Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier*

A Peter Nimble Adventure
Sophie Quire spends her days mending books in her father's bookshop.  When Inquisitor Prigg requires the residents of Bustleburgh to burn any books that promote nonsense (aka magic and fantasy), Sophie Quire wonders how she and her father will survive.  Peter Nimble and his loyal friend Sir Tode arrive to give her a mysterious book called The Book of Who.  Sophie soon discovers that her mother had died saving this book.  Adventure, magical creatures and peril await her, Peter Nimble and Sir Tode beyond their imaginations!
An exciting and creative fantasy!
Warnings: violence, drug use (made up drugs-really spells, I guess?), Madame Eldritch is quite seductive. 
Minor heads up: Peter and Sophie tentatively give hints of liking each other.  Sophie kisses Peter on the cheek. 
*Highly recommend (but see warnings) for 4th grade and up. 
-Borrowed from a friend.

Alone Yet Not Alone DVD*

Our family watched this adaption of this true story I had just read aloud to my sons.
It was very well produced.  Seeing the characters portrayed and their circumstances brought this time period and story to life.  My thirteen-year-old liked the movie a little more than the book. 
There were some differences in the movie that bothered us, but they added more action and a little romance. 
The scenery was beautiful when teens escaped.
*Highly recommend
-Borrowed from a friend.
Warnings: Rated PG-13 for violence

Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven*

Ms. Craven, a descendant of Barbara Leininger, relates Barbara's story about the effects of the Penn's Creek Massacre on the family. 
After the Allegheny warriors murder their father and one brother, they burn the family's home and kidnap Barbara and her sister Regina.  The reader experiences Barbara's life with the Native Americans, her daring escape and her reunion with her family. 
The importance of teaching my sons God's Word and making sure we sing His truths were reinforced as I read this account.
I read this aloud to my sons a few mornings a week over a few months.  They liked the part when Barbara escaped. 
Ms. Craven does a great job knowing when to skip months/years of Barbara's life to maintain the reader's interest.
*Highly recommend for girls (My boys were not overly thrilled about it.  I wanted them to learn about this remarkable story about an actual person from our area who had experienced the French-Indian War and who had survived a capture.).
-Borrowed from a friend.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard

Award-winner-Pulitzer Prize
Ms. Dillard shares her observations in the natural over a year's time near her home in Tinker Creek, Virginia.  As she observes nature, she contemplates life and God.  Her similes and metaphors evoke memorable, powerful images.  Often I found myself thinking, "That is exactly how (fill in the blank) looks!" Her knowledge about the natural world is phenomenal! Numerous times I was astounded about the information she shared about insects, Eskimos, and muskrats (just to name a few).
Although I thoroughly enjoyed her writing, sometimes I felt like I was not quite understanding the depth of what she was trying to convey (not because of her inability to communicate, but my inexperience in reading esoteric writing!).  I was also uncertain about her views concerning God.

I think it is one I will reread when I want to be amazed by the Creator and just to relish in her descriptive writing. 

Who Was? Show on Netflix

A couple of weeks ago my sons and I watched an episode on the Who Was? Show produced by Netflix about Blackbeard and Sacagewea.  I was so disappointed in how they made Lewis and Clark appear like imcompetent, worthless individuals.  In order for them to prepare and to take this journey, they had to be skilled frontiersmen. 
The boys want to watch more of the episodes (we have studied a lot of the individuals they feature), but I am not so sure how worthwhile it will be.  We did not really learn anything new about Blackbeard or Sacagewea from watching it.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen*

Finally, when I am in my forties I am reading one of Jane Austen's novel!
My husband's relative recommended starting with Pride and Prejudice. Her recommendation was perfect.
I chuckled aloud at the witty dialogue.
The second oldest, Elizabeth, is the narrator.
Mrs. Bennet is determined that her daughters marry,  and marry well.  When Jane, the eldest,  meets a wealthy Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet is elated.  Little does she realize that her own loquaciousness and her flirty younger daughters stymy the development of the relationship.  Elizabeth, meanwhile, loathes Mr. Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy.  He is arrogant and rude. 
I recently read an art poster saying that "Everyone marries" by the end of Austen's books.  It was entertaining to see how Austen allows characters to come together in marriage in the last fifty pages of the book!
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Stories from the Billabong by James Vance Marshall illustrated by Francis Firebrace

My boys and I really enjoy reading folklore/stories from other cultures. 
When we studied Australia, we began reading a story from this collection a few times a week.  I liked how after each story the author provided facts about the animal, plant etc the story featured.  The glossary and Aboriginal symbols in the back were very  helpful. 
The illustrator is from an Aboriginal tribe.
Warning: Some of the border illustrations depict a silhouette of a naked woman with her breasts exposed. 
-Borrowed from the library.