Plumfield Moms

Written in 1912 by James Otis, this compelling story about the settling of the West was written for children aged approximately 8-12 years old. The reading level is comparable to something like a “Childhood of Famous Americans” book whereas the point of view is something like the “We Were There” books. While Seth is fictional, Otis tells us, through the character of Seth, about the creation of Denver, Colorado as if he were giving us a real first-person account. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/seth-of-colorado

"We live in a society built on sand and dreamy wishes for the world to be other than it is. Now we’re watching it crumble. As the ransomed of Christ, are you willing to walk through this world as a conspicuous foreigner?"

The Glorious Folly by Louis de Wohl The Spear by Louis de Wohl Ben Hur by Lew Wallace The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas Slave Boy in Judea by Josephine Sanger Lau Biblioguides Online Community The Great Lion of God by Taylor Caldwell Helping Children Write by Mauree Applegate The First Book of Language and How to Use It by Mauree Applegate The First Books Nevermoor: The Trials of Morgan Crow by Jessica Townsend The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Ni:elsen Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart A Single Shard by Linda Sue Parks Little Pear by Eleanor Frances Lattimore Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War by Kathy Henderson

While checking my county library catalog for Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Echo, the description of Paint the Wind caught my eye because the story takes place in Wyoming. I’m always a little skeptical about stories supposed to take place in Wyoming, but I remembered, from years ago, that Muñoz’s Esperanza Rising was surprisingly good. Echo, which I read recently, is very good. With nothing much demanding my time on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, I picked up Paint the Wind and read the entire book before midnight. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/paint-the-wind

"However torn and bleeding I find myself, believing I’m engraved on the palms of the Author’s hands, I trust he knows exactly the right number of scratches necessary to bring my story to its fitting conclusion."

Words On Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen Plumfield Reads Guide, Words on Fire Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace Plumfield Reads Guides Plumfield Reads Guide, Resistance

When the story opens, Anson Staplyton, drummer boy, is aboard ship on his way to Ireland from England where he will take his place as the seventh Staplyton to keep the king’s peace in the Staffordshire Fencibles. He has been waiting all his life to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers and win glory in battle defending the king’s realm. Though Anson longs for glory in battle, his first assignments are anything but glorious. First, he witnesses a hedge master receiving thirty lashes, which is considered a lenient sentence compared to the usual punishment for treason, death. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/ansons-way

If I’ve been under the wrong impression about what I can expect from a life committed to Jesus, I haven’t been listening. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake” (Mat. 24:9 ESV). “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18 ESV). Why would I come to Jesus when he promises so many hard things? Because he has the words of life!

Join us as we chat with Librarians Sherry Early and Kristi Stansfield about inventory, contract renewals, making space, organizing historical fiction, and organizing picture books. Biblioguides Private Lending Library Directory Biblioguide.com Biblioguides Online Community LibraryThing TinyCat Little Men by Louisa May Alcott Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Kristi’s Book Cart The Bike Lesson by Stan and Jan Berenstain A Fly Went By (I Can Read Books) by Mike McClintock The Card Catalog The Shelf Notes Plumfield Reads Guides The Princess and the Goblin

In Lark, Sally Watson took readers down a most interesting path and gave us a delightfully fun adventure. There are some aspects of the story that parents may wish to be aware of, which I note in my review, but overall, it was an entertaining escapade well-suited to teen readers. As much as I wanted to follow the family tree, I decided to read Jade next, as it is also available at Audible (recorded via Virtual Voice). My spoiler-free review is very short: I did enjoy it. I will have it in my library. But, I will be cautious about to whom I recommend it. It is about a strong female protagonist from Colonial Virginia whose family is in the slave trade. Through a series of events, Melanie (nicknamed Jade) finds herself on a ship in the Bahamas attacked by pirates, and she joins their forces. She becomes a notorious outlaw, and this story is a rollicking fun ride. As much fun as this novel is, I found a number of challenges that mar the overall story for me, and I think parents may wish to know about some hefty content. The rest of this review will contain a fair number of spoilers with a lot of quotes. I hope to let Sally Watson tell you for herself what she was doing in this story. You then can decide for yourself how to handle this with your readers. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/jade

Several years ago, I mentioned to Diane that I thought The Door Before was my favorite of N. D. Wilson’s books and that Hyacinth was my favorite of his characters. She asked me why I felt that way. I struggled to articulate something tangible. I think I mumbled that it has something to do with how Hyacinth was a reluctant hero. I was never able to really figure out why I felt that way, so I never wrote my review of The Door Before. Years later, I am re-reading the Cupboards books, and I continue to be impressed with Hyacinth. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-door-before

"The first time I read the apostle Paul’s command to the Corinthians to imitate him, I remember thinking, Wait a minute! Why is he telling them to imitate him instead of imitating Jesus? I’ve always respected this guy, but he really did have some gall."

