Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
By all accounts Taro should be dead. The son of a samurai is always killed when his lord is defeated in battle. But Lord Takeda's soldiers decide to spare him, and take him with them. So Taro becomes a servant in the house of Lord Akiyama, learning how to be a servant. But when his... Continue Reading →
A German Jew. A fanatic member of the Hitler Youth. Both were victims of the Nazi party - one more obvious than the other. Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Ayer, with Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck, tell the stories of these two young people, born just miles apart. Helen Waterford managed to escape Nazi Germany for... Continue Reading →
Fascination with the Tudors of English royalty seems to be the rage these days, but most books and TV shows are not appropriate for younger readers. Thankfully, author Carolyn Meyer also has an interest in the Tudors and has written books for young adult readers. Mary, Bloody Mary is about Queen Mary Tudor of England... Continue Reading →
Daniel witnessed the crucifixion of his father, and ever since he has passionately pursued driving the Roman legions from his homeland of Israel. He joins a band of outlaws, living in caves and robbing caravans. His grandmother's death forces him to leave the outlaws to care for his sister, but does not quench his desire... Continue Reading →
Nicholas Young was tired of his life in England. He hated school (for good reason - made me shudder!) & when he ran away, his father apprenticed him to a butcher. Even worse than school, if you could believe it. So Nick stowed away on a ship. But not just any ship - the HMS... Continue Reading →
Adam and his father traveled the roads of England in the 1200's as wandering minstrels - and Adam loved every minute of it. At least until the day he was separated from his father. Then his beloved spaniel, Nick, disappears too. Now Adam wanders the roads of England looking for his father and his dog,... Continue Reading →
Mall Percival lives in England during the days of the devastating Plague of 1665. Her village is rather remote, with very little contact with the great London Town. Until the new minister's wife wants a new dress, cut in London fashion. So the tailor sends for patterns from a relative in London. And with the... Continue Reading →
If your child is like mine, and an unashamed Civil War buff, he will enjoy reading Tillie Pierce by Tanya Anderson. Tillie grew up in Gettysburg and was there during the entire battle. Her home was downtown, but her parents wanted her to escape the worse of the fighting, so she went to a friend's... Continue Reading →
Annabelle enjoys her life in rural Pennsylvania, even if it's a little boring. Just as she is wishing for something exciting to happen, Betty Glengarry walks into her classroom. And Annabelle's life changes. Betty is a problem child, who was kicked out of her city school and sent to live with her grandparents. She threatens... Continue Reading →
Matthew J. Kirby is back! I was so very happy when I found The Lost Kingdom, his latest book, at the library. I actually grabbed the audio book, which is excellently read by Charlie McWade. The Lost Kingdom is another entry into Kirby’s unique genre, which I call historical fantasy. It’s historical - set right... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 