Plumfield Moms

"It’s easy to get used to being busy and feeling rushed to get through prayer and devotion time. Perhaps you need a day to change your routine. Set aside your checklist, be quiet, and listen to what the Spirit has to say to you today. Ask God to show you where you need to hear his instructions more clearly. And then, listen."

From that moment forward I became obsessed with adding every living book possible to my collection to share with the children of my community. Sometimes fear and doubt would crowd my thoughts as boxes of books towered around me, but I persevered and books kept coming to me from every possible direction. Shortly after this fire was ignited, I was presented with what I call my confirmation. I heard of a book sale in Knoxville, Tennessee, of thousands of discarded books. Two homeschool moms came upon a large truck full of books thrown out by the Knoxville public school system. The men were about to put the books in the dumpster when the moms jumped out and said, “Please! You can’t do this! We will buy these books.” They rented a U-Haul, took those books to their basements, priced them from .25 to.75 each and hosted a sale. Oh, what treasures I found! My collection more than doubled with that sale as I hauled three packed van loads home. I still have many books bearing the colorful round price stickers as a reminder of God’s provision that day. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/robin-pack-of-childrens-legacy-library-in-tennessee/

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt The Big Jump by Benjamin Elkin Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt Zack Taylor: Young Rough and Ready by Katharine E. Wilkie Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt The Labors of Hercules by Gary D. Schmidt The Sin Eater by Gary D. Schmidt Mara’s Stories by Gary D. Schmidt In Memory's Kitchen: A Legacy from the Women of Terezin When I Grow Up: The Lost Autobiographies of Six Yiddish Teenagers Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt Biblioguides Online Comunity

I have a sweet young patron who is an independent reader but who just isn’t interested in many traditional chapter books yet. Her mother and I have been trying a variety of books to see if one will capture her imagination and help her find her inner bookworm. We have tried a wide variety of subjects, authors, and styles. We have found that she does enjoy Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books, but for reasons that are particular to the family, these books are not a great fit for their home. So, I went looking for similar alternatives. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/b-is-for-betsy/

We sheep won’t learn the Shepherd’s voice by having someone describe the sound to us. Perhaps our parents introduced us to the Shepherd. Perhaps it was a friend. Praise the Lord! But they still can’t explain to us the sound of his voice calling our names.

Over the years, I went to many book sales and gathered more and more books for our own children and began sharing them with other families in our church on a casual basis. The collection grew to over 6,000 books, all housed in a 1,200 square foot house, no basement, and five children. There were bookcases in every room. One day, my husband came home from work and said, “Go look at my car.” “Why, what happened?” I asked, thinking he had had an accident. When I went to look, the car, a little Ford Festiva, was full to the top with books some person had sent home for me. Another time, an elementary school closed near us. The library was to be boxed up and taken to the dump by Two Men and a Truck. Can you imagine? The driver told the other man in the truck, “I don’t feel right about this,” so he drove instead to the local public library and asked the librarian if she wanted the books. “Yes!” she said. She began going through the books, keeping what she wanted, and putting the rest on carts near the front desk, and priced them three for a dollar. I bought hundreds! Over the years, I have seen God provide many times in unusual ways. We had committed to quality reading for our family and to share the books with others, and He provided. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/librarian-notices-halls-living-library-from-state-to-state-over-five-decades/

Sarah Kim’s References: A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus Nothing Else but Miracles by Kate Albus To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde The False Prince by Jenifer A. Nielsen The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner I Black Out by Connie Willis All Clear by Connie Willis Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Fire Watch by Connie Willis Sara Masarik’s References: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin The Mouse Adventures by Torben Kuhlmann Dinotopia by James Gurney Lindbergh by Torben Kuhlmann Armstrong by Torben Kuhlmann Edison by Torben Kuhlmann Moletown by Torben Kuhlmann Einstein by Torben Kuhlmann Torben Kuhlmann Website With Videos Tanya’s References: Tales from Grimms by Wanda Ga'g Biblioguides Tales from Grimms Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Wanda Ga'g I Am David (North to Freedom) by Anne Holm Diane’s References: Switch Board Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini George Patton General in Spurs or General George Patton: Old Blood and Guts by Alden Hatch America's First World War: General Pershing and the Yanks by Henry Castor The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert Rowan Farm by Margot Benary-Isbert 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff Gary D. Schmidt First Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Horatio Hornblower by C. S. Forester

"This is a touching, but well-balanced story of Velma’s crusade for the wild horses." Velma becomes known as Wild Horse Annie.

