The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker art by Jon Klassen*

 It all began with kittens. Lucas, an orphan who resides in an abbey in German-occupied Lamorlaye, France, rescues kittens before two boys can drown them. Sequestering them in an abandoned stable, Lucas resolves to feed them & keep them alive. Then Alice barges into his secret. She has a secret too- A horse the Nazis think is dead. As the two form a friendship, they do not realize that soon they would be rescusing a baby boy who was "bred" to be a Nazi.

A fascinating, fast-paced novel about WWII    I had not remembered or known about the Germans setting up Lebensborns, institutions that housed pregnant women who were about to give birth to "racially valuable" babies. As a mom, I did not like where Lucas goes at the end. 

I liked how Ms. Pennypacker clearly stated what was fictional and what was actual after the novel ended.

Considerations: Although this book is caterogized as "middle grade", I would recommend it for junior high or older because of the nature of Lebensborns. Violence during Nazi raids, bullies, Nazis & WWII, God's name used in vain a few times

Lady on a Donkey by Beth Prim Howell*

 As a young lady, Lillian traveled to Atlanta to pursue a job utilizing her ability to draw. When a miscommunication occurs and the job is given to someone else, she follows God's leading to assist a woman at an orphange in North Carolina. Months later she is about to marry a wonderful, godly man. But hearing a presentation about missions, she believes she is being called to be a missionary in Africa. She breaks the engagement and eventually travels to Egypt, with no support from her family (except her sister) or a church. Through complete dependence on the Lord, she starts and runs an orphange (she actually purchases land & builds numerous buildings on it through God's miraculous provision) in Assouit, Egypt. She saves thousands of children!  The church that eventually supports her is Assemblies of God.

I was not always impressed with the author's writing & her ogranization. BUT Lillian's incredible story allowed me to adjust and overlook the writing.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Orphan Train text set

 This past week my son's history textbook dedicated a portion of the chapter to the orphan trains, which started in 1853 and ended in 1929. Intrigued by this bit of history, I requested a few books about it. I borrowed all of the books from the library and also highly recommend them.

1. Orphan Train by Verla Kay illustrated by Ken Stark-picture book-rhyming text, expressive illustrations that add to the text  Younger readers can experience what life was like for an orphan child in the streets and then sent on a train to be matched with a family.  2nd-6th grade

2. Orphan Trains-Taking the Rails to a New Life by Rebecca Langston-George-Seven children who were orphans are featured in this nonfiction chapter book. Readers learn about their lives before being matched with a family and then what the family was like. I especially liked how the author provides information about them as adults. For grades 3-8th

3. Orphan Rider-One Boy's True Story by Andrea Warren-Featuring Lee Nailing, this book alternates chapters with basic information about the orphan train operation with Lee's progress-from being abandoned by his father to finding a home to being reunited with some of his brothers. For grades 2nd-8th.

Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury-The Complete Christmas Collection edited by Stephen W. Hines illustrated by C. Michael Dudash

 RAR is featuring one of these stories in their Christmas School 2025 for high schoolers/teenagers.

I read the first two stories and enjoyed them. The endings may be too perfect for some readers, but at Christmas, don't we long for happy conclusions? Reading the introduction, I understood why the stories feature orphans, convalescing soldiers etc. Louisa's mother was one of the first paid social workers in America. She instilled compassion for the less fortunate in her daughters.

I am not officially highly recommending it since I did not read the entire collection. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

 Sam (Samantha) has experienced homelessness, abuse, and betrayal. As an orphan, she seeks solace in the classics and hiding behind the characters (especially Jane Austen's characters). When an anonymous benefactor offers to pay her tuition to attend Northwestern Univerisity's Medill School of Journalism, she seizes the opportunity. The benefactor requires her to write letters to him with updates on her progress. He will not reply. 

Through these letters, readers learn about Sam's past, the walls she has built, and how she slowly removes her sturdy wall, brick by brick. 

Minor characters who influence her seem to have a relationship with God. During the novel Sam does not accept Christ as her Savior, but the reader knows she is beginning her search for Him. 

Within the last year I had read Daddy-Long- Legs by Jean Webster (which inspried Ms. Reay's plot for this book). I could predict the plot from page one.  Although the plot was very predictable, I enjoyed immersing myself in Sam's life and almost read this book in one sitting. It is easy reading (like a "beach read"). I loved the references to the classics.

I liked this book better than Ms. Reay's The Printed Letter Bookshop. 

