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The Hidden Treasure of Glaston

April 24, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

24 Apr

The Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanore M. Jewett

Title: The Hidden Treasure of Glaston
Author: Eleanore M. Jewett
Major Themes: King Arthur, Holy Grail, England
Synopsis: When Hugh’s father left the crippled boy behind at Glastonbury Abbey when he had to flee the country, Hugh never would have guessed the adventures he was in for!

We really enjoyed reading The Hidden Treasure of Glaston! I bought this book because it was sold by Sonlight Curriculum, and we have learned by experience that we will love almost any book they recommend. A few weeks ago I was looking for a story to read aloud to go along with our study of the Middle Ages, and found this one in a list of suggestions, so I decided it was the perfect time to read it.

When Hugh’s father was forced into exile after helping to kill Archbishop Thomas Becket when there was a misunderstanding with King Henry, the crippled boy was frightened and lonely. He soon learned to love Brother John and helped him with the books in the library of Glastonbury Abbey. Then, he met Dickon. When Dickon showed him the tunnel he had found in the moor, both boys knew they just had to figure out the mystery behind the objects hidden underground.

Dreams of King Arthur, legends about the Holy Grail, and a mysterious hermit who seemed to be half mad enter into the story. Hugh tried to put together the pages of a mysterious old manuscript that had been torn apart, hoping that he can solve some of the mysteries around them. Would they ever be able to find the Holy Grail? Or was it lost forever?

The Hidden Treasure of Glaston is a great retelling of the legends about the Holy Grail and King Arthur’s knights. I don’t believe everything in the story would have happened just as it is told here, but the flavor of the old legends is definitely captured. There are miracles that happen, and wonderful discoveries are made. This is a really fun story to read.

WARNING: Chapter 2: Enchanted under a devil’s spell, by Our Lady. Chapter 15: By God’s eyes. Chapter 16: a fire that kills someone.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above

Links to buy this book:

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

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy

April 21, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

21 Apr

Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Molly Frye Wilmington

Title: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy
Author: Molly Frye Wilmington
Series: Here I Am! biography series
Major Themes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Germany, Hitler, Spies, Codes, Picture Book Biography
Synopsis: Beautiful pictures and a secret code tell the story of a man who helped to fight Hitler and the Nazis.

As you know if you have read very many of my reviews, I really like picture book biographies. Esther, my daughter who runs this site, noticed Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy on a site from which we get a lot of our review books, and told me about it in case I would like to read it. While I have conflicting feelings about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s actions, I think it is important for our children to know about famous people in history and what they did, so I requested this book and, when I got it, read it to my children for our history class one morning.

The children’s attention was immediately focused on the book when, on the first page, we were told that there is a secret code in the book! Their eyes remained focused on each page as we read. They were delighted to crack the code and find the secret message.

The story is narrated by Shep the Sheepdog, who compares Dietrich to a sheepdog who followed the best shepherd, Jesus. Not much of Dietrich’s early life is shown; this book describes his life and actions during the time when Hitler was in power in Germany. Dietrich worked as a spy against the Nazis, both while he was free and after he was imprisoned by them. He felt that this was the best way he could love his fellow men.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy is illustrated with beautiful pictures. This book is a great introduction to this famous man for children. I still don’t approve of the way Dietrich worked against the Nazi regime, because I don’t believe it is right to lie, but I can see why he did what he did. Children who like stories about spies, or secret codes, will enjoy this book.

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

WARNING: As mentioned in the review.

Age levels:

Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12

Links to buy this book:

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

The Swiss Nurse

April 19, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · 2 Comments

19 Apr

Title: The Swiss Nurse
Author: Mario Escobar
Major Themes: Spain, Spanish Civil War, France, Refugees, Mario Escobar, World War II
Synopsis: As people flee to France to escape the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, Elisabeth Eidenbenz, from Switzerland, does all she can to alleviate their suffering, and especially to help expectant and new mothers.

A few weeks ago, I went to Goodreads to leave a review on a book I had just read, and noticed, in a list of books that “readers also like,” The Swiss Nurse. Something about the cover caught my attention, so I did a little looking and soon decided that it was one I wanted to read—and found a copy available! I won’t say I enjoyed it, because so much of the story was awful, being a war story. However, I found it worthwhile and very well written.

It was 1939, and the Spanish Civil War was raging. Elisabeth Eidenbenz had come to Spain from her native Switzerland two years before and done all she could to relieve suffering in the war-torn country—but now, with Franco’s troops coming ever closer, she had to flee, taking everyone with her that she could. On arriving in France, she tried to continue her work with the refugees, soon realizing that what she most needed to do was to set up a home for the pregnant women and new mothers, so they would have a safe place to give birth and recover. How could she accomplish this—and for how long, especially after Germany invaded Poland and then turned to overrun France?

Isabel, whose story is told in first-person, was working in Barcelona when the war reached her and she had to flee. Her husband Peter, an American who had joined the fight against Franco, did his best to reach her in time, but had to flee for France, himself. Both eventually reached the same refugee camp on the beach, which had little or no shelter for the thousands of people crammed into it. Once they eventually found each other, they were quickly separated again by the authorities. Would they ever reach safety?

What a story! I had heard of the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s/early 1940s, but never knew much about it. Who would have thought that people from so many different countries joined in the fight there? I sure didn’t! The Swiss Nurse makes the horrors of that war and its effect on the people who had to flee the fighting come alive. In the midst of all the horror, however, there was still hope, still goodness. Elisabeth and those who worked with her shared love and care with all they could, and did everything possible to save lives. Even though this is not an overtly Christian book, still God’s love shines through. Read this book if you like to read books about World War II, but be sure to read my warnings first.