“Early on a white January morning, Samuel’s mother said, ‘I do wish we had a brown-eyed cow to give us milk for the baby.’” So Papa sets out to get Mama a cow, and Samuel goes with him. “‘Keep up,’ said Samuel’s father. He looked up at the gray clouds. ‘It’s a long road on a short day.’” Papa takes his best Barlow knife with him, but he doesn’t explain to Samuel how he plans to get a cow. He shows him. At the first farm they come to, Papa trades his knife to Mr. Snow for two tin lanterns. It’s a good trade for the knife, but as Samuel plays with Mr. Snow’s dog, he wishes, “just a little bit, it wasn’t a brown-eyed cow his mother was wanting.”

The Choregos - The Supplier of all our needs. Peter speaks of the strength God supplies to enable each person to use his gifts (1 Pet. 4:11). In his second epistle, he says that an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided (2 Pet. 1:11).

Back in Berkeley the next year, I was now a single mom and had to work. My son’s childcare provider was devoted to books, and I loaned her many of mine. I continued to buy—now from garage sales, and sometimes used book stores (both readily available in a town of readers). When this woman started a preschool, and later an elementary school, they continued to use my books, and I continued to buy. My books were stored in a neighbor’s garage, which was dark and spidery, so I was the only one who went in. In 1985, I had been remarried for several years. An uncle died, leaving me a small bequest. I knew just what I wanted to do—create my dream library, with the feel of the basement in Detroit. I had my garage and basement refinished and built-in shelves added. I cleaned all the books and arranged them by topic on the shelves. I included a toy room, with lots of things for kids to play with. The toy theme now changes, with a rotation of seven months. In 1986, the library opened. At first, there were just a few neighborhood kids, but then a mom who had started a play-date group discovered me and soon after, a Jewish home-school group. Soon I had the library open in two-hour time slots four times a week, and it was always busy. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/librarian-notices-kathie-johnsons-library-journey/

Lou Alice is a kind soul who loves to cultivate beauty wherever she goes. But, Lou Alice is getting older, and it is hard for her to live on her own anymore. A “little girl,” who watches Lou Alice as she goes about her work is the only one who notices when Lou Alice moves out of her home and stops tending to the gardens she planted everywhere around town. The “little girl” notices the loss of Lou Alice and decides to do something about it. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/a-little-more-beautiful/

Best in Children’s Literature Books The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Lets-Read-and-Find-Out Science Books: Ducks Don’t Get Wet by Augusta Goldin Five-in-a-Row Card Catalog - Library Cards Biblioguides Online Community Groups.io Private Lending Library Directory The League of Lending Librarians Facebook group Our LibraryThing/TinyCat Accounts Diane - dianependergraft Kristi Stansfield - tarpfarmer Sherry Early - sherryearly Sara - plumfieldLL

This 2015 middle-grade novel by Jennifer A. Nielsen tells the story of a family divided by the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. It is the second historical fiction novel by Nielsen that I have read, and I am glad to have this one in my lending library. It moves at a different pace than that of Words on Fire and is less exciting, but it offers readers young and old a compelling tale of life inside the wall. Nielsen does an excellent job of helping us to understand why so few tried to escape East Germany – because of the danger, because of retribution to the loved ones who stayed behind, and because of uncertainty that the West was really any better. But the realities of life inside the wall are chilling. Read the full review here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/a-night-divided/

Our special page for Michelle Howard at The Card Catalog with all of the things! TruthQuest History Biblioguides online Community

One day, though, as you probably already guessed, when my little house couldn’t hold another book, the phone rang. A friend with a very large home was going on a one-year trip. Would I want to move into their place, and use their front rooms for a library? Somehow, I was just crazy enough to say yes, because it was a good situation all the way around. Twelve days later, my tiny house was up for sale, and we were already moved into their home. I opened the “library” right away, even though it was mostly stacks of books leaning against the walls and in boxes, because the 24 families who quickly paid to be members couldn’t wait to dig in! We all laughed at the adventure! Sorting through 5,000 or 6,000 as-yet-unlabelled books was quite a scavenger hunt! Right away, though, many came for work-bees, as I began inputting the books into a database, to create labels and perform detailed searches. Together, we stickered the books, laminated the paperbacks, and put mylar covers on the dust jackets. We added to each book a card pocket and labeled the bookcards themselves. We could now “check out” the gems. It was a blast! (Later, I would use barcodes, not bookcards and pockets, but barcodes didn’t exist when we first opened.) https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/librarian-notices-michelle-howards-library-journey/ Show notes: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-michelle-howard-new-patron-orientation-meeting/