Before sharing with a teen: Sam was abused by her parents and a foster family, her dad was going pimp her out but she runs away (a man feels her up and other men check her out), her boyfriend Josh pressures her to be intimate with him (the word "sex" is never mentioned but inferred)-she doesn't give into the pressure, her younger friend is abused by his foster parents

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Q by Beth Brower*

 Beth Brower is one of my favorite authors. She creates credible characters and enchanting settings.

Quincy St. Claire runs her great-uncle's publication, The Q, with efficiency and with cutting-edge ideas. She loves The Q. It is her life. When her uncle passes away, he leaves a list of tasks with The Q's newly hired (by her uncle) solicitor for Quincy to complete in order to keep The Q. The problem is-she doesn't know what is on the list! 

As Quincy expands her business to Paris and then London, she cannot imagine losing The Q. During this challenging year, Quincy learns a lot about her self and the importance of relationships.

I loved this book and losing myself in Rhysdon. The minor characters add quirks and delight to the story. James Arch was my favorite character (although Quincy is endearing). James's father and sister Mary are also wonderful, admirable characters. 

Thank you to Ms. Brower for writing well-written stories that are CLEAN!

Considerations if sharing with younger teens: some swearing (minimal), four men jump and badly beat a main character, slowly developing romance but nothing inappropriate (they share a kiss)

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Old Herbaceous by Reginald Arkell*

 A Novel of the Garden

Originally published in 1950.

From his earliest years, Herbert Pinnegar loved flowers. When he was fourteen-years-old, he was required to visit the vicar who would help find a job on the farm. He did not want to work on a farm. Fortunately, the lady of the manor sat in on his interview and convinced the vicar to allow Herbert to work in her manor gardens. This interference provided Herbert, aka "Old Herbaceous", many years of delight --by gardening. I loved experiencing this man's life from a school boy through seventies with the best setting-a garden!

Individuals who love flowers, gardening, and British villages will find this book satisfying and relatable. 

*Highly recommed.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Time of the Child by Niall Williams*

 World magazine reviewed this novel in its latest publication. Since it takes place in a small village in Ireland, it intrigued me. Mr. Williams previous book, This Is Happiness, also takes place in Faha. 

Doctor Troy spends his days listening and caring for his parish, Faha. His expressionless face and reticence has served him well over his sixty years. Then a young boy and two farmer brothers drop off a baby that was left outside the church during the Christmas season. Ronnie, the doctor's oldest, unmarried daughter, embraces the child and assumes the role of mother. The five individuals vow to keep this baby a secret. But how can one keep love a secret? 

The story of power of love  I especially liked the line, "Only through the birth of a child is the lure of death conquered." pg. 283

Life-affirming-for the newborn through the elderly 

Slow-paced and poetic, lyrical language that deserves to be savored and appreciated. 

*Highly recommended for those who appreciate the beauty of language and non-plot driven novels (the baby does not appear until after one hundred pages into this two-hundred eighty-seven page novel).

-Borrowed from the library.

I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge illustrated by Margot Tomes*

 Polly's parents died ten months earlier so she moves in with her spinster aunts at a seaside town. On Christmas Eve Polly longs to leave the door open in case three wise men arrive on three ships, according to the song. Aunt Constantia, however, double locks the doors and takes the key to bed with her. Her caution cannot stop wise men from visiting their cottage.

A delightful Christmas tale

*I am highly recommending it but am not sure if modern children readers will appreciate/enjoy it as much as I did.

-Borrowed as an interlib. loan

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson*

 When Lucy's guardian passes away, she finds herself living at a lighthouse on Lake Superior with the large Martin family. She is afraid of water. Two years ago her father died in a shipwreck. Not only does she must battle with her fear of water while living there, all of her attempts to be helpful within the Martin family end in disaster. She may even cause Mr. Martin to lose his job as lighthouse keeper. Will the Martin family accept her as one of their own?

A search for a  long-lost necklace, from a shipwreck, is an alluring dimension to the plot.

I liked the references to books I have loved-Little Women, The Story Girl, and The Country of Pointed Firs.

I enjoyed this story and its setting. I loved the Martin family and loved experiencing how a lighthouse family had to function. Although I am highly recommending it, I did find Lucy annoying (in the middle of the book, I did not like her). Her imagination reminded me of Anne Shirely's but not as credible or as well-developed. Also, all of the problems were too perfectly resolved by the end. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

 A trustee from Judy's orphanage has offered to pay for her college. His requirements-he will remain anonymous and expects Judy to write him a letter once a month briefing him on her life at college. Most of the novel comprises of Judy's letter to her benefactor, whom she calls "Daddy-Long-Legs". The letters are humorous and full of voice. 

