Rabbit Day Book Review - October

I went to the library before vacation to pick-up two highly acclaimed books to preview for the kids.  While picking them up I noticed two books on display that looked interesting so I grabbed them too.  The books I intentionally picked up, despite many accolades by others, will not be reviewed here.  Ironically, the books I picked up by chance were worth the read.

Katerina's Wish by Jeannie Mobley is a story about immigrants, the American dream and life in a Colorado coal mine in 1901.  At first I wasn't so sure about the book.  I don't like books that put weight on "the power of wishes" or "luck", things I neither believe or wish my children handicapped into believing.  But the characters kept drawing me in, that I kept reading the book and I'm glad I did.  In the end, the author clears up the difference between passive wishes and active dreams by explaining; it's strong belief, that turns to conviction, that drives hard work that combines with opportunity, that leads to change.  It's the kind of book that leaves you thinking about what happened next for days.  There is a little innocent romantic scenes, even a quick peck on the lips but nothing immoral.  However, its that element that, for me, would make the book most suitable to middle high or above, it may also lend itself more to girls.  That said, it fits a beautiful niche that I have found very little in the way of living books till now and look forward to reading it again with my clan in the future.  The author also has this free guide to go with the book.

Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald is according to the jacket a book written "in the tradition of From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil Frankweiler", except this book is actually worth reading.  The book centers around two girls, that couldn't come from more opposite backgrounds, that meet accidentally and team up to solve a mystery.  The background of the main character will require parental discussion, she is extremely poor and raising herself.  Her grandfather has just died and her mother is a genius stuck in the world of her formulas.  The other girl is just as alone, except her parents are super rich movie stars.  Yet despite their situations both girls have generally good attitudes.  The author does a nice job of developing their friendship.  The girls accept each other without judgement, which allows both their strengths to help solve the mystery.  There is a significant amount of art taught, especially regarding Raphael and art forgery.  The girls must also use a wide array of resources to research their mystery, that is real and useful.  Additionally, there is a surprising amount World War II history (incl. Hitlers obsession with art, The Mounument Men and Berga POW/Concentration camp).  The author appears to have thoroughly researched all aspects of her book.  One other item I enjoyed was that though this is a secular book, the priest in the book was portrayed as highly intelligent and compassionate.  I found myself thinking about this book for a long time.  However, due to the girls family situation, and the war scenes I think this book best for middle school age and above.  I'm coming up with quite a list to read in a few years.

Red Falcons of Tremoine was the boys History Read-Aloud with Chris this month. This book is definitely worth the effort to find, it was big hit with the boys and Chris.  From a parents perspective the character lessons are invaluable.  From the boys perspective the adventure and suspense (everyone had trouble figuring out what would happen next) made them keep begging for one more chapter.  The story is set at the time when Richard the Lionhearted was away on crusade (c. 1175).  To tell much of the plot would give the beginning away, so I won't say more than we so enjoyed the authors writing style I am searching for the one other book she wrote.  I hope to add it to our reading schedule when we get to Cromwell.

Bluffton:  My summers with Buster Keaton by Matt Phelan was the suggested read at the library this month.  I was a little hesitant because its a big 200 page cartoon (excuse me as the librarian corrected me a "graphic novel" - uh hem).  As the title suggests its a biography of American actor Buster Keaton who started on Vaudville and worked his was into the "talkies".   However, other than a quick epilogue at the end, the book focuses on a his summers spent in Bluffton, MI as a child.  Jared and Lance both ended up choosing to read it.  I'll give it that it is nicely illustrated but I wasn't thrilled.  Perhaps I'm biased because I worry this is the new trend in "reading" books.  That said, the great "they" say we should read some books just for enjoyment and I guess it fills that void, but I won't be putting it on my book list as a book I must read again with the littles.

Lance had a rough start with his independent read this month.  He started reading Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Vining but he disliked it so much I told him he could stop trying.  He had a hard time articulating what he disliked so much but it centered around the attitude of the main character.  I had chose this book because it was another highly acclaimed book and though I noticed when I read it that the main character had a bit of an attitude at the beginning, his attitude did improve.  That said I wasn't going to push him to read a book he found distasteful; if he just thought it was boring he'd still be reading it.  However, that threw my reading plan for him off a bit, so I grabbed a tried and true favorite off the shelf:  Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary  I had read this to him when he was young and he enjoyed reading it himself again.  Like Homer Price it centers around the everyday adventures of a young boy.  Basically, its a well written, harmless, enjoyable comedy about life's everyday occurrences.

Jared is currently reading The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman he should finish this weekend.  It's another highly acclaimed Newbery award book.  It is an easy read.  It's a tale about doing what's right even when someone doesn't appreciate it.  I also like the subtle message of the importance of doing your school work; the prince in the story never learned to write so when he's kidnapped no one believes he can be the prince.  Personally, I could take or leave the book.  It made my list because I thought it complemented the book Lance was suppose to read, and I couldn't find much else at Jared's reading level for this time in history.  That said Jared is enjoying the book and he keeps asking to read another chapter, and that's always a good thing.

In addition to the book I assigned Jared to read, he suddenly pulled off our shelves the Jigsaw Jones Mystery books by James Preller.  I had forgotten about these.  This month he has managed to read through all eight that we have, on his own accord.  These are innocent books about a second grade boy who's made a job out of solving his classmates mysteries.  He has a good relationship with his older brother, which is nice an parents will appreciate the humorous salute to the old fashion detective talk.  The great "they" say you should be exposed to books; below, at and above your reading level.  This fits the bill for "below", his assigned "at" and read-alouds with dad "above", so I guess we have our bases covered. 

Speaking of bases, Titus managed to find two neat illustrated baseball books at the library this month.

Dad, Jackie and Me by Myron Ulberg   This book tells the story of how baseball umpires started using sign language.  If you are more adventurous than me you can incorporate a number of free lessons plans to make this a true unit study

Streak: How Joe DiMaggio became America's Hero by Barb Rosenstock  This is another nice baseball biography.  My favorite part was laughing as I tried to get the boys to say his last name correctly.