Fiction

The Key House

~ Megan

What would you do if you discovered an underground tunnel in your backyard? Explore it of course! That is just want brothers Caleb and David do. Little do they know where this adventure will lead.

Caleb and David are playing in their new backyard when they discover a hole underneath their trashcans. Being the adventurous boys that they are, they check it out! They can’t believe what they find. Eager to learn more, they share their discovery with their parents only to learn that their great-great-grandfather was a pirate… maybe. The events unfold over the next several weeks and the boys find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a mystery where the alleged guilty party is their very own great-great-grandfather!

The Key House is an exciting tale perfect for any tween or teen boy who enjoys a good adventure wrapped up in mystery. One of the best things about this book is the relationship between the two brothers. Caleb, the eldest, is struggling with his pride and the way he finds himself treating David in public. Through the adventure, Caleb learns how to let go of that pride and see his family as very important.

Another strong point in this book is that there is no question that the Noland family is a believing family and like Paper Wolf, there is a very strong family theme. I enjoy reading a book where the family is written as a loving unit who support, encourage, and discipline. I will be adding this book to school library where I am the librarian. If you have a tween/teen boy, I would encourage you to check out this book.

The Paper Wolf

~ Megan

Gracie is an eleven year old who has been in foster care since she was six, moving from family to family. It is no wonder that she has no true understanding of family stability. After being kicked out of a foster home, she is temporarily placed in a group home while her social worker searches diligently for a new family for her.

Early on on the novel, Gracie is placed with the Barkmans. Here is a true family unit. Mr. and Mrs. Barkman have two teenagers and are eager to show love to foster children. But Gracie is not the easiest child to love or so she thinks. Plagued with emotions she can’t really name, Gracie struggles to let down her walls and allow the Barkmans into her heart.

Through unconditional love and one very dramatic experience, the Barkmans show Gracie that they do love her and want her to be a permanent part of their family. But Gracie is holding out. She has to decide if she can let go of what she dreamed of the last six years and let the Barkmans become her permanent family.

Written by a foster parent, this novel introduces its reader to the potential struggles faced by those in foster care. At some points, you just want Gracie to get over herself, but then you remember that 5 years is a long time to be in foster care and Gracie has not had loving families care for her. You begin to see that Gracie is not being a pouty preteen but is harden by a difficult life and needs lots of love to break down barriers she has had to put up to survive. As a granddaughter to foster parents, I have some personal experience with children who have had to be removed from their families for various reasons. Loving foster families can make such a difference in the lives of these children. I think this is a great book for preteen and teen readers. It lends itself to some wonderful discussion about the love of family and the love God has for us all.

Awesomeness:

-The Barkmans want to show Gracie love the way Christ loves us.

-Mrs. Barkman prayers out loud when she is having a particularly difficult moment.

-A wonderful picture of a family who truly loves each other and enjoy being around one another.

Cautions:

-As you can imagine, Gracie has a lot of anger and frustration. She has several outbursts and runs away a few times. Chrissy does a great job of showing us what possible walls a child in foster care might have and ways they might express their emotions without being unrealistic or too descriptive. I think this allows for some really great conversation regarding the experiences of children in foster care.

-There is a scene where Gracie is nearly assaulted by some older boys but is saved by her brother who is then beaten up pretty badly. The description here is well-written and does not use any unnecessary details.

You can connect more with Chrissy at www.chrissymdennis.com

Twelve Weeks to Midnight Blue

~ Megan

Chance has his heart set on buying a bike before school starts in the Fall. But he doesn’t just want any bike, he wants Midnight Blue which can be his for a mere $225! With this information Chance sets out to do what any enterprising kid would do: make money. He starts by cleaning his dad’s pool once a week for $10. As his customers increase, he learns about leverage, marketing, business partners, and more during his twelve weeks of summer.

In this first volume of KidVenture, Steve Searfoss takes his reader through the ups and downs of reaching for a goal. Several times Chance wonders if all the work is worth it. Through conversations with his parents and lots of math, Chance will learn just how much work it takes to run a successful business.

