Number the Stars by Lois Lowry###

Rating: Excellent
Format: Chapter book with no illustrations
Interest Level: 5-9
Reading Level: 4.5
Concerns: None (subject matter is weighty but focus is positive)
Newberry medal winner

 

This award-winning historical fiction book documents Denmark’s occupation by Germany during World War II and the hardships that ensued. When the Germans begin targeting the Jewish community for relocation, Annemarie’s family helps rescue her Jewish friend’s family. Follow along in the rescue as it unfolds as it truly did when Denmark rose up as one to help over 7,000 Jews (nearly all their Jewish population) escape to Sweden. This is a hopeful story documenting the bravery and integrity of a people who would not stand aside and watch as the atrocities of the Holocaust were carried out by the Nazi’s within their country's borders.

Though mainly told through a young girl’s eyes, there are lots of good male role models. Annemarie’s dad, Uncle Henrick, and Peter, a resistance worker, are some of the strong male characters who help the Jews escape to Sweden by boat. The women are equally brave and courageous. There are some very good role models in this book for our girls, as well. I like how this book (written about a very dark period of history) celebrates the courage of those who overcame.  Also, refreshing is the story of one German official who warned of the upcoming relocation of the Jews allowing many to escape death.

The topics are weighty but are told through a young girl’s eyes and focuses on the rescue not the darker imagery of those times. This book is an excellent read aloud as well. It can be found at the following website:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/number-the-stars-lois-lowry/1100128561

Into the Firestorm: A Novel of San Francisco, 1906 by Deborah Hopkinson

Rating: Very good
Format: No illustrations
Interest Level: 4 to 7
Reading Level: 4.2
Concerns: None

 

Eleven-year-old Nicholas Dray is homeless in San Francisco at the beginning of this book. He has managed to travel from Texas where he ran away from an orphanage after his grandmother’s death. His past has been one of hardship. For most of his short life, he has worked as a cotton picker. One dream has made his life bearable--- coming to San Francisco to live. Well, he’s finally made it. Life on the streets alone is hard, though, and he is finding it hard to survive. His wanderings take him from Chinatown to the business of Pat Patterson, a stationer. Mr. Patterson takes Nick in as an employee and leaves him in charge of his shop while he takes a trip. During Mr. Patterson’s trip away, the famous earthquake and ensuing fire of 1906 occur. Through an exciting chain of events, Nick is able to help a pregnant woman and her daughter get to safety. But what will happen to his relationship with his new employer? The store he was supposed to watch is destroyed and the pet in his care has run away. Nick hopes against hope to fulfill his job and care for the pet of his newly found friend.

Loosely based on a real character, Nick is a fine role model. In spite of great hardship, he dreams and sets goals and is willing to work hard to achieve his goals. He is trustworthy and responsible in the tasks given him. Nick also cares for several needy people in the quake and is responsible for their surviving the fire. In the real story, he gets written up in the newspaper for his efforts to save his employer’s pet. Pat Patterson is a fine person, too, who gives Nick his first real break.  Mr. Patterson takes Nick in and feeds him. He also buys him new clothes. Later, in the book, he sends money to help the pregnant woman and her daughter, the ones Nick helped rescue. Bravery and kindness are intermixed in this tale to make a memorable story.

This is a very nice book which brings history alive using facts from the actual event. Boys who love history and survival stories will enjoy this book. This book can be found at the following website:

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/82711/into-the-firestorm-a-novel-of-san-francisco-1906-by-deborah-hopkinson

 

I found this 11 page companion to the book which includes a short author biography, comprehension questions, vocabulary, character list, and activities available free at the following web address:

http://www.lesliepreddy.com/yhba/08-09/Intermediate/IntoFire-Swynenburg.pdf

Worldview in Fiction: Books with Several Serious Concerns

In process of revamping this.....please be patient.....thanks!!:)

In an effort to be most helpful, I have started a series called “Worldview in Fiction.” In this series, I will summarize the strengths, list possible concerns, and outline worldview in a popular young adult and some middle school series. At the end of the chart, I will list possible discussion points to help parents teach through the series if they decide to allow their kids to read it. Unless the concerns are minor or the worldview represents a “moral absolutes” viewpoint, I won’t include these on my reading level index or topical index. Parents need to decide whether they want their kids to be reading these series and if they do allow them to be read, it should be monitored closely.

Discussion points focus on three main areas:
1. Worldview expressed or portrayed by an author
2. Character of the main heroes especially the male characters
3. Specific issues that come up in a book and the Bible's view of it

Here is a brief summary of possible viewpoints books can be written from. This summary is very basic and its goal is to help the reader identify quickly various worldviews or agendas books might portray. There are many other resources available to better define these worldviews if you are interested.