"Ain’t Nothing but a Man is a 60-page version of Nelson’s 200+ page book for adults. Every page has photographs or drawings to show locations and people of the post-Civil War era, and to illustrate what the railroad slang from the songs mean. In “How to be a Historian” the co-author, Marc Aronson, lists the six stages of Nelson’s search: Finding what is known already Checking their sources Finding gaps and disagreements and formulating your own questions Looking for new evidence Expanding the search Sharing what you have found https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-picture-book-reviews/aint-nothing-but-a-man-my-quest-to-find-the-real-john-henry

Today’s Americans aren’t familiar with a practice that people have understood for thousands of years - the habit of doffing a cap, bowing, kneeling, or simply lowering the eyes before a person with more power, money, or social status. We don’t acknowledge our “betters.” As much as Christians appreciate that Jesus died for our sins, I’m afraid we often forget that he is something other than we are. He isn’t only our Savior. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If that’s true, it behooves us to remember it and behave accordingly.

Diane’s References Picture of Charlton Heston’s son Ben Hur by Lew Wallace Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter A Women of No Importance by Sonia Purnell Virginia Was a Spy by Catherine Urdahl The Spy with the Wooden Leg: The Story of Virginia Hall by Nancy Polette Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelsen Nicholas Winton and the Rescued Generation: Save One Life, Save the World by Muriel Emanuel The Light That Shines Forever: The True Story and Remarkable Rescue of 669 Children on the Eve of World War II by David Warner Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis One Life movie Sara Masarik’s References Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen America’s Children Books by James Otis Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigurd Undset Blackout by Connie Willis All Clear by Connie Willis Guernsey and the Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Sarah Kim’s References Beowulf Burton Raffel translation Beowulf Seamus Heaney translation The Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson N. D. Wilson - beloved author The Push Cart War by Jean Merrill Best in Children’s Books Vol. 16 The Best Birthday by Quail Hawkins Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events That Changed History by Phil Mason Tanya’s References Purple House Press: The Gift of the Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson The Legend of Bass Reeves by Gary Paulsen Biblioguides online community

Written in 1912 by James Otis, this exciting and absorbing young readers’ novel tells the true story of Boonesborough from the point of view of a young girl. Written with excellent language and writing, this story is very alive and a joy to read. The reading level is comparable to something like a “Childhood of Famous Americans” book, whereas the point of view is something like the “We Were There” books. While Hannah and her family are fictional, Otis tells us, through the character of Hannah, about Boonesborough as if she was giving us a real first-person account. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/hannah-of-kentucky/

I have an unusual habit. I write letters. I mean the old-fashioned, handwritten (in cursive), on pretty stationery, with a postage stamp, sent through the U.S. mail kind of letters. One reason I do this is that I enjoy receiving letters. There is a look and feel to a personal letter that almost casts its own light from beneath the piles of impersonal, meaningless, or unpleasant stacks of paper that invade our homes through our mailboxes.

Thornton Burgess books The Incredible Journey by Shelia Burnford Plumfield Reads Book Club Guides LibraryThing The Card Catalog Biblioguides Private Lending Library Directory Bibloguides Online Community

The Penderwicks is a series that is recommended everywhere. It is not a series that I have in my library. In my years of moderating a massive book group, I found that this was a book series that really divides people. I read the first two books (or was it three? I can’t remember for sure) and found that I fell into the “this had so much potential to be brilliant but falls into modern tropes and makes me frustrated” camp. For years I have mostly stayed quiet about it because those who love The Penderwicks really love those stories. And there is nothing inherently wrong with the books that I read, so I just didn’t think it mattered what I thought. Years later, however, I heard so many people asking about them, so I thought it prudent to articulate my objections. The first book, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, was delightful. Not perfect, but refreshingly fun for a modern book. The problem is that readers very rarely are willing to read one book and not the others in a series. And the second book, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, was definitely not delightful. Instead of a sweet and interesting family story, the girls are petulant and angsty. They are rude to each other and disrespectful of adults. I was so disappointed. One of the recommendations for the series is that readers claim there are so many lovely literary references that bibliophiles are delighted while at the same time, the children are modern and living like we do, so it makes those old book references come alive. Maybe. Probably. However, that doesn’t negate the bad behavior of the girls. Some claim that these are like Beverly Cleary’s books. They show girls going through real growing pains, and it gives our children someone to identify with. But, as I said in my article, In Defense of Beverly Cleary, Cleary was writing about the whole family. In her stories, adults are more than present, they are worthy characters themselves, and they provide good boundaries for their children. In the Penderwicks books, there is a strong sense that the children know better than the adults and that they have a moral obligation to teach the adults how the world works and how to live better. Again, this is not what we see in Cleary, or Gary D. Schmidt, or N. D. Wilson. In those stories, the children understand their own value, but they do not discredit the adults who are there to love and lead them. Some critics of the series object to the “modern realism” themes of divorce, remarriage, teenage dating, etc. I don’t object to those themes. I do, however, object to how they are presented in modern books. I can’t really say how those play out throughout the series because I stopped early in the series, but I did not love what I saw. One of the challenges of writing a series about sisters who have a substantial span of age is that it is hard to know who the target audience is. Should children as young as the youngest sister be reading? Or are these for children who are as old as the oldest sister? In Hilda van Stockum’s The Mitchells series, we see children who are babies in the same family as children who are in high school. To make the story suitable for all ages, Hilda did mention some dances and possible romance, but she did so only very lightly. In the second Penderwicks book, teen romance is a key theme. Just because the oldest sister is old enough to be interested in boys doesn’t mean that our younger readers need that explained in detail complete with hormonal discussion. I think that while these stories could be lovely, they miss the mark. With so many better options out there, I am keeping these out of my library. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-penderwicks

