School Book Saturday: Adams, Shackleton & Obama (Who was/is....? series)

 Who was Abigail Adams?
by True Kelley, illustrated by John O'Brien. Grosset & Dunlap (Imprint of Penguin Group), 2014. 112 pg. (9780448478906)
Series: Who was/is…?
Dewey: J973.4
Reading level: 4.6
Interest level: 3rd-6th

Publisher Description:
Abigail Adams was a strong woman far ahead of her time. She urged her husband, President John Adams, to "remember the ladies" and despite having no formal education herself, she later advocated for equal education in public schools for both boys and girls. She was also the first First Lady to live in the White House! This biography tells the story of Abigail Adams and her role in America's Revolutionary War period.

My Review:
I enjoyed this brief biography of this truly remarkable woman. It is an excellent introduction to her life and what she did while her husband was away serving the fledgling US government. At one time they didn't see each other for five years!

The sentences were short; easy for young readers. The pen and ink illustrations show the clothing, housing, tools and modes of transportation of the day. There are a few maps and several boxed inserts focusing on specific events or people in her lifetime. The careers of her husband, John Adams (2nd US president) and son, John Quincy Adams (6th US president) are also told about as they relate to her.

At the end is a timeline of her life and the world, a brief bibliography including books for young readers and a list of websites (only one didn't work) for further research.

Great for 3rd to 5th graders looking for a biography of an amazing woman from the American Revolution and the early years of American government.

4 stars

Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($4.49); Buy it from Barnes &Noble ($4.49); Buy it from ChristianBook ($4.49); Buy it from an Indie Bookstore near you
(Paperback prices good as of July 12, 2014; double check for yourself before purchasing)


Who Was Ernest Shackleton? 
by James Buckley Jr., Illustrated by Max Hergenrother. Grosset & Dunlap (Imprint of Penguin Group), 2013. 112 pg. (9780778729563)
Series: Who was/is…?
Dewey: J919.89
Reading level: 4.6
Interest level: 3rd-6th

Publisher Description:
As a boy he preferred reading sea stories to doing homework and, at age 16, became an apprentice seaman. Subsequently, Ernest Shackleton’s incredible journeys to the South Pole in the early 1900s made him one of the most famous explorers of modern times. His courage in the face of dangerous conditions and unforeseeable tragedies reveal the great leader that he was. His historic 1914 journey aboard the Endurance has all the drama of an action movie.

My Review:
I quite enjoyed learning more about this explorer of the freezing cold. This book was more interesting to me than the Abigail Adams book since I knew (in the recesses of my mind) most of her story and Shackleton's story was for the most part a new bit of history to me.

The writing is simple and engaging. Kids will enjoy his adventures living in a boat and on ice for months on end. The illustrations are very well done and really enhance the text.

At the end of the book are two timelines, one of his life and one of world events. There is a bibliography that includes several websites. Nothing listed is specifically geared toward children but students 5th grade and up should find the websites interesting and informative.

4 stars

Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($4.49); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($4.49); Buy it from ChristianBook ($4.49); Buy it from an Indie Bookstore near you
(Paperback prices good as of July 12, 2014; double check for yourself before purchasing)

Who Is Barack Obama? 
by Roberta Edwards, Illustrations by Nancy Harrison and John O'Brien. Grosset & Dunlap (Imprint of Penguin Group), 2009. 112 pg. (9780448453309)
Series: Who was/is…?
Dewey: J973.932
Reading level: 4.9
Interest level: 3rd-6th gr

Publisher Description:
As the world now knows, Barack Obama has made history as [the] first African-American president [of the United States of America]. With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this biography is perfect for primary graders looking for a longer, fuller life story than is found in the author's bestselling beginning reader Barack Obama: United States President.

My Review:
All but the last three chapters are apolitical (for the most part). At that point the story reaches his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, his run for US Senate and then of course his US presidential campaign. Since the book was published in 2009 there is no mention of his presidency, but that is for the best since it takes a while before the big picture can be seen and he's currently the president.

I enjoyed learning more about Obama's childhood and college years. The book doesn't go into very much detail, but it highlights the main events and tells about the many places he grew up. Kids would find this a great source for a biography book report or for a project on the president.

The Civil Rights Movement is mentioned but simplified and misrepresented to the point that it strongly implies no African-Americans had the right to vote until the 1960s. Which of course is false and misleading since African-Americans had been voting for almost 100 years, though they had quite a bit of difficulty in some southern States. Hence the Civil Rights Movement.

As with all the books in this series there is a timeline of the person's life and a timeline of world/US events. There are five books listed in the bibliography - two are for young readers and two are Obama's own books. No websites were listed.

Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($4.49); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($4.49); Buy it from ChristianBook ($2.29); Buy it from an Indie Bookstore near you
(Paperback prices good as of July 12, 2014; double check for yourself before purchasing)

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Blog Tour: Until That Distant Day by Jill Stengl

I'm quite excited to be a part of the launch tour for Until that Distant Day by Jill Stengl! As of Saturday I've started the book and the first few chapters hold a lot of promise. In just a few chapters I already care about Colette De Mer, wish her happiness and joy, admire her for standing up to and for her brothers, and hope she finds her own place in the world.

Back cover description

~ ~ ~

Colette and her brother Pascoe are two sides of the same coin, dependent upon one another in the tumultuous world of the new Republic. Together they labor with other leaders of the sans-culottes to ensure freedom for all the downtrodden men and women of France.

But then the popular uprisings turn bloody and the rhetoric proves false. Suddenly, Colette finds herself at odds with Pascoe and struggling to unite her fractured family against the lure of violence. Charged with protecting an innocent young woman and desperately afraid of losing one of her beloved brothers, Colette doesn’t know where to turn or whom to trust as the bloodshed creeps ever closer to home.

Until that distant day when peace returns to France, can she find the strength to defend her loved ones . . . even from one another?

"Jill Stengl is one of the rare authors with the ability to transport the reader to another world--a delightfully rich world of scent and sight and sound.” – Kim Vogel Sawyer, bestselling author of Echoes of Mercy

“Award-winning author Jill Stengl has created her greatest work yet in the inspiring and moving Until That Distant Day.” Jill Eileen Smith, bestselling author of the Wives of King David series.

~ ~ ~

As a part of this stop on the tour Jill has agreed to tell us:

“How did you go about researching the details of your story and what were some of the surprising things you learned?”

Thank you for joining my blog tour, Rina, and thanks for a great question!

I used several books about the French Revolution, including an amazing compilation of historical sources, The Days of the French Revolution by Christopher Hibbert. The bibliography of this book directed me toward original sources, many of which are available in their entirety on the Internet. I was able to read firsthand interviews and see engravings of buildings which are long gone—including the Palais des Tuileries, which is a central feature of my book.

One rabbit trail I followed while researching where the common people would have been buried at that time led me to the ossuaries in the catacombs underlying Paris. Apparently the overcrowded ancient graveyards inside the city became a public-health hazard by the late eighteenth century. So entire cemeteries were exhumed and the bones dumped into ancient mine tunnels beneath the city. At the time of my story, only one churchyard within city limits was still allowing burials—and, not many years later, even this graveyard was emptied and its contents added to the ossuaries . . . which, by the way, can be toured as part of the Paris museum system. Bizarre, n’est-ce pas?

Now who is this author you might ask? Frequent readers of this blog will recognize the name Stengl. That's right! Jill is Anne Elisabeth's mom! But now for the more formal author bio:

Jill Stengl is the author of numerous romance novels including Inspirational Reader's Choice Award- and Carol Award-winning Faithful Traitor, and the bestselling novella, Fresh Highland Heir. She lives with her husband in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin, where she enjoys her three cats, teaching a high school English Lit. class, playing keyboard for her church family, and sipping coffee on the deck as she brainstorms for her next novel.

She blogs at Books, Cats, and Whimsy. Do stop by and follow her to keep up with all her writing and reading-related activities!

Any good blog tour has a giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now be sure to visit the other stops along this tour and learn even more about this lovely book:

May 5

Tales of Goldstone Wood

Edgy Inspirational Romance

Fullness of Joy

The Inkpen Authoress

Covers and Ink

May 6

Blooming with Books

Quoth the Girl

The Wonderings of One Person

May 7

The Writer’s Window

Jill Eileen Smith

The Writer of Dream Things

May 8

Letters from Annie Douglas Lima

Rina’s Reading

To Find a Castle

May 9

JLMbewe.com

To Be a Person

Writings of Rosie

May 10

Seasons of Humility

Notes by Oywen

The Overweight Bookshelf

May 11

Too Read or Not Too Read

Fictionally

Bluerose’s Heart

May 12

Mel’s Shelves

Labor Not in Vain

Creative Madness Mama

May 13 – Giveaway Winner Announced

Tales of Goldstone Wood

Cover Reveal: Until That Distant Day by Jill Stengl

In lieu of Waiting on Wednesday I'm taking part of the cover reveal for Jill Stengl's newest book.This is her first novel in seven years so it's rather exciting that she is back in the writing business. Last year I discovered that the library I work at in Africa actually had one of her books which was rather exciting. But without further ado:

Paris, France

1792

Colette DeMer and her brother Pascoe are two sides of the same coin, dependent upon one another in the tumultuous world of the new Republic. Together they labor with other leaders of the sans-culottes to ensure freedom for all the downtrodden men and women of France.