Awesomeness:

-The family relationships presented in this story are delightful. Chance has regular conversations with his dad about his business. He also has a personal conversation with his mom. He takes his sister on as a partner.

-Each chapter has 3 discussion questions to allow for conversation about the issues Chance encounters. Readers will have a chance to discuss what they would do or how they would proceed. This book lends itself to being read aloud.

-The book is only 118 pages and written in a way that younger readers can follow.

-A fun story for any enterprising kid!

Cautions:

-Some mild sibling bickering. (But isn’t that real life?)

Just Like That

~ Megan

I picked up this novel straight out of the Junior Library Gild delivery box! The book jacket sounded so good. I will tell you that I have not read any of Gary D. Schmidt’s other works. For you Wednesday War fans, just be prepared for the beginning of this book… my friend threw it across the room!

After the loss of her best friend, Meryl Lee’s parents send her to an all girls’ boarding school. There she will be exposed to societal expectations all the while attempting to become accomplished and still holding on to her personal convictions.

Gary D. Schmidt beautifully weaves two storylines together. While Meryl Lee is figuring out life at an all girls’ prep school, Matt is figuring out how to survive on the move. Finding himself on the Maine coast, Matt is welcomed into Dr. Nora Macknockater’s home. As headmistress of St. Elene’s Preparatory Academy for Girls, she encourages Meryl Lee to stay true to who she is all the while attempting to learn just who Matt is. As the common thread between the two, Dr. Macknockater has a front row seat to see just how things really do change- just like that.

Awesomeness:

-Meryl Lee works through her grief at losing her best friend and finds ways to bring people together despite their differences.

-Matt discovers a true sense of family. The way his story starts out, it reminds me of the Boxcar Children.

Cautions:

-Matt is running from some seriously nasty men. They burn down buildings and hurt people in an attempt to get back what he stole (after they killed his best friend).

-There is a bit of kissing towards the end of the book. And at the end, Meryl Lee and Matt are left alone in a house while the adult supervision leaves on an extended trip.

First Quarter Reading Update

~ Megan

Wow! It’s already April 1st! I can’t believe it. I decided to take a few moments to figure out where I am in my reading goals for 2021. I realized that I did not publish a post about my goals so if you do not follow me on instragram, here is my reading plan for 2021:

10 Biographies- I decided that I really enjoy reading biographies and I would like to know more about certain people from history.

5 General Nonfiction- Any other type of nonfiction not considered a biography.

10 Fiction- because I cannot NOT read fiction!!

So, where am I as of 4/1/2021?

I have completed 1 biography. I read a YA biography on Benedict Arnold that read like a novel! It was very good. I am currently working on a biography on Mary Todd Lincoln. I’ve actually been reading on this book for nearly a year. It is very scholarly and at times I can only read a few pages in one sitting.

I have read 1 nonfiction book written by a 12 year old! It was over Dred Scott v. Sanford. I have a huge stack of books that fit this category and hope to dive into more of them over the summer.

And no surprise here, but I have completed 10 fiction books! And the stack keeps growing. I had no fears about meeting this particular goal but I hadn’t anticipated meeting it so quickly! Audibles and the Libby app have really assisted me in getting more fiction reading down these last few months. You can read my thoughts about Lovely War, Amora, and Shadows of the White City now. More reviews on my fiction reads coming each Monday.

The Chronicles of Narnia

~ Megan

If you’re like me, then you have heard of the famous series written by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia Complete 7 Volume Set, but perhaps have only ever read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. This past spring, my best friend and I decided to read the series together; this was her second or third time and my first. I didn’t really have any expectations about the series, but knew it would be a fun, imaginary story.  I was not disappointed.

There are 7 total books in the series. I think they each follow a similar pattern: within the first chapter, the kids are swept away to Narnia where they spend most of the novel preparing for the big, epic event that will ultimately arrive in the last few chapters. Some of the books have a slower build up to the big event than others.

I have NO IDEA if I was pronouncing the Narnian names correctly, but really, who cares? I enjoyed getting lost in the adventures of a group of young, English kids. Be advised, these are not merely feel-good novels; There is evil and death present. The children must fight against it in a different way in every novel. The novels are all held together by one reoccurring theme: Aslan is a Christ-like figure who assists the children in fighting the evil that comes upon Narnia.