I was excited to highly recommend this book  to moms with preteens/teens but since I do not agree with the worldviews espoused----I am not.

Considerations: She "learns" at college that the Garden of Eden is a myth & that people were once monkeys. Throughout the book she does not have a high opinion on church and pastors. When someone give glory to for a wonderful event, she denies it is Him and points to how the different humans caused it to occur. Mr. Jervis, a man who befriends her, is a socialist. She wants to be a socialist too.

All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes*

 In the early 1800s baby Sebastien floating in a basket is retrieved from the waters in Venice by a fisherman. The fisherman brings the baby to his fellow guild members, who decide to raise him. Sebastien spends his life migrating from guild members home to guild members home, learning their craft. The question "Who am I?" plagues him. 

A century later, Daniel, a thief, seizes an opportunity to redeem himself by traveling to Venice to recover a lost book. As he searches, he encounters people who point him to a restored life.

I love the beautiful language and writing and how Ms. Dykes joins these two stories.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfeild*

 Margaret Thursday has been living with Miss Sylvia and Miss Selina Cameron since she was a baby and left in a church. Each year her mother or a living relative leaves gold in the church to cover her expenses.This year the rector discovers a note; the money has run out. Since the Cameron sisters are aging and have limited funds, Margaret must be transferred to an orphange. The orphange is reputed to be a godly one. The matron, however, is abusive. Margaret meets three other orphans during her transfer. The foursome commit to each other and have adventures as they support each other.

The point of view switches between Margaret and Lavinia.

*Highly recommend.

Warning: abandonment, abuse 

-Borrowed via inter-library loan.

They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth*

 When Doctor David Gardner attends to a dying couple, he brings their orphan daughter, Martitia home to his large family. The mourning  girl finds herself in the middle of five boisterous boys who tease relentlessly. The only daughter in the family, Ruth, is serious and does not welcome Martitia. Ruth is appalled that Martitia only paints, can speak French and plays the spinet. In her disgust over Martitia's inability to help in the home, she often utters, "Every tub ought to stand on its own bottom". The five brothers wonder when Martitia will learn to laugh. As she adjusts to the loving, hard-working Quaker home in North Carolina, she gains confidence and finds true love.

In one of the last chapters the family witnesses a meteor shower (although they think the world is coming to an end) on November 13, 1833. Since the author mentions a specific date, I thought it was based on a true event. It was! The Leonid meteor shower produced between 50,000 & 150,000 meteors per hour!!

Point to discuss: A few times a comment is made by  male characters that they would rather marry a woman who has beauty than intellect and even make a negative comment about Martitia trying to learn about politics.

Based somewhat on the author's family.

*Highly recommend. (I wonder how much teen girls will like this book as Martitia seemed more innocent and younger than young ladies today. . . I wonder if they would find her not credible.)

-Borrowed -inter-library loan.

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott*

 Recently I read some book reviews on Keelia Clarkson's site, Wallflower Journal. One recommended book was Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott. I had never heard of it! When I looked into it, I saw that her book, Eight Cousins,  was the prequel to Rose in Bloom. 

In Eight Cousins, Rose comes to live with her Uncle Alec and a couple of aunts after her father dies. Many other aunts, uncles and seven boy cousins live close by. The cousins delight in her company. When she arrives, she is sickly and weak. Uncle Alec, who is a doctor, treats her with excercise and sunshine. The aunts don't approve. He begs them to allow her to be under his care for one year as an experiment. They assent. 

Delightful stories about a large, loyal family who carries each other through difficult times and relishes in the joys of life. 

*Highly recommend.

Points to discuss: views on the Chinese and the social class (poor vs wealthy), two cousins smoke (Rose makes a deal with them to stop), the oldest cousins (age 17) begins hanging out with a rowdy crowd that encourages drinking and betting, Rose does some things behind her uncle's back

-Borrowed from the library

Britfield & the Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart*

 A very fast-paced novel for middle grade! I could have read it in one sitting if I had the time!

For most of his life Tom has lived in orphanages. Weatherly Orphanage has been the most trying and cruel of the orphanges. One night he and his friend Sarah escape with the courageous, audacious help of the other orphans. They, however, find themselves in greater danger than being locked up in the attic for a month. Tom has discovered the he may be connected to the Britfields, the rightful heirs to the crown of England. Apparently people have been keeping this history a secret and will do anything to surpress the truth. As Tom and Sarah dash across England, they experience the country's rich history and encouner interesting individuals. Whom can they trust? 

I loved the whirlwind tour of England!

*Highly recommend. Two more books in the series so far (Sept 2022). 

