The Bronze Bow....

We wound down our Ancient History study with The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. The Bronze Bow is set at the time of Jesus in and around Ancient Rome. It is the story of Daniel Bar Jamin who is 18 years old at the start of the book. He and his sister, Leah, were orphaned years earlier, when the Romans crucified his father. His mother died of grief soon after. At that point, Daniel made an oath to avenge his father's death and left home to join a rebel band living in the mountains of Judea headed up by a man named Rosh. Leah was left behind with their grandmother.

In the first few chapters, we learn that Daniel has been living with Rosh for about five years and that he looks up to him, believing Rosh is going to eventually overtake the Romans. Daniel is then called back down the mountain to take care of Leah when their grandmother dies. He is extremely bitter about this calling and can't wait to get back to Rosh in the mountains. However, after a series of tragic and revelational events, throughout which, Daniel hears the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, he comes to the realization that only love can overcome. Below is a passage from a pivotal point in the story that I entered in my commonplace book... [SPOILER ALERT!}

Jesus was silent for a moment, "This Samson," he asked, "he was your friend?"

The question surprised Daniel. He had thought of Samson as a burden, as a symbol of this own weakness. He had never thought of Samson as a friend, but now he saw that it was true.

"He died for me. He didn't understand about Israel or the kingdom. He just died, without any idea what we were fighting about."  Then, heedless of the master's weariness, forgetting everything but the guilt that had tormented him every moment since that day of the rescue, he poured out the story of Rosh, of the betrayal on the mountain, of Nathan's death, and the debt that Samson's sacrifice had laid upon him.

"Yes," said Jesus slowly. "An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. It is so written. We must repay in kind. But Samson has given you all that he had. In what kind can you repay him?"

"By vengeance!"

"He did not give you vengeance. He gave you love. There is no greater love than that, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. Think, Daniel, can you repay such love with hate?"

"It's too late to love Samson. He is probably dead." Then, as Jesus waited, "Should I love the Romans who killed him?" he asked with bitterness.

Jesus smiled. "You think that is impossible, don't you? Can't you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love."  The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare p. 224-225

We all loved The Bronze Bow! Riley read it on her own as part of the Beautiful Feet Ancient History study and I read it aloud to Ruben. It is also a Sonlight and TruthQuest recommended book. I'm even of the mind that The Bronze Bow should be required reading for anyone studying Ancient Rome!

Augustus Caesar's World....

As part of Ruben's Updated Rome Study, I finished reading aloud Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster. It was my first book in Foster's World series. Riley read it on her own. She and I enjoyed it. Ruben did not.

I mentioned in a previous post that I more or less scrapped Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ history and decided to end the year with Beautiful Feet's Ancient History. I wanted to try a test run to see how Ruben might handle Beautiful Feet's Medieval History study, which I'm contemplating for next year.

Some of the suggested BF readings for Augustus Caesar's World were a bit long for Ruben. I did break the lessons into two days to try to spread the reading out. Riley's been using BF's Ancient History study independently this year. She did not feel the readings were long. Riley read most of them in one day, then completed her notebooking assignments the next, also spreading each lesson over two days, but a little differently than what I did with Ruben.

Augustus Caesar's World tells what is happening around the world in the life and times of Augustus Caesar. Riley read Abraham Lincoln's World, also by Foster, in 5th grade, but enjoyed Augustus Caesar's World more. She made an interesting statement to me in regard to the Roman Empire being most of the known world in Augustus' time vs. Lincoln's world consisting of multiple continents and him not being the ruler of all nations. Based on this, she found Augustus Caesar's World more interesting. I wonder if it was really content or rather reading Augustus Caesar's World in 7th grade vs. reading Abraham Lincoln's World in 5th grade that had anything to do with her interest. Foster's books are very meaty and may be more appropriate for that middle to high school level. Since Augustus Caesar's World was my first read in this series, I have nothing to compare it to.

There were many interesting facts throughout Augustus Caesar's World that I didn't know or hadn't heard before. Although, Foster's final paragraph at the end of the book really made the greatest impression on me...

And so out of this world of the Caesars came another story of the triumph of life and courage over fear and death, a triumph seen anew in every spring that follows winter and with the rising of the sun each day.  (Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster, p. 325)

I appreciated the fact that Foster included Jesus' history and biblical passages in her world history. One thing I wondered about was why she skipped writing about the medieval world. Foster covers ancient history with Augustus Caesar's World and then jumps to The World of Columbus and Sons. From Columbus to the time of her death, she covered most of American history between her World series and her Initial Biography series. Birthdays of Freedom does include some highlights from the time between Caesar and Columbus, but I don't know of any other work by Foster that goes more in depth on that time period.

As mentioned above, the kids did notebook through their reading of Augustus Caesar's World. Albeit, they did have slightly different notebooking assignments. Riley followed the BF guide most closely. Whereas, I did modify some of the notebook assignments for Ruben.

If you've ever read or looked at a book in Foster's World series, you know that there are illustrated two page spreads throughout that serve as sort of a timeline. The books are usually divided into parts and at the beginning of each part, Foster lays out some of the characters with dates and times that she references throughout her writing. Ruben really enjoys coloring while I read aloud so I photocopied these two page illustrated spreads from Augustus Caesar's World. He colored them and pasted them in his notebook. The purpose of this was two-fold in that it helped him to have a visual timeline of characters and dates for reference while I was reading, as well as occupying his hands in a quiet activity that aided in his listening. I am including sample notebook pages from each of the children's notebooks below.

Overall, Augustus Caesar's World is a wonderful book! I think it's a must read for this time period. This must