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The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody

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The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody by Matthew Landis

Title: The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody
Author: Matthew Landis
Major Themes: Pennsylvania, School, US Civil War
Synopsis: A project about the Civil War is the perfect assignment for Oliver—until his teacher pairs him with Ella, the class misfit, to research an unknown local soldier instead of one of the generals or battles that he already knew inside out.

I have been wanting to read The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody ever since we bought the book. I was quite intrigued by the title—who is Private Nobody? Obviously, this story had something to do with a war—but which one, and who was reading the person’s letters? Finally, I got someone to choose this book to read aloud, because I struggle to read children’s books to myself when I know I will want to read them aloud sometime as well.

Publisher’s description:

Twelve-year-old Oliver Prichard is obsessed with the Civil War. He knows everything about it: the battles, the generals, every movement of the Union and Confederate Armies. So when the last assignment of seventh-grade history is a project on the Civil War, Oliver knows he’ll crush it—until he’s partnered with Ella Berry, the slacker girl who does nothing but stare out the window. And when he finds out they’ll have to research a random soldier named Private Raymond Stone who didn’t even fight in any battles before dying of some boring disease, Oliver is sure he’s doomed.

But Ella turns out to be much more interesting than Oliver expected, and Oliver’s lunch buddy Kevin Kim comes to their project’s rescue as head writing consultant. Things seem to be going pretty okay until Oliver discovers some big secrets buried in the past—and the present. Oliver knows he can unravel the mystery. But as he keeps digging, he has to decide if it’s worth blowing up the project—and his newfound friendships—in order to discover the truth.

My thoughts:

I found myself quite disappointed with The Not So Boring Letters of Private Nobody. The basic story is very good. I loved the investigation into the life of an unknown private, and the way Oliver’s attitude towards people and events changed from the beginning to the end of the book as he learned the value of each person. I liked the things Ella learned about herself, and how she changed from the beginning of the book to the end. However, I did not at all appreciate the romantic side of the story. These are 13-year-olds talking about liking each other, found out together, and making out. That is not what I want my children to think about. So, while I really like the story, this book will not be staying on our shelf.

WARNING: Chapter 2: Crap. Chapter 4: O. M. G. Chapter 6: Door had been wide-freaking-open, jeez. Chapter 7: “Mary, Mother of all that is holy.” Chapter 10: “HOLY! CRAP!”, boy lies. Chapter 13: Crap. Chapter 14: So freaking sunny, oh crap, the heck. Chapter 18: To piss them off. Chapter 19: Pissed off his dad. Chapter 21: What the heck. Chapter 21: Holy crap, the crap. Chapter 22: Teacher pretends to amputate a leg; rather graphic. Chapter 23: Get the heck out of there, mention of making out. Chapter 24: Google the crap; well, crap; I swear; discussion with Dad about liking a girl; figuring out if he likes a girl. Chapter 25: Crap, dresses suck. Chapter 26: Really pissed. Chapter 27: Stupid freaking binder, holy crap. Chapter 29: Sucks. Chapter 30: Liking a girl. Chapter 31: Jeez, boy acts out dying. Chapter 32: Holy crap. Chapter 34: Google the crap out of him. Chapter 35: That sucks. Chapter 38: A freaking model, couple basically spooning, oh jeez. Chapter 39: A yikes face, look in a freaking mirror. Chapter 41: Mention of making out, who freaking cared. Chapter 42: Oh—crap—, he sucked. Chapter 43. Crap repeated multiple times in six places, just kiss her. Chapter 44: holy crap twice, OMG. Epilogue: kiss her, were you guys just making out?

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Tennessee Wildcat

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Tennessee Wildcat by Robynne Elizabeth Miller and J. D. Rushmore

Title: Tennessee Wildcat
Authors: Robynne Elizabeth Miller and J. D. Rushmore
Major Themes: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pioneers, Frontier, Great Plains, Kansas
Synopsis: Is there any way to positively identify the Mr. Edwards that Laura Ingalls Wilder talks about so lovingly?

Like many other people, I have loved Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books ever since I can remember. In fact, I remember when I was six or seven, I was very pleased with myself when I read through an entire book from that series in one day (yes, I was an early, rather precocious reader). I can’t tell you how often I’ve read the entire series, either silently or aloud, but there have been several times. So, when I saw Tennessee Wildcat and read that it was an investigation into a character from Little House on the Prairie, I knew I wanted to read it.

