Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Goodreads synopsis: Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors -- neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don't understand her at all.

Caddie is brave, and her story is special because it's based on the life and memories of Carol Ryrie Brink's grandmother, the real Caddie Woodlawn. Her spirit and sense of fun have made this book a classic that readers have taken to their hearts for more than seventy years.

My rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: G. There's a scalp belt, and mild fear of a massacre.

(mild spoilers ahead)

Thoughts: It's pretty much what you would expect from a book like this, I think. I'm not sure if I've read any books about pioneer girls who weren't on some level "wild tomboys" and Caddie is top among them. Although I do also appreciate her change of heart near the end, and how her brothers went along with that. Still, it got me wondering about a story about a more "ladylike" character, and why I can't think of any of those.

The chapters feel rather episodic, and not really like they're telling just one continual story. But the individual stories are fun enough, and are all quick and easy to read through.

It's probably about on the same level as Little House on the Prairie, with a little less personal nostalgia. But it's definitely a fun read if you're into the time period and only have a little time, versus the bigger commitment of Little House. Or even as an extra story in the same sort of setting.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Goodreads synopsis: "A dramatic, deeply felt narrative whose characters and message will be long remembered"......Booklist

(Real helpful, Goodreads.)

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: PG. Some fighting and death, all fairly bloodless.

Thoughts: It was a decent book, but I absolutely loved the first description of Jesus. It's really a beautiful thing.

The whole story is really great. Set in any other time period it would be good too, but the Biblical setting really helps to put context to, and personalize the emotions and cultural attitude during the time of Jesus. Having a novel written like this makes it a lot easier to get a feel for what was going on, rather than trying to do what may be more dull studies on it somewhere else.

The historical accuracy feels solid. I'm not an expert though, so I can't say for sure.

And the ending did bug me a little. It seemed a little too quick and easy, and it gave the impression that there would never be a struggle afterward. Which I know is the case for some people, but for a majority it's not. I wish that would have been demonstrated a little more.

But all in all it's by far one of the best books I've read this month.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

Goodreads synopsis: "A road's a kind of holy thing," said Roger the Minstrel to his son, Adam. "That's why it's a good work to keep a road in repair, like giving alms to the poor or tending the sick. It's open to the sun and wind and rain. It brings all kinds of people and all parts of England together. And it's home to a minstrel, even though he may happen to be sleeping in a castle."

And Adam, though only eleven, was to remember his father's words when his beloved dog, Nick, was stolen and Roger had disappeared and he found himself traveling alone along these same great roads, searching the fairs and market towns for his father and his dog.

Here is a story of thirteenth-century England, so absorbing and lively that for all its authenticity it scarcely seems "historical." Although crammed with odd facts and lore about the time when "longen folke to goon on pilgrimages," its scraps of song and hymn and jongleur's tale of the period seem as newminted and fresh as the day they were devised, and Adam is a real boy inside his gay striped surcoat.

My rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: G. A few mild name callings, and a glossed over fall from a wall.

Thoughts: It's a sweet story and an easy, quick read. I don't know that it's anything special, it didn't stand out to me as such. But then, the plot is rather slow moving, and the characters weren't super interesting enough to me to call it something that stood out as great. But it's fun for a brief break into a medieval European minstrel boy and more of a life snapshot of the time period and way of life.

I'm not sure how accurate the history is, but then there's not too much history to worry about. Without anything standing out as grossly off it's probably worth reading as a short introduction and step into the time period.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Goodreads synopsis: Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind this fragile community.

My rating: 5 stars.

Content warnings: Light PG-13. Brief but painful images of injuries, loss, and war. 

Thoughts: We learn from our past, and there's a reason stories and history are so important to our human experience. And I'm not sure any book could have demonstrated this better than The Giver does.

Even if it is labeled as a "kid's book" I think it's an important story for adults as well. Maybe even more so.

The book never comes out and says it, but it shows so powerfully how we can never really have true happiness without some level of pain. And how important our pain and past experiences can be in a true, deep life experience.

But it still recognizes how often the sterile, pain-free life of the community can seem like the best option. It can even feel like it if it were ever possible to be enacted.

It doesn't shy away from the pain and difficulty life presents. But it doesn't pretend they don't hurt either. Without talking down to the audience, the book presents pain and joy in ways that don't pretend to have all the answers, but it doesn't leave you hopeless either.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Goodreads synopsis: It's 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud's got a few things going for him:

He has his own suitcase full of special things.

He's the author of Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.

His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!

Bud's got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him--not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: G. A character gets hit several times, and cut and scraped in various tumbles and situations. A character is transporting blood for medical reasons and gets misunderstood.

