Johnny Tremain - I’m not sure how I missed this uber-popular book growing up, but the fact is, I did.  After hearing it mentioned so many times in homeschool circles and curriculums, I thought I’d see what the fuss was about.  Part of Sonlight’s 2,3, and 4 core books, it is recommended be for kids 8 years of age and older.  The subject matter though, in my opinion, may not be suitable for kids that young unless they are very mature.  This book is a historical fiction set in the 1770’s, in the midst of the Revolutionary war.  Fourteen year old Johnny is apprenticed to a Silversmith after his mother dies, leaving him an orphan.  After a smithing job leaves him unable to work with his hand, he becomes part of the Whig underground movement, the Boston Tea Party, and eventually a soldier when the war breaks out.  If you like historical fiction (fictional characters placed in true historical events), this is actually a really good book.  It is not written from a Christian perspective and the characters take many liberties (cheating, lying, disobedience) that you would need to discuss with your children (or perhaps censor altogether if that’s your style).  It’s a rather long book and is a tad tedious at first, but it’s well worth it.  There are many, many plotlines in the story and it’s very action packed so it is a great book - for boys especially.  From an adult perspective, I also enjoyed how much history this book brought back to memory.  It even taught me some things I don’t remember learning in school, along with reminding me why the Boston Tea Party happened, who the main historical (true) characters were (Revere, Adams) during this time period, the circumstances surrounding “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”, and even who the Whig’s and Tories were.  I will definitely be reading this to Jack-Evan when he gets older and begins studying American History.

The Christmas Bride - This is the 2nd Christian romance book I’ve read by Grace Livingston Hill, an author from the early 1900’s. Her books are not what I would call astounding must-reads, but they do have a quaint pleasantness about them that makes them fun to read. This particular book is a romance set in the 1930’s depression era, when men were “manly” and the women were domestic, issues were black and white, and traditional Christian values still prevailed in the hearts of many. Greg Sterling, the hero of the book, returns to his east coast childhood town after making his fortune from finding oil out west. Shortly after his arrival, he discovers a young lady who has passed out in the park and rushes her to the hospital where he discovers she had almost starved to death. Wanting to do more good to this unfortunate girl - and realizing his heart has become attatched - he finds himself in a terrible state when she disappears.  He wants nothing more than to find her and ensure she is safe from the evils of the world!  The whole book is pretty predictable and very sweet, but it makes for a really good old fashioned, light-hearted romance. Since it was written in the 1930’s and set in the depression era, I also like being taken “back in time” to what domestic life was like back then - curtains, homes, streets, cars, food, and other such quaint goodies are described in the words of that generation.

So what about you?  What’s in YOUR library bag this week? 
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Tagged: book reviews, Boston Tea Party, Christian Perspective, Christmas Bride, Core Books, Curriculums, Fictional Characters, Grace Livingston Hill, Historical Events, Historical Fiction, Johnny Tremain, Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere, Plotlines, Revolutionary War, Ride Of Paul Revere, Silversmith, Sonlight, True Characters, Underground Movement, Whig

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