The Avid Reading Mom

Rosa’s Land is the story of Lafayette Riordan, the youngest of three sons.  He longs for adventure yet, due to his gentle upbringing, he is more suited to be a scholar and artist.  “Faye” as his family calls him, dreams of adventure and wants to earn a coveted position as a part of Judge Isaac Parker’s very famous team of marshals.  One day Faye tires of his simple life and sets out on a journey of discovery, secretly learning to ride and shoot so he can join the marshals. 

Rosa Ramirez is a young lady who lives with her grandfather on his ranch.  Their number one task to to keep the land safe from outlaws that are constantly raiding.  After a tragedy occurs during a raid by the outlaws, Rosa takes it upon herself to seek out Judge Isaac Parker and demands a marshal to stay on the ranch and help them run off the outlaws.  Rosa gets more than she bargained for as she rides back to the ranch with Faye.

The story continues with Faye moving from a “greenhorn” marshal to taking down one of the most famous outlaws, and grows up in many ways.  When his family visits, they are surprised at the man that Faye has become.  Can Faye and Rosa save the ranch from outlaws?  Can Rosa learn to trust Faye? 

I love Gilbert Morris.  I grew up devouring the Winslow Series and Cheney Duvall, M.D. as well as other books from Gilbert Morris.  While this book was good, I had a hard time reading this book.  The other books I have read by Morris have “meat” to them and the story lines kept my attention from the first chapter through the last.  This one, while good reading, was very shallow and unbelievable at times. The story starts with a large amount of unnecessary information on Faye’s father and brothers, and Faye isn’t mentioned right away.  Rosa, the title character, isn’t even mentioned until about one-third of the way into the book.  Faye and Rosa don’t even meet until almost half way through then their story speeds through to the ending. 

While it wasn’t my favorite read by Gilbert Morris, I will continue to read his books.  He is an amazing author and great storyteller.  Book Two in this series, Sabrina’s Man is set to release December 2013.  I am hoping that book will be a better read.

Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy of Rosa’s Land, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Though My Heart Is Torn takes us on the continuing journey into the lives of Gideon and Lonnie.  Forced together in a shot-gun wedding, after one fateful night, their lives take twists and turn that leave the reader wanting more.  Book One, Be Still My Soul, is the beginning story of Gideon and Lonnie.  I would suggest that you read that book first or you will be lost.  The second book picks up where the story left off.

In Though My Heart Is Torn, begins with a very happy and content Gideon and Lonnie and they are raising their son in the Blue Grass Mountains, along side an amazing couple who mentors them through their challenges.  Yet, things will not stay happy for long, as Lonnie receives a letter from her family that takes them back to the Appalachian Mountains and a series of events that turns their lives upside down.  As Gideon is forced to deal with choices he made in the past, Lonnie is left reeling from those decisions.  She begins to wrestle with trusting God and that Gideon was the man for her, yet her love for Gideon never wavers.  As she returns to the Blue Grass Mountains and her home there, she is faced with a new love and new opportunities.  Can she forget about Gideon while raising their son?  Will Gideon settle into his new life and forget about Lonnie and his son?  What does the future hold for them as their tread through these new waters?

Again, Joanne did not disappoint.  This continuing story of Gideon and Lonnie left me turning page and page and not being able to put it down.  Their heart-wrenching story left me with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes several times, yet I couldn’t put it down.  You will be drawn into the lives of Gideon and Lonnie and they will become like a second family to you as you read.  The underlying faith in God is what keeps Gideon and Lonnie continuing toward the future that God has planned for them.
Most times, middle books are just that, middle books.  They are like bridges that link the first book to the ending.  Usually a middle book is forgettable or you find yourself trudging through them just so you can say you read it and can be prepared for the final book.  Not so with this one.  I actually enjoyed this book, as much or even a little more than the first one.  Book Three, My Hope Is Found, releases in October and I am anxiously awaiting it already!

Rush out, get book one and two, read them…you will be so glad you did!!!  I can’t recommend an author or a series more than I do this one.  It will not disappoint!

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program for my free copy of Though My Heart Is Torn, which I received in exchange for an honest review.


 

Be Still My Soul is a beautiful story of mercy, grace, love and forgiveness.  The story begins with shy Lonnie who lives in a home in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1900’s.  Daily, she suffers the effects of an abusive father, yet, through it all, she holds tight to her faith in her Lord.  One night, Lonnie is left on her own to walk home through the dark woods.  She is escorted home by the very handsome Gideon…and that one night changed their lives forever.  Through a series of events, can Gideon learn to love the woman he is forced to marry?  Can Lonnie help Gideon find a love for her and for the Lord?  Will Gideon stay with her during their life journey?

This book kept me up almost all night just reading “one more chapter”.  This is Joanne Bischof’s very first novel and it is written very well.  I couldn’t put it down.  It left me wanting more and more.  The trials and joys that Gideon and Lonnie face are true to the times and their reactions are what kept me wanting more.  Joanne has a way of writing that makes the reader understand how harsh the lives were in the setting and time period of this story.  Joanne’s keen sense of details and emotional writing had me in tears as the book ended. 