What I heard Sunday morning was, “Put on your big girl armor, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything, because he who calls you is faithful.”

The concentration camps were so horrific that stories about them are usually done with incredible care and some trepidation. When we think of children in the concentration camps, many of us rightly cannot hold that idea in our minds for very long. It is just too awful. Children were there. Most were killed but some were there. But few of us have the fortitude to consider that idea very closely or for very long. But what about children in the camps? What happened to them? Anne Holm gives us a small window into that idea in I Am David (reprinted as North to Freedom). Mercifully, however, the story opens with a guard telling twelve-year-old David about the escape he has planned for him. David breaks out of a Bulgarian concentration camp in the first few pages, so all of our knowledge about his experiences in the camp comes to us through his memories when he is safely on the other side. “In his mind’s eye David saw once again the gray bare room he knew so well. He saw the man and was conscious, somewhere in the pit of his stomach, of the hard knot of hate he always felt whenever he saw him. The man’s eyes were small, repulsive, light in color, their expression never changing; his face was gross and fat, yet at the same time square and angular. David had known him all his life, but he never spoke to him more than was necessary to answer his questions; and though he had known his name for as long as he could remember, he never said anything but “the man” when he spoke about him or thought of him. Giving him a name would be like admitting that he knew him; it would place him on an equal footing with the others.” The guard tells David that when he lights his match, the circuit will be cut and David will have 30 seconds to get across the yard and over the fence. David is baffled by the man’s suggestion that he should escape and is sincerely concerned that the man is setting him up to be shot. “And then quite suddenly David decided he would do it. He had turned it over in his mind until his head was in a whirl, and he still could not understand why the man had told him to escape. David had no wish to make the attempt: it would only be a question of time before he was caught. But suppose it were a trap and they shot him – it would all be over quickly anyway. If you were fired at while trying to escape, you would be dead within a minute. Yes, David decided to try.” The man not only provides a means of David’s escape, but he also promises that hidden in the field on the other side of the fence there would be a pouch with a little bread, drinking water, a knife, and a compass. He tells David which way to run and to head for Italy. And, once there, to go North. And just keep going North until he gets to Denmark. He does not say why David must get to Denmark, but he insists on it. Once David successfully breaks free of the concentration camp, we realize that he has no memory of any life outside of the camp. He has no idea what cities look like, how normal people interact with each other, or what a beautiful mountainside looks like. Every experience is new and terrifying for him. His journey is a bit of a pilgrimage. And he is learning how to be human after only ever being a caged animal. In some haunting ways, he reminds me of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster – hiding in the woods, watching people in order to understand how to be really human. As he goes along, we learn that David was kept separate from other children in the camp. He grew up in a place where his only companions were men from many different countries, a teenage mentor, and the guards. Consequently, David learned many languages by mimicking all of the men he heard speak. He speaks Oxford English, noble Italian, everyday French, official German, and robust Yiddish. His linguistic abilities serve him well in his journey North through Europe. At one point, David spends some time with a wealthy Italian family. The mother gives him milk and vitamins. He realizes that in the camp he had been given milk and vitamins. At the time, he thought they were poison meant to keep him weak. In light of the love of this Italian mother for her children, he realizes these were good things. And he ponders why “the man” would have given him good things to make him healthy. He reflects on how everyone in the camp eventually died of starvation-related complaints. And yet, he was being given nourishing milk and smuggled vitamins. Why? In the camp, David had one friend. A French teen named Johannes who was assigned to be David’s companion and tutor. Johannes died in the camp of a heart attack. Before that, however, Johannes taught David not just languages and history but also ethics and manners. As David journeys North, he realizes that that too did not make any sense. Why had “the man” taken such an interest in David’s education? If everyone was destined to die in the camps, why bother to educate the child and teach him how to be human? David was not raised with any religion. But, he was

Plumfield Reads Guides: The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge The Mistmantle Chronicles by Margaret I. McAllister The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis The Glorious Folly by Louis de Wohl The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen J.R.R. Tolkien "On Fairy Stories" on Internet Archive Various Editions of The Princess and the Goblin The Biblioguides Online Community

