns 

-I thankfully own this book!

The Hatmaker's Sign retold by Candace Fleming illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker*

 A Story by Benjamin Franklin

Ms. Fleming offers modern learners the opportunity to read a story Ben Franklin told Thomas Jefferson to calm his temper. When Thomas Jefferson completes his first draft of the Declaration of Independence, he is proud of it and thinks it is perfect. The Continental Congress, however, finds many areas to change. Jefferson is mad. Franklin then relates this story to him. 

The Author's Note reveals that Franklin's story did not really console Jefferson. Jefferson remains bitter about this incident and tries to justify that his original draft was the best until he dies!

A great book to stimulate discussion: about how the fathers of our country were not perfect, accepting constructive criticism, the result of unforgiveness, resentment, and bitterness, how what one writes the first time will probably require many edits to make it a strong piece!

**Definitely include this book with an unusual insight into Franklin & Jefferson when studying the founding of our nation**

-Borrowed from the library

Junia by Kim Michele Richardson illustrated by David C. Gardner

 The Book Mule of Troublesome Creek

Junia, a pack horse mule, relates the adventures, the difficulties, and the joys of carrying her Book Woman as they deliver books to various people in the mountains of Kentucky. Younger readers will love Junia and retain an interesting and vital knowledge about this endeavor.

Pair with Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky By Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer, Books Up the Mountain : A Packhorse Librarian Story by Caroline Starr Rose, and That Book Woman by Heather Henson illustrated by David Small.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Song of the Stone Tiger by Glenn McCarty*

 Eleven-year-old Thomas loves living in Philadelphia, PA. His family, however, moves to North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer with his aunt so his mom can rest from her recent bout with cancer. He anticipates a summer with a more energetic mom. She, however, begins to decline. 

As he processes this reality, he ventures into the woods behind his aunt's house (called Greenwood), a place his mom explored as a child and also a place that still provides fodder for her captivating stories. Here Thomas befriends a tiger, Shalomar, who turns to stone each night. To awaken him, Thomas must sing. Together they embark on a quest to break the curse over Shalomar and return him to his world.

Will Thomas be able to restore his own mother to this earthly world for a bit longer?

A serious book about losing a parent   A beautiful book about creation, friendship, and stories 

Consideration/discuss: Would a child who has lost a parent to cancer or has a parent suffering with cancer find this book difficult to read? Spoiler alert: When Thomas gives his mom water from Greenwood, it seems to have healed her (or at least make her feel better for that day). Would this incident create a false hope in a child whose parent has cancer? Would they long for water or a solution like this when in our world it does not exist? I may be overthinking it & being overly sensitive.

*Highly recommend.

This author graduated from the same college I did (a year behind me). I, however, cannot place him! I may have even had classes with him since I too was an education major with an English concentration. How wish I could remember him!!

-Borrowed from the library (I asked my librarian to purchase this book. 😊) I own Mr. McCarty's Tumbleweed Thompson book and Junction Tales book. They take place in the west in the 1800s and are more lighthearted.

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly*

Newbery Medal in 1929

 My son is focusing on medieval history this year for history & English. Later this year he will be reading this book to experience medieval life in Poland.

Joseph Charnetski's family home in Ukraine is burned and their fields are destroyed. He, his father and mother flee to Krakow. Their family guards something special and valuable-the Great Tarnov Crystal. Men will kill or "sell their soul" to obtain it. Throughout the story, Joseph & his parents encounter difficulties and adventures because of their dedication to protect it.

Very exciting and an immersive experience into this time period.

*Highly recommend (especially for boys   So many historical novels are written from a girl's perspective.)

Considerations: violence/fighting, black magic, hypnotism, being possessed or influenced by the devil is mentioned

-I own this book.

Books Up the Mountain by Caroline Starr Rose illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard*

 A Packhorse Librarian Story

Readers will be amazed at the packhorse librarians' dedication to delivering and sharing books and reading material to the people in Appalachia in Kentucky. The words are poetic and lyrical with alliteration scattered throughout. The illustrations are wide in size, creating a feel of sweeping terrain. I always look at the end pages --I love how the left one depicts fall while the right one displays winter (the seasons where the book starts and then ends).

The author's note offers interesting information about this service.

*Highly recommend. (It's temporarily out of stock on Amazon)  Published by Waxwing Books-Sarah Mackenzie's (from Read Aloud Revival) business.

-Borrowed from the library.

You Can Move Mountains by Richard Ho illustrated by Daniel Miyares*

 I did not grow up with television. One of my son's friend's nicknames on one of their group chats was "Bob Ross". My son briefly explained who he was. When I saw this picture book on display at my library, I borrowed it as a joke and also out of curiousity. 

The illustrations captured my attention. The words, I think, were based on how Mr. Ross would talk while he was painting, which, of course, I cannot appreciation. The illustrations are incredible. One side shares an overview of his life (the text is NOT explicitly about his life. They connect but in a subtle, clever manner. ); the other side offers a depiction of how he would create his work. 

I love the end pages.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.