Escape Across the Wide Sea by Katherine Kirkpatrick

 In 1686 Daniel and his parents flee France. As French Huguenots, they are in danger of death if they do not convert to Catholicism. Not able to secure a boat to England, they find themselves on a slave ship, sailing from France to Africa to the Caribbean, and then finally to New York. Along the way, Daniel develops his views about slavery, endures many difficult situations, and discovers how to impact others' lives.

I like how the readers will begin to comprehend the depth of people's faith by reading this book. Daniel's parents would not compromise their faith. Explicit details how to come to Christ are not included. In the author's note she explains a bit about Calvinism.

Ms. Kirkpatrick immerses the reader into this time period. Readers will understand the Triangular Trade very well after reading this book. Not many historical fiction books have been written about the French Huguenots. I would recommend including this one when studying the 1600-1800s. The chapters are short and exciting-perfect for reluctant readers.

A couple of glossaries are included.

Consider/discuss: the cruelty of slavery is shown in detail

The Giraffe That Walked to Paris by Nancy Milton illustrated by Roger Roth**

 What a delightful story! In picture book format Ms. Milton shares a unique tidbit of history. In 1827 the pasha of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, sends a giraffe to the King Charles X of France to amend the strained relationship between their countries. This account relays how the giraffe travels from Egypt to Paris and the challenges its handlers/transporters encounter. It's a joyous story that focuses not on agenda but a fun event in history.

The illustrations are expressive (especially the people's and the giraffe's faces). The author's note provides more historical background. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL (but I may purchase it. Purple House Press has republished it.)

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

 I read this classic aloud to my teen sons. We thoroughly enjoyed it (the writing, the excitement) but not sure if we totally "get it"!! 

Syme, a Scotland Yard detective, infiltrates an anarchist group. As he interacts with the mysterious members, he discovers who they truly are. The group tranverses England and France in a mad, erratic dash. 

-I own this book.

Reading this book led me to my next review---

The Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel*

 My ninth grader will be studying Beethoven for the next few weeks by reading picture books, anthologies, and chapter books about him and also listening to his music.

This picture book begins when Beethoven begins losing his hearing and how he redirected his focus on composing vs performing. Majority of the content then describes his inspiration for the piece Eroica Symphony.

Very interesting   Ms. Celenza shares information in a concise yet engaging manner.

A bonus-A CD with Heroic Symphony & "Overture to Goethe's tragedy Egmont"

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Year of the Horseless Carriage 1801 by Genevieve Foster*

 I bought Music Study with the Masters by Sonya Shafer (Simply Charlotte Mason) to support my son's study of Beethoven. The booklet included a list of books for "further study". This book was on the list.

Ms. Foster connects many influential individuals during this time period and through narrative, points out how they impacted the world and interacted with each other. Children who love relationships and finding connections will appreciate this method of relating history. I recommend reading it in one sitting or over a couple of consecutive days. I read a half of it and then resumed reading it a couple of weeks later. As a result, I had forgotten some of the connections.

People whose stories are told: Richard Trevithick, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Toussaint L'ouverture, Robert Fulton, Lewis & Clark, James Madison, George Stephenson

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

One Long Line: Marching Catepillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them by Loree Griffin Burns illustrated by Jamie Green*

 World magazine selected this book as one of its honorable mentions for its 2024 Books of the Year for children's nonfiction.

Two scientists, who lived in different centuries, studied pine prcessionary caterpillars. Readers witness how scientists process information and persist in their studies. Also, readers will conclude that curiosity is a valuable trait and a driving force behind achievement. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicolas Day with art by Brett Helquist*

Award winner: Sibert Medal Winner

World magazine listed this book as one of the top nonfiction books published in 2023. 

With humor and the pace of a detective story, Mr. Day shares the events surrounding the Mona Lisa heist in 1911. Mr. Day researched extensively. My mind was spinning at points from learning about the different individuals connected to the case! He even transports the reader to the 1500s where we interact with Leonardo da Vinci, learn about his childhood and then about his interesting "career". The plot switches between the 1500s & 1911-1913. 

Mr. Day's tone and voice is engaging and humorous. He proves that nonfiction reading and history can be fascinating!

Points to discuss: da Vinci is an illegitimate child, stealing, lying, betrayal, Picassco lives with a woman (call her his "partner), mentions how a man was so obsessed with the Mona Lisa that he committed suicide

Strategy: monitor comprehension (vast amount of individuals involved with case . . .plus many theories & conclusions arise and then are disproven!! Also, the reader needs to keep straight the two time periods portrayed)

*Highly recommend 

-Borrowed from the library.

Hidden Hope How a Toy & a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer illustrated Amy June Bates*

 Ms. Boxer's relates how Jacqueline, a teenage "social worker", participates in the French Resistance during WWII. With a wooden duck tucked in her satchel, she transports false identities & papers for hidden French Jews. She saves more two hundred lives! Surprisingly, Jacqueline isn't her real name. She is really Judith Geller and is a Jew! 