Thoughts: The story itself seems pretty standard, but Bud's voice is fantastic and totally worth reading the book for. He calls it like he sees it and makes no bones about any of it. It's great.

Although there's not really a sense of time and place as far as the history goes, it still might be a good supplement for reading about Depression-era America. But without knowing, I didn't realize that's when the book was set until it was almost over.

Really short and easy to read, but it's a fun story and the ending is pretty sweet as well.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Goodreads synopsis: Johnny Tremain, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in the danger and excitement of 1775 Boston, just before the Revolutionary War. But even more gripping than living through the drama of Revolutionary Boston is the important discovery Johnny makes in his own life.

My rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: PG. A character is burned and subsequently maimed, but only feels brief pain and passes out. Very little of the injury is described. A character is accused of stealing (they're innocent) and threatened with hanging. 

Thoughts: It's nice to read a book once in a while where the main character starts out as a jerk and changes by the end. It has been done, but it's less common, so it's still neat to see it when it happens.

The story itself is mostly pretty predictable. But the history makes it a notable read. Esther Forbes was a historian, so the history included in her book is more likely to be more accurate than some other historical fictions might be. And since it's the main reason to read this book, I should hope that it is as accurate as possible, which I haven't seen anything that is concerned it isn't accurate.

The characters are pretty much what you'd expect them to be, but Johnny's injury does lend some extra interest to him as a main character. All in all the book isn't super special, but it is still an interesting historical read.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli

Goodreads synopsis: Ever since he can remember, Robin, son of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin's destiny is changed in one stroke: He falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him and Robin is left alone.A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Mark's where he is taught woodcarving and--much harder--patience and strength. Says Brother Luke, "Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it."

Robin soon enough learns what Brother Luke means. And when the great castle of Lindsay is in danger, it is Robin, who cannot mount a horse and ride to battle, who saves the townspeople and discovers there is more than one way to serve his king.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: G. A character is rude, there's brief mention of the plague, and there's a talked of danger from invading forces.

Thoughts: It's a really short read, but it's really good. Especially the focus on not letting life circumstances get in the way, and always finding a "door in the wall." It's written for a young audience, but it's worth hearing as an adult too. Maybe even more needed.

And I really appreciate the paralyzed character in a medieval story. It's not something I've seen anywhere else, and it's not really used to draw attention to itself, or how "diverse" it is or anything. It's just there, and it's a part of the story, and that's it. Which is the way it should be.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Goodreads synopsis: Why is the land so important to Cassie's family? It takes the events of one turbulent year—the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she's black—to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family's lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride—no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans possess something no one can take away.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: Heavy PG. A few characters are severely beat up. There's a near constant threat of violence and death because of skin color. A character is shot at and grazed.

Thoughts: The synopsis gives the impression that the land is more of a plot thread than it seems to be through the story. It is mentioned, but I'm not entirely sure why that's the thing that ties them together in the story, rather than their own humanity and dignity. But that's neither here nor there.

It definitely hurts to read. Especially knowing things like that really did happen. But it's also really neat how determined the human spirit can be.

Certainly the story is worth reading, but the weight of what it covers may be better for audiences with an understanding that things do get intense.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Goodreads synopsis: In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind. — This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs. It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: PG. Men are killed in a glimpsed battle. A character is briefly described as being mauled by a dog, and another character suffers a leg injury that makes it hard to walk. Character kills various kinds of wild animals for survival.

Thoughts: I definitely like it better than Robinson Crusoe. At least what I remember of that story. This one feels a lot more realistic, even as it spans a long period of time. Though the main character doesn't seem to mature much, despite years passing in the story. But that could be because of its intended audience. Karana's voice isn't anything super unique, but the story is what makes the book worth reading. With that audience in mind, I think there was a good balance between details of survival and gathering supplies, and moving the story along. I do wish the timeline was a little shorter, I think trying to cover that many years with this short of a book hurt it a lot, but I do understand he was trying to novelize a true story. It could have been a bit longer, but it may be a good pace for younger readers.

It was a well written book, and definitely one that younger readers can likely enjoy a lot more.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Goodreads synopsis: Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten- pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption.

My rating: 5 stars.

Content warnings: PG. The main character is sent to camp for stealing shoes. Other characters talk about the various crimes that landed them at camp. A (adult) character gets scratched with snake venom and is in severe pain for several days. A child gets hit with a shovel and one is poked with a pitchfork (both draw blood). A man and a donkey are shot and killed. Two characters let themselves get bitten by venomous animals.

Thoughts: I don't think this one ever gets old. It was my second time reading the book and I've also seen the movie multiple times, but I still adore the story and how cleverly it was all put together.

