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I Am His Daughter

April 29, 2022 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

29 Apr

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I Am His Daughter by Emily Steiner

Title: I Am His Daughter
Author: Emily Steiner
Major Themes: Mennonites, Family Life
Synopsis: Rachel had always loved her father and did her best to honor and obey him—but how far should that go?

I am thankful for the homes I have been a part of and the men who have been in my life. Especially after reading I Am His Daughter, I am thankful. When I saw the description of this new book, I knew it was one I wanted to read, because I have seen many families that fit that description, and have always had a hard time knowing how to think about them.

Rachel adored her daddy when she was a little girl. Whatever he said was right. He always knew what was best for the family, and he wanted nothing more than to do what God wanted. She hated the constant moves as he took his family from one state to another, always searching for the perfect church, the perfect place to raise his family, but she knew he was doing and teaching them God’s will, and she sweetly submitted to that.

Then, trouble started brewing in the family. First, a young man became interested in her—and Dad didn’t approve. Then, Jonathan left home so he could make his own decisions. Then, after yet another move, another young man came into Rachel’s life and Dad approved. Until more disagreements arose in the church. What should Rachel do? Should she continue to do exactly what Dad wanted? Or live her own life? What was right?

I have watched this scenario play out in a number of families, and I have seen the results. Sometimes it isn’t a father but church leaders who feel the need to control everything. What is right? Is it right to submit to your authority no matter what? Or does there come a time when it is time to do your own thing? These are the kind of questions Rachel found herself struggling with—and the advice she was given by Godly people is the advice we would all do well to heed. I was spellbound all the way through this well-written story as I read to find out what Rachel would finally do. I came away from I Am His Daughter very thankful for the father I had and the husband I know have, both Godly men who loved their families but did not and do not try to control every facet of our lives—while at the same time giving wise counsel.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Other Places: Christian Light Publications—Paperback  |  Milestone Books—Paperback

Keywords: Books for Women · Christian Fiction · Emily Steiner · Family Life · Mennonites · North America · US History · US History 21st Century

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The Girl in the Mango Tree

April 27, 2022 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

27 Apr

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The Girl in the Mango Tree by Richard Capwell

Title: The Girl in the Mango Tree
Author: Richard Capwell
Major Themes: Panama, Panama Canal, Jungles, Friendship
Synopsis: When Kane found a girl living in a tree in the jungle, by herself, he had no idea that she would change his whole life.

Apparently, The Girl in the Mango Tree was offered free as a Kindle book some six years ago. That’s when Amazon says I bought it, anyway! I happened to open it a week or two ago and read it—and really enjoyed it! It was quite an unusual story, set in a place that I’ve never read about before.

Kane and his six brothers and sisters were shocked when they arrived in the Panama Canal Zone to live for a few years. Everything was different from California! How could they manage to survive the heat and humidity? Kane, as usual, escaped into his books—until the day he found a girl living in a mango tree behind the playground!

Flora, an Indian girl, was hiding away from her problems, living in the jungle. Kane soon learned to enjoy being with her, and they spent a lot of time together. Would she ever tell him why she was there, though? And what could he do to help her? This is a great story of friendship.

I really found this story intriguing. It is set in 1976 in Panama, and really made me feel like I was there, with the heat and humidity, the howler monkeys and the trees of fruit growing in the jungle. The large family dynamics are realistic, too, although the oldest sister’s attitudes left something to be desired. She acted like a typical American teenager, and spent the night with her boyfriend at least once (nothing else is said about that). I learned a lot about the native Indians of the area, and enjoyed a glimpse at the Panama Canal when the family visited it.

WARNING: I forgot to take notes, but there are some attitudes and a bit of language like “Oh my God.”

Age levels:

Read Aloud—Ages 10 – 13
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

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

Keywords: 1950-2000 · 20th Century · Central America · Friendship · Jungles · Panama · Panama Canal · Richard Capwell

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This is the Erie Canal

April 25, 2022 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

25 Apr

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

This is the Erie Canal by Rebecca Newswanger

Title: This is the Erie Canal
Author: Rebecca Newswanger
Major Themes: Erie Canal, New York
Synopsis: When the early settlers in America needed a cheap, quick way to move products from one side of the country to the other, they found the solution in building the Erie Canal.

I have been going through a study of American history with my 6-year-old this year, and one topic we just studied was the Erie Canal. I happened to have bought a picture book about it recently, so we made sure to read This is the Erie Canal after we read the recommended books. Rebecca Newswanger’s story and Rosene Wine’s delightful drawings made this book a pleasure to read together.