The author's note and the illustrator's note share more amazing facts about Judith Geller and her fight vs. the Nazis.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dunkirk DVD

 PG-13 (intense war "experience" & language)

My sons and I just finished studying WWII  in American History. Our history textbook mentioned Dunkirk with a few sentences. I wanted them to understand more deeply how amazing the Dunkirk rescue was. 

Viewers will be thrust into the  desperation the English and French soldiers felt when the Germans trap them on the beaches of Dunkirk. The enemy attacks them by air. Civilian boats leave the English coast to bring their men home. So inspiring how regular civilians risked their lives as their military men had already done so. 

The movie is organized by three separate timelines (& three separate stories)-one week at the beach, one day on the boat, and one hour in the air (RAF). The producer, Christopher Nolan, brings the three time periods together by the end. It was rather confusing. We did not care for this method. My youngest thought it was unnecesary for a teen civilian to die by a stupid accident ( killed accidently by a rescued soldier) on a rescue boat. He said that was one character you could connect to and become attached to, and then he dies! Not much dialogue, which some viewers may not like. 

Since it occurs mostly at sea, a lot of drowning scenes were included. I could not watch them.

-Borrowed from the library.

Alice Atherton's Grand Tour by Lesley M.M. Blume

 After the death of her mother, Alice's father sends her to Antibes to spend the summer with his friends, the Murphys. Mr. Murphy decides to fill Alice's and his children's summer with educational experiences via famous people-Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Serge Diaghilev, and F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald. The children embrace the adventures and learning provided by these individuals. The story seemed tacked on. . . it was more didactic than a rich story. I would not recommend it for a engaging story experience. On the other hand, if parents/teachers are looking for a fun way to introduce these artists/writers, this book would be an excellent choice. 

To discuss: worldview-that people with bad behavior have beautiful character ("distinguish behavior from character") 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe*

 A short story

For my son's mini detective unit this year, we started out reading the first detective story written, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue".  (Although the British will contend they have a couple novels that were the "first"! ) The narrator relates how he befriends intelligent Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin in Paris and then rents a mansion with him. During his stay, the two friends read about a gruesome murder of a mother and daughter. Dupin solves the case with his reasoning and analytic ability. Because of the logical presentation, I was able to figure who the murderer was.

The first couple of pages are devoted to analyzing different games and the abilities required to succeed at them. He proves his introductory points by relating how Dupin solves this murder that had stumped the police. The French words/phrases, Latin phrases, and robust vocabulary may prove challenging, but the reader can understand the story well without stopping to look up every.single. challenging word. Some words may need to be defined to understand the cleverness and depth of the story. 

*Highly recommend for late junior high and older. See warning.

I own this collection of short stories/poems.

Warning: The murder scene is graphic and quite gruesome.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle**

 Peter Mayle relates how he and his wife depart deary England to purchase a farmhouse in Provence. His account spans a year (the narration is organized by months) and is full of humor as he depicts the French culture, traditions, and people. Descriptions of food abound!

This book was an absolute joy to read. The writing is superb. Subtle humor is incorporated flawlessly. I would read a sentence and stop and think, "Wait. That was REALLY funny!" and break into an appreicative smile. Mr. Mayle is a master of the memior craft!

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Millet Tilled the Soil by Sybil Deucher & Opal Wheeler illustrated by Dorothy Bayley*

 I read sections of this long picture book to my thirteen-year-old over a several weeks during our study of Millet. We both enjoyed this old biography. My son wanted me to buy it because it is so old and a first edition!

In narrative format, the authors relate how Millet started painting and developing his gift through his success as a painter in his adult years as he supported his wife and many children.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via intra-lib. loan.

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane*

 Sherlock Holmes The Legend Begins

About a month ago I searched for "clean reads for teens". This series was suggested. My thirteen-year-old loves it and will be starting book four soon.

Fourteen-year-old Sherlock finds himself being carted to an uncle and aunt's home for the summer because his father is being shipped off to India, his mother is ill, and his older brother Mycroft is too busy. At first the rambling house and property seem like a prison (with a leering, nasty housekeeper, Mrs. Eglantine, always hiding in the shadows). Then Sherlock encounters Matty, an orphaned boy who travels along the canels with his horse and boat. Together the boys unearth a diabolical plot to kill British military men. A once lonely Sherlock finds a few friends (even a girl he is attracted to!) and fast-pace adventure. The amount of times Sherlock encounters the villians and must fight them was  unrealistic to me! I thought, "Not again!". But this factor did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the story. Mr. Lane is a superb writer.

Constant action and suspense. Readers will want to read this novel in one sitting. The characters are well-developed and likable.

