The Patriots and the Pox by Beth Anderson illustrated by Ashley Yazdani**

 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.

NCIS Origins**DVDS

 This series reveals how Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Mike Franks form a friendship  when NCIS was just NIS in the 1990s. The 1st episode begins with elderly Gibbs reflecting on his early years as a marine and how he joined NIS. He narrates and then the "younger versions" of himself and his team come into focus and unfold the story. 

We love this series. With depth and character development, the show is a rarity "these days". Although each episode focuses on a naval murder case, it has flashbacks providing the backstory of the team members. I cannot really express how well-written and well-produced this show is. The acting is superb also. This show displays flawed humanity and its desire to find meaning in life and to find justice.

Viewers who like constant action with little character development may not appreciate this show.

**Highly, highly recommend for older teens & adults.

Warnings/considerations: violence-war, murder-sometimes graphic, snippers/revenge, Gibbs's wife & daughter are murdered, murdering is portrayed/reasoned as ok in some situations; Tish, Franks's girlfriend was raped-it is alluded to-not depicted; Franks & Tish live together, unmarried; Franks smokes a lot; drinking to unwind; death of beloved people; cursing; during the last episode the viewer can infer Wheeler is participating in a homosexual relationship w/ a FBI agent-he vows to stop, restore his marriage, & not lie anymore

Radar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos*

 World magazine listed this book as an honorable mention in children's nonfiction for their "books of the year". 

What an incredible book. Mr. Lantos must be very intelligent man and a tenacious researcher and writer.

In alternating chapters, Mr. Lantos gives the history of radar, starting with Luigi Galvani in the 1700s, and then the story of missionary Mrs. Bell and her two children surviving on a raft after their ship had been torpedoed in 1942. Children who are fascinated by how things work will be enthralled as they read the "scientific" chapters. I was a bit out of my element reading them!! 

An inspiring story how people's ingenuity and hard work affects generations to come. 

Mr. Lantos treats Mrs. Bell's faith with respect. As a Christian, I felt like he presented her in a favorable manner.

Considerations/Discuss: some swearing (sailors), evolution given credit to shark's built-in signal detector, peril at sea/on the raft/selfishness

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Operation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh*

 Since her dad is a Marine, Jody has lived in several places. Relocating to Pearl Harbor in 1940 was just another move, wasn't it? Then why is her mom reluctant to transfer and seems to live in fear? Thankfully, Jody has Happy, her mixed breed huge dog, to help her adjust and find "happiness" despite the uneasiness at home. Then her mom's fears are realized when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Jody, her mom, and her sister are evacuated to the mainland. Their mom sinks into depression. Her older sister is assaulted. Can Jody be the leader her dad asks her to be in his absence?

I liked learning about Pearl Harbor from a survivor's point of view.

Some chapters are from Happy's point of view. Although a Christian publisher (Zonderkidz) published this book, God is not mentioned. I think the phrase "after church" was mentioned and a "Oh, thank, Jesus" was included.

Considerations/Discuss: WWII, Pearl Harbor, Japanese American camps, mental illness, parent abandonment, Jody's older sister is assaulted by a man 

Based on the memoir, The Children of Battleship Row, by Joan Zuber Earle.  

*Highly recommend for 5th grader and older. (although the cover makes it seem like it is for a younger crowd)

When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klavan*

 Cameron Winter can figure out situations with his "strange habit of mind, where he uses his logic and his imagination. A former lover, an attorney in an idyllic town comprised of former military men and women, asks him to investigate her client, Travis Blake, a war hero. He supposedly killed his girlfriend while in a jealous rage. As Cameron interviews people related to the case, he pieces together a story that is unbelievable.

Very suspenseful and a surprise ending. I read about this series in the recent World magazine and plan to read the rest of the series soon.

*Highly recommend but see warning. I hope this tendancy does not continue in the rest of the book.

Warning: I did not like how Cameron would remember how it felt to be with his former lover (who was a high schooler when he was intimate with her. . .he was her English teacher) as he interacts with her. This reaction is realistic, but I did not like reading about it. Nothing graphic was included, though. He also imagines what it would be like to be close to another female character in the story. Some mention of his first intimate encounter with a girl when he was a teenager. Again, nothing graphic is included. Because of these inclusions, I would not hand this series to a teenager.