Warnings: mild language-no swearing-"just"-darn, heck, gosh. Violence-guns are used, and people are shot (no one dies), the kids fight back vs cruel adults/people chasing them, cruelty-in the orphange

-Borrowed from the library.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

For her entire childhood Bonnie has lived happily at Willoughby Chase, despite the wolves lurking on the moors. When her parents depart for a extended vacation so Bonnie's mother can recover from an illness, Miss Slighcarp, a distance relative, stays to instruct the child and her cousin Sylvia. Quickly the girls ascertain that Miss Slighcarp and her companions have constructed a sinister plot and cannot be trusted. 

I highly recommend it for its literary value. Sensitive readers may be appalled at Miss Slighcarp's and Mrs. Brisket's cruelty and abuse. Justice is administered at the end, and the "good" characters "win".

Some words are archaic. Papa calls Bonnie a  "hussy" but was not being derogatory. Its definition has changed since the publishing of the book.

Points to discuss/warnings: scary scenes, abuse/cruelty

-Borrowed via inter-library loan  The libraries in my county do not have this book!

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

 Stone-in-the Glen once was a pleasant town where the people were mostly kind and generous to each other. When a dragon burned down their library, the town and the relationships disintegrated. Fortunately, a dragon-fighting man arrives to fight the dragon. This man becomes their mayor. The people seem to be enarmoured with him and are blind to his poor leadership. He rules with fear and suspicision. The children at the Orphan House oppose his ways and resist his "spell". Meanwhile, the Orgress living on the edge of town lavishes the bitter, fearful residents with baked goods and hand-painted cards during the night. Can kindness truly overcome fear and greed?

Discuss: worldview/philosophy: Can kind acts transform people? Are books the answer to everyone's problems? Is everyone naturally good? How do rhetoric and repeated phrases influence individuals?

I do not agree with all of the author's worldviews (see questions above) but this book provides opportunity to discuss these worldviews.

The writing is elegant, lyrical and poetic. The reader will fall in love with the main orphans, Matron, Myron and the Ogress (I also liked the cobbler's wife!). I liked how Ms. Barnhill offers hints who the mayor is and how she does not reveal the narrator until the end. The narrator had a lot of voice.

For some reason the book took me longer than usual to complete (it has 390 pgs). . .it may be I was busier these last couple of weeks.

-Borrowed from the library.

The World's Greatest Detective by Caroline Carlson*

 For the past three years trouble keeps finding Toby Montrose.  Ever since his parents' death, he has been foisted onto his relatives. His Uncle Gabriel, a detective who lives on Detectives' Row, is the last relative, the last resort.  To earn much needed money, Toby secretly enters famous Hugh Abernathy's crime solving contest (who is Uncle Gabriel's nemesis).  Can Toby and his new friend, Ivy, solve the murder case to earn the title "The World's Greatest Detective" (and ten thousand dollars!)?

I loved this mystery.  The characters are well-developed, the plot is enticing and the ending is satisfying.  It was a "breath of fresh air" to read a well-written novel for the sake of just a good story, no hidden agenda or subtle indoctrination.

*Highly recommend for fourth graders and older. (topic -murder, I think there was one swear word.)

-Borrowed from the library.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus**

 

Sarah Mackenzie from Read Aloud Revival  recommended this book recently.  Of course, I immediately requested it from the library.  

I absolutely loved reading this book.  The characters were well-developed.  Even the minor characters had distinct personalities and depth.  The word choice and quality of writing were superb.  As I read it, I was reminded of the elated feeling I had while reading The Incorrigble Children of Ashton Place or The Penderwicks . . ."Now THIS is quality writing...why don't they publish more books like this??!!"  So many books today are published because of an agenda.  As a result, the quality of the story and character development is minimized for the sake of agenda.

Humor, loyalty to family, and book titles abound!  Although the ending is predictable, not all of the questions the reader may have are answered.  

When William, Edmund, and Anna's grandmother dies, they are orphans with large inheritance.  Their lawyer decides to send them into the countryside with other evacuees during WWII.  He thinks maybe they can find a family who will adopt them, but requires them to keep their inheritance a secret.  After living in two awful billets, the children wonder if they will ever find a family who will be their family.  Thankfully the library and the librarian provide solace during this tumultuous time. 

Points to discuss/warnings: WW II, death (book opens at the grandmother's funeral), bullies-some boys are physically and verbally cruel to the kids, prejudice (The librarian's German husband is missing.  Rumors abound about him deflecting to the Nazis), Edmund speaks without thinking and is sometimes rude, the boys have to kill rats to make money (the killing is described), lying

**Highly, highly recommend.

-I own it.