It did take a while to grab me the first time around. I'm not sure why. But at most by the time I got to the flashbacks about Green Lake 100 years before, I was hooked. Second time around it didn't even take that long.

The humor throughout is great, but it's also a really sweet story too. Seeing the unusual ways the characters grow and care for each other in rough circumstances. Not even the main two, but everyone.

And the ending is just so clever. All the foreshadowing that builds up to that is just fantastic. It's definitely something worth taking notes on.

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

Goodreads synopsis: There is something about the Great Tarnov Crystal.... Wise men speak of it in hushed tones. Others are ready to kill for it. And now a murderous Tartar chief is bent on possessing it. But despite this, Joseph Charnetski is bound by an ancient oath to protect the jewel at all costs.

When Joseph and his family seek refuge in medieval Krakow, they are caught up in the plots and intrigues of alchemists, hypnotists, and a dark messenger of evil. Will Joseph be able to protect the crystal—and the city—from the plundering Tartars?

My rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: PG. Character gets mauled by a dog, several characters are threatened with knives, a character descends into madness.

Thoughts: The writing style definitely seems older in places. Especially near the beginning, which is slower than more modern books.

It is a good story though. The Polish names and titles can get a little confusing, but as long as you pay attention it's easy enough to get used to. And the plot itself is fun and keeps moving along at a good pace. I have no idea how solid the history of it is, as I'm not familiar with much medieval Polish history, but even if it is more fantastical it's still a good read.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

Goodreads synopsis: Leigh has been Boyd Henshaw's number one fan ever since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid in school. He's lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh's teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw, whose surprising answer changes Leigh's life.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: G. None.

Thoughts: It's a sweet and painful story, and it's definitely a good read. As a kid it was inspiring to keep going and keep trying even when things seem hopeless, and as an adult it's inspiring to keep an eye out and notice the unnoticed people in your life.

The fact that Mr. Henshaw replies in the first place is lovely, and that's the kind of attention I hope I give people no matter what my life is, or how insignificant they may seem to me. That reply is really what started Leigh's healing in the first place.

I do think that the writing advice both authors Leigh communicates with is maybe not the best. Obviously it's what Cleary thinks, and it worked for her. But I don't think it's advice that everyone should hear, and it doesn't work for everyone.

It's probably a sweet book for people even if they have no interest in writing. But that added level really made the book that much more meaningful.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Goodreads synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met.

Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit’s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.

Elizabeth George Speare won the 1959 Newbery Medal for this portrayal of a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: PG. A character gets put in stocks with food thrown at them. A house gets burned down, and a cat is shot at (not killed). Characters are accused of being witches, what happens to those convicted is discussed, and a character is put on trial.

Thoughts: Were early Puritans actually a cult? They sure do align with several key portions of the B.I.T.E. model at least. Come back later for more hot takes.

That aside, it's a good book. Most of it has been done before, but its got its own style that makes it really fun to read. And having the perspective of an outsider (rather than an unrealistically progressive character who grew up in the community) helps the story a lot.

There are a few instances where the author's more modern view show through a little. Like calling the main character a "young child" when she was at marriageable age, and had a few suitors. But for the most part it seems well researched and solid in its historical setting. At least from what I know about it.

It's hard to tell what the intended audience was, since it's called a kid's book, but some of the story seems directed for older readers. But whatever the case may be, it is worth reading, and clean enough to let more mature kids read it.

Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly

Goodreads synopsis: How well do you know Jesus? I think about this often, and I always come to the same realization. I don’t know Jesus anywhere near as well as I would like to know him. The desire is there, but life gets in the way. There are times when I seem to be making great progress, and other times when I wonder if I know him at all. But I always arrive back at the same inspiring and haunting idea: If there is one person that we should each get to know in a deeply personal way, it is Jesus – the carpenter from Nazareth, the itinerant preacher, the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Lamb of God, the new Adam, the Messiah, the Alpha and the Omega, the Chosen One, the Light of the World, the God-Man who wants good things for us more than we want them for ourselves, the healer of our souls.

My rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: G. Nothing.

My thoughts: Overall it was probably a good book for someone who doesn't know what their faith means anymore, or who has gotten so lost in the "Christian culture" that they don't know who Jesus is. For me there wasn't very much that was helpful or that I needed to hear (there are always some small things to be gleaned in any grounded book about faith), but I can see the value in most of what was said anyway.

With that there were a few chapters that made me uncomfortable. One was worded oddly and I think the message came from a good place, but the way it was presented made it sound wrong. Another I don't think I agree with at all. That one too could have been a misunderstanding between how the material was written and how it came across, but I have some doubts.