A Plumfield Kids Book Review by Jack, age 11 This “Real Book About” is a scientific book about Whales. This book is not my favorite book for many reasons, but the main one is that it starts slowly, explaining each and every kind of whale. But even with a slow beginning, it makes up for it in the other half of the book, which is about whaling. The first half of this book is dedicated to the whale itself. From page thirteen to page twenty-eight, it explains how the whale used to be a ground animal and how it became a sea animal, and how it eats and moves, and that the whale’s nasal passages are not connected to its throat, so the whale can eat under the water and not drown. From page twenty-nine to sixty-six, it explains all the kinds of whales, from the baleen whales to the killer whales. There are many fascinating and funny facts in this book, even though it has a slow beginning. One of them is that the story of Jonah and the whale is actually possible, and not only is it possible, but it actually happened. It happened to a sailor named James Bartly, who fell overboard and got swallowed alive by a Sperm whale. He was rescued twenty-four hours later when the whale was killed. According to this account, he was a little unbalanced for two weeks. This feat would not be able to be done by a Baleen whale, because its throat is too small, but the Sperm whale’s throat is big enough to swallow a person. The second half is more interesting than the first half. It tells us about whaling and how the whalers hunted the whale and processed it. There are a lot of quotes from Moby dick because there really are no reports of whaling. I liked this book, but it is not my favorite. I wasn’t a big fan of, and didn’t know much about whales and whaling, but since I read this book I have liked and appreciated it more than I did before. I hope that you will like this book more than I did. You can learn more about this book at Biblioguides.com. You can purchase this book as a used book at Amazon.

"It’s plain that Jesus wants us to understand how much we matter to God. But another aspect to his command is just as important. Our anxiety doesn’t change anything except our state of mind. In Luke 12:25, Jesus says, 'And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?' "Jesus goes on to say, “If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” As small a thing as what? Adding an hour to my life is a small thing? To him, it is! To me, this is the heart of the command. Jesus isn’t suggesting that we would be better off to stop worrying. He is not only telling us how absolutely futile worrying is, he is also telling us how utterly and completely he is in control."

Who among us does not know about Harry Potter? Love, fear, or hate him, we all know something about Harry Potter, because he is very much a part of our culture. Few books of our age have caused as much controversy as those about “the boy who lived” because of the sacrificial love of a mother. Teachers love Harry Potter because their students will read thousands of pages of well-written narrative in lieu of playing video games. Libraries love Harry Potter because the books have wide appeal and are routinely checked out again and again by repeat readers because they are so enjoyable to read more than once. Vendors love Harry Potter because of all of the merchandising opportunities. Parents love Harry Potter because their kids are reading. And, some Christians love Harry Potter because the story is steeped in characters who exemplify virtue and who act courageously. But Harry Potter is not loved by all. In fact, he is despised and feared by many. Large groups of Christians chief among them. This article is not about the worthiness or lack thereof of Harry Potter. My own personal opinions on this series are still being formed. But I think it is important to mention that I am a devout Catholic Christian with traditional values and a great deal of sensitivity to the power of story. I have no use for the Netflix travesty which ruined Anne of Green Gables. I wrote a piece on the Handmaid’s Tale which garnered thousands of views and horrible hate mail. And, despite the recommendations of friends I love and respect, I think that The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place is problematic, that the Penderwicks books are lacking, and Percy Jackson is prohibited in my home. I think it is safe to say that I am extremely conservative but also, I hope, a thoughtful reader. Typically, a reader of old books, I view new books with quite a bit of skepticism. With regard to the Harry Potter books, I read them as a young adult, and I loved them. As I became more formed in my faith and my reading taste, I began to understand some of the concerns that others had about them. As a young mother, I was at a loss for what to do with Harry Potter. This book articulates the primary objections and concerns that Christian families may have with regard to Harry and responds to them with commentary from other critics, evidence from the text, and good research. I am incredibly grateful for that! I am not sure that I agree with all of Mrs. Brown’s arguments. And I am not suggesting that every reader will either. But I am exceedingly grateful for this text and am happy to have it in my library for other families to consider. How did we resolve the Harry question for our family? We delayed inviting our children into the world of Harry Potter. And by the time we did, they had so many other books and series they loved more, that none of my children have ever cared to read more than a couple of the books. Several years ago, when I was falling in love with Chesterton, I discovered Nancy Brown. Mrs. Brown is a Chesterton scholar and has written a biography on Frances Chesterton as well as some children’s adaptations of Father Brown. In my discovery of her work, I discovered a marvelous little book that she wrote called The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide. This is what I wanted! I wanted someone who was well formed in my faith to take me by the hand and to help me understand the spiritual concerns with the Harry Potter books and then give me enough information about the books and about reliable Catholic commentary so that my husband and I could prayerfully discern how to handle the books with our family. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-mystery-of-harry-potter

Forgetting our own nature, it’s easy to find ourselves baffled by the behavior of the Israelites. How did the same people who saw the mighty works of God during the time of the exodus so quickly forget their experience, come to doubt God’s power, and reject the way of obedience?