Worldview and the Books Our Kids are Reading ( Very general overview of worldviews)

List of Middle School/Young Adult Books reviewed on the site:


The Prophet of Yonwood (Book3; Prequel) by Jeanne DuPrau
Car Trouble by Jeanne DuPrau



The Falcon's Malteser: A Diamond Brothers Mystery by Anthony Horowitz

Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach



Kane Chronicles (Red Pyramid) by Rick Riordan (Short note on it)

Trouble Twisters (book 1) by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Warriors: The Sight and The Dark River (Power of Three) by Erin Hunter

Worldview in Fiction: Books with Good Role Model But Have at Least One Serious Concern

In process of revamping the Worldview in Fiction Index!  Please be patient. Thanks!:)

In an effort to be most helpful, I have started a series called “Worldview in Fiction.” In this series, I will summarize the strengths, list possible concerns, and outline worldview in a popular young adult and some middle school series. At the end of the chart, I will list possible discussion points to help parents teach through the series if they decide to allow their kids to read it. Unless the concerns are minor or the worldview represents a “moral absolutes” viewpoint, I won’t include these on my reading level index or topical index. Parents need to decide whether they want their kids to be reading these series and if they do allow them to be read, it should be monitored closely.

Discussion points focus on three main areas:
1. Worldview expressed or portrayed by an author
2. Character of the main heroes especially the male characters
3. Specific issues that come up in a book and the Bible's view of it

Here is a brief summary of possible viewpoints books can be written from. This summary is very basic and its goal is to help the reader identify quickly various worldviews or agendas books might portray. There are many other resources available to better define these worldviews if you are interested.

Worldview and the Books Our Kids are Reading ( Very general overview of worldviews)

List of Middle School/Young Adult Books reviewed on the site:



The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer

Lion Boy (Book 1 of the Lion Boy Trilogy) by Zizou Corder

Lion Boy: The Chase (Book 2 of the Lion Boy Trilogy by Zizou Corder
Lion Boy: The Truth (Book 3 of the Lion Boy Trilogy) by Zizou Corder


Overview: Quick analysis to see if you want to investigate further:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Book 1) by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (Book 2) by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse (Book 3) by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Book 4) by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian (Book 5) by Rick Riordan


Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Book1)

Worldview in Fiction: Books with Moral Absolutes or Minor Concerns

In process of revamping my Worldview in Fiction Index list! Please be patient! :)

In an effort to be most helpful, I have started a series called “Worldview in Fiction.” In this series, I will summarize the strengths, list possible concerns, and outline worldview in a popular young adult and some middle school series. At the end of the chart, I will list possible discussion points to help parents teach through the series if they decide to allow their kids to read it. Unless the concerns are minor or the worldview represents a “moral absolutes” viewpoint, I won’t include these on my reading level index or topical index. Parents need to decide whether they want their kids to be reading these series and if they do allow them to be read, it should be monitored closely.

Discussion points focus on three main areas:
1. Worldview expressed or portrayed by an author
2. Character of the main heroes especially the male characters
3. Specific issues that come up in a book and the Bible's view of it

Here is a brief summary of possible viewpoints books can be written from. This summary is very basic and its goal is to help the reader identify quickly various worldviews or agendas books might portray. There are many other resources available to better define these worldviews if you are interested.

Worldview and the Books Our Kids are Reading



List of Middle School/Young Adult Books reviewed on the site:

The City of Ember (Book 1) by Jeanne DuPrau (minor concerns)

The People of Sparks (Book 2) by Jeanne DuPrau (minor concerns)
The Diamond of Darkhold (Book 4) by Jeanne DuPrau (minor concerns)


Urchin of the Riding Stars (Book 1 of the Mistmantle Chronicles) by M.I. McAllister (moral absolutes)

Worldview in Fiction: The Extraordinary Education of Nicolas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart:

Quick overview chart and summary of concerns:

Strengths:	Concerns:		Worldview:
Most adults are well-meaning and try to care for the children the best they can.   Though it is hard to overcome fear of man, John is able to do the right thing and befriend Nicholas even though it makes him a target of the gang of boys called the Spiders.   Hazel and John come from loving and caring families.   A great love for learning and books permeates the series.	Nicolas lies and deceives the adults in the story throughout the entire book.   Adults are unaware of and unable to protect the children in the story from bullies.   Lying seems acceptable under certain confusing situations.   Placing oneself in danger through leaving the house at nighttime and meeting others is not frowned upon.		The idea that kindnesses extended to people can change a life and possibly many lives.   It is the responsibility of a person to help others if they have the means at their disposal. Nicolas learns he should use his genius to help the orphanage.   It is these actions of love that make the world a better place.
Questions: 1.  In the strained situation of the orphanage, Nicholas had no friends. John takes the chance on Nicolas because he knows it’s the right thing to do. John admits he is afraid of being a target of bullies. What sin is this and how is   it overcome?		Answers in brief: 1. This is fear of man. Only fear of God can help us overcome the legitimate fear of being bullied to do the right thing.
2. Nicholas, who has grown up in a harsh environment, lies and deceives many. His goal is survival and possible escape from the orphanage. What does the Bible say about these actions?		2. Nicholas didn’t have the benefit of good teaching but these actions and the taking advantage of the adults who actually care for him is not acceptable. It would have been nice if less lying could have occurred in the book. However, Nicolas does later on come back to the orphanage to redeem many of his actions. He sees his acts as self-serving. He had known all along how to help the poor children persecuted by the bullies and how to help the orphanage earn money so that the facility could be better staffed. He repents and changes at the end of the book.   Truly, though, only God can help us change and repent. However, it is nice to see these characteristics in Nicholas. Indeed, he is thoroughly reformed as we can see in the other books in the series.
3. Nightly meetings with boys in secluded places especially for girls can lead to dangerous situations. Nicolas trusting Mr. Harinton was fortuitous for him but could backfire in real life. What are some good guidelines to follow.		3. Nicolas didn’t have a trusted adult and he trusted his instincts. But most of us do have trusted people in our lives, always be upfront and honest with them and never meet anyone without letting your parents know. If your parents or trusted adult expresses concern, listen to them.
4. What do you think about the idea that we should do good to others if it is within our means to do so?		4. This is a Biblical idea. It comes from Proverbs:   “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” (Prov. 3:27 NIV version)   Without Christ, though, it is impossible for us to truly do good to help others. We find out that our help or our good doesn’t always help in the way we expected. The truth is sometimes we have even hurt others unknowingly. I always pray that God will help me fulfill this Scripture in my life.