Overall, if you have a reader in your family, I think they would love to read this series. I know I can’t wait to read them aloud with Jonathan when he is old enough. (Let’s be real… I may even read them prior to that!)

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

~ Megan

Reading Level: 7-8th grade

So clearly I missed the Avi train as a young adult reader. From The Secret School to City of Orphans to The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, I am obsessed with Avi now! Even as an adult, I thoroughly enjoy reading his novels; I have Sophie’s War sitting on my shelf to be read.

I truly enjoyed The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. This novel follows a young 13 year-old who must travel from England on one of her father’s business ships. Unfortunately, the crew does not want her aboard, but it’s not for reasons you may think. Through her voyage, Charlotte must decide who is being true and who is not. She will learn that not everyone is who they seem to be.

This novel is full of mystery and intrigue. Charlotte finds herself on the wrong side of the crew and the captain. Charlotte is caught up in the deception of the crew and finds herself on trial for murder of the cook. She must prove herself innocent and strong enough to be one of the crew.

I found my heart beating quickly more than one time! I was fearful for Charlotte and enthralled by her determination.

Awesomeness:

Charlotte becomes one of the sailors. She climbs rigging and changes sails. She even learns to use a knife.

Cautions:

Multiple crew members are murdered.

Once home, Charlotte runs away from her family’s home and returns to the life of a sailor.

There is some allusion to what might happen to a young lady if left aboard the ship alone.

*Links on this page are affiliate links.

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen

~ Megan

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen is every Jane Austen fans fantasy. To be the one who discovers a lost manuscript of THE Jane Austen! Could there be anything better??

Syrie James writes a wonderful What If? Novel. Samantha is no stranger to England as she started her Ph.D. studies there. While visiting with her boyfriend, she uncovers a clue that leads her to believe there is another Jane Austen work yet discovered. Samantha soon finds herself on a quest to find this missing manuscript. She attempts to get a hold of her old advisor but is unsuccessful. Eventually, she follows the clue to an estate in Greenbriar. There she meets the owner’s son, Anthony. Together they search the house in hopes of finding the missing novel.

After hours of searching, they discover the manuscript locked away. They come to the realization that it was not LOST but STOLEN by the original owner of the house. Eager to read the never before published story, Samantha and Anthony stay up all night taking turns reading. Samantha could never have predicted just where this new discovery would take her.

The novel is back and forth between Samantha & Anthony and the Stanhope Family of Jane Austen’s novel. Ms. James’ readers will find it easy to follow both stories. And might find themselves, as I did, wishing it really were a Jane Austen novel.

Syrie James did a wonderful job maintaining the Austenian way of writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. Overall, I believe the reader will be satisfied with both the ending of The Stanhopes and the ending of The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen.

A few cautions: Samantha puts herself in a few situations that are not wise for a woman in a serious relationship. It is clear that she is attracted to Anthony and she admits to wanting to kiss him. Amelia Davenport (a character in the missing novel) is very selfish and conniving. You could see through it pretty early on.
Overall, however, I found this a quite enjoyable fiction read.

Freak the Mighty

~ Megan

Grade Level: Fifth

“That’s how it started, really, how we got to be Freak the Mighty, slaying dragons and fools and walking high above the world.” You can’t help but become emotionally attached to the characters in Rodman Philbrick’s Freak the Mighty; It is truly a picture of Ecclesiastes 4:9. In this case, two are better than one and true friendship, no matter how short, can grow us into better people.

Kevin, an intelligent young man with a too small body, and Max, a giant of a boy with a too small brain, are next door neighbors. Each boy brings his strengths to the friendship and together they become Freak the Mighty.

Kevin pushes Max out of his comfort zone and challenges him to do more. Kevin teaches Max about adventure & friendship. They go on grand adventures vanquishing evil and saving damsels in distress. One such adventure, leads the boys to the rougher side of town where they come into contact with people who knew their parents. Kevin does not know his dad and Max’s dad is in jail for killing Max’s mom.  