State of the Podcast 2024 2023 State of the Podcast Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen Plumfield Library Page Purple House Press: Buzztail and Leeper by Robert McClung Louisa May Alcott The Card Catalog - Shelf Notes Newsletter Our Librarian Life Private Lending Library Directory at Biblioguides Meet Michelle Howard Episode What is a Living Book? Video with Michelle Howard The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix Caroline Haywood Further Up and Further In by Diane Pendergraft Plumfield Moms Book Club Guides The Winged Watchmancad by Hilda van Stockum The Princess and the Goblin Book Club Guide (Free for subscribers!) The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald Gary D. Schmidt Smidgen Press - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Smidgen Press - Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

In a genre that really tests our limits to endure the dehumanization and suffering of others, this text stands out as entirely different. WWII Holocaust literature is critically important to the story of Western Civilization, and it is essential that we all have a few titles get through us so that we never forget what hate and godlessness can do to entire nations. While The Hiding Place has some genuinely tough passages, it is totally unique in that it is never, ever hopeless. The very worst moments are lightened by the beautiful witness of Betsey, who truly understands the Gospel. Like the Old Testament lamp that never ran out of oil and the Ravensbruck vitamin bottle that never ran out of medicine until new medicine was provided, this story is miraculous in its ability to keep you filled with just enough hope and just enough awe to keep reading without feeling gutted. To be thankful for the fleas – because they provided incredible, miraculous protection from something much worse – is the epitome of the message of the Ten Booms and their beautiful true story. To the reader who does not think they can read one more Holocaust book, I understand. I resisted this one for years. Now I understand. I wish that I had read this at the same time that I had read In My Hands and others – it would have given me a healthier helping of hope. Most of this book is not about the concentration camps. Most of this story is about real people and their real lives before, during, and after the war. This is a classic. A healing and hopeful classic. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-book-reviews/the-hiding-place

Paul’s autobiography would have made for exciting reading, and he could easily have satisfied the current demand that every book be part of a series. He had three separate shipwreck stories. Those usually make for good reading. Then there were imprisonments, beatings, and a stoning incident. How does one survive and recover from 39 lashes? Paul did it five times!

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10 ESV). What’s all this for? In Christ we are being built together into a dwelling place for God (Eph. 2:22 ESV). Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers are given to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12 ESV). When each part of the body is working to full capacity, it grows so that it builds itself up in love (Eph. 4:16 ESV). Our speech should be only what is good for building up (Eph. 4:29 ESV). There is a lot of work going on here.

Tanya's References: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk The Well Educated Heart’s Mother’s Library Art Book A Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith Riverbend Press Kinderleben artist print set Well Educated Heart Photos Yuna's Book - Eloise Wilkin Stories Little Golden Books Sarah's References: The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park Kathleen by Christopher Morley I am David (a.k.a. North to Freedom) by Anne Holm Frankenstein by Mary Shelly Diane's References: Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers by Elizabeth Cobbs Grace Banker and her Hello Girls Answer the Call by Claudia Friddell Had She But Known by Charlotte MacLeod Improbable Fiction by Jan Cohn The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry by Mary Robert Rinehart Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen Words on Fire by Jennifer A. Nielsen The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum Sara Masarik's References: The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan Microbe Hunters by Paul De Kruif Childhood of Famous Americans Biblioguides: James Otis’s Colonial and Pioneer Children of America Hannah of Kentucky (America’s Children) by James Otis Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness (Landmark Books) by John Mason Brown 2023 State of the Podcast Episode Shelf Notes

Plumfield Kids Review - Greta, age 13 I don’t care for math or the history of most mathematicians. When I started this book for the first time, I expected a dry history of a man I didn’t necessarily care for who liked something I didn’t. I was wrong. Before I even finished the first chapter, I was captivated. Instead of being a dry history book, Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick is alive and interesting. It is interactive with countless illustrations. From chapter four, Archimedes and His Lever, to about chapter twelve, The War Machines of Archimedes, there is at least one illustration on almost every page. A lot of them are diagrams explaining what you are reading. Reading about Archimedes was fascinating! I learned to care about Archimedes--not only the man--but what he did for science and math. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-plumfield-kids/archimedes-and-the-door-of-science

Throughout my life, Jesus has been revealing himself to me with as much patience as he exercised with the disciples. I have an idea that the tone of his, “Why did you doubt?” changes as I am supposed to mature. I have to cultivate my mustard-seed-sized faith, knowing how to call out, to reach out, to my only possible help. Jesus will reach out his hand and take hold of me. Truly, he is the Son of God.

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6 ESV). I am writing this during the week of the winter solstice. At this time of year, I can sympathize with the pagans who celebrated the shortest day of the year as the beginning of more hours of sunlight. There have been winters when I referred to a weather app to track every minute of light gained each day until spring. The darkness has not, will not, can not overcome the Light, and in the new beginning we will see his face, and his name will be on our foreheads, “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5).