Landmark Alexander the Great by John Gunther Biblioguides online Community Michelle Howard Page at The Card Catalog

"In nearly every review Sara and I have written for Gary D. Schmidt’s books, we have used the word hard to describe the situations his characters encounter. Orbiting Jupiter takes hard to a new level. *** I am going to SPOIL this story because parents will want to know the themes dealt with in this book before handing it to a child of the age of Schmidt’s typical audience. ***

Schmidt seemingly effortlessly switches in and out of the voices of his characters without missing a beat. Whether he is writing the thoughts and language of a twelve-year-old boy in the American 1960s, or the complaints of a German Jew running from the Nazis, or the self-assured confidence of a Black American girl of the early 1900s, each character sounds authentic and beautifully right. Just as importantly, Schmidt never loses his ability to convey complex and powerful ideas through the vernacular of his protagonists. Knowing that full well, I was surprised nonetheless by his incredible voice change in the hauntingly beautiful picture book biography of Sojourner Truth, So Tall Within. This gripping story reads like epic poetry told through the voice of a Black American slave. He demands that we see her strength and her courage through her commanding voice and the undulating rhythm with which the story is told. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/so-tall-within/

I was worried about this one. I was worried that this book would break my heart with grief. I was worried that Schmidt might finally disappoint me and somehow tell this story badly. I was worried that this would fall flat. For some reason, I wanted to love Mara’s Stories. Something in me wanted this book to be powerful and touching and inspiring and good. And, it is. Schmidt did bruise my heart, but he did not disappoint me, and it did not fall flat. This small book has 121 pages of stories that were told in and about the concentration camps. Stories that capture the heart and imagination of the listener. Stories that show a kind of resistance to darkness, a fierce clinging to all that makes us human, and a celebration of life. Gary D. Schmidt did extensive research on primary sources from folklorists, Jewish religious scholars, and Holocaust survivors. Some of the stories are happy and some are sad. Some are historical or biblical and some are about the moment right then. But each captures the essence of the people in that time and that place. And each reminds us of how to live – even when we are in the darkest night of our soul. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/marasstories/

Henry’s father always said, “If you build your house far away from trouble, trouble will never find you.” Probably nearly every review of this book will open with that line. Trademark Gary D. Schmidt, Trouble has a tagline that is repeated again and again throughout the book and that quote is the tagline for this book. But, of all of Schmidt’s books that I have read, that one is the best. It fits the story perfectly, and it is an interesting line to ponder. What does it mean to build your house far from trouble? Is it good to have no trouble? Can you really hide from trouble? Read the full review here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/trouble/

I also sponsor, through the library, a few activities such as a CM-based Book Discussion group that I’ve been facilitating in our community for more than a decade, as well as a new fun thing, Conversazione Teatimes, which are basically times to come together for an hour and talk about whatever each person in attendance is currently reading, learning, or pursuing in the realm of arts or literature. It is a delightful time with friends, and I’m finding it seems to reach some that otherwise wouldn’t necessarily visit my library, for example—women that never had the opportunity to have children, retired homeschool moms, and some young adults that have moved beyond high school graduation, but have remained local. Feedback has been excellent! One of my goals in hosting this is for us all to practice the lost art of conversation and, at the same time, be encouraged to pursue good and beautiful things. Currently I host this event approximately once every 6 weeks in the hour prior to my evening open hours. You do not have to be a library member to attend these events. I continue to gain books by my own purchase and also by kind donations from friends. I have a lot of support and encouragement, but not a lot of physical help, so I simply have to move at my own pace and be content with that. I have days when I feel discouraged and want to give up. But then I remember how important this mission of Book Rescuing is in this throw-away, tech-crazy world; we are helping to preserve a part of history and that is important and meaningful. I also think how sweet it is to share with others these Book Treasures. I am so blessed to help others find what they need for their lessons, as well as to inspire them to learn by, and to develop a love for, books and reading. I enjoy the challenge of finding books to fit certain needs or requests. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/stacie-beans-humble-library/