Twenty-One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld illustrated by Matt Travares*

 The story of how the tomb of the unknown soldier comes to be and how prestigious and honoring it is for soldiers to have a shift guarding it.  The narrative alternates between the unknown soldier and the preparation of the guard and the duty of the guard.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes

My friend gave this book to me for my birthday via Once Upon a Book Club.  As I read it, Post It notes reminded me to open a small gift.  It was fun!
The book delves into two women's lives-

• modern day Larkin Bennett who was stationed in Afghanistan and is now struggling with PTSD 
• Emily Wilson who disguises herself as a man so she can fight in the Civil War in 1861

Their two lives merge when Larkin digs through her deceased best friend Sarah's possessions and discovers Emily's diary.  As she reads Emily's diary, Larkin begins to process her tragedy and heal.
Ms. Estes reveals how many women disguised themselves as men during the Civil War and sheds light on the difficulties women in the military, both then and now, face.

To consider/warning: some swearing, Larkin drowns her demons with alcohol. Sarah and men in her unit visit a brothel.   Sarah is forced to go into a room with a prostitute named Vee.  Vee kisses her (thinking she is a man),  and Sarah for a brief second enjoys it.  Sarah then reveals that she is a woman, and Vee keeps her secret.  Men attempt to rape Sarah.

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt*

On his first day of sixth grade, Carter's house is in chaos.  The Jeep won't start.  Each sibling has an major issue.  Their father is deployed.  Then a butler appears on their stoop.  Apparently their grandfather (they had never met him) had passed away and left a generous endowment where the butler could continue his services to the family.  Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick, who is the butler,  is British and a passionate cricketer.  He enters Carters' life when he especially needs a male role model to help him process a sibling's death and an absent father.  Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick not only teaches Carter how to play cricket, but also how to be noble to his family members and to be a gentleman.
My favorite character was Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick. 
Under each chapter number, an aspect of cricket is explained. The chapter's events correspond to the cricket terminology.  Very creative and clever!
To be honest, I sort of blanked out during the cricket descriptions and games while I read this book.  I have no schema for it so my brain was struggling to connect!
*Highly recommend (for junior high and older).
-Borrowed from the library.
Points to discuss: sibling death, absentee father, adultery/unfaithfulness

Remembering Vera by Patricia Polacco

Ms. Polacco shares the story of Vera, a coast guard dog with whom she interacted two times in her life.  From the time she was a puppy and full of energy to the time she was weak and near death, the Coast Guard gentlemen adored her. 
Ms. Polacco writes about two rescues Vera performs which will win the readers' hearts.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab

This book has all the components of a Hallmark movie!
Each  December a Christmas tree appears in the middle of the small town, Pine River.  Town residents then write down Christmas wishes and hang them on the tree. Various individuals then select the wishes and make them come true!
Four children and their life circumstances are featured in this book.  Each of them doubt that their wishes will be granted . . . healing for a seeing-eye dog has cancer, a family needs a new home, a boy longs for his mother who is overseas fighting for the country, and a girl wishes her grandmother would value how she has been created.  Then the four children come together, determined to discover who is behind the Christmas wish tree each year.
A sweet story of friendship and belonging.
Guided Reading Level: S (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4
I own this book.

Absolutely Truly -A Pumpkin Falls Mystery by Heather Vogel Frederick*

Truly Lovejoy, age 12, has never lived in one location for a long period of time.  Her father was in the military and their family of seven moved around the United States to accommodate his career.  Soon, however, after his last tour, he was going to retire and they were going to permanently live in Austin, Texas, close to Truly's cousin Mackensie.  Then the phone call came.  Her father had been hit by an IED and lost his arm.  Life for the Lovejoys quickly changes.
Instead they find themselves living in Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, their father's hometown, trying to save the family's bookstore business.
As Truly struggles with her joyless father, a failing math grade (=no swim team), being six foot tall, the relentless snow and cold and a failing family business, she wonders how life can ever be enjoyed again.  Then she finds the signed copy of Charlotte's Web in the bookstore which contains an envelope with a clue.  As she tries to solve the clue, she amasses a group of unlikely friends.  One clue leads to another.  Who knew Pumpkin Falls could contain so much excitement?!
The author seamlessly weaves into a fun mystery the heartache an amputee and his family must endure and the slow healing process.
I immediately fell in love with the Lovejoy Family, Aunt True and Pumpkin Falls.
I want to move to Pumpkin Falls and frequent the Lovejoy bookstore!
Recipe for Aunt True's Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies is in the back plus a list of actual books mentioned throughout the book.
Warning: Hatcher, Truly's older brother, is goofing off while making dinner and wears his mother's pink apron, stuffs his shirt to make him look like he has a bust and stuffs his butt to make it larger.  Just goofy-but some adults might not like the reference to "bust".
**Highly, highly recommend.
Strategies: connections, inferring, character development
**Update-10/2015- I emailed Ms. Frederick, inquiring if she planned to write any more Pumpkin Falls Mysteries.  She is!  Book #2 is scheduled to be published in early 2017.  She is also hoping to publish a third title in the series.  So excited!

