Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm October 2, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Historical Fiction , 6comments
Nothing is that easy for Penny. Her dad died when she was only a baby, her mom won’t let her go to places because she’s afraid of her of catching Polio, Penny’s mom is dating the milkman and her grandma’s cooking might kill someone! All she wants to do is eat butter pecan ice cream and go to a Dodgers game!
This book takes place in the summer of 1953 and it will change Penny’s life forever! She was born into a family where the two sides don’t talk to each other. Penny lives with her grandparents (Me-me and Pop-Pop) and her mom. She goes to her dad’s side for dinner on Sundays. Penny and her cousin, Frankie, are always getting in trouble. They try to find the money that their Grandfather Falucci buried. First, they’re in the news about robbery when they tried to sneak in their Nonny’s yard. The next day Frankie finds the money in the basement of their Nonny’s house and…the trouble really starts happening when Penny’s hand is stuck in the wringer! But what Penny finds are that miracles can happen.
~Kristen, Fifth Grader~
Bull Run by Paul Fleischman January 16, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Historical Fiction , 4comments
I would recommend this book because it has people’s different views about what they did in the Civil War. One person was a girl named Flora Wheelworth who made clothes. She sewed the clothes for the soldiers. If the soldiers got a hole in their clothes from a bullet, she would have to patch them up. Toby Boyce, another person in the war, always wanted to shoot a Yankee. When a Yankee was on the ground bleeding from a gunshot and yelled, “Shoot me, I’m going to die anyway,” Toby couldn’t shoot him. He felt bad about him being shot. Another man in the war was Shem Suggs. When he was on a horse, a Yankee came up shooting but missed Shem. Shem shot at the Yankee, and he fell to the ground. This really scared Shem. If you liked the stories about these people, read this book to find out about other people and their experiences in the Civil War.
~Nicholas, Fifth Grader~
The Cay by Theodore Taylor January 12, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Friendship Fiction, Historical Fiction , 24comments
Phillip, his mom, and his dad lived on Curacao, an island. Phillip’s mom wanted to move because she didn’t like the smell of oil and gas, so she decided to move from the island they live on to Virginia. Phillip doesn’t want to go on a ship called the SS Hato. It gets torpedoed because they are in the middle of a war. Everyone is in the water, but Phillip gets hit on the head with something. Not long after, Phillip wakes up to see that he is on a raft in the middle of the ocean with an African American named Timothy. The next day Phillip goes blind, and they see a cay and live on it. After a few months, they get hit by a hurricane, and Timothy dies. Now Phillip is blind and alone with a cat named Stew Cat. Does he get rescued? Read and find out.
~Alan, Fifth Grader~
Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks January 2, 2009
Posted by jcarlson in : Animal Fiction, Historical Fiction, Podcasts , 3comments
To find out if you’d like to read this book by the author of The Indian in the Cupboard, please listen to the podcast by Mrs. Carlson.
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson December 16, 2008
Posted by jcarlson in : Historical Fiction , 3comments
Show Way, written by Jacqueline Woodson, is an amazing short piece of historical fiction. It is also a gloriously colorful picture book, illustrated by Hudson Talbott. In Mrs. Woodson’s own words, “This is the first time I’ve written a book based on some of my own family history. ‘Show Ways,’ or quilts, once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves. This is the story of seven generations of girls and women who were quilters and artists and freedom fighters.”
The illustrations include paintings, quilt designs, and photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. There are also quotations about the civil rights struggle and even a map. Although it looks like a picture book, it is suitable for all ages. I am giving a copy to a grown-up friend who is a quilter. She will share it with her granddaughters, I hope.
If you like this book, check out Ms. Woodson’s website www.jacquelinewoodson.com. She has written many books for children and youth of all ages.
~Mrs. Gaston~
Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff November 26, 2008
Posted by jcarlson in : Historical Fiction , 2comments
This book is a companion to Lily’s Crossing. I never heard of it until Colleen and Lexi gave it to me as a gift. I really liked Lily’s Crossing, so it wasn’t a surprise that I liked this book as well. Both books take place during World War II and show how the war affected children’s lives.
Meggie and her parents move to Willow Run, Michigan, to help the war effort. Her father works in a factory that makes bomber planes. Eventually her mom works at the factory too. Meggie misses her best friend Lily and her grandfather, who are back home in Rockaway, New York. She also misses her brother Eddie, who is off fighting in the war. Meggie makes friends in Willow Run. These friends, along with her family, teach her about courage and hope.
If you enjoy historical fiction, especially if it takes place during WW II, you should read this book.
~Mrs. Carlson~
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry November 22, 2008
Posted by jcarlson in : Historical Fiction , 11comments
This book is about a young girl named Anne Marie. Her best friend Ellen, is a Jew, and the Nazis are moving into every corner in Denmark where they live. Ellen must go live with Anne Marie and be separated from her parents so she could survive. After a while, they have to go live with Anne Marie’s uncle. Ellen becomes relieved to see her parents again. They end up sending Ellen and her parents away to Switzerland where they can be free. Will Anne Marie ever see Ellen again???
~Colleen, Fifth Grader~
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm November 15, 2008
Posted by jcarlson in : Historical Fiction , 3comments
Eleven year old Penny lives with her mother and maternal grandparents. Her father died when she was very young, and Penny is uncertain as to how he died. Her father’s big, Italian family loves Penny, and she gets to spend every Sunday with them. For some reason, Penny’s mother does not get along with her father’s family.
It’s the summer of 1953. Penny plans to spend the summer listening to baseball games with her eccentric Uncle Dominic and hanging out with her cousin Frankie. Unfortunately, she winds up in the hospital for six weeks after a terrible accident. The accident brings the families closer together, and Penny is finally told the truth about her father’s death.
I really enjoyed Penny from Heaven, a 2007 Newbery Honor book. It made me laugh, worry, wonder, and learn a bit of history. This book is on the Great Readers list. Why don’t you give it a try?
~Mrs. Carlson~
Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan October 20, 2008
Posted by jcarlson in : Family Fiction, Historical Fiction , 6comments
Quite a few years ago I read Patricia MacLachlan’s books Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark. I knew the Witting family’s story did not end with these two books, but I never got around to reading the sequels. I just finished reading Caleb’s Story which is the next book about the Witting family and their life on the Nebraska prairie.
In this book, Caleb has taken over the journal writing from his sister Anna. She has moved to town to work for the doctor while her sweetheart is off fighting the war in Europe. Their little sister Cassie is four years old and quite a handful. Cassie discovers a mysterious old man in the barn. Everyone, except Jacob, welcomes the old man. Who is he and why doesn’t Jacob like him?
I really enjoyed reading about the Witting family again. The characters seem so real. It was fun trying to figure out the identity of the mysterious old man. Now I am anxious to read More Perfect than the Moon and Grandfather’s Dance.
~Mrs. Carlson~