I got in touch with Liz and Emily Cottrill (now Emily Kiser) and asked how to get started. They got me connected to the Yahoo group for private lending libraries (now at groups.io), where I became acquainted with Kristi Stansfield, who got me started going to the Booksaver warehouse sales in Hagerstown. I attended the local homeschool conference in 2014 as a vendor: “Hello! I’m going to have this library in the fall. . . It’s going to be great. . . No, you can’t see it yet.” We set up bookcases at one end of our walk-in basement, the end with the door. Over the years the library space worked its way around until it took up two thirds of the basement. My husband built nice brick steps to get people safely down and around the house, but on snowy days I had people come in the kitchen door and down the basement stairs so they wouldn’t slip and die. Our one bathroom was on the main floor, so anyone who needed it got to traverse the entire house. I had a baby monitor set up for when my kids were napping, but it wasn’t reliable, so I would occasionally come to a growing realization that someone was screaming upstairs. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-genesis-of-covenant-family-library-elizabeth-jones-librarian/

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt First Boy by Gary D. Schmidt A Long Road on a Short Day by Gary D. Schmidt Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen N. D. Wilson 100 Cupboards Trilogy by N. D. Wilson

I saw “Saving Private Ryan” as a teen. Once you have seen that film, you will never forget what the beaches of Normandy looked like. And if you are like me, you may try to avoid reading a lot more about the invasion because of how tragic it was. Bruce Bliven’s The Story of D-Day: June 6, 1944 helped me. There is nothing that can make this story less tragic, but there is much that can help us celebrate the heroes who made sure that the losses were not in vain. Very much like reading Wyatt Blassingame’s Combat Nurses of WWII or his Medical Corps Heroes of WWII, this book made me cry tears of pride for the men who stormed those beaches. The first half of the book sets the stage and focuses on the insane bravery of the First Wave (as it should). The last half of the book highlights individual heroes who refused to admit defeat even when everyone around him was stalled, pinned down, and about ready to give up. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-story-of-d-day-june-6-1944/

In The Sinking of the Bismarck, he used his journalistic talents to study the declassified reports, comb through personal accounts, and harvest the best information from the time. Instead of telling the story of an interested observer as he did in Hitler, he re-creates the story with the enthusiasm of a patriot who is proud and excited about an epic victory at sea. And, while he clearly is on the side of the Allies, he does have some sympathy and understanding for the men in German boats who were simply doing their duty. In this way, we get an exciting page-turner that leaves the reader inspired and in awe. Nothing went right. Until, through a combination of sheer determination and uncanny good luck, the Allies were able to sink the most important ship in the German navy. Failure to win this battle would probably have cost us the war. And one devastating error after another almost guaranteed the victory to the Germans. Only God knows how this came out right in the end. But, by His grace, it did. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-sinking-of-the-bismarck/

History often remembers Alexander the Great as being in the same category as Julius Caesar, Attila the Hun, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler. A handful of men who through incredible genius, unparalleled thirst for power, and sheer determination were able to achieve unprecedented world domination. None of these men are remembered as paragons of virtue nor even decent role models, but all of them deserve our attention and some level of respect. Each changed the world in which they lived. Each of these leaders was a complicated man. This most fascinating story leaps off the page like an exciting novel. John Gunther’s writing is refined and like that of a master storyteller. He tells us just enough of Alexander’s life to make us impressed and curious. And, he tells it in such a way that we are eager to know more. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/alexander-the-great/

In the August, 2023 episode of Our Reading Life, Tanya Arnold and I discussed why we are so impressed with Jennifer A. Nielsen’s historical fiction. Many of her stories are set in war settings that are mostly unfamiliar to the average reader. The stories feature teens who are coming of age in hellish circumstances that are more unbelievable than the best fiction. The teens behave in ways that are consistent with their age and culture. But these same teens are also being refined in the fires of terror, grief, and suffering. Some of her books are stronger than others. This one, Resistance, is the hardest and yet the best that I have read so far. Read the whole review here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/resistance/