But then the popular uprisings turn bloody and the rhetoric proves false. Suddenly, Colette finds herself at odds with Pascoe and struggling to unite her fractured family against the lure of violence. Charged with protecting an innocent young woman and desperately afraid of losing one of her beloved brothers, Colette doesn’t know where to turn or whom to trust as the bloodshed creeps ever closer to home.

Until that distant day when peace returns to France, can she find the strength to defend her loved ones . . . even from one another?

Coming April 25, 2014

From Rooglewood Press

Jill Stengl is the author of numerous romance novels including Inspirational Reader's Choice Award- and Carol Award-winning Faithful Traitor, and the bestselling novella, Fresh Highland Heir. She lives with her husband in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin, where she enjoys her three cats, teaching a high school English Lit. class, playing keyboard for her church family, and sipping coffee on the deck as she brainstorms for her next novel.

To learn more about her newest novel check out the book page for Until that Distant Day.

Jill is offering an enormous bundle prize of ten print novels and novellas, including her award-winning Faithful Traitor, several novella collections, and her three-book Longtree series. These will all be autographed! (US and Canada only, please.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund. Bethany House, 2013. 384p. (9780764210488)

I’d forgotten how much I enjoy Jody Hedlund’s historical fiction. And she writes true historical fiction – it’s based on real events, mentions real people, and yet is a work of her imagination. Going into it I didn’t remember or didn’t know whose story she was somewhat telling. I’m glad of that – it let me just enjoy the story and not wonder what was based on historical happenings and what was made up. But at the end I got to ponder of the story and reflect on the historical couple.

Goodreads Summary:

In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Ben Ross grew up a farmer's son and has nothing to his name but his Harvard education. A poor country lawyer, he doesn't see how he'll be able to fulfill his promise to make his father proud of him. When family friends introduce him to the Smith family, he's drawn to quick-witted Susanna but knows her family expects her to marry well. When Susanna's decision to help an innocent woman no matter the cost crosses with Ben's growing disillusionment with their British rulers, the two find themselves bound together in what quickly becomes a very dangerous fight for justice.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were fun and witty. There was suspense, romance, danger, a wise and unconventional grandmother, plenty of wit, and it shows a side to pre-revolutionary war colonial American politics that I haven’t read a whole lot about.

Braintree is near the bottom ~14 miles south of Boston

The story takes place mainly in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1763. The war at this point is over a decade away but already people were grumbling against the taxes, many were unhappy with having to feed and quarter British soldiers and smugglers honed their sailing skills.

The mystery was well written and I could feel the icy fear of the girls as they ran through the forest. The author did a great job of balancing out the evil with good.

Oh and the romance was really rather scandalous considering the time period; but quite good and it somehow managed to be proper for the most part. Bit of a contradiction I know, but it’s still true. The author has a knack for writing a great kissing scene without it being too much.

If you like historical, clean romance set in pre-revolutionary war America then you should read Rebellious Heart. 

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon; Buy it from ChristianBooks.com; Buy it from Barnes & Noble

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

WoW #25: Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund
Bethany House - September 15, 2013

About
Massachusetts, 1763

A Love That Would Shape History Forever

Because she's a woman, higher learning was always closed to Susanna Smith. But her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. And she's determined to marry well, so she'll be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.

Growing up with little to his name, poor country lawyer Benjamin Ross dreams of impacting the world for the better. When introduced to the Smiths he's taken by Susanna's intelligence and independent spirit, but her parents refuse to see him as a suitor for their daughter.

When the life of a runaway indentured servant is threatened, Susanna is forced to choose between justice and mercy, and Ben becomes her unlikely advisor. But drawing closer to this man of principle and intellect lands her in a dangerous, secret world of rebellion and revolution against everything she once held dear.

Why I want to read it
Jody Hedlund wrote Doctor's Lady, A Noble Groom and Unending Devotion. All books that I've enjoyed. Plus I really like the American Revolutionary era though this predates the war by about a decade.

Where you can find it
Amazon and ChristianBooks and Barnes & Noble

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell

The Messenger by Siri Mitchell. Bethany House, 2012 369p. (9780764207969)

It took me a while to pick this book up, but once I started reading it I didn’t want to put it down. Since my mom reads my blog I won’t tell you how late (ok, ok, early) it was when I finished it. ;-) 

I love history and the American Revolutionary War is one of my favorite periods to read about. I think this is the first novel I’ve read about life in Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-1778 when the British were quartered there while Washington and his men froze at Valley Forge. It’s a good story with lots of interesting dynamics. 