As you near the end of this story, you will be left with the knowledge that forgiveness can be had, love will grow, but things are not always as they seem.  The ending will leave you wanting to know more about the lives of Gideon and Lonnie.  The next book in the series, Though My Heart Is Torn, is already available. 
I highly recommend this series to everyone.  It is definitely toward the top of my all time favorite stories.  You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program for my free copy of Be Still My Soul, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.  This book is the incredible story of Edward, a very selfish china rabbit who is deeply loved by a girl named Abilene.  One day, while traveling on a boat with Abilene and her family, Edward is lost at sea.  Edward then is taken an a remarkable journey of discovery and he learns how important love is and the need for love in our lives.  One statement in the book really sums up the whole theme of this book": "If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." (p. 199)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane could be classified as historical fiction.  The settings throughout the book take place over several years during the early to mid 1900’s.  According to the textbook, Literature and the Child, on page 17, it explains that historical fiction tells a story set in the past; it portrays events that did or could definitely occur.  The illustrations in this book, though there are very few of them, are very detailed paintings.  The illustrator really took time to get the details correct in every illustration within this book. 

This book is recommended for students ages 7-10 years old.  I would agree with this recommendation, although I do believe students older than 10 would really enjoy reading this remarkable story and would learn a lot through the journey of Edward.  The story line is very easy to follow and the chapters are very short so struggling readers would feel great accomplishment after finishing each chapter.

I think this book would be great to include in a unit study on love, maybe during Valentines Day.  Some activities to include when using this book within your classroom could be:

1.  Have each student choose a different character, major or minor, and draw his or her portrait. The cast of characters should include everyone from Edward to the crows in the garden. Label each drawing with a paragraph describing the character and his or her relationship to Edward.

2.  Throughout Edward’s journey, there are folks who are kind to Edward, some who love him, some who are indifferent, and others who are downright cruel. Make a chart of these characters and discuss their differences.

3.  Throughout his journey, Edward Tulane yearns to go home, which he considers to be Egypt Street. And yet he spends many happy years with people who take him in and give him new homes. Make a list of things that mean home to you.

READER RESPONSE QUESTIONS:
1.  Why does Pellegrina tell the story about a princess who loves no one and is turned into a warthog by a witch to Abilene and Edward?

2.  What are some of the life lessons Edward learns on his journey, through good times and bad?

3.  How and why do all adults (except Abilene’s sharp-eyed grandmother, Pellegrina) condescend, or talk down, to Edward?

4.  Is there a difference between the love Edward receives from Abilene at the beginning of the book and the love he receives from Sarah Ruth?

REFERENCES:
Candlewick Press Teachers Guide on The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  Retrieved from http://www.edwardtulane.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Yny-zUwaGF0%3d&tabid=76

DiCamillo, K. (2006). The miraculous journey of edward tulane. (1st ed.). Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the child. (7th ed. ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co.

The Golly Sisters Go West is written by Betsy Byars and illustrated by Sue Truesdell.  The wagon is ready.  The songs and dances are ready.  The horse will not go.  As soon as the horse goes, then the adventures begin.  The Golly sisters, May-May and Rose, encounter some pretty hilarious adventures as they make their way west.  Their story is told in six short stories that will leave you laughing as you turn each page.

The Golly Sisters Go West is one of three books written by Betsy Byars about the hilarious tails of May-May and Rose, two sisters who travel west and have some very hilarious adventures.  According to the textbook, Literature and the Child, on page 17, it explains that historical fiction tells a story set in the past; it portrays events that did or could definitely occur.  It is made up of stories that take place in a certain time or place in the past.  Real historical figures and events can be included in the story.  The illustrations throughout this book are line drawings.  They were drawn to look very cartoonish which goes along with the funny stories. 

The book is recommended for ages 4-8.  It is an I Can Read level 3 book so it is written with larger text and fewer, simple words on each page.  I would agree with this age.  The stories are very easy to read and understand.  They are written in a way that children will realize that the sisters are having some very fun adventures.  The book would be a good book to include on a unit study about settlers in the old west.

When including this book in a classroom unit, I would recommend the following activities:

1.  Have children brainstorm a list of resources they could consult to learn what life was like during this time period. Examples include old newspapers, the Internet, etc. Record responses on chart paper. Use these resources to find
images from this period.  Have students pick out on of the pictures and write a fictional story based on the example they find.  Make sure the students understand to keep the historical setting accurate.

2.  Have students write a seventh adventure to go along with this book.  What new adventure would May-May and Rose encounter had their been a seventh chapter to the book.

READER RESPONSE QUESTIONS:
1.  When and where does the story take place?

2.  How do you know it takes place then?

3.  How do you think the writer knew what life was like during that time period?

4.  How do you think the illustrator knew what life was like during that time period?  Make this answer differ from question #3.

REFERENCES:
Byars, B. (1985). The golly sisters go west. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the child. (7th ed. ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co.

I Can Read books classroom activity guide.  Retrieved from http://www.icanread.com/educators/downloadables/icanreadclassroomguide.pdf

Sailing Home: A Story of a Childhood at Sea is based on the journal kept by Captain Madsen and his daughter Ena.  It is told by Gloria Rand and illustrated by Ted Rand.  The story is about the Madsen family and their life at sea.  The story describes the day to day lives of family as they sail around the world on their father’s ship.  Two of the children were born aboard the ship.  They had animals on the ship, played games on the ship, learned how to use signaling flags and name all the stars and planets, and even had a tutor on board the ship that taught them school six days a week, mornings and afternoons with an hour off for lunch.  The story ends with them riding out a really bad storm that lasted for days during Christmas.  At the end, it looks like the ship will go down and the family with it but the ship rights itself and they end with a big Christmas celebration.

Sailing Home: A Story of a Childhood at Sea is a great example of historical fiction.  According to the textbook, Literature and the Child, on page 17, it explains that historical fiction tells a story set in the past; it portrays events that did or could definitely occur.  It is made up of stories that take place in a certain time or place in the past.  Real historical figures and events can be included in the story, for instance, the Madsen family and the ship.  The illustrations in this book are a great example of ink drawings that are water colored to give them a realistic feel.  The attention to detail is shown in the drawings, even down to the labels on the books.  The facial expressions are very genuinely added to give the people a lifelike characteristic.

This book is recommended for ages 7 and up.  I would agree with that recommendation.  The story line, while exciting throughout, does get a little dramatic toward the end.  A child would definitely be able to handle that type of drama at this age. 

When presenting this book to your classroom, I would suggest adding the following activities:

1.  Using information from the story, explain how the activities the children participated in were similar to those of children living on land?

2.  Have the students do a timeline, sequencing the events in the story.

READER RESPONSE QUESTIONS:

1.  What do you think would be the most difficult part of living on a ship?
2.  Explain why the Christmas celebration described at the end of the story was so special.
3.  Do you think living on a ship is a good or bad thing?  Explain your answer.
4.  How would you feel if you had to go to school six days a week with no recess?

REFERENCES:

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the child. (7th ed. ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co.

Rand, G. (2001). Sailing home: A story of a childhood at sea. New York, NY: North-South Books Inc.

Old Thunder and Miss Raney was written by Sharon Darrow and illustrated by Kathryn Brown.  This fabulous story, which is set in Oklahoma tells of Miss Raney, who has previously been disappointed in her efforts to win a blue ribbon at the county fair, and her horse, Old Thunder, who is swaybacked and slow, but much beloved. The story, which begins with a tornado that sweeps them into the sky on the way home from the store, continues with Miss Raney using the cyclone-sifted flour to bake up a batch of exceptionally light biscuits. Disappointed that someone else wins the blue ribbon again this year, she feeds the remaining biscuits to Old Thunder, who astonishes her by entering the plow horse race and winning. The judges then give Miss Raney's biscuits a blue ribbon for "best horse feed."

Old Thunder and Miss Raney is a great example of historical fiction.  According to the textbook, Literature and the Child, on page 17, it explains that historical fiction tells a story set in the past; it portrays events that did or could definitely occur.  While the actually story, if written without the illustrations, could be classified as contemporary realistic fiction, when adding the illustrations to the mix, it definitely makes it set in a historical setting.  The illustrations in this story are a great example of ink drawings that are then water colored to give them a whimsical feel.

This book is recommended for ages 4 and up.  I would definitely agree with this recommendation but, for a child to be able to read the book on their own, they would definitely need to be a good reader.  It is written with a 1800’s feel so some of the verbage leans toward words like “giddyup”, “indeedy”, “ain’t a-goin”, etc.  Readers will need to be able to figure out words that are not normal vocabulary. 

If presenting this book to your students in your classroom, I would suggest adding the following activities to bring the book alive:

1.  Have students rewrite the story, telling what recipe they would make and what ingredient would get mixed up in the tornado.  Then have them end it with whether their recipe won the blue ribbon or not and give supporting details on why/why not.

2.  Have students create an advertising poster that advertises Miss Raney’s Sooner High-Energy Horse Biscuits and display them on a bulletin board outside the classroom.

READER RESPONSE QUESTIONS:

1.  How would you feel if you were Miss Raney and you were convinced your biscuits would win the blue ribbon?
2.  Can you create new and unusual uses for Miss Raney’s biscuits?
3.  What are some of the problems of this story?
4.  Can you explain what must have happened to the flour when it was mixed in the tornado for it to make Old Thunder win the race?

REFERENCES:

Darrow, S. (2000). Old thunder and miss raney. New York, NY: Dorling Kindesley Publishing, Inc.

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2011). Literature and the child. (7th ed. ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth Pub Co.