“The small red mare whinnied for her supper. But Korea was at war. Towns were shattered. Fields were scorched. And the racetrack was abandoned. No one paid attention to the hungry little horse.” – Sergeant Reckless by Patricia McCormick The “scrawny sorrel mare with a white blaze and three matching socks” was abandoned and not much to look at. But when Lt. Pedersen of the U.S. Marines found her, she reminded him of a pony he’d had as a child, and he decided that maybe she could help them carry shells for the powerful new cannon, the “reckless” rifle. Not only was the little mare in sorry shape, but she was a spirited racehorse, not a steady mule who could be trained to do its duty in battle. When they got the little horse to the camp, they realized that she would need extensive training and conditioning if she were going to be helpful in battle. They decided to enlist her in the Marines. Private Reckless had to learn to duck incoming fire, to retreat on command, and to carry heavy loads through battlefields. Her trainer, Sgt. Joseph Latham, worked with the mare, and she quickly became a member of the unit. When the time came for real fighting, Pvt. Reckless proved herself to be incredibly loyal and brave. Despite being hit above the eye and in her left flank with pieces of shrapnel, she made fifty-one trips up to the cannon, going a distance of thirty-five miles up and down steep terrain fully loaded, and carrying nine thousand pounds of ammunition. The impressive little mare helped to change the entire course of the war. This picture book biography of the little mare who is the only animal to hold military rank and be awarded two purple hearts officially is heartwarming and fascinating. The writing is perfect for a book like this, and the illustration is a work of art. Sherry Early of Meriadoc Homeschool Library recommended this one to me when she knew that I was working on a unit of the U.S. Military for our history club at our Plumfield Library. This book is worth tracking down! https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-picture-book-reviews/sergeant-reckless

"Jesus says of himself that he is gentle. Some translations use the word meek. We don’t have a good English word that expresses the meaning of the Greek word used here. We think of a gentle person as someone who is careful with babies and kittens. A meek person takes whatever other people dish out without retaliating. Throughout his ministry, Jesus had compassion on the poor and ignorant, the sick and broken who came to him in crowds so large and pressing he often couldn’t find time to eat. But we don’t dare fail to note that, while he demonstrated his love for them, he also made it plain that he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword. He said their choices were black or white, not gray. Whoever wasn’t with him was against him, and whoever tried to save his life would lose it."

Picture Book Preschool by Sherry Early Biblioguides Biblioguides Online Community The Card Catalog The League of Lending Librarians Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies Semicolon Sherry’s book review blog The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis Gary D. Schmidt “Beloved Author” page Plumfield Living Books Library Tour Living Books Lady – Michelle Howard Biblioguides online community

Beverly Cleary is pretty much a household name. Just about everyone knows about Ramona, either from the books, the movie, or other pop culture references. Growing up, I didn’t know much about Cleary. For some reason, Cleary was conflated with Judy Blume in my mind, and the Judy Blume I read, I hated. It wasn’t until I was a mother that I really met (and fell in love with) Ramona. I know. I know. I know. Living Books purists often cannot reconcile Ramona with the idea of “living books.” After all, she is nothing like Hilda van Stockum’s characters. Or Edith Nesbit’s. Or Carolyn Haywood’s. Or Arthur Ransome’s. And, some think that Ramona is such a brat. How could her stories possibly be good food for young readers to feast on? But, I do wonder… Is she really that different from Nesbit’s characters? Are the family scenes in Ramona that different from Van Stockum’s? Living Books lists so often recommend Pippi Longstocking, Mary Poppins, and Peter Pan. I do not like any of those. I think Peter Pan is bizarre, Mary is mean, and Pippi is eccentric to a fault. Maybe it is just a difference of opinion. I am no gatekeeper for what is good, true, or beautiful in children’s literature. But I have read widely and carefully. And, I do think that Cleary offers something very living for our little people. In this article, I wish to explain why I find her stories worthy of shelf space in my library. Cleary writes children as they are. Warts and all. But, as Diane so often says about Gary D. Schmidt, she does not leave them there. The whole point of the Ramona books is that Ramona (and everyone around her) is growing up. When the series opens, Ramona is just four years old. As she says in Ramona and Her Father (several years later) – she doesn’t try to annoy everyone. Just Beezus. According to Ramona, sometimes it is fun to annoy Beezus. But, generally, she isn’t trying to annoy everyone else. She is just trying to grow up, and as she says, no matter how old she gets, she can never catch up to Beezus or Henry or anyone else bigger than she is. Ramona has a very good heart, and she is trying to figure out who she is and who she is becoming. She makes a lot of mistakes, but she does learn from them. I think that any child will find some of Ramona’s experiences relatable and endearing. I especially think that second and later-born siblings will find her to be an ally in the never-ending struggle of playing catchup to older siblings – especially when those older siblings are “going through a trying time,” as Beezus says in Ramona and Her Father. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that Ramona is the “hero” of the story. I think Cleary is not unlike Hilda van Stockum. I think the family is the hero of the story. The first book in the series is titled Beezus and Ramona because it is named for the sister pair. Later on, in Ramona and Her Father and Ramona and Her Mother, we see true-to-life stories wherein Cleary loves and celebrates every member of the family. She draws all of them realistically and shows how each interacts with the other. The ordinary family life is what is heroic. Whether it is enduring Ramona’s antics, looking past Beezus’s “trying times,” watching Ramona’s father struggle valiantly to recover from a layoff and quit smoking, or celebrating Ramona’s mother as she tries to be all of the things the family needs, the series celebrates ordinary family doing ordinary things in loving ways. And, Ramona and Beezus do grow and grow up. While I might prefer the sweetness of Carolyn Haywood’s sweet Betsy stories, or laugh more at van Stockum’s Pegeen, I do appreciate Ramona, and am so glad to have her on my shelves. I completely respect that her stories are not the best fit for some readers. One of my own children did not need Ramona’s antics to encourage their own naughtiness. But, I am grateful for Cleary’s love of children and the stories she tells. https://plumfieldmoms.com/plumfield-moms-reflections/in-defense-of-beverly-cleary