I always had the idea of an official lending library in the back of my mind, and I would trot that idea out when people asked me why I bought so many books. Sometimes people would ask me if I was a teacher or a librarian, and I would say “yes” to the first and “Librarian Wannabe” to the other. I also have known from the beginning that having people in our home to visit the library would not be an option, so finding and maintaining an online catalog was a #1 priority. Readerware and LibraryThing have been a huge blessing.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith The Bomb by Theodore Taylor "The Dearth Of Historical Fiction Is A Disservice To Curious Kids Everywhere" The Federalist A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night by Song Nan Zhang Sophie Choir by Jonathan Auxier Peter Nimble by Jonathan Auxier The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt The Wednesday Wars Book Club The Way of the Story Teller by Ruth Sawyer Mara’s Stories by Gary D. Schmidt Anson’s Way by Gary D. Schmidt Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt First Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Biblioguides Online Community Our Library Life The Walking Drum by Louis L’Amour Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley by Ann Rinaldi A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi Combat Nurses of World War II by Wyatt Blassingame The Ransom/Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis The Happy Hollisters Cherry Ames by Helen Wells The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom Macbeth by William Shakespeare The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini 100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson Dandelion Fire by N. D. Wilson Interview with N. D. Wilson Almost Time by Gary D. Schmidt A Long Road on a Short Day by Gary D. Schmidt So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth's Long Walk to Freedom by Gary D. Schmidt Mooses with Bazookas by S. D. Smith (pre-order coming soon) Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt Frankenstein by Mary Shelley The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

In the prologue, Halversen says, “This book is special to me because it tells about the people of Berlin who valued freedom over food.” He adds, “Children felt this way too. ‘I can live on thin rations but not without hope,’ one ten-year-old boy told me”

Self-interest is restrained within due bounds when love supervenes; for then it rejects evil things altogether, prefers better things to those merely good, and cares for the good only on account of the better. ~St. Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God

In this episode of Plumfield in Person, Diane and Sara introduce a new series about how books get made with a conversation about how some of the oldest books were first made. All of the books we talk about can be found at our website in the Medieval Manuscripts book list. Books and Links: Magic in the Margins The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane Marguerite Makes a Book Across a Dark and Wild Sea Brother Hugo and the Bear The Sailor Who Captured the Sea Bibles and Bestiaries: A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts Pilot disposable fountain pens Paper Making screen Join the conversation: Plumfield and Paideia Facebook Page Plumfield Moms Podcast Page

Down the Big River by Stephen Meader is a fast-moving, exciting, and wholesome historical fiction novel that blessed our Morning Basket for several weeks this winter. In our Forgotten Books: Historical Fiction podcast episode at Plumfield Moms, this book was Sandy Hall’s selection (you can read her detailed review, here). In that episode, both she and Tanya Arnold of Biblioguides gave us a lot of great information about Meader and his reasons for writing these kinds of books. He is a gift to our young people! His stories are set from shore to shore across our country, celebrating America and her growth. And, while we have not read them all, we feel confident in recommending any of his books. You can find that episode here. Full review can be found here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/down-the-big-river/ Historical Fiction episode can be found here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-american-landmark-books/

This achingly beautiful book is our favorite of all five. It is a war story. It is an adventure. It is one act of love after another. It is a hero’s tale. But, wonderfully, there are many heroes. This book is like the Battle for Helm’s Deep. If you know and love these books, and if you know and love The Lord of the Rings, that is really all that you need to know. It is Helm’s Deep. Fantastically. https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/urchin-and-the-raven-war/

LibraryThing TinyCat Our Reading Life Series Meet Library Lady: Kathleen Seeger Meet Library Ladies: Sherry Early, Sandy Hall, and Mary Schubert Meet Library Ladies: Kristi Stansfield and Jeannette Tulis Private Lending Library Directory Purple House Press Ask the Librarian: LibraryThing – Collections vs Tags Biblioguides Private Lending Libraries List Shelf Notes

In Lloyd Alexander’s first children’s novel, The Time Cat, Gareth can move in and out of nine different times, but once he has done that, he cannot ever go back. And so, according to Gareth, a cat most choose wisely when he will leap from life to life. This charming and imaginative story brings history to life. Gareth uses his first life to bring Jason to ancient Egypt and the city of Bubastes where cats are worshipped as gods. While there, they encounter some trouble, Jason learns a little something, and then they move along to the next life. As they move in and out of lives, Jason and Gareth meet all kinds of famous historical figures like St. Patrick while he was still a slave, Leonardo da Vinci as a boy, etc. And in each life, Jason learns something about himself or the world. Full Review: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-time-cat/

