Aggie Morton Mystery Queen-The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn illustrated by Isabelle Follath

 Ms. Jocelyn bases her fictional character, twelve-year-old Aggie Morton, on Agatha Christie. 

When Aggie encounters the dead of body of their neighbor, Irma Eversham, she immediately begins to gather clues. A host of suspects require her to sift through their motives and backgrounds. A new friend, Hector Perot (sound familiar??), provides support, logic, and most importantly, friendship.

I loved the quirky characters and suspenseful plot. I am not "highly recommending" it for middle grade readers (see "warnings"), although I think this is a great series for mystery lovers!

Warnings: Aggie possesses a vivid imagination. Sometimes she imagines quite graphic and  violent "ideas" or "imaginings". Sensitive readers may be offended. One adult woman in the story has child before marriage. This woman discretely explains this to Aggie. She does not say anything inappropriate in her explanation, but parents may not want to discuss this yet with their third grader! Other considerations:  Murder, the villian tries to harm Aggie and another character, a few characters in peril/frightening

Four books in the series (two are forth-coming).

-Borrowed from the library.

Farmhouse by Sophi Blackall*

 This beautiful picture book evoked memories of my Grammy and Grandpop's house where my mom lived with her nine brothers and sisters. Sadly the farm and the house are no longer in our family.

Ms. Blackall guides the reader through the years as a family with twelve children experience the joys and sorrows growing up on a farm and then when they move away, pursuing their careers and interests. The house is based on an acutal dilapidated farmhouse on a property Ms. Blackall recently purchased. She used materials from the decaying house to illustrate this book.

The story structure reminds me of the nursery rhyme "This is the House that Jack Built". The exquiste illustrations invite the reader to pore over them and also provide mini stories and details to the main story. I like the illustrations more than the words. 

*Highly recommend.

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider

 Mrs. Oxenreider relates the adventures she, her husband and three children experienced as they traveled the world for a nine month time period. They plunged into unfamiliar cultures in China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Morocco, France, Italy, Croatia, Kosovo, Turkey, Germany, and England. It seemed like she was going through somewhat of a crisis of faith during this trip. God was mentioned a few times but He was not the main focus. She seemed to emphasis saints.

Her writing is genuine and conversational. Although I found their travels admirable and interesting, her story confirmed my feelings about international travel!

If a teenager reads this book, the parent may want to discuss drinking alcohol with her. The adults drink alchohol throughout the trip but did not become drunk.

-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.

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

 *Award-winner-Carnegie Medal

When Tom must stay with his aunt and uncle in their flat because his brother Peter has the measles, he is fraught with despair. Their flat has no garden. He and his brother, Peter, had big plans to build a treehouse in their own garden that summer. Tom's despair and boredoom quickly disintegrate when he discovers that the concrete walkway with trash bins transforms at midnight to an expansive garden with trees, walls, orchards, a pond and  with best of all, a young girl, Hatty as playmate. Only Hatty can see him (and later the reader learns that Abel, the gardener can see him too) and delights in his company. Tom's main concern now is how can he continue to stay with his aunt and uncle to prolong his midnight adventures. 

Warning: a couple of swear words, Abel thinks Tom is a demon/devil, some discussion about ghosts

-Borrowed from the library.

Eve in Exile and the Restoration of Femininity by Rebekah Merkle*

 A new acquaintance at church asked me and another lady to read this book with her and then discuss it. Later, our pastor's wife posted that she would be hosting a book discussion about this book! I loved this book and how it has planted new ideas in my mind for further contemplation. I am even considering rereading it, which I rarely do!

Ms. Merkle briefly shows the progression of feminism and our faulty thinking about what it means to be a woman. Then she offers scriptural-based and practical ways women can live today, how God intended them to be. We have been designed to: subdue, fill, help, and glorify.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

The Huckabuck Family and How They Raised Popcorn in Nebraska and Quit and Came Back by Carl Sandburg illustrated by David Small

 A humorous story of the Huckabuck Family and their tenacity and optimism. Their daughter Pony Pony discovers a buckle in a squash and their "luck" changes. They consider the buckle a sign and wait for the appearance of it before returning to the farm.

I love David Small's illustrations. He is an illustrator of some of my favorite picture books (The Library  & The Gardener both written by his wife, Sarah Stewart). 

-Borrowed from the library.

Later this year for poetry cake, we will focus on Carl Sandburg. I will display this picture plus The Sandburg Treasury -Prose and Poetry for Young People.