history – Page 4 – Leah E. Good

July 20, 2013

Book Review: Number the Stars

Then he continued. “I’m sending Inge to you today with the children, and she will be bringing you a carton of cigarettes.”

At her grandparents home in Denmark, Annemarie Johansen can look across the water and see Sweden. When the Nazi’s begin deporting Jews, Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen, comes to live with them. But even masquerading as one of the Johansen’s daughters, Ellen is not safe. After Nazi’s invade their home and question Ellen’s parentage, Annemarie’s parents make plans to visit her Uncle Henrik, who fishes the water between Denmark and Sweden. Her father promises to send Uncle Henrik a carton of cigarettes, and Annemarie realizes they’re talking in code. Cartons of cigarettes are Jews, and they’re talking about Ellen.

I can’t remember if we did this book as a family read-a-loud or listened to it on a road trip, but either way, Number the Stars is the first book I remember “reading” about Jews during WWII. While Lois Lowry is probably best known for her dystopian novel, The Giver, Number the Stars still takes first place for me. It’s another great book for learning about about or supplementing a class on WWII. Or just to read for fun. 🙂

Author: Lowis Lowry
Audience: Middle Grade–Tweens
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 137

July 14, 2013

Book Review: Snow Treasure

“Look!” Michael could not take his eyes off the beach. “Soldiers marching right up our sled track. How’ll we get down?”

In the winter of 1940, Peter Lundstrom and the other members of his Norwegian village watch helplessly as German soldiers invade their homeland. While there is little they can do about the Nazi’s presence, they determine not to surrender everything quite so easily. Instead of waiting for the invaders to steal their large store of gold, they come up with a dangerous plan to sneak it out of the country. A plan that depends on the courage of young Peter and his friends. The school children of the village begin transporting the gold bullion right past the Germans and hiding it for the adults to move onto Uncle Victor’s boat. Can the children succeed in outwitting the Germans and saving the gold?

This story is one of the first books I distinctly remember listening to during one of our road trips. Since that time we’ve listened to it again, and I’ve read the book once or twice on my own. Snow Treasure is believed to be based on a true story, though the tale has never been proven. Whether true or not, the courage and adventures of Peter Lundstrom and his friends are well worth reading. A wonderful living book to add to your library.

Author: Marie McSwigan
Audience: Middle Grade–Tween
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 156

July 5, 2013

Book Review: The Abolitionist

When I began contemplating the theme for this month I only knew that I wanted it to tie into Independence Day somehow. I finally decided to do a WWII theme, but with an exception. For the next three Friday’s, I’ll be posting reviews on WWII stories, but today I’m doing a story set in the early 19th century because it captures the essence of freedom so well. Happy (belated) 4th of July! Enjoy.

Anna rushed to speak before she was overcome with fear–fear of consequences, of inconveniences she did not want to consider: “I … I cannot allow you to so mistreat a child and a dependent in your care, be he slave or … or free.”

Anna Ashwell is a young English woman entering adulthood in the early 1800s. Born into a family of abolitionists, she is pleased when her older brother and guardian writes to say that Mr. Wilberforce has succeeded in abolishing the slave trade. However, as she enters society, Anna soon finds that slavery and injustice have not ended. Her heart is gripped by the plight of a young slave boy. Yet, in the face of social pressure and scornful peers, Anna finds her convictions wavering. What, after all, can one girl do?

This story is one of those rare historical fictions that speaks just as eloquently to contemporary issues as to those of yesteryear. As I read I found myself encouraged to stand for what is right no matter what society accepts as socially or politically correct. The story itself is delightful. I had never before read a novel about slavery in England and found The Abolitionist to be a wonderful introduction. The book also contains a sweet love story which even the most sensitive of readers should be able to enjoy. I’m looking forward to sharing this book with my friends.

Author: Elisabeth Allen
Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 329

Which book(s) do you feel embodies the concept of freedom?

June 30, 2013

Book Review: Captain Blood

At the beginning of this book, Peter Blood is sticking to his plan of abandoning his life of adventure and becoming a physician. This resolution is destroyed when he goes to tend the wounds of a rebel and is arrested, subjected to a sham trial and sold into slavery. Thus cast back into a life of action and adventure, Peter leads a band of slaves in escaping, seizes a Spanish boat and becomes a pirate. But despite his new role as a buccaneer, the memory of Arabella Bishop (his ex-master’s niece), causes him to retain his honor. What will happen when, in a chance reunion, his love is spurned by the woman enshrined in his heart?

After friends lent us an old black-and-white film of this story (it was part of the Errol Flynn collection), I was excited to find the book available for free on my kindle. I was even more excited to find that the book and movie matched each other perfectly for quite a long time. After a while, the book began sharing adventures not shown in the movie. The third quarter of the story dragged a bit, but over all the story trotted right a long with the distinct style of an old-fashioned adventure novel. Both style and story bear some resemblance to The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Prisoner of Zenda, yet the tale is unique from both.

Author: Rafael Sabatini
Audience: Young Adult–Adult
Genre: Adventure
Pages: 296

What’s your favorite old-fashioned adventure story?

