I go to the library quite often, and even at 6 months old, Jack has already been more times than I can keep track of. He always seems fascinated by the huge downtown library we go to, with it’s rows upon rows of escalators, 4 stories, reading patrons, and millions (it seems!) of books at every corner.
Usually I have around 10 books checked out at all times, and read them whenever I get a chance. Sometimes I find some real gems amongst the books – sometimes I don’t, and end up taking the book back with only a chapter or two read (this just recently happened when I tried to read the Golden Compass).
Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to start up an online library day where we can discuss the books we’re reading.
Each Friday, I’m going to be listing some of the books I’m reading from the library. If you care to join along, just leave the link to your own blog’s Library Friday post in the comments at the bottom. 
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
Behind the Bedroom Wall - Since we plan on homeschooling Jack, I often pick up books from the juvenile section so I can get a feel for different topic and what is available. Historical fiction is an especially interesting genre, placing young fictional characters in the midst of true history, allowing the reader to identify with the time period better. This book, Behind the Bedrom Wall, is about a 13 year old female follower of Hitler in 1942 Germany. Like many young Germans, she was a member of Hitler’s youth party, adored the Fuhrer, and believed the abolishment of their enemies (the Jews, and anyone who was un-German) was the best possible route for her beloved Fatherland (Germany). Her convictions were tested, however, when she discovered her own parents were part of the underground that hid the Enemy – and two of them were behind her own bedroom wall. Should she turn in her own parents? Afterall, they were now traitors and un-German to the Fatherland! This book did a good job of helping one understand how the youth of Hitler’s Germany was brainwashed. It also brought up strong emotions in me, and made my stomach churn to read history through a Hitler-centric point of view. In light of the upcoming US election, it also made me think hard about how easy it is for people to fall for the promises of one man during depressive times! If you like The Diary of Anne Frank, then you should read this book. Use your discretion when reading it to children under 12, as the subjects dealt with may not be suitable for young emotions!
A Sister’s Secret (Sisters of Holmes County, Book 1)
- After seeing a blogger recommend this book the other day, I picked it up at the library, unsure if I’d like it but willing to give it a try. The book is the first in the “Sisters of Holmes County” series. Set in Amish territory, it follows the lives of 3 sisters, Grace, Ruth, and Martha, with this book focusing on Grace and a terrible secret she has hid from her Amish family and community for over 4 years – a secret that is strong enough to destroy her world and new marriage. I had never read a book with Amish characters in it, so it was a pretty neat experience. It was also a good wholesome, Christian book – and I really appreciated not having to worry about running into things I’d rather not focus on in a good story. It was really cool the way the author infused Amish culture in the storyline and even had the characters speak German-Dutch in a way that when the paragraph was finished, you understood what they said and therefore picked up parts of the foreign language yourself! Although it’s not what I’d consider an “amazing” book, it was a pretty good all around read and I will be going back to pick up more books in this series.
My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States
– I don’t often pick up poetry books, but I couldn’t resist this 79 page children’s picture book. With artistic, flowing, colorful abstract illustrations and poetry divided up into US sections (Northeast, Capital, Southeast, Great Lake, Plains, Mountain, Southwest, and Pacific states), it provides a fun way of glimpsing into each area of the country through short poems. Jack-Evan appeared captivated by the photos (he loves bright illustrations) and I my tounge had fun running itself over the poetic words used to describe purple mountains, snow-filled skies, the Mighty Mississippi, and (of course!) southern pine trees. Even though Jack’s too young to grasp the meaning of the poems, it does his developing brain good to hear the English language used in ways that we don’t use in daily life. At the beginning of each section, a map of that section’s states is shown along with a box of facts and information for each state. For instance, in the box about South Carolina (our home state), it points out “Houses called hearts of pine built during colonial times still stand today. During the state’s early days tiber was so plentiful that sapwood was discarded and only the hearts of pine trees were used. The wood is said to last indefinately.”
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So that’s what’s in my Library bag this week. What’s in yours?
