Bing's Cherries by Livia Blackburne illustrated by Julia Kuo

 A Chinese tall tale based on a real Chinese immigrant

Ah Bing travels from China to work in the U.S.  An orchard owner, Seth Lewelling, eagerly hires Ah Bing because of his height. Over time Ah Bing's skills cause the orchard to thrive. When people try to attack Ah Bing and his fellow Chinese friends because of their race, Ah Bing is sad. Planting some cherry seeds, he cries. A giant tear lands on one of the seeds. This seed grows into a Bing cherry tree.

The author's & illustrator's notes about the inspiration for their story and also information about the real Ah Bing are very interesting.

Recipes included.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dog vs.Strawberry by Nelly Buchet illustrated by Andrea Zuill*

 A dog is given a strawberry. This imaginative dog decides he and this strawberry are going to race. Throughout the story the dog narrates his progress vs the strawberry's progress. A surprise and funny ending.

Kids will love hearing this story. A fun read-aloud (especially if the narrator assumes the voice of a broadcaster)

Sort of a fractured Tortoise & the Hare tale

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Hidden in Silence -DVD

 Based on a true story

To enhance my son's study of the Holocaust, I had our family watch this movie. 

During War World II, Stefania, a seventeen-year-old Polish Roman Catholic, hides Jews in two different homes. Not only does she hide them, but she also risks her life by leading them out of the Polish Ghetto, gathers food to feed them, and also secures a job to pay to support all of them. Towards the end of the war, the Nazis take over her home to serve as a house for nurses. As a result, the Jews hide in the attic, right above the Nazis!! Incredible.

My son wasn't overly thrilled with the movie . . .in the first third of it, he commented, "Mom, this isn't a very good movie." When I reminded him it was to expose him to the horrors of the Holocaust and what they endured, he settled down & changed his perspective. By end he said it was good in the sense that it brought this era of history to life. 

Warning: The Nazi nurses slept with soldiers-some scenes of intimacy were included-you can easily fast forward these parts. Of course, war violence & senseless cruelty to the Jews.

-Borrowed from the library.

A novel based on Stefania's story has been published: The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron.

The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens by Alan Vermilye

 I bought this guide to assist discussions with my tenth grader as he read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. It is a great resource. The author includes scripture to study with each chapter.

-I own this book.

The Correspondent by Virgina Evans

 I could have read this book in one sitting if I had that leisure. Ms. Evans has created a compelling, interesting, and well-written novel about the life of Sybil Van Antwerp. By reading her letters & emails to various individuals (& some replies) over an eight year period, readers are immersed into her life. Now in her seventies, Sybil lays out the triumphs, tragedies, regrets, pleasures from her life via her correspondences. One letter is continuous throughout the whole book, which she resumes randomly throughout the years. My favorite character was her sweet neighbor, Theodore Lubeck.

This was a bestseller so I should not be surprised to find some aspects of it that do not agree with my beliefs--

Considerations: her brother, Felix, is gay and lives with/marries another man, Stewart-they break up for a period of time because Stewart had formed a friendship with another guy; Sybil moves in with a man at the end of her years; the series, The Outlander is mentioned & that it includes lots of sex & some sexual violence; some/minimal swearing; the author's political leanings are made clear --why can't I find modern novels that support conservative politics?!

For the above reasons I am not "highly recommending" it. The literary value is superb. 

-Borrowed from the library.

 

The Unofficial Alcatraz Handbook by Kristen Tracy illustrated by Anika Orrock*

 The author, Ms. Tracy, was a volunteer gardener at Alcatraz. In this handbook she shares fascinating information about the island and its inhabitants. Some chapter titles-"How Did Alcatraz Get Its Name?", "Who Were the Most Famous Prisoners on Alcatraz?", "Did Anyone Ever Escape by Raft?" and many more. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan illustrated by Mary Reardon*

 Twelve-year-old Peter and his friends seize the opportunity to remove the Norwegian village's, Riswyk, gold. On their sleds, the children haul down thousands of pounds of gold bullion to board a ship bound for the USA.  The German soldiers conclude the kids are just having fun in the snow-sledding and building snowmen. Then the Nazi Commandant almost uncovers the last bit of gold hidden under the snow. Thinking quickly, Peter throws a snowball at the Commandant, which distracts him and saves the gold from being discovered. Peter is taken into Nazi custody. Will he be put to death?

A very exciting book based on true events

*Highly recommend.  If I were teaching a WWII unit to 8-14 year-olds, I have them read this book and The Winged Watchman. Boys will especially enjoy both of these books.

-Borrowed from the library.