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

WARNING: Chapter 1: a mother is killed in a bombing while feeding her baby, and two men fight with a knife. Chapter 2: damned war three times, people killed and dumped into a mass grave. Chapter 3: Goddam men, a bus blown to bits by a missile. Chapter 4: mother bleeds to death over her baby, damn well, Catalan bitch, men killed while trying to kill another man. Chapter 5: damned brute. Chapter 6: damned Fascists. Chapter 8: gun aimed at Peter. Chapter 9: damned ideologies, gun against Peter’s neck. Chapter 12: man has to let friends die. Chapter 13: good God. Chapter 14: damned war. Chapter 15: Oh God. Chapter 16: a married couple is intimate (one sentence). Chapter 17: a woman is raped. Chapter 18: damn it all, a baby is stillborn. Chapter 21: Good Lord. Chapter 41: Damned Nazis. There are likely many more instances of language and violence along these lines; I tend to skip over them while I read and forget to highlight them. What I have here should give you an idea of whether or not you want to read the book.

Age levels:

Reading Independently— Adults

Links to buy this book:

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

The Bishop’s Shadow

April 17, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

17 Apr

Title: The Bishop’s Shadow
Author: I. T. Thurston
Major Themes: Homelessness, Street Children, Massachusetts, Boston
Synopsis: When a street boy meets a godly bishop and learns to love him, his life is changed forever.

About 25 years ago, I came across The Bishop’s Shadow, read it and enjoyed it, and sold it in my small bookstore. When my children were young, I read it to them, but hadn’t read it for over 15 years. One of them requested it to be read aloud again recently, and I enjoyed the opportunity to revisit an old friend again.

Tode lived on the streets. He had never known his parents, and couldn’t even remember his true name. He lived by his wits and was quite happy one day when he was able to snatch a woman’s purse and use the money in it. Then, for the first time in his life, he found himself caring about someone besides himself, and helped a girl find a home for herself and her baby brother.

Soon after this, Tode met up with a bishop, and through an accident, found himself living in the bishop’s house under false presences. He overheard a conversation that filled him with guilt, and he knew he had to change his ways. But was it possible to atone for the wrongs he had done? He set himself to make everything right.

The Bishop’s Shadow, written 80 or 100 years ago, is rather moralistic, as older books tend to be. On the other hand, it isn’t perfect. Tode, or Theodore as he became known, had to work hard for what he had. He did wrong things at the beginning. After his life turned around, it did seem that he did everything right, which felt a bit unrealistic, but it does set a good example. One thing we did notice was that there never seemed to be a time when Theodore surrendered his life to the Lord; he merely decided to live a good life, and did so. This might give a message to some that it is possible to live a godly life without God’s help.

No warnings!

Age levels:

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

Links to buy this book:

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

Monumental Monsters

April 14, 2023 by Emma Filbrun · Leave a Comment

14 Apr

Title: Monumental Monsters
Author: Vance Nelson
Series: Untold Secrets of Planet Earth
Major Themes: Fossils, Creation, Evolution
Synopsis: Amazingly huge creatures lived in the past—why did they die out?

A couple of years ago, my mother told me about a series of books titled Untold Secrets of Planet Earth by Vance Nelson. These books sounded so good that I decided to spend our homeschooling allowance on them that year. We bought the whole set and they have been very popular ever since with the whole family. Even those who don’t read enjoy these books. By far the favorite has been Monumental Monsters. I looked at the pictures a little bit when the book first arrived in our home, but never read it until these last few months. For the last few months, I have been reading a few pages a day as part of our morning homeschooling time. I found this book absolutely fascinating.

Vance Nelson’s premise, in writing this book, is that the earth and all its inhabitants were created perfect, but that what we see in the fossil record today is evidence of decline, decimation, and degradation. He has chosen giant fossils from around the world to illustrate his point, showcasing such creatures as giant bison found in North America, a giant snake from Columbia that would have weighed well over a ton, a 3-foot-long millipede from Germany, or a 440-pound lemur from Madagascar. For each of these creatures, he describes the varieties we see today, along with the giant that we find evidence of in the fossil record. For each animal, he shows a photograph of a piece of the fossil creature beside its counterpart from the living organism that we see today. He describes the differences between the living and fossil creatures, then points out, on almost every page, that these fossils do not show organisms evolving into something better, but rather degrading and deteriorating into something much more inferior. After a two-page spread describing the creature, with side-by-side photographs of the fossilized bones, there is a two-page spread with a color painting illustrating the reconstruction of the fossil creature beside its counterpart today, and a man wearing a knight’s armor for scale.

Monumental Monsters wraps up with an explanation for the extinction of these giant creatures which are found in fossilized form all over the world. The conclusion of the book presents a call to salvation from the Bible. Vance Nelson has chosen verses that describe the perfection in the beginning, man’s fall into sin and the subsequent curse on all life on earth, and God’s remedy, Jesus. This is a great book to have laying around for people to pick up and glance through. The topic is engaging and fascinating; my children, as I said before, love looking through this book and learning about the massive creatures that used to inhabit Earth. Along the way, they gain a greater appreciation for God, His creation, and a clear glimpse of what sin has done to the world.

No warnings!

Age levels:

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

Links to buy this book:

Amazon: Hardcover
Creation Store: Hardcover