Half Magic

Title:  Half Magic
Author:  Edward Eager
Illustrator:  N. M. Bodecker
Approximate reading level:  5th grade
Main characters: Siblings Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha

Summary:  The four children are out on a summer day, looking for adventure, when Jane finds (what she thinks is) a nickel on the sidewalk.  When she later makes a wish, it comes true--but only halfway.  After thinking long and hard all afternoon and evening, she comes to the conclusion that it was not a nickel, but a magic charm.  Unfortunately by this time, her mother has borrowed the nickel from her dresser for bus fare.  But thankfully, something strange happens while her mother is visiting family and she does not spend the nickel.  What follows is a series of adventures as the children take turns wishing and try to double wish so they will get what they actually want when it only half comes true.

Review:  I think this book is well-written.  Magic is involved, but no harmful magic. The adventures are interesting and do not turn out perfectly--even magic can't fix everything, even when the children try to wish double so that half of the wish will be what they actually want.  They use the magic to help others as well as themselves.
****Four stars

The Indian in the Cupboard

Title:  The Indian in the Cupboard
Author:  Lynne Reid Banks
Approximate reading level:  Sixth grade
Main character:  Omri, a young boy in England

Summary:  The book starts with Omri's birthday.  He receives several presents, including a plastic Indian from his friend Patrick and a cabinet from his brother Gillon.  Although the cabinet locks, there was no key left with the cabinet.  But Omri's mother has a collection of keys, and he finds one that fits.  Somewhere in the key, or the cabinet, or the combination of the two Omri discovers a magic that will change his life drastically.

Review:  The book takes place in England, so there may be a few words that may be difficult for American children to understand (Some examples include biscuit for cookie and lorry for car.  This fantasy does include magic, although it is never purposefully used for harm.  Omri is a young boy faced with a difficult decision and a sudden weight of responsibility, and he fares well.  The book is well-written, although again, there may be some difficulty with a few words due to language differences.

5 stars

Caddie Woodlawn

Title: Caddie Woodlawn
Author: Carol Ryrie Brink
Approximate Reading Level: 5th grade
Main characters:
--Caddie Woodlawn, 11-year-old pioneer
--Caddie's brothers and sisters:  Clara and Tom (older); Warren and Hetty (younger)
--Caddie's parents

Summary:
When the Woodlawn family left Boston to travel west, they know the trip will be difficult, but the don't realize just how difficult.  Caddie and Mary are young and weak, and Mary doesn't survive the trip.  So, Mr. Woodlawn makes an agreement with Mrs. Woodlawn--she can have any other girls if only he can experiment with Caddie.  Instead of keeping Caddie inside learning to cook, clean, sew, and all the other things "proper" girls learned in the late 1800's, he wants to allow Caddie to run with her brothers to get fresh air and exercise to help her grow strong and healthy.  The book follows one year of Caddie's adventures as a tomboy with brothers Tom and Warren.  And there are plenty of adventures (and trouble) for three young children to get into.  Towards the end of the book, Caddie begins to wonder if perhaps being a young lady won't be so bad.

Review:
This book was written by Caddie's grandaughter, who based the book on her grandmother's stories, but added a few adventures to help further the plot.  There are a few words and spellings that show the time period the story took place that may make it difficult ("to-night" and "dast," for example), but most readers should be able to determine meaning from context.  I enjoy historical fiction, and this book is one of my favorites since I discovered it in my Children's Literature class.  The book is not overtly Christian and teaching salvation as some other books I have reviewed, but still has good morals.
**** 4 stars

The Incredible Rescues: The Young Refugees Book three

Title:  The Incredible Rescues
Author:  Ed Dunlop
Target Age:  9-12
Approximate Reading Level:  5th grade
Main Characters:
    Hans
    Gretchen
    Miklos--a Hungarian Jew who befriends Hans and Gretchen

Summary:
Hans and Gretchen are now in Budapest, Hungary.  The story opens with Hans and Gretchen hiding in a trainyard watching Nazis loading Jews onto death trains heading for Auschwitz.  They later meet Miklos, who is working for Raoul Wallenberg.  Mr. Wallenberg left neutral Sweden to help Jews in Hungary escape, even though he himself is not Jewish.  With their father's permission, Hans and Gretchen take Miklos' place after he is injured and help Mr. Wallenberg mainly by carrying food and messages and by taking pictures.  However, at times, they are even facing Nazis and Arrow Cross members (young Hungarians who assist Nazi soldiers) to help Jewish people escape transportation to certain death.  Although they are always in danger, one attempt at help puts Gretchen in even more danger than usual--on a train bound for Auschwitz.