When settlers first arrived in North America, they found a wilderness with no roads. Mountains, covered with thick forest, made it difficult to travel around. The Indians used creeks and rivers as roads, but the waterways didn’t go everywhere that people needed to transport their goods. What should be done about this problem?

De Witt Clinton came up with an idea: build a canal across the state of New York. He set to work to organize the job and raise the money for it. After much hard work and several years, the job was completed. Locks had been built and the canal and towpath were complete. Now, people could easily and cheaply travel and haul goods from one side of the country to the other!

The story in this book is engaging. It clearly shows the dilemma faced by the settlers, and what they did about it. The pictures are the best part, though! They are simple, clear pencil drawings. I love the details in them. This is the Erie Canal is a book we’ll read from time to time.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Read Aloud—Ages 5 – 8
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Paperback
Other Places: Christian Light Publications—Paperback  |  Milestone Books—Paperback

Keywords: Erie Canal · New York · North America · Picture Books · Rebecca Newswanger · US History · US History 1783-1860

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You Can Count on God: 100 Devotions for Kids

April 22, 2022 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

22 Apr

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

You Can Count on God: 100 Devotions for Kids

Title: You Can Count on God: 100 Devotions for Kids
Author: Max Lucado
Major Themes: Devotionals
Synopsis: 100 short chapters give adolescents a Godly focus for their day. 

Part of our daily routine includes reading something inspirational together in the morning before we start our school day. We read a Bible story, and often also read a children’s devotional book. Last week, we finished reading You Can Count on God: 100 Devotions for Kids. We have enjoyed many of Max Lucado’s picture books for children, so I thought his devotional would be good, also.

There are 100 2-page chapters in this book. Most of them briefly tell a story from the Bible, relating this story to our lives today. These stories take the reader chronologically through the Bible from Creation to the end! There are some chapters that don’t retell a story from the Bible, but rather speak more directly to children’s lives. For example, one chapter talks about how much God loves us, and how we need to love those around us.

Each chapter has a Bible verse at the beginning. At the end, there is either an important point to remember, a short prayer, or “It’s Your Turn”—something you can do to make a difference to those around you. Each of these helps children to internalize what they have just read.

I like You Can Count on God. This book points children directly to God, and helps them to know Him better. It also helps them to see their need of Him. This book will encourage the 10-12-year-olds who want to live for God.

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

No warnings!

Age levels:

Read Aloud—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 13
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

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

Keywords: Bible Stories · Christian Non-Fiction · Devotionals · Max Lucado

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Ocean-Born Mary

April 20, 2022 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

20 Apr

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Ocean-Born Mary by Lois Lenski

Title: Ocean-Born Mary
Author: Lois Lenski
Major Themes: New Hampshire, New England, Pirates
Synopsis: When Mary had a chance to live for a while in the seaport town of Strawberry Bank, she made the most of her opportunity to experience everything about life there.

Lois Lenski is a favorite author in our house. Every year, we have a one-month reading challenge; each school-age child who reads for a certain amount of time each day that month earns the privilege of choosing a book, which I buy for him. This year, my 11-year-old chose Ocean-Born Mary. I was surprised when it arrived to see how thick it was—easily twice as thick as most of the other books by this author! We enjoyed reading this historical novel.

Mary was excited to be traveling with her family from Nutfield to Strawberry Bank (now Portsmouth, New Hampshire). She could hardly wait to see the ocean and experience life in a seaport town. During the months she lived with relatives there, she repeatedly ran into the pirate who had saved her life as a newborn. Over and over, she had to make choices about her reaction to him and to her aunt who hated the man.

A ship was being built during the time Mary lived in Strawberry Bank, and she eagerly watched every step of the process. Then came the launch, the first voyage…and disaster. Now Mary really had challenges to face!

Ocean-Born Mary is a delightful peek into life and attitudes in colonial New England. It is based on a real woman, although so little is known of her life that most of the story is invented. We enjoyed watching Mary learning about life and becoming braver as time went on. We were appalled at the attitudes and actions of the British government officials. Some people were maddening; others were lovable. And the pirate? He remained enigmatic!

WARNING: Chapter 7: the pirates sing a song about killing people on page 120, and on page 123 a woman tells a lie.

Age levels:

Read Aloud—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 13, Family Read Alouds
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15

Links to buy this book:

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

Keywords: Colonial Era (US) · Family Read-Alouds · Historical Fiction · Lois Lenski · New England · New Hampshire · North America · Pirates · US History

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