What terrifies you? Sickness, an empty bank account, darkness, loneliness, death? Admit it to yourself. Confess your fears to God. Trust him to hold you in the palm of his hand. “Say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:2).

Mooses with Bazookas book by S. D. Smith Green Ember book by S. D. Smith The Last Archer by S. D. Smith Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key book by S. D. Smith Conversation with S. D. Smith and Josiah Smith: Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key Peter Kreeft Before I Go by Peter Kreeft Story Warren Watership Down: The Graphic Novel Little Pilgrim's Progress Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Conversation with Gary D. Schmidt Favorite Author Pages Make sure to leave great reviews of Sam's books on Amazon! Help others fall in love with these stories: Mooses with Bazookas, Jack Zulu, The Green Ember

Tanya's References Hold to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld To Say Nothing of the Dog Podcast Book Club To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander Letter for the King by Tonke Draght The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander Dream of Jade: The Emperor's Cat by Lloyd Alexander The Covenant Books Persimmon Jim: The Possum by Joseph Warton Lippincott Rascal by Sterling North The Incredible Journey by Shelia Burnford Moses with Bazookas by S. D. Smith Sarah Kim’s References Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing Leonard S. Marcus Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Loved to Draw by Deborah Kogan Ray The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rolling) Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom Diane’s References Kathleen by Christopher Morley The Big Mistake by Mary Roberts Rinehart The Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart "Twenty Rules for Writing Detective Stories" by S.S. Van Dine Ben Hur by Lew Wallace L. M. Montgomery’s Christmas Stories from Smidgin Press Yuna's References Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Libby Walden Sara Masarik’s References The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric Kelly The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Blackout by Connie Willis The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis A Lot Like Christmas: Stories by Connie Willis - ADULTS ONLY England’s Cross of Gold: Keynes, Churchill, and the Governance of Economic Beliefs by James Ashley Morrison Meet Hilda van Stockum’s Son: John Tepper Marlin Landmark Book: The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler by William Shirer Biblioguides Online Community

“We needn’t worry about Norway. With youngsters like this, we’ll come through.” During WWII, no one expected the Nazis to reside in the Norwegian village of Valcos. It was small, and its only industry was fishing. Yet they did. Maybe it was because Valcos–being on a deep fjord–had a large fishing fleet, or perhaps it was because they hoped to enlist the influential aid of Captain Engeland, who lived there. The captain was away when the Nazis came, but that did not stop them from taking up residence in his home. The captain’s son, Martin, was at school in a nearby village, leaving the captain’s wife, Fru Engeland, and daughter, Petra home to deal with the unwanted guests. With the help of other Norwegians, young and old, they did spy work and foiled the Nazis’ plans while deftly convincing their guests that they were very dull people. This story is fictional, but it feels as if it were true. Living in the U.S., Alta Halverson Seymour published this book in 1944. Because of that, there is no resolution on how the war ends for the Engeland family. By the end of the book, the war is still raging. We know that the family is reunited and as safe as they can be doing the dangerous work that needs to be done. The fact that there is no resolution does not, in my opinion, lessen the book in any way. As a matter of fact, I think that it makes it more incredible. Like Hilda Van Stokum in The Winged Watchman, and Wyatt Blassingame in Combat Nurses of World War II, in On the Edge of the Fjord, Alta Halverson Seymour shows us a different side of the Second World War. This is not the only book by Seymour that I have read. One of the first was The Tangled Skein. It is also about Norway and WWII but in a different way. It is about what happens after the war when a family is suspected of being Quislings, people who helped the Nazis during WWII. One of the things I enjoy about Seymour’s books is that they are really about the whole family. On the Edge of the Fjord does have a “Main Character,” Petra. But really, it is just as much about some of the other members of the Engeland family as it is about her. For example, a large part of the book is told from the perspective of Petra’s older brother Martin. On the Edge of the Fjord is a story of courage and fortitude, patience and so many other essential qualities. This book is fast-paced–without a slow part, unlike so many other books–and very funny. You watch the Nazis fall for so many of Petra and Fru Engeland’s deceptions. Like Petra intentionally flipping a fishing boat and acting like she can’t swim, even though she is an expert swimmer–having won the previous year’s swimming competition in Valcos. This book was out of print, but many publishing companies, including Purple House Press and Bethlehem Books, have brought it back. Each printing is lovely and totally different. I have found that WWII books tend to be some of my favorites. On the Edge of the Fjord by Alta Halverson Seymour is no exception. If you enjoy books about this time, I am sure you will find this book as incredible as I do. Though, frankly, I think that anyone would appreciate it.