Publisher’s description:

Mr. Edwards…that colorful Tennessee Wildcat Laura Ingalls Wilder so deeply loved. He helped Pa build the family’s cabin, saved Christmas by carrying presents across a raging creek, and spit further than Laura thought possible. Though he was a little rough around the edges, Laura simply adored Mr. Edwards. Through her vivid, heartwarming stories, we came to love him, too.

But who was he? Virtually all Laura’s Little House characters were real people…even those whose names were changed to protect their reputations.

Mr. Edwards, however, wasn’t so easy to track down. In fact, he’s the sole Little House enigma…the only mentioned character that hasn’t clearly surfaced via historical records.

Was he fiction, for the sake of illustrating pioneer stereotypes? Was he a composite character, built from several men Laura knew during their time in Kansas? Was he a loose collection of memories and family lore, cobbled together for the sake of the narrative? Or was he a real man, whose full identity had previously evaded discovery?

We wanted to know the answer.…

So, we dusted off our boots and headed out…hot on the trail of the wildcat from Tennessee!

My thoughts:

A few years ago, I read The Three Faces of Nellie, which is a similar investigation. While I found Tennessee Wildcat interesting, I think Nellie was more so. A lot of this book felt repetitive. However, there were some absolutely fascinating stories about the early settlers in Montgomery County, Kansas. I really enjoyed reading about them. I also found the description of the way land was surveyed, divided, and described very interesting. I am fairly familiar with a lot of the concepts, because the area of Michigan in which I grew up had been mapped out that way—but to read about it brought everything together. 

If you are a fellow lover of the Little House books, you will want to read this book and learn what life was really like on the frontier where Laura spent two years of her life as a very young child. Warning: It was quite different than she described in her book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin

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Marcus and the Emperor's Coin by Dennis Conrad

Title: Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin
Author: Dennis Conrad
Series: In God We Trust, book 2
Major Themes: Coins, Money, Ancient Israel, Ancient Rome
Synopsis: Marcus did his best not to mess up his father’s business trip, and learned all about coins on the way.

Last year, I read The Two-Cent Piece, a picture book about the two-cent coins that were used in the United States at the time of the Civil War. There was an aspect of that book that I did not appreciate, but I liked the pictures and the idea of the book so well that when Dennis Conrad offered his next book, Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin, I wanted a copy of it, as well. 

Publisher’s description:

Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin is an exciting adventure in the ancient Roman Empire at the time of Christ. Eight-year-old Marcus and his father are on a mission for the emperor and visit a mine and a mint where coins are made. Marcus himself makes a denarius, a coin with the emperor’s image.

Marcus goes to Jerusalem where he sees Jesus hold a denarius saying, “Give to the emperor the things are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” What will seeing Jesus mean for Marcus, and will he ever be the same again?

My thoughts:

I like Marcus and the Emperor’s Coin. It’s a beautifully illustrated story about a clumsy boy who is afraid he will mess things up for his father. He learns along the way how silver is mined and coins are minted. The comical pictures go well with the story. I’m looking forward to having the print copy on our shelf when it arrives here! I know my younger children will enjoy it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 3 – 4, 5 – 8
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

No Tomorrows

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No Tomorrows by Deb Gorman

Title: No Tomorrows
Author: Deb Gorman
Major Themes: Trauma, Faith
Synopsis: When she came to the conclusion that God was telling her she would die tomorrow, Annie was forced to face her decades-old fears.

I have several criteria that I use to decide whether I want to request a review copy of a book. If the book appears to be centered around romance, I generally turn it down. If it is strictly theology, I generally pass it up. No Tomorrows attracted my attention because I could tell it was neither of those genres, and when I read the preview on Amazon, I was hooked. I wanted to read this book!

Publisher’s description:

By the time Thursday is over, Annie Lee is convinced God is telling her it’s her last day on earth.

Annie and her husband live in a small rural town in central Washington state—a place where almost nothing scary happens…until today. Hang on to her coattails as she navigates her tragic past, her frightening present, and her unknown future all in the space of twenty-four hours.

And ask yourself the same question posed to Annie: “What would I do today if I knew I’d die tomorrow?” Will your answer be the same one Annie discovers?