April 9, 2013June 5, 2020

Youth, Homeschooling, the Past and the Future

He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future.

Do you know who said this? Keep reading and I’ll tell you.

A few days ago I made a post titled Support the Romeikes. The Romeike’s are a German family who came to the states to escape persecution in their homeland. Several of you clicked through to the petition started on their behalf. Thank you. Today HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) published a video about the Romeikes. I’m embedding it here if you want to watch it.

As soon as Mr. Romeike said, “The government wants the right to impose what they think children should learn.” I knew I’d heard that sentiment before. You read it in the quote posted above. Those words were spoken by a government leader in Germany. Have you guessed who? It was Adolf Hitler.

That’s right. A lot of people don’t know that governmental control of the German youth was a huge part of Hitler’s devastating plan for the Third Reich. And now the German people are fighting this war again. What’s even scarier is that we here in the United States need to fight it too because our government wants the same power. And Hitler was right, whoever controls the education of the children controls the future of the country.

To quote Hitler again:

How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.

We need to think. English statesman Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He also stated that, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” He was right. On both counts.

Whether or not you support homeschooling, it’s important to recognize that absolute control over education should not be handed over to any government. It led to disaster in Germany and it can easily do the same again. Except this time it could be the downfall of our “bastion of freedom,” the US. Let’s not make the same mistake made by so many people before and during WWII. The mistake of silence. To close, consider this quote from another English statesman, William Wilberforce.

You may chose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know.

March 29, 2013March 29, 2013

Book Review: In the Reign of Terror

Today’s book review comes complements of my wonderful brother. After a few of you indicated that you would like to see a review of In the Reign of Terror, I asked him if he would re-read the book and do a review for me. And he graciously agreed. I hope you enjoy it!

Organized massacre, I fear, Victor. What seemed incredible, impossible, is going to take place; there is to be a massacre of the prisoners.

Harry Sandwith is an average boy, the son of an English doctor. When he is offered a position as the companion of a French count’s son, he accepts despite the undertones of revolution rumbling in France. His new job is to provide the young man with an understanding of the English ways of government and liberty. At first the count’s family has little respect for him, but after he saves the count’s three daughters and their nurse, and becomes like a brother to the young count, Ernest. When the revolution erupts, Harry finds himself losing those he has come to care for and running for his life.

As an avid G.A. Henty fan, I rarely come across a Henty that I dislike. In the Reign of Terror was no exception. It combines an excellent historical resource with a tale of adventure and courage.

Author: G.A. Henty
Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Classic Adventure
Pages: 238

Read for Free:
Project Gutenberg
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March 22, 2013

Book Review: Scaramouche

He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

When Andre-Louis witnesses the death of a close friend in a grossly mismatched fencing duel, he swears to avenge the young man’s death. In tumultuous pre-evolutionary France, he gives voice to his deceased friend’s revolutionary sentiments. Over the following years, he alternately fans the fire of revolution and hones new skills as he hides from retribution. Whenever possible, he creates difficulty for his friend’s murderer. But what is his true motivation? And what will it take to stay the hand of vengeance?

Last night around nine o’clock I realized that I still had not finished reading this book. I finally reached the last page around midnight. Personally, I find the writing style of many classics to be tedious and, unlike The Scarlet Pimpernel, Scaramouche was no different. However, if you are a classic style enthusiast, you should have no problem. The story itself was excellent. It provides an interesting “other side of the story” when read alongside The Scarlet Pimpernel. Sir Percy and Andre-Louis actually have quite a few similarities. The ending of Scaramouche is hands down the best part. An foreshadowed possibility I had noticed ended up playing out, but not in the way I expected. In conclusion, I found this book to be a great title to add to your classic adventure reading list. Please note that there is some “thematic material” that is tastefully handled but not suitable for young readers.

Author: Raphael Sabatini
Audience: Teens–Adults
Genre: Classic Adventure
Pages: 367

Book Review: League of the Scarlet Pimpernel + Scarlet Pimpernel Giveaway

*Giveaway Closed*
I’ve been looking forward to this giveaway ever since picking up a copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel at Barnes & Nobles two months ago. As usual, the giveaway is open only to residents of the US. I’ll announce the winner next Thursday. In the meantime, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

Now, if you will allow me to act as your friend, I will pledge you my word that I will find your son for you.

From rescuing the kidnapped son of a woman cast aside by society to other feats of courage and humanity, this book carries a full dose of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s trademark daring. Instead of a full novel, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel is made up of several shorter stories. If you’ve enjoyed The Scarlet Pimpernel, you’ll definitely enjoy these too.

I received this book for Christmas two or three years ago. At first I was disappointed to realize that the book wasn’t a full novel, but after I got into the stories I found that I had no need for regrets. The stories are fast paced and mostly lacking the long expositional passages found in some of the other Scarlet Pimpernel books. They’re perfect for a quick read before you go to bed. 😉

Has anyone not read The Scarlet Pimpernel. For those of you who have read it, have you read any of the sequels? Which Pimpernel book is your favorite?

And…a picture of the giveaway book. Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win!