Beyond those couple of chapters I think it was a decent book and a good jumping off point for someone trying to deepen their spiritual journey. It doesn't take long to read, and it definitely encourages thought and action, which are both important too.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Goodreads synopsis: Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

Rating: 3 stars.

Content warnings: PG. Several d---s, use of hell as a curse word, bullying, implied abusive parent of a minor character.

Thoughts: Just coming off of Kira-Kira it's easy to compare what that one did better. Part of it might have been my expectations. I remember being really young and hearing someone I knew go on and on about how good Bridge was, so I could have been expecting more. Either way, I was expecting more Terabithia to the story than what there was. The "show don't tell" idea in writing really didn't come through here at all, and that was what really hurt it I think. We didn't get to see the kids playing in Terabithia as much as we were just told they did it a lot. And Terabithia was why I was here in the first place.

All that being said it wasn't bad. Minus the creepy relationship Jess had with one of his teachers. Between that and Jacob Have I Loved, part of me kinda hopes Paterson never actually had close contact with children. Maybe I'm reading too much into that, but it does trouble me a bit.

But back to the point, it was enjoyable. I don't understand why it won anything, it didn't stand out to me that much. And I wish we did have more of the after Leslie versus one summarized chapter. It was worth reading though.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Goodreads synopsis: kira-kira (kee ra kee ra): glittering; shining Glittering. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason and so are people's eyes. When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop on the street to stare, and it's Lynn who, with her special way of viewing the world, teaches Katie to look beyond tomorrow, but when Lynn becomes desperately ill, and the whole family begins to fall apart, it is up to Katie to find a way to remind them all that there is always something glittering -- kira-kira -- in the future.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: PG. A character wonders what it takes to make a baby. Girls discuss French kissing. Someone innocently spells "sperm" in a game of Scrabble. A character gets caught in an animal trap and is injured (very little blood). Another character vandalizes someone's car. There's a mention of dead chicks, and accidentally breaking their necks.

(spoilers below)

Thoughts: I laughed a lot reading this again. Katie's voice is so sweet, and her perspective on the world is really fun. She's clever in her own right, and her way of looking at the world and explaining it is one I kinda wish I had more of. 

It takes a lot to make me cry, but I teared up near the end. It hurts a lot, and it's not entirely easy to read. But it is raw and real, and in the end there is hope. Which is all I ever ask for.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Goodreads synopsis: For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food . . . and the strength of her very own family.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: G. A small chick dies and a child is bullied.

Thoughts: The fact that the novel is in verse made me nervous. But I really did enjoy it, it wasn't verse that called attention to itself other than the minimalism in the prose, which appeals to my description skipping heart.

Hà's papaya tree wrecked me. I expected this book would make me emotional over something, but I didn't expect it to be a little backyard tree.

I love how developed the characters all were, despite how short the story really was. And somehow it managed to find the perfect balance in pacing, and the details that were given helped move it forward, not slow it down. It was quick to read, but definitely leaves an impact.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Goodreads synopsis: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

My rating: 4 stars.

Content warnings: PG-13. Some cursing in book-specific languages. One f-word. Street violence. A character must fight to death with a wolf (emotionally charged) and suffers injuries. Various characters are stabbed, shot, punched, kicked. A character has the ability to effect people's bodies, killing them either painlessly or painfully. Implied torture. Characters find people burned alive, one still barely clinging to life. One character dresses and acts provocatively. There's talk of brothels and activity within (nothing seen). Another character was sold to a brothel and was clearly traumatized, though the details of her time there are never mentioned. The plot centers around a drug, which has highly addictive effects on certain characters, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Thoughts: I was torn whether it was three or four stars, but then I remembered Kaz Brekker's gloves. That itself isn't what did it, but somehow those gloves sort of became a symbol for the depth of characterization and development each character got throughout the story and that is what made it great for me. Characters are what I like most about any story.

It did take me a while to get into the story. I wasn't exactly disinterested with what was going on, it just felt oddly dense and hard to get through. But once I made it about halfway, I finished in a day and a half.

I'd heard the prose praised so highly by various people across the internet, but I'm not sure I noticed it distinctly. It was very nice, but maybe I was expecting it to stand out more somehow. Or maybe I was miffed because each chapter seems to supposed to be limited third person, but there were numerous instances of something being described that the assumed POV character should never have known. It wasn't a huge deal, and head hopping isn't something that entirely frustrates me in books. But when you present a chapter as a limited POV, then the head hopping annoys me.

All that being said, I did really enjoy it. I'm interested to see where the next one goes, because I have no idea with that ending what could even happen next. But it should be a fun ride, this one sure was.