Review:
I have enjoyed this series multiple times, and am sure I will again.  This may be partly because I am interested in historical fiction regarding the Holecaust, but it is also because they are well-written.  Again, any phrases in foreign languages are explained at the back of the book.  This book also includes an Epilogue which explains that some of the characters and events actually happened.  Hans explains the plan of salvation to Miklos, but at another point struggles with trusting God due to what has happened to Gretchen.  I believe the book shows a good example of the Christian walk--it's not always easy, but God provides the strength as it's needed.
4 stars

The Young Refugees book two

Title: The Search for the Silver Eagle

Author:  Ed Dunlop

Target Age:  9-12

Approximate Reading Level:  5th grade

Main Characters: 

Hans: 12-year-old boy, named after his father

Gretchen: Hans' 9-year-old sister

Hans Kaltenbrunner (later Gustav Von Edler)

Summary:  Hans, Gretchen, and their Papa have escaped the Nazis in Austria, but they have been found out and must run again.  Although Allied agents find them safety with new identities in Vichy France (a portion of southern France unoccupied by Germany), they are not there long before German soldiers take over Vichy France as well.  They decide it will be safer to stay than to try to cross the border filled with German soldiers, and a new adventure begins.  While watching an air battle with a local boy, Hans watches an American plane get shot down.  Hans and Philipe decide to find the American plane.  While searching, they stumble across the pilot, and determine to help him and keep him safe from the Germans.  A few adults are brought into the secret, and the American asks for help.  The story follows the search by the town members who are against the Germans as well as the danger everyone is put in by Collette, Philippe's sister and a staunch supporter of the Germans because of her anger against the French over her father's death.

Review:  Another book that I have enjoyed re-reading.  There is a focus on the importance of witnessing whenever possible, since you don't know how long you may have the opportunity with someone.  French vocabulary is used in addition to German in this second book of the trilogy, and again they are in italics with a glossary in the back.  There is a quick blurb in the front of the book with a few historical facts about Vichy France that are relevant to the storyline.
****4 stars

Escape to Liechtenstien: The Young Refugees Book 1

I apologize that it's been 1 1/2 months since my last post.  My job and the holidays conspired against me.  Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am no longer working, so I hope to be able to post more often.
Today's book is the first in a three-part series entitled "The Young Refugees."  I will discuss books 2 and 3 in posts soon.

Title: Escape to Liechtenstein

Author: Ed Dunlop

Target Audience: ages 9-12

Reading level: approximately fifth grade

148 pages, plus a short glossary of German terms used

Main characters:

Gretchen, a nine-year-old Austrian girl

Hans, a twelve-year-old Austrian boy

Jacob, a thirteen-year-old Jewish fugitive 

Summary: The story is set during World War II, summer and fall of 1942.  Austria has been taken over by Germany, and the small village where Gretchen and Hans live has been attacked, leaving the children alone after their mother's death and their father being taken into the German army.  When soldiers storm the village, searching house by house for a young boy, the children have no idea that the fugitive is hiding in their barn.  The soldiers leave, not finding their prey, and Hans and Gretchen discover Jacob.  They agree to let Jacob hide in their barn overnight and share their small supply of food with him, learning that he is the one that the German soldiers are searching for, and he is heading for Liechtenstein, a neutral country that borders Austria.  They agree to accompany Jacob, although he protests at first.  The three children face a long, dangerous journey, with little help and many enemies.  Why does it seem like the entire German army is looking for Jacob?  And with dangers everywhere they turn, can they possibly make it to safety?

Review: Several German terms are used, but a glossary is included in the back for definitions.  The basic idea of the word can often be determined from context ("a steaming bowl of gulyassuppe . . . and a single slice of ankerbrot" -- possibly soup or stew, since it's hot, but it's morning, so it could be something like oatmeal, and a slice of bread, maybe? look in the glossary and find that gulyassuppe is a Hungarian soup and ankerbrot is an Austian bread), and all of the German words are in italics for easy identification.  The book clearly shows God's protection and providence as the children go through many trials heading for the Liechtenstein border.  There is some violence in the form of guns, land mines, and fists, but it is contextual (it is a war, after all) and it is not too graphic.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this book each time I have read it.

***** Five stars

Josie's Gift

Merry Christmas!

Title:  Josie's Gift
Author:  Kathleen Bostrom
Illustrator: Frank Ordaz
Reading level:  approximately 6th grade
35 pages

Summary:  The first Christmas after Josie's father died is also the first Christmas of America's Great Depression.  Despite Papa's yearly reminder that "Christmas is not about what we want.  It's about what we have," Josie badly wants a blue sweater she sees in the dress shop in town.  Although money is extremely tight, Mama is somehow able to buy the sweater.  When Josie, missing her father sneaks downstairs in the middle of the night Christmas Eve, she finds the sweater under the tree, then decides to seek comfort in the barn with the animals.  In the barn, she finds a couple with their baby, who came in the barn to get warm while traveling east.  They refuse Josie's offer to come into the house, but the baby's cries remind Josie of the newborn sheep she has helped with on the farm, and she insists on giving her new sweater to the baby, telling them of her father's saying about Christmas.  Josie returns to the house and becomes the newest participant in her father's wooden nativity scene, worshipping Jesus.

Review:  I love Christmas and Christmas stories, and this is a good one.  Christmas has become about what gifts we're going to get, rather than the greatest gift possible, which we have already been given.  Josie is reminded of what the season is really about--the baby Jesus--as well as the principle that it is better to give than to receive.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this book each time I have read it.
4 stars

I know it's a few days after Christmas, but that doesn't mean we can't still celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.  I had planned to post this before Christmas, but, hey life happens. :P