After her twin brother joins the Continental army and is captured, Hannah Sunderland reluctantly becomes The Messenger between the imprisoned soldiers and a Continental spy living in Philadelphia. Hannah and her family are Friends, Quakers. As pacifists they opposed the war and refused to take sides which put Hannah between a rock and a hard place.

To the Sunderland family Robert, Hannah’s twin, is essentially an outcast. When word comes that he is in a prison in the town neither parent tries to go see him and no one enquires after his well being. No one, except Hannah. Even though the British declared a no visitor policy she still hopes to see her brother.

Enter Jeremiah Jones, tavern owner, Continental spy, and veteran of the French and Indian War. He is angry at God, angry at the Quakers (for opposing that war), angry at the British because he was overlooked by the doctors and lost his arm, and he is angry at Lieutenant John Lindley. 

Using his former friendship with John Lindley, now an officer in General Howe’s headquarters, Jeremiah is able to secure a pass for Hannah to visit her brother and other prisoners. In exchange for the pass Hannah agrees to carry messages to and from the jail – messages about an escape planned for the spring. 

Only problem is all the prisoners are starving, sick and too weak to dig the escape tunnel. Not to mention that once they finally do start digging they can’t know for sure if they are headed straight towards their destination. They’ll need all the help that Hannah and Jeremiah, two very unlikely allies, can provide if they are to succeed. 

There are so many interesting dynamics to this story. As a Quaker Hannah struggles with aiding her brother and the other prisoners, in doing so she is going against her parents, her friends, her church and its elders. Jeremiah is bitter and angry but he still shows compassion. Hannah's family moves in with her aunt and uncle who own slaves - something the Quakers are strongly against.

The author's character collage found on her Pinterest board.

I really enjoyed this story and was pleased to find out that it is based loosely on a true event. The author includes several pages of historical notes at the end which clarifies which parts of the story are true and which parts are fiction. 

There are two things in the story that didn’t quite make sense. One was the Sunderland’s rejection of their son and also their daughter. The second was the anger and hatred Jeremiah had for John. The book has Jeremiah calling John his greatest enemy but throughout the story Jeremiah seems to be on friendly terms.

The characters are fun and for the most part well developed, the historical parts are well researched, and the story engaging. All in all a great read. 

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from ChristianBooks; Buy it from B&N 

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

The Red Siren by M.L. Tyndall

The Red Siren by M.L. Tyndall. Barbour, 2008. 318p. Series: Charles Towne Belles, #1 (9781602601567)

I think I saw the last two books in this series mentioned on some other blogs so I decided to get book one to see if I liked it. Well, I should have gotten books two and three at the same time. It’s a very unique story. A woman who is a pirate by night and a lady by day.

Faith Westcott is the second oldest daughter of Rear Admiral Westcott of the British Royal Navy. Yet she is also the elusive captain of the pirate ship Red Siren. Who never sheds any blood and goes after rich cargo.

Why does a lady resort to piracy? Especially when the punishment for pirates is the hangman's noose. Simple, she loves the sea, its freedom and is desperate for the money.

Why is a lady whose father is an admiral so desperate for money? Because money equals independence for a woman and that she is determined to have. She does not want the same fate her older sister endures – a forced marriage to cad. Not for herself and not for her two younger sisters. Not if she can do anything about it.

Enter Dajon Waite (terrible name in my opinion, I can’t believe it’s authentic to the time). Captain Waite is a fairly new, but strong Christian who has sworn off women. Unfortunately he has been appointed guardian over the Westcott sisters while their father is away and he’s quite taken with Faith whose shallow faith has been abandoned. But as a captain in the Royal Navy his job it is to track down pirates, particularly the Red Siren.

Charleston Harbor, SC

The story is set in 1718 Charles Town, Carolina and I really enjoyed learning more about the city in that time. My pre-revolutionary war southern colonies history is a bit rusty. M.L. Tyndall does a great job describing the city, its people, and aspects of life back then.

The story started out a bit slow – I read a bit, put it down, and then picked it up before bedtime thinking I’d read a bit while eating a snack. Not a good idea; it got too exciting and too what’s-going-to-happen-next to put down.

There was a aspect (can’t tell you more) that seemed rather far-fetched but it is a great picture of the love God has for us – he forgives us of all our gross trespasses when we confess and repent.

If you like adventure, a strong female character, pirates, and colonial America then you’ll probably enjoy this tale.

Go read it! DurhamCounty (NC); Greene County (OH); Find it at a library near you; Buy it from CBD ($2.99)

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my church library. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.