*Highly recommend for junior high and older. See warnings

Warnings: violence (intense fight scenes, descriptions of blood and injuries), murder (the boys by accident kill two men plus other murders performed by the villians), detailed descriptions of the ones who die, Sherlock notices Virginia's tight riding gear blouse-nothing is mentioned beyond that statement, a few h***s-comparing a situation to the place

A Rose Named Peace by Barbara Carroll Roberts illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline*

 How Francis Meilland Created a Flower of Hope for a World at War

Francis loves growing vegetables, fruits and roses on his family farm in southern France. When he sees a stunning rose his neighbor has cross-pollinated and developed, he is determined to create his own rose. Years of experiments and failures ensue. Then World War II erupts. When he sends his newly developed rose to  Robert Pyle, a famous rose grower in PA, he does not know if his seedlings have arrived safely. His roses thrive all over the United States and offer beauty and hope for a war-torn world. 

I like how Ms. Roberts integrates the impact of WW II within the story.

Beautiful, expressive watercolor illustrations. I like any book illustrated by Mr. Ibatoulline.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Count of Monte Cristo-DVD**

 2002 film

Edmond Dantes is thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. Bitterness grows in his heart. When he escapes, he sets out for the isle of Monte Cristo where a treasure is hidden. He uses the treasure to bless those who tried to plead his case and to punish those who conspired to falsely imprison him.

Although the movie follows the framework and themes of the novel, it deviates in many ways, including a very different ending. The movie is excellent, though. My fifteen-year-old read the over thousand page novel. To celebrate his accomplishment, we watched the movie as a family with grandparents. He also presented worldviews found in the novel.

*Highly, highly recommend (but see warnings).

Warning- Dantes and Mercedes swim naked together (before married) & have sexual relations (it shown) when she is married to Fernand Mondego. You have enough time to fast-forward these scenes.

-We own this movie.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris-DVD*

 Mrs. Harris, a London cleaning woman and a new widower, decides she is going to save up her money to purchase a Christian Dior dress from Paris. As she stays in Paris, her determination and her love for life offer refreshment to the upper society, especially those weary of its demands. I watched this with my oldest son and my husband. Unfortunately, we had to fast-forward a part where show girls and men were dancing with hardly any clothing on. I don't know why this backdrop to a dinner outing had to be included.

A sweet, uplifting story how an ordinary person can cause extraordinary changes. It also focuses on valuing people for who they are, not their social class or what occupation they hold.

*Highly recommend for adults. See warning.

Based on a book Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico.

Warning: minimal swearing, one man has many "nieces"  who visit him (he is married), drinking/smoking, show girls wearing just a bra/underwear-type covering & show men dancing with them.

-Borrowed from the library.

Cliff Notes on Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo*

 My fifteen-year-old is reading The Count of Monte Cristo for English right now. Instead of reading the over one-thousand page novel, I read the Cliff Notes so I could engage in meaningful conversation about the book. The downside to reading Cliff Notes is not experiencing the author's craft, which is an aspect of reading I enjoy immensely. 

These Cliff Notes summarize the characters and their relationship to Edmond Dantes, summarize chunks of chapters at a time and offer comments. Essay question ideas are also included. 

Helpful hint-Characters abound and their connections to each other and Dantes can be confusing. I would recommend a character list or creating a chart how they are connected for quick reference while reading.

Warnings/points to discuss: theme of revenge, manipulation, extramarital affairs, murder, deception

I own these Cliff Notes.

*Highly recommend using this resource when child reading a long novel.

The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin**

 Earlier this year I read Ms. Martin's novel, The Last Bookshop in London. I was thrilled to learn that she was soon publishing another novel set during World War II. Once again she has written a well-researched, well-developed novel with complex characters. She has also proven in these last two books that sexual encounters and sex do not need to be part of a novel. It is so refreshing to read a book without any of the inappropriate scenes or agenda-driven inclusions. Thank you, Ms. Martin. Please keep writing books like this!

The chapters alternate between two characters' points of view, Ava, a "librarian" in Lisbon, Portugal and Elaine, a printer for the Resistance in Lyon, France. Both women are undercover and encounter danger each day. As Ava is photographing (for a microfiche film) an article from the Combat (published by Elaine and fellow Resistance Fighters), she realizes she has stumbled upon a code. Together, altough they don't know each other, these two women sacrifice their safety for two Jews, a mother and her young son to escape to North America.

Other "minor" characters played major roles in the story. Their courage and convictions were incomprehensible. The more I read about WWII, the more I realize I only know a minute amount of information and stories about the heoric, ordinary people during this time. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

Consider/warning: Ms. Martin does not shy away from the Nazi's brutality and cruelty. Some scenes are graphic and violent. Many people die at the hands of the Nazis. Suicide also occurs. Maybe two swear words in the entire book. The Last Bookshop in London was not as graphic. 

Jefferson Measures a Moose by Mara Rockliff illustrated by S.D. Schindler*

Ms. Rockliff searches for little-known interesting tidbits about history and historical figures and shares them with the world with her engaging picture books. 

In this book she focuses on Thomas Jefferson's love for numbers and how this passion allowed him to combat the famous Frenchman Buffon's erroneous conclusions about America, its creatures and its land.

A must-read for mathematicans or for individuals who want to foster the love for numbers in young people's lives. A perfect read aloud when learning about Thomas Jefferson too!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.