There are two stories that are intertwined in this book: the adventures of the boys and the release of Max’s dad from prison. Most of the book builds up to the release of Kenny, Max’s dad. Both Max and his grandparents fear what he could one day become, but Kevin shows Max that he is more than Killer Kane’s son.

Awesomeness:

  • This book is about true friendship.
  • It is an amazing book about kids with mental and physical disabilities.
  • Kevin is OBSESSED with King Arthur.
  • Max is put into the “smart” classes because of Kevin and learns he is smarter than he thought.
  • This book shows that traumatic experiences really affect development.

Cautions:

  • Max’s dad, Kenny, sneaks into Max’s room and kidnaps him.
  • Kenny takes Max to the rougher side of town to the same couple Max and Kevin had met before. He breaks into an apartment for the night.
  • Eventually, Kenny will take Max to an abandoned building. There he nearly chokes Loretta to death. And he attacks Max.
  • Kevin’s organs are growing but his body is not. He eventually loses his battle with his health.
  • Alcohol being consumed; empty beer cans on the floor of the apartment.

Lesson Plan Ideas:

-Write your personal story down like Max did.

-Research the difficulties little people could have.

-Write a journal entry in response to Max’s comment on page 78: “I’m standing there with Freak high above me and it feels right, it makes me feel strong and smart.”

-Keep your own dictionary

-Teach a younger kid a new word!

-Create a different ending to the book

-You can access the film made by Nickelodeon on youtube

City of Orphans

~ Megan

City of Orphans

Grade Level: Third

“And that’s when the body on the ground jumps up.” That body belongs to Willa, resident of an alley off Chrystie street and wielder of a great stick. This moment begins a grand adventure for Willa and Maks.

Set in the 1890s New York, City of Orphans is a story about a newsie and a rag collector learning to be detectives. Maks stumbles upon Willa when running from a gang of boys bent on discouraging him from selling his papers. Owing Willa his life, Maks invites her home. His family immediately adopts her. There is more trouble though, Emma, Maks’ sister has been accused of stealing. She is put in jail and her family only has a week before her trial. Maks will elicit the help of Willa and a sickly detective to find the evidence to free Emma.

Explore Barnes & Noble’s Coupons & Deals! Shop BN.com

This book is amazing! I read most of it in one sitting. There are a few things to be cautious of: the conflicts from the gang, the murder at the end, and the bouts of tuberculosis.

There are a few fights between the newsies and Bruno, the leader of the Plug Uglies. Bruno brags about beating up the boys. He even breaks someone’s arm. He threatens to soak the street in newsboy blood. There is a large fight between the Newsies and the Plug Uglies which results in a house burning down. The violence is minimal and not very descriptive.

The book ends with Bruno in a crazy fit of rage. He steals a man’s gun and proceeds to kill that man in the lobby of the Waldorf Hotel. Bruno is immediately killed by the hotel’s detective. The author makes note of the blood pooling on the ground but nothing more.

This is New York City in the 1890s. Disease ran rampant at this time. Maks’ sister is struggling with tuberculosis as is the detective who helps the kids. The Avi describes the blood spittle on handkerchiefs and the constant coughing. Willa also confesses that her mother died from the disease.

There is at least one time when the father uses the Lord’s name in vain. On page 43 papa cries, “Great God!”.

I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. I really enjoyed it and I believe that boys and girls will find it enjoyable!

 

Lesson Plans:

*Research NYC in the 1890s

-Types of people who lived there

-Buildings

-Kinds of jobs people had

-Lifestyles

-Different types of clothing

-Diseases (page 155)

* Research some of the important people mentioned: Teddy Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Alan Pinkerton

*Research Ellis Island

*Child Labor/Labor Movement (TEKS 8.24B)

-Interesting to address the concept that factory owners and newspapers felt that all employees were replaceable.

* Write a journal entry as a parent answering: How do you decide which child to save?

* Keep a diary as Maks while you read the novel

*Discuss the growth in crime and the need for good detectives and police forces. (Could tie in with Alan Pinkerton)