 

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

Rating: Good
Format: Long chapters with illustrations on first page of each chapter
Interest Level: 3 to 7
Reading Level: 6.2
Concerns: Lying and deceitfulness on part of main character; meeting others after dark without parent's permission
Overview Chart (to address concerns)

Other books in this series:
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Book 1)
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (Book 2)
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma (Book 3)
The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums by Trenton Lee Stewart

 

This book chronicles the childhood of Nicholas Benedict from the Mysterious Benedict Society series. If your child liked those books, he will enjoy this prequel. However, I would read the other books first to insure their interest in the series as this book isn’t as exciting. In this fourth book, Nicolas Benedict is a genius child who is traveling to a new orphanage. Unfortunately, Rothschild’s End has been seriously mismanaged and is in threat of being closed down. Soon after his arrival, Nicolas finds out that there is a missing treasure on the property.  Nicolas is able to outwit Mr. Collum, the director of the orphanage, and embarks on a search for the treasure. Along the way, Nicolas makes friends for the first time in his life. John is a fellow orphan and Hazel is a deaf girl who lives at a farm nearby.  Just when Nicolas begins to feel at home, the worst happens. John is adopted and Nicolas loses all hope of treasure or friendship. When things seem the darkest, an opportunity turns into hope which changes the life of Nicolas Benedict and ultimately the world (as we already know what happens in the Mysterious Benedict Society!)

In this book, Nicolas starts off as a lonely orphan who finds it hard to hope. He finds himself in a strange situation where he is locked each night in a room. Hating to be locked up, he steals a key and makes a copy. This begins a whole series of deceitful actions to make his life bearable and safe. Nicolas and the entire orphanage are terrorized by a group of bullies called the Spiders. Nicolas does these deceitful actions to help protect himself. Inadvertently, he finds himself making friendships. Nicolas, who had never had any friends before, revels in their companionship and doesn’t even think of helping fix the terrible state of the orphanage. It is not until he runs away and meets the kindness of Mr. Harinton who takes time out of his busy schedule to help Nicolas. Mr. Harinton takes his own money and pays for Nicolas’s care. When Nicolas is confronted with this exceptional example of self-sacrifice and love, he repents of his own selfishness (not helping the orphanage or the other kids when his genius is capable of figuring out a solution to the problems they face) and goes back to Rothschild’s End to redeem his past actions.

In spite of all the lying and deceit, the situation is redeemed in the end of the story. Later, Mr. Benedict will turn into the great benefactor of the orphans in the Mysterious Benedict Society. So, in general, I feel it is a good read because of the previous books. I would read the other series first because then they will understand who they are reading about. My few concerns with the book include the series of lies Nicholas tells. More disconcerting is when it is condoned by an adult. In one incident, Mr. Harinton seems to actually condone lying as necessary for people who aren’t as smart as they are. In another incident, Nicolas apologizes for stowing away on a train. His apology is insincere because it is implied in the story that the conductor is being unreasonable in requesting it. Mr. Harinton is amused and actually smiles because of it. There is also the fact that Nicolas, a runaway, goes off with Mr. Harinton, a stranger he has known only a few hours. Yes, fortunately, he turns out to be kind in this story. My final concern is a similar issue. It involves Hazel meeting secretly with our two heroes late into the night. They meet in an abandoned observatory throughout the story. At the end, Hazel tells her parents what she has been doing but the overall sense is that meeting boys at nighttime without your parent’s knowledge or permission is okay.

Overall, we were excited to see another book by this author. I like how all the adults at the orphanage though not very intelligent are very caring and try to help the children in spite of being seriously understaffed. In addition, there is the treasure hunt for kids who love mysteries.

This book can be found at the following website:

http://www.mysteriousbenedictsociety.com/