The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall**

I recommend this series to all girls I know and even adults!
This book focuses mainly on fifth grader Batty with some chapters devoted to her step brother Ben.  Ms. Birdsall captures the pull a fifth grader feels between childhood and  growing up and unrelenting emotions.
Batty discovers several things about herself-that she can earn money, that she can sing, that Nick is good at rescuing her and bringing her home and that her mother sacrificed her own life so Batty can live. . . .and that secrets and misunderstandings rot at one's soul and dissipate joy but family, honesty and clarification can revive one again.
Although this series will naturally appeal to girls, Ms. Birdsall includes a boy character in each book that just might do the trick in enticing boys.  I want to read the series to my two boys.
***Highly, highly recommend.
Already looking forward to Book #5-the final one!

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin illustrated by Bryan Langdo

In this short simple text, the author explains how the dad is a hero as he serves in the military.  I like how she compares him to a superhero.
Perfect for Veteran's Day and other times when celebrating military.
Pair with Hero Mom by the same team.
Strategy: T-W connections (or T-S connections)

Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin illustrated by Bryan Langdo

In very simple text, this book explains how various moms help in the military.
I like how it compares the moms to superheros!
Great to use on Veteran's Day.
More books in the series-Hero Dad 
Strategy: connections (T-S; T-W)

Batman Science by Agnieszka Biskup and Tammy Enz *

"The Real-World Science Behind Batman's Gear"
We did not read this book from cover to cover because it is quite involved.  The boys each choose a few sections for me to read aloud.
Very clever-the book takes Batman's amazing equipment and gadgets and explains how real people/institutions use them in our world.
Text features: table of contents, picture captions, fact boxes, headings, bold font, photos, labels, close ups, index
*Highly recommend.
Perfect for older elementary/junior high individuals who are reluctant readers.
The library had this book labeled "Young Adult".

Super Sniffers Dog Detectives on the Job by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent*

This book is a must read!!  Just by reading the picture captions and a few stories to my second grader and preschooler, we learned a lot and were amazed!
With many photographs and very organized text, the author shares how dogs help humans-from sniffing out bombs to drugs to invasive weeds to cancer, dogs are a vital piece in helping mankind.

Text features: table of contents, headings, bold print, off-set text box (a story about a specific dog which supports the main idea of that specific page), picture captions, close ups, further reading/websites, index
*Highly recommend.

The Misadventures of the Magician's Dog by Frances Sackett

A dog of a magician needs help turning his owner from a rock into a boy again.  This magical dog selects Peter Lubinsky to do the job.  Peter is ordinary . . .and does not realize he has the power to perform magic until he brings home the magical dog from the shelter.  Then a fantastical adventure begins that involves magic and evaluation of motives.
Very exciting.

Military Robots by Barbara Alpert*

A Pebble Plus book (love this publishing division-creates wonderful nonfiction books for the younger reader)
Part of a Military Machines set/series
Big photographs- perfect for story time.
This book shows the different types of robots the military uses.
Text features: table of contents, headings, labels, glossary, read more section, and index
*Highly recommend.

U.S, Military Robots by Barbara Alpert*

"Blazers" from Capstone Press
part of a series - "U.S. Military Technology"
Specifically shares information about robots in the military.
*Highly recommend.
Text features: table of contents, fact boxes photographs, bold words, word definitions on each page, glossary, index, find out more, picture captions, headings, labels

Robots in Risky Jobs on the Battlefield and Beyond by Kathryn Clay*

"Blazers" from Capstone Press
Part of a robot series- "The World of Robots"
A short book with loads of information
Text features:  table of contents, bold words, word definition boxes, robot fact boxes, headings, photographs, labels, picture captions, glossary, read more section, index
*Highly recommend.