The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 7 by Beth Brower*

 I was going to pace myself as I read this series but "could not" resist borrowing the latest Emma journal from the library!

Emma's friendships with Islington, Pierce and Hawkes continue to deepen. As secrets are exposed and escapades are shared, their lives are woven more tightly together. A slow-burn romance between Emmma and some "gentleman" progresses as they consider and evaluate the effect of their relationship. I love reading a book that causes me to laugh out loud and also to marvel over a phrase.

Consideration if sharing with a teen: a couple of swear words

*Highly recommend. This volume was published at the end of Aug. 2023. I am not sure when volume 8 will be available.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 6 by Beth Browers*

 I continue to smile, laugh out loud, and be charmed as I read this series.

Emma's friendships deepen while she also encounters new interesting individuals in St. Crispian, England in January and February of 1884. The biggest news is now that she has turned twenty-one she has gained majority of her assets and her house. Her banker advises her to gain some employment, which brings predictments and amusement.

The volume ends with Emma sharing a kiss with one of her close gentlemen friends.

Consideration before handing to a teen: a sleazy man places his hand her butt--she takes the situation into her capable hands-creating a funny but disastrous story.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 5 by Beth Brower*

 This series delights me! I often find myself laughing or smiling as I read.

In this volume Emma tracks The Roman, St. Crispian's ghost, with the help of the community. Her friendship with Niall, Young Hawkes, and Duke of Islington solidifies.  Cashing in on his second favor from Emma, Jack reveals a part of his personal life with her. 

This volume covers November and December in 1883.

Considerations (especially if sharing with a teen): some swearing, lying, Niall does not believe in God and shares his worldview from time to time

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 4 by Beth Brower*

 Another entertaining, clever volume about Emma Lion as she interacts with the interesting residents in St. Crispians. In this volume we learn a bit more about Maxwell, her true love. Normally I laugh throughout these volumes, however; I cried during a couple of entries in this one.

The word choice, the word placement, and the allusions are clever and apt.

*Highly recommend.

Considerations: a couple of swear words, in the beginning Emma finds herself in a dance club (nothing inappropriate occurs but it was a shameful place to be back in the 1883s) Emma's cousin view of marriage-she makes a comment that she would marry for convenience and then enjoy gazing at Emma's handsome border, Niall, Niall does not believe in God and refers to it, Emma attends church weekly-she seems to enjoy the poetry that Young Hawkes, the vicar, shares more than the biblical text

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 3 by Beth Brower*

 How I love this series! 

During July and August Emma continues to be a foil for her cousin, Arabella. In this book the plot focuses more of Emma's interactions with Pierce, her border/renter. I love Ms. Brower's writing style. It is easy to read yet she includes sentence variety, clever alluisions, and apt word choice. Most modern books I read leave me feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed. Ms. Brower gives me hope!

The amount of male interactions Emma has and the simmering, alluding romances are unrealistic. 

*Highly recommend.

Considerations: some swearing

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 2 by Beth Brower**

 I love this series. It is witty. It is humorous. It is captivating. I finished volume 2 in less than 24 hours!

Emma continues to accompany her cousin, Arabella, to social events during London's Season in hopes Arabella can lure a wealthy husband. Emma's job is to illuminate Arabella.  Besides being her cousin's companion, Emma slowly begins a friendship with the gentleman renting a garret in Lapis Lazuli Minor, continues to outwit her greedy cousin Archibald,  and becomes acquainted with the Duke (after reading his journal). Emma's somewhat unconventional behavior will amuse the reader like it amuses many gentlemen in this series. Of course, St. Crispin's ghost, The Roman, continues to make his appearance to Agnes, Emma's maid and cook.

I would love to see this series made into a movie. It reminds me of Jane Austen's books.

Consider: Maybe two swear words, Emma states that one man's hands wander, but she promptly hits him with a book

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel by Anders C. Shafer*

 Mr. Shafer imagines what Pieter Bruegel's journey from Antwerp to Rome must have been like in 1551-1552. Narrated in 1st person via journal entries. Two-page illustration spreads enrich the experience. At the back Mr. Shafer includes small prints of Bruegel's art and comments on their significance. My favorite painting is Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. When I was researching ekphrastic poetry, I discovered two poems inspired by this painting. 

This book is over-sized.