Welcome to Elsa, age 11 to our Plumfield Kids team! If there is one thing I’ve always loved, it’s a book with a soul. And this book has one. I love the stern contrast between the Lands of Luxury, a beautiful oasis, and Yarborough, the island of garbage. The fact that the Island is governed by tyrannical robots was also a fun addition to the storyline as far as villains go! And you seriously can’t forget Jane! Her determination to return a long lost doll to its rightful owner, rather than keeping the beautiful treasure for herself proves that she is a good, honest, strong character. You can see her review of this sweet book by new author, Jon Tilton here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/please-return-to-the-lands-of-luxury-pk/ You can see Sara's full review here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/please-return-to-the-lands-of-luxury/

"Learning to live by faith is a process, a lifelong education. Take time to reflect on the courses God has assigned you so far. Remember that he doesn’t mean for you to work through them alone. Ask him for help, and seek support from Christians who have already completed similar assignments."

Many have asked if there could be a podcast specifically for private lending librarians. Something designed to encourage current librarians while also helping prospective librarians discern whether, if, when, and how they may be called to this special work. Beginning on September 20th, long-time librarians Sherry Early and Kristi Stansfield will sit down with new librarians Diane Pendergraft and Sara Masarik each month to talk about what is happening in their libraries that month. While the monthly discussions will be like Our Reading Life (with Tanya Arnold and Sarah Kim) and will probably be around an hour long, we are also recording short discussions about specific technical questions which will support the Ask The Librarian section of The Card Catalog. This first discussion is about the different uses of "Collections" vs. "Tags" in LibraryThing and TinyCat. On this page, you can find those discussions as well as many other librarian discussions that have been recorded at Plumfield Moms in collaboration with The Card Catalog. And, don't forget the sign up for Shelf Notes, a monthly newsletter for private lending librarians! You can find all of that here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-card-catalog/ #ourlibrarianlife #askthelibrarian #TheCardCatalog

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt Okay for Now Book Club The Wednesday Wars Book Club The Biblioguides Online Community Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi Downright Dencey by Caroline Dale Snedeker The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear Our Reading Life Around the World with Darwin by Millicent Selsam The Voyage of the Beagle by Millicent Selsam Stars, Mosquitoes, and Crocodiles by Millicent Selsam

Kentucky’s Pack Horse Library Project was part of Franklin Roosevelt’s Work Projects Administration (WPA) begun during the Great Depression to help put people to work. The Pack Horse Library Project started in 1935 in two Kentucky counties and lasted until 1943 (having spread to thirty counties), when World War II brought the U.S. economy back to life. Companion Picture Books: Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle That Book Woman by Heather Henson

https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-red-keep/ In my lending library, Plumfield Living Books Library, I have a young patron who loves the Middle Ages. I reached for The Red Keep to preview before I put it in her “holds” box. I spent two days with my head in this exciting 370-page story of adventure and honor, and I am delighted to be able to recommend it to families. I loved it, and I am sure that my pre-teen and teens will love it as well. As I was reading, I kept saying to my John Flanagan Rangers Apprentice-loving readers: this is the story that Horace deserves!

Tanya's References: Sun Slower Sun Faster by Meriol Trevor A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain The School that Escaped the Nazis by Deborah Cadbury Landmark Books Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen Rescue by Jennifer A. Nielsen Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons: The Story of Phillis Wheatley by Ann Rinaldi Sarah's References: In the Tunnel by Julie Lee Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee Medical Corps Heroes by Wyatt Blassingame A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert de Jong The Bomb by Theodore Taylor The Cay by Theodore Taylor Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt When My Name Keoko by Linda Sue Park Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt Diane's References The Sin Eater by Gary D. Schmidt Anson’s Way by Gary D. Schmidt The Hedge School by Gloria Whelen The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Aged 37 3/4 by Adrian Plass The Horizontal Epistles of Andromeda Veal by Adrian Plass Bed Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton The Borrowers by Mary Norton One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith Sara's References The Borrowed House by Hilda van Stockum Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi The Witchcraft of Salem Village by Shirly Jackson Straw into Gold by Gary D. Schmidt To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Fire Watch by Connie Willis Words on Fire by Jenifer A. Nielsen

