History contains so many layers of stories!
During the Revolutionary War, George Washington created strategies to combat two enemies-the British and the small pox outbreak. This picture book focuses on Washington's deliberations about inoculating the troops.
I loved the illustrations and creative layouts.
Pair with Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (middle grade novel).
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. McCully transports the reader to Margaret Knight's life when she was an inquisitive, curious child who loves machines. When she was only twelve years old, she invents a guard for the shuttles in the mills after a shuttle shoots off the end of a loom and hurts a girl. Her love for machines and problem solving continues through her adult life and allows her to earn patents, including a machine that assembles brown paper bags we used today.
After reading A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile by Angela Bell, I wanted to learn more about the real Margaret Knight. A picture book is a great place to start! I also have borrowed a fictitious middle-grade novel about her. I will be reading and reviewing it soon.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Trailblazers series
Scottish man John G. Paton traverses the world to another set of islands, New Hebrides, to share Christ and His salvation to fierce, cannbalistic tribes. Readers will be astounded at his tenacity and his dedication to live like Christ and to face death many times so that islanders would understand and allow Christ to rule their lives. I could not believe how many obstacles and difficult situations he endured.
The writing-sentence structure, grammar, & punctuation-seemed a bit off at times. I know the British follow different punctuation "rules".
*Highly recommend so that readers can be aware how regular people pursue uncertain situations because of their love for God.
-Borrowed from the library.
Years ago when I tutored reluctant and struggling readers, I used these books with my upper elementary boy readers to build stamina and confidence. At that time the main characters were boys. Now the series also features female characters.
Elsie and her best friend Humphrey discover that Sheriff Grimwood is working with the band of outlaws, stealing the town's treasures. Unfortunately, Grimwood spies the two children fleeing from their hiding place and sets out to find them. Meanwhile, members in their town are dying from the plague. Elsie is soon bedridden with it and wonders if she will survive . . .
A fast-paced book that introduces readers to the way of life during the medieval era and allows them to experience the agony (only through words!) of the bubonic plague. Many additional pages about this time period and the plague are included after the story.
*Highly recommend for reluctant readers.
Discuss: plague/death, views about Covid (Ms. Tarshis compares some aspects of the plague with Covid.)
-Borrowed from the library.
After her parents died, Matilda is a ward of Lord Randall's manor where Father Leufredus mentors her and educates her. Father Leufredus, however, drops her off with Peg the Bonesetter when he leaves for London. Matilda does not belong here in the filth and with uneducated people. She knows Latin. She knows how to pray. She knows the saints and their accomplishments. She does not know how to start a fire. She does not know how to shop for fish. She does not know how to make breakfast.
Readers learn with Matilda the role of a Bonesetter, medicine and medical beliefs, and how the common class fared in the medieval era.
An engaging story A great one to include when studying medieval era.
Discuss: Matilda prays to the saints often. She believes that is how she receives spiritual answers.
A beautifully illustrated picture book based on Psalm 23.
-Borrowed from the library.
After an accident, Margaret Kingsley buries herself into mechanics and creating gadgets. Her loving parents (the main characters from Ms. Bell's previous novel, A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventures) care for her on a daily basis as her pain sometimes forces to remain in her wheelchair or rest in bed. The Daughters of Genius Society employ her to design and make gadgets for their undercover agency. When a case requires Margaret to leave her workshop, she discovers how loyal and sincere her friends are and also encounters a man who truly sees her, not her condition.
I love how Ms. Bell incorporates real woman into her novels and fictionalizes them to suit her plot. Ms. Bell's focuses on chronic pain and panic attacks, revealing ways to live with them via her characters. God and His provision is proclaimed throughout in an authentic manner.
After reading this book, I am curious about the real Margaret E. Knight. From Ms. Bell's bibliography, I requested two children's books about her-a picture book and a chapter book.
*Highly recommend. I would hand this book to a teen girl.
-Borrowed from the library.
