All of a Kind Family: Good clean fun and a window into the past

Title: All of a Kind Family
Author: Sydney Taylor, Helen John
Age Range: 7-12
Genre: Historical Fiction

I worry a lot about what my children consider to be entertainment.  In a world where there is TV, amusement parks, ipods, iphones, cable, video games and cartoons, there is never any lack of entertainment.  But I worry that this overly commercialized society will eventually stifle any creative juices in their bones and stunt their imaginations.

I spend a lot of time talking to my children about how the world is changing, and how they have so many things that I didn't have as a child.  I also really like them to read about times and places where people didn't have as much, and instead relied on their wits, their imagination, and their spunk to get them through the day.  I like them to imagine worlds where the things that they consider to be normal didn't exist and still people were very happy and enjoyed and loved their life.

I loved this book as a child.  I remember picking it up at my local library, and reading the first page and deciding to get it.  It was a heavy hardback book, but I loved reading books about lots of siblings, especially sisters since I didn't have any sisters.  There were several in the series and I know I read all of them.

The story takes place in New York, post WWII and portrays a wonderful Jewish family and the escapades of their life. There are five girls ranging in age from four years to twelve year old.  It is more a series of vignettes and isn't really one cohesive novel with a beginning, a middle and an end.  Rather it captures individual moments in the family's life and how they deal with those situations are really funny.  One such story is the one where the girls have to dust (they have chores!) and they complain about how much they hate dusting.  Their mother decides to make a game of it and hides buttons, and as the girls dust, they are supposed to try and find the buttons.  It's a cute game and one I think I may have my kids try when I want them to mop the floor or something.  It has such a sense of good clean fun and the adventures and misadventures of the girls are wonderful to read about.

This would be a great read aloud book with your child, if he or she can't read well enough yet.

Crispin The Cross of Lead: Making history come alive!

Title: Crispin The Cross of Lead
Author: Avi
Age Range: 9-12
Genre: Historical Fiction

I will confess immediately, that in high school, history was one of my least favorite subjects.  I forced myself to study, but the dates, the REASONS why things happened the way they did, the cause and effects all were not my cup of tea.   I preferred thinking about other things, namely reading books.  In retrospect, I wish I had read more historical fiction while growing up as I think it would have changed how I perceived history.  The smaller stories of how history affected individuals lives is much more interesting to me, and somehow makes history that much more palatable.

I know I am not alone in this, as I talk to many of my students and many say that they do not enjoy history.  For them, this book may be a bit hard, as it is strongly detailed in historical facts, even though the story itself is fiction. In the book takes place in the 1300's, and in it,  Asta's Son, whom we later find out is Crispin, is forced to run away from the small feudal village of which he is a part.  He is framed as a criminal, and the head steward of that village is out to get him.  It is not clear why the steward needs to kill him, but it becomes clear that he is absolutely committed to getting rid of Crispin.

Crispin is forced to run away, in dirty clothes, with no money, no food, and no ability to read or write.  He runs and somehow meets a huge hulk of a man, Bear, who takes him under his wing.  Bear is a wonderful protector of Crispin, although Crispin initially does not trust Bear, nor does he want to be at all a part of Bear's life.  In the end, Crispin risks everything to save Bear, as Bear has done his utmost to save Crispin from the steward.

It is a thrilling book with lots of rich historical details.  However, there is quite a bit of violence in the book, images of men decaying in the gallows, heads cut off, and bloody wounds.  Some of the ideas may also be a bit complex - an orphan child with no parents, whom we discover is actually born out of wedlock to a noble lady who was basically taken (as in raped) without her consent.  The words rape, sex are not used in the book, but are in the background as things that will come up, because it is revealed that Crispin is actually the illegitimate bastard son of the Lord Furnival, a debauched, less-than-lovely character.

It is a wonderfully complex book to read, with rich historical details and may perhaps inspire someone to become slightly more interested in history. 

The Secret School: Historical fiction that is so charming

Title: The Secret School

Author: Avi

Age Range: 8-12

Genre: Historical Fiction

I might be a pushover about this book because it is about schools, teaching, and the desire for education.  I am, after all a former teacher.  It probably does resonate with me on that level which may color why I am so keen on this book.  But it is really charming, funny to read and heart-warming.  

The story follows a 14-year girl named Ida, who is the daughter of sheep farmers in rural Colorado.  Going to school is a luxury, and going to high school is far-off dream, but one that Ida intends to pursue.  Her parents, although they want to support her, remind her that the farm must come first, as it is the farm that supports the family and puts food in their mouths.  Ida understands that she must commit to the farm, but at the same time wants to pursue education and go to high school.   She attends school in a tiny one-room school house, and is preparing for her high school entrance exams when she learns devastating news.  Her teacher has to leave to take care of her mother and the head of the school board has decided not to hire a new teacher.

Ida is extremely affected by the news, as it means that she will not be able to take her high school entrance exam.  Also affected is her friend Tom who is also planning on taking the exam.  He suggests to her that she become the teacher, teaching the class so that the school can stay open, but without telling the Board of Education that she is doing it.  Ida discusses this idea with her parents and upon hearing the plan, gently remind Ida that the farm must come first, school or no school.  Ida decides to take on the challenge and she begins the challenge of teaching the different classes, studying for her own high school entrance exam and keeping on top of her chores on the farm.

The funniest part of the book to me was how Ida gets to school each day.  As it is a five mile trip, walking would be arduous.  Fortunately she has a car (no license but it doesn't seem to make a difference) but she is unable to reach the clutch and the accelerator.  She has her brother stoop by the foot pedals and she barks out orders so that he can help her change gears.  It is hysterical and made me laugh.  (Maybe because I don't drive stick either?)

It's a wonderful book to read, for both boys and girls alike.