What a gift it is to have Sherry Early as a friend! Sherry has been my librarian “phone-a-friend” more and more of late. As I worked with my patron, I asked Sherry for a list of books suitable for a teen girl with strong morals. She has a particular interest in historical fiction and specifically Westward Expansion. She likes The Virginian, The Girl of the Limberlost, and Bargain Bride. She loves a great number of the classics. And, of late, she has been reading and re-reading Jennifer A. Nielsen because of her carefully researched and exciting wartime fiction. Sherry and I both appreciate Nielsen as well and so Sherry knew what we were after. Because I know that you will ask, here is a link to the list that Sherry compiled for me.Please remember that she made this list based on her standards for her library and in consideration of my needs. Please note that wherever either of us has reviewed the book, we have linked to that review and encourage you to read those reviews to determine the appropriateness of the recommendation for your needs. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/hattie-big-sky/

This book is utterly compelling. In the Author’s Note at the end of the book, Rinaldi explains that her research into the Puritan era revealed that “people went right from childhood into adulthood, with no benefit of an awkward age in between. An orphaned child was allowed to choose his or her own guardians at the age of fourteen; the laws applied to all persons of the age of sixteen, which was also the age at which boys were liable to serve in the military. On the other hand, the average age for marriage was twenty-two for women and twenty-seven for men… They had no amusements or entertainment. Music, dancing, and even the traditional holiday of Christmas were forbidden. Toys were nonexistent. Anyone caught with a doll or “poppet” was suspected of practicing forbidden arts. Meeting on Sunday lasted several hours. Reading consisted of studying the Bible.” https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/a-break-with-charity/

I have to say, this is part of why I love Gary D. Schmidt. Because never have I wondered why Rumpelstiltskin wanted the boy prince. Never have I wondered why he was so insistent. Those questions simply would not occur to me. But I sure am glad they worked their way into Schmidt’s imagination, because this is a fairytale re-imagining that I found to be exciting, unpredictable, elegant, and thoughtful. Leave it to Schmidt to turn a fairy tale into 172 pages of a princeling’s coming-of-age story. And to do it in a way that was devoid of tired tropes and modern prejudices. This felt like a fairy tale unto itself, and I delighted in it. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/straw-into-gold/

Just Like That is hard. Not Okay For Now hard, but hard. It is also lovely. And tearful. And sweet. Typical Gary D. Schmidt, it has several key literary influences that are obvious, but it also reminds me of things that are not mentioned in the text. Diane and I both thought that this one had strong roots in Oliver Twist and maybe a little bit of David Copperfield. I also felt like it reminded me of the Anne of Green Gables books and the Kevin Sullivan mini-series – “Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel,” specifically the Kingsport Ladies College scenes. While this one can absolutely be read as a standalone, it makes sense to have at least read The Wednesday Wars so that you know who Meryl Lee is. As I always try to do in my reviews, I will tell you enough about the story to catch its flavor, but I will try to avoid any real spoilers. That said, in the next paragraph, I need to talk about The Wednesday Wars. Something happens in the first paragraph of this book that is essential to your understanding of the rest of this story. If you do not wish to have any spoilers of any kind, know that this book opens with something shocking, and then Schmidt spends the rest of the book dealing with grief. I still think that Okay for Now is Schmidt’s most powerful work, but this one was very compelling and brilliant. Schmidt’s wife died in 2013, and while this book was published in 2021, I felt as though he let his characters carry his grief with him. Just Like That is tender and beautiful. Read More: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/just-like-that/

"Of Schmidt’s three companion books, The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, and Just Like That, I think Okay for Now is the richest. The characters are full and believable and Doug’s growth over the school year is substantial. Doug finds himself surrounded by caring adults who see the best in him and mentor him through hard times." Don't miss our book club on this compelling book: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-okay-for-now-book-club/

The title characters of this story are Lizzie Bright, a black American girl who lives with her grandfather on Malaga island, and Turner Buckminster, the son of a New England minister. Their friendship causes scandal and an awakening throughout the town. But, it ends in so much tragedy. This story is not hard, until it is. And once it is, it never gets much better. And it is all the worse because it is true. But, it is told well and is an excellent story to have in our hearts. Full Review: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/lizzie-bright-and-the-buckminister-boy/