My thoughts:

No Tomorrows is a unique book. I sure didn’t know what I was in for when I picked it up, but what a ride. I really struggled to put this one down, more than with most books. Several times, I found myself picking it up when I had one or two minutes—and realizing soon that ten minutes were gone! I was a little annoyed at Annie for allowing herself to be so controlled by fear, but at the same time, I could relate to her to a certain extent. Several years ago, our oldest son died suddenly, I learned that I was pregnant but that the baby had already died, and we experienced a massive earthquake—all within less than six weeks’ time. For a while during that time, I constantly had to battle fear. So, as I learned to know Annie, her character, and the tragic events that shaped her young life, I could understand her fear and her drive to control everyone and everything around her. Of course, I also know that is impossible, so I had to keep turning pages to find out how she worked through her fears.

I’m not sure about the theology of some parts of this book. Several times, Annie found herself transported to earlier parts of her life, where she experienced again times that had shaped her. She also met a person who seemed to know everything about her and gave her something that mysteriously appeared, disappeared, and reappeared. I don’t believe God does these kinds of things in real life, but they were a very effective way of telling the story that needed to be told here.

I have come away from No Tomorrows with a renewed vision to spend time with my children, to love them, and to have fun with them. The theme of this book, as can be gathered from the title alone, is that we never know when our last day will be. If tomorrow was my last day, how should I spend it? That is the question Annie had to come to grips with—and all the rest of us do, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the authors, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Gee or geez is used several times. A rape is described, and so is the brutal death of a young child.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com

Irreversible Damage

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Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier

Title: Irreversible Damage
Author: Abigail Shrier
Major Themes: LGBTQIA+, Transgender, Cults
Synopsis: Why are whole groups of girls deciding that they are transgender all of a sudden?

A month or two ago, I was talking to some other mothers in our small, local homeschool group. Someone started talking about the transgender issue, and one of them mentioned that she had bought a book titled Irreversible Damage, about the damage that is being done to this generation of girls. She passed it on to one of the other ladies, who passed it on to me when she was finished. This isn’t my preferred choice of reading material—in fact, I would really rather avoid reading something like this if possible. However, it is a very important topic right now, so I read the whole book.

Publisher’s description:

Until just a few years ago, gender dysphoria—severe discomfort in one’s biological sex—was vanishingly rare. It was typically found in less than .01 percent of the population, emerged in early childhood, and afflicted males almost exclusively.

But today whole groups of female friends in colleges and schools across the world are coming out as ‘transgender’. These are girls who had never experienced any discomfort in their biological sex until they heard a coming-out story from a speaker at a school assembly or discovered the internet community of trans ‘influencers.’

Unsuspecting parents now find their daughters in thrall to YouTube stars and ‘gender-affirming’ educators and therapists, who push life-changing interventions on young girls—including medically unnecessary double mastectomies, and hormone treatments that can cause permanent infertility.

Abigail Shrier, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, has talked to the girls, their agonised parents, and the therapists and doctors who enable gender transitions, as well as to ‘detransitioners’—young women who bitterly regret what they have done to themselves. Coming out as transgender immediately boosts these girls’ social status, Shrier finds, but once they take the first steps of transition, it is not easy to walk back.

My thoughts:

Abigail Shrier has done an immense amount of research for Irreversible Damage. She has interviewed many people for this book and heard their stories. She shows clearly that this is a fad—and I was fascinated by the chapter that compared it to a cult. Girls are recruited by teachers, therapists, and YouTubers who suggest that possibly the reason they are unhappy is because they are in the wrong body (rather than that they are going through normal teenage anxiety and insecurity). Once they have started down that path, they find it very difficult to turn back. 

Interestingly, during the time I was reading this book, I went to a thrift shop in our local town. When I was paying for my purchases, a woman looked at my two little girls, who were wearing dresses and had their hair combed nicely, both of which she commented on. I just said that we like our girls to look like girls, and she immediately lowered her voice and went into a five-minute rant about how she hates this craze of girls trying to turn into boys! Apparently, it is even common in our isolated area? I had no idea.

I’m glad I read this book, even though it was painful. It helps me to understand better what is going on in our culture. I would not recommend it, though, to anyone younger than about 20.

WARNING: Besides the common mentions of sexual perversions, there is a fair amount of language used that I do not like.

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com