It won’t work for me to say to myself that I’m not going to act like this anymore. I have to look my anger and frustration in the face and admit what causes them. I covet what I don’t have; perfection in this life, everything going smoothly all the time. My selfish, unrealistic expectations have to become something else. I believe they have to become gratitude and praise.

Shelf Notes – Card Catalog Newsletter Leepike Ridge by N. D. Wilson Words on Fire by Jennifer Nielsen How to cover library books – The Card Catalog John Muir Laws: Nature Stewardship through Science, Education, and Art Biblioguides online community

A few years ago, Audible asked me to be part of a test program for a children’s project they are working on. I was asked to preview and evaluate a new series of children’s stories that were episodic and designed in the style of radio-theatre. As I listened, I was absolutely disgusted. Drawing on the premise of a fairy tale, their program included a short story that sounded an awful lot like Jack and the Beanstalk, except that the main characters were three sisters. In this “new fairy tale,” the sisters escape a giant, save a king, and do all of the things that modernity has taught us girls should do. This program was trying to convince their young listeners that young girls are smarter than kings, craftier than giants, and rescuers of fellow women who are stuck in abusive relationships with ogres. There wasn’t a worthy boy or man in the story. Oh, and, the kids are always smarter and better than all of the adults, of course. In Dandelion Fire, we have the antidote to this poison. In the first book of the Cupboards trilogy, Henry doesn’t know who he belongs to or where he fits. In this middle book, we spend far more time inside the worlds within the cupboards. We meet Henry’s family, we discover new evil, and we spend a lot of time laughing at bureaucratic faeries.

Do you have what you need to fend off an attack from the enemy? The Lord equips those who ask him.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis Blackout by Connie Willis All Clear by Connie Willis The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Fire Watch by Connie Willis Passage by Connie Willis The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. Jerome Alice and Wonderland by Lewis Carrol The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Arsenic and Old Lace movie Bringing Up Baby movie The Good Companions movie Re-Make by Connie Willis Les Miserables by Victor Hugo The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (The Butler did it.) Bellweather by Connie Willis

In our June 2023 episode of Our Reading Life, Tanya mentioned that she was reading Jennifer A. Nielsen’s Lines of Courage and loving it. I tried to find it, but it wasn’t easy to do for less than twenty dollars. It is a new enough book that it is only available in hardcover, and the paperback isn’t due to come out until February, 2024. I thought I would just wait on this one until I could get it for our library. But then a patron read it and wanted to talk about it. Motivated, I got the Audible version and enjoyed it so much that I ordered an expensive copy. Interestingly, Tanya and I loved the book, but some of our friends were less impressed with it. My patron enjoyed it, until the end. She felt like the end was just too unbelievable. I think that this one might make a good podcast book club because I thought the ending was interesting and plausible. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/lines-of-courage/

Join us as we chat with new author, Jon Tilton. Please Return to the Lands of Luxury by Jon Tilton (Sara's review) Please Return to the Lands of Luxury by Jon Tilton (Elsa's review) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling Interview with Gary D. Schmidt jontilton.com Discount Code at JonTilton.com: Plumfield Purchase at Amazon

The Abbott family are “summer people” at Ocean Park on the Washington Island Peninsula. Wealthy and accustomed to summering at the seashore, they employ a “girl” and generally keep themselves separate from the local population on the Peninsula. At home in Portland, Oregon, they have horses and carriages, important friends, fine silk dresses, a pet pony, and all the comforts a wealthy dry goods business can provide. Mama was raised in a wealthy family, and her only training in life was to become the wife of a wealthy businessman. When the floods of 1894 bankrupt Papa’s business, the Abbotts are unprepared for their new way of life. In Sarah and Me and the Lady From the Sea, Patricia Beatty has written a lovely story about a family learning how to take care of themselves and each other. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/sarah-and-me-and-the-lady-by-the-sea/