Book Review Roundup #12
November 22, 2024
The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming/The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin.
Bletchley Park and the code breakers who lived and worked there during World War II are hot topics these days. Maybe it’s because the whole episode is less “mined” because of all the secrecy that surrounded the work there. Maybe it’s just a fleeting trend. At any rate, there do seem to be a lot of books about Bletchley floating around, but not so many for the younger set. Until now.
These two books, one fiction and one nonfiction, were recently published (2024) and are appropriate for young people about 13 years of age and up. I recommend both books for those teens who are interested in World War II and Bletchley Park and codes and codebreaking.
Little Old Bear by Hilda van Stockum
“Once upon a time there was a little old Teddy bear. He was so old that he had lost his fur and his eyes and he was not the handsome little bear he had once been...The children he had played with had grown up and gone away, and so he lay in a dusty corner of the attic and made friends with the mice.”
The lady of the house decides, one day, to clean the attic. She throws the old bear in the trash. This certainly looks like the end for him. Even as trash, he isn’t any good. A bird asks him for some fur to line its nest, but he doesn’t have that much fur left. A tired kitten wants to use him for a pillow, but the old bear is hard and lumpy. He has nothing for the dog to eat.
In our interview with Hilda van Stockum’s son, John Tepper Marlin, we asked him if he had favorites among his mother’s books. He said Little Old Bear was his favorite picture book.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker introduces a quirky, imaginative nine-year-old who faces frequent misunderstandings due to her unconventional approach to life. Her good intentions and unique outlook make her endlessly endearing. Initially, my daughter didn’t enjoy reading it alone, but we both found it heartwarming and charming when we listened to the audiobook together. Set in a modern context, Clementine explores relatable themes and offers a refreshing portrayal of neurodiversity. Fans of Cleary’s Ramona will appreciate Clementine’s lovable quirks and big heart.
Girl With a Pen: Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Kyle
Girl With a Pen is a book not to be missed by Bronte fans. Making the story of Charlotte’s life into a fictional narrative while keeping the broad outlines and many of the details was a good choice on the part of a good author herself, Elisabeth Kyle. Ms. Kyle writes vividly and fluidly of Charlotte’s young adulthood and her rise to fame, telling the story of Charlotte Bronte’s growth as a person and as an author with understanding and an affinity for Charlotte and her sisters.
The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd by A.B.C. Whipple
Captain William Kidd was a pirate. Everyone knows that, don’t they?
A.B.C. Whipple’s book, The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd, is written from a different perspective. From the beginning, Whipple draws a map of conspiracy, greed, government corruption, and bad luck.
The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd was part of the Landmark Book series that was published between 1950 and 1970. For more information about Landmark Books, see biblioguides.com.
This particular book in the Landmark series has been scarce, therefore, expensive for many years. It has now been beautifully reprinted by Purple House Press. It is available in paperback and hardcover, both reasonably priced so everyone can enjoy it again.
The Scarlet Stockings Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble
The Scarlet Stockings Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble tells the story of Maddy Rose, a young seamstress in 1777 Philadelphia whose father has died fighting in the American Revolution, while her brother is still at war. Maddy quietly serves the Patriot cause by hanging laundry in coded patterns, including her red stockings, to relay information about British ships in the harbor. This historical picture book beautifully highlights the bravery of civilians during the revolution, making history accessible and engaging for young readers.
I Took a Walk by Henry Cole
This picture book book encourages children to sit quietly in nature and observe all the many plants and creatures that can be found. It would pair well with one of the books listed in Picture Book Preschool, Play With Me by Marie Hall Ets, in which a young girl entices the pond and woodland creatures to come to her by sitting still and making them unafraid. In I Took a Walk, the “I” of the title doesn’t try to tame or approach the creatures he sees, but he does manage to spy out many plants and animals in their habitats and name them for the reader to find in the pictures.
Ox, House, Stick: The History of our Alphabet by Don Robb
I have plenty of books in my library on the history of the English language, most of which include bits of history about the alphabet. But, when I wanted to use a different approach with my spelling students, I decided to take them as far back as possible into the story of our alphabet. I was hoping to find a book or two that had already done the work of encapsulating this history at an early-grade level, so I wouldn’t have to. When I searched our library system, this title sounded like exactly what I was looking for.
For me, one of the best recommendations for a teaching resource is that it relates substantial information without too much depth for the intended audience, but that enough interesting facts are introduced to suggest additional areas of research. Ox, House, Stick does an excellent job of that.
A Bear In War by Stephanie Innes & Harry Endrulat
A Bear in War by Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat tells the true story of a young girl, Aileen, who sends her beloved teddy bear to her father, a medic on the WWI frontlines. Narrated by the bear, the story recounts his journey from Aileen’s care in Quebec to accompanying her father as he courageously serves his fellow soldiers. Tragically, Aileen’s father is killed in action, and the bear, along with his medals, is returned to her family. This moving book introduces children to themes of war, sacrifice, and family in a sensitive, heartfelt way.
The Long Way Around by Anne Nesbet
A middle grade survival story. The Long Way Around takes place in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California and features three cousins–Owen, Vivian, and Amy–who become separated from their parents by an earthquake-caused rockfall. There’s only one way to get back to civilization—the long way around on an “unmaintained” trail that’s barely visible on the map. As the children hike through many miles of wilderness they encounter earthquake aftershocks, dangerous animals, thunderstorms, and roadblocks that challenge their courage, persistence, and survival skills. Each cousin brings with him or her both strengths and weaknesses that give them reasons and the ability to help one another survive.
Amos & Boris by William Steig
I enjoyed William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble years ago, but not so much that I set out to find everything Steig had written. More recently, I read Dr. De Soto and didn’t love it. I also remember feeling that the cover of The Amazing Bone is a bit creepy; flashbacks to childhood nightmares of wolves in the woods. So I never read it. That was the extent of my knowledge of Steig till this week when I bought Amos and Boris for my grandson’s birthday. It was on my daughter’s wishlist for her children’s library.
When the book arrived, I was glancing through it, skimming the text when my eye caught the description of Amos, a mouse, using “his most savage strength” to launch the boat he had built by hand. I started reading word for word. Steig’s use of language draws more vivid pictures, for me, than his illustrations, as captivating as they are in their simplicity.
Charis in the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans
Charis in the World of Wonders by Mary Youmans is a surprising and captivating novel that opens with a strong hook, drawing the reader in and never letting go. The story follows Charis, a coming-of-age Puritan girl living with her family in a New England outpost. Charis’s world is upended when she awakens to the sound of gunfire and war. Her mother sends her into the woods to hide as their family makes a desperate attempt to defend their homestead. By morning, Charis is left to presume her entire family is dead.
Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelan
Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelan is a fantastic book in the Tales of Young Americans series. This series features over twenty richly illustrated and beautifully told stories that are a window into seminal moments of American history. Some stories are based on true stories while others are a blend of historical fiction and fact. All are well-told and inspiring.
Friend on the Freedom River is set on the icy Detroit River in the 1850s. Young Louis is trying to be the man of the house since his father left to go north to work in the winter logging camps. Louis's father had a habit of carrying slaves across the river to freedom in Canada. His mother had begged him to stop. “The new Fugitive Slave Law means jail for anyone helping slaves escape.” But, Louis’s father could not stand to see souls sent back to slavery.