*Highly recommend for art and history lovers.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower*

 Emma arrives to her family home, Lapis Lazuli, in St. Crispian, London in 1883 to discover her cousin has gambled and spent her inheritance. With wit and intellect, she schemes how to remain at Lapis Lazuli. Readers will enjoy the short journal entries and the colorful characters. I also love Emma's ardent pursuit to fill her bookshelf with books. 

A total of seven journals are now available-all novella length (my county's library system only has volume one. I requested this copy to be purchased.)

*Highly recommend. I will be trying to read more books by Beth Brower.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

 Ms. Hanff finally earns enough money to visit London. . .but not before her London bookseller friend, Frank Doel dies.  Due to her celebrity status over the publication of 84 Charing Cross Road, many individuals in London treat her to dinners, tours and shows. Once again her tone and style are gregarious and humorous. Her delight in life is contagious. I had a difficult time keeping track of all of her aquaintances and friends (who was who and how they were connected to her)! Through various minor statements about socialism and Karl Marx, I know I do not agree with her politically. This difference did not interfere with my delight as I read her story.

A sequel to 84 Charing Cross Road.

Ms. Hanff shares her visit in London via journal writing.

-Borrowed via inter-library loan.

Owl Diaries -Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott

 Eva decides to celebrate spring by organizing the first ever Bloomtastic Festival. Through diary format, Eva shares her dilemmas as she tries to plan and implement the festival by herself.

I found the story and characters superficial. I am trying to find series for transitional readers that are clever and that value children as intelligent humans. This one won't be making the list!

Sixteen books in the series so far.

Points to discuss: One owl, Sue Clawson,  is mean to Eva. Eva also says not nice comments about her. Their relationship is somewhat improved by the end of the book.

72 pages long with lots of sketches and space on the page

-Borrowed from the library.

Grandfather's Dance by Patricia MacLachlan*

 The fifth and final book in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series

The aunts from Maine and Sarah's brother, William, travel west to attend Anna and Justin's wedding. As the aunts and family members prepare for the wedding, Jack, the youngest Witting, follows Grandfather and imitates his every move and word. Humor, love and understanding abound in this beautifully told story about life and family.

Points to discuss/heads up: Cassie wants to marry a dog instead of a man! Grandfather gives her a  wedding to marry Nick the dog. A beloved main character dies.

*Highly recommend.

-Very short chapters.

-Borrowed from the library.

More Perfect than the Moon by Patricia MacLachlan*

 Book #4 in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series

I have read books #1-3 in this series but for some reason I did not know about books #4 & 5. 

Cassie is concerned about Mama.  She believes she is sick. When Mama shares that she is pregnant, Cassie becomes more worried and decides to watch Mama all.the.time. Secretly, she despises the thought of sharing Mama with the baby and does not want it to arrive.

Sparse but perfect prose.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book (apparently this book is difficult to find online or in bookstores. I was able to purchase it at my local bookstore for less than $2!).

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

 Written in 1869

In journal format, sixteen-year-old Kate bears her soul as she struggles with her sin nature and trying to understand God's love. The novel includes entries from age sixteen until she is nearing the end of her life. Initially her dramatics annoyed me. Then I thought that if I recorded all of my daily struggles, I would "sound" just like Kate! It was refreshing to read these soul-bearing entries because she voiced many of my concerns and struggles as a Christian. Observing her growth over the decades encouraged my soul. Growing in Christ is a journey. Each step, no matter how seeming insignficant, proves vital.

Although this novel is fictitious, Kate's life mirrors the authors. 

Elizabeth Prentiss, the author, wrote the hymn, "More Love to Thee, O Christ". 

I highly recommed it but am not sure how many people in our modern era will appreciate it?? Elisabeth Elliot, Kay Arthur, & Joni Eareckson Tada recommend it!😉

-Borrowed from the library.

Absolute Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech

 Currently I am reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. For a break from the heaviness, I read this middle-grade novel.

Over the summer Mary Lou Finney must keep a journal and hand it in on the first day of school. Ms. Creech utilizes the journal format to structure the story. Even though Mary Lou's household with many siblings is chaotic and humorous, she longs for new events to record. Then unexpectantly, her cousin Carl Ray from West Virginia arrives to stay for the summer. Unusual events commence . . .an anonymous person bestowing Carl Ray $3,000, her best friend mooning over a boy, Alex Cheevy showing up in her neighborhood. This summer may be worth recording after all!

I liked how Ms.Creech incorporates Mary Lou's impressions of the Odyssey by Homer.

Apparently, this book is a prequel to Walk Two Moons. 

Warnings: Mary Lou takes God's name in vain often. When her mother reproaches her about this habit and tells her to expand her vocabulary, Mary Lou looks up other words for God in the thesaurus and proceeds to use them (Alpha and Omega, King of Kings etc). Her cousins talk about sex a bit with her (no details, just mentions that they do) and then when Mary Lou leaves W.V., they give her book about sex, which Mary Lou claims is too advanced for her parents. A death occurs. Mary Lou begins dating Alex. They kiss a few times throughout the book.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden

 This nature journal was discovered after Ms. Holden's death. For the year of 1906 she recorded her observations of birds, flowers, plants, trees and fungi. She explored the countryside of Olton, Warwickshire by walking, cycling, and sometimes by train. She filled the pages with poetry that reflected the month, mottos for each month, and mostly with journal entries of her observations and beautiful illustrations. Sadly, she died at the age forty-nine when she reached for chestnut tree buds and drowned in the Thames River.

Reading this journal made me long to have the leisure time to walk outside each day with the intent of recording observations of God's marvelous creation!

-Borrowed from the library.

Dear America Like the Willow Tree by Lois Lowry*

    The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce- Portland, Maine, 1918

After her parents and her baby sister die from the influenza, her uncle takes her and her brother to live at the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake, Maine.  At first she finds their way of living strange, but gradually she adjusts.  Her brother, Daniel, however, struggles and eventually escapes from the community.  Lydia shares her thoughts in a diary format.

Ms. Lowry brings this time period and the Shaker community to life through Lydia's credible, engaging voice.

Photographs of the effects of the influenza and Chosen Land (Shaker Community at Sabbathday Lake) are included in the back.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes

A Memoir
Through poetry and free verse, Ms. Grimes shares her story from her early years through teen years.  As she deals with a very sick mother ( paranoid schizophrenia and alcoholic), a father and an extended family who abandon her, her mother's boyfriend who is sexually abusive, foster care, she still discovers God's grace and light in the darkness.  A teacher also encourages her to write which sends her on her future path and "calling".
As I read this memoir, I was so sad and angry that a child would have to endure such hardship.  I was also amazed how she poured out her heart to God with honesty and did not abandon hope in Him.

The library system has this book labeled "YA"-young adult (see warnings).
Warnings: Ms. Grimes relates her life story with honesty and includes many topics that are not for the sensitive reader: drug abuse, alcohol abuse, abandonment, sexual abuse (told in detail), bullies/gangs (graphic violence), swearing

A few creative writing "how to" books

Below are a few books in which authors share advice how to write stories well.  I am tempted to select one of the titles and read a section per writing class with my boys next year.  Not sure if it would be effective?
All books are borrowed from the library.

Spilling Ink by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter illustrated by Matt Phelan (classified as "young adult" in library)


Writing Magic-Creating Stories That Fly by Gail Carson Levine (classified as young adult in the library)


Writing Radar by Jack Gantos (journal writing that leads to writing great stories)
This one would probably interest my boys the most.

Castle Diary The Journal of Tobias Burgess by Richard Platt illustrated by Chris Riddell*

Toby leaves his home to live with his uncle John Burgess, a baron.  There he will learn to be a page with the aspirations of becoming a knight.
Toby writes in a diary  about his adventures over the year (his mother's request!).
I read this book aloud to my boys.  We thoroughly enjoyed it! 
A fun and interesting story that brings this time period alive.
*Highly recommend.
The two library copies I borrowed were over-sized or 8 1/2 " by 11".  I liked this book so much that I ordered it over the phone through a local bookstore.  I, however, did not think to ask if the book was over-sized.  It was not!!  It was only 5" by 7".  As a result, many illustrations were not included.  The illustrations included were very small and the amazing details were not discernible. 
So, when purchasing this book, make sure it is the larger size.

Galen: My Life in Imperial Rome by Marissa Moss*

My eleven year old read this to himself to support our study of Ancient Rome.
In journal format, Gaius, grandson of Galen writes about his grandfather's life under Augustus.  Gaius is living during the time of Nero, but the journal focuses on Galen as the main character. 
Twelve year old Galen lives in Rome and is serving Augustus.  The reader learns a lot about Imperial Rome and the reign of Caesar Augustus.  Sketches throughout the "journal" create a whimsical feel. 
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL (Inter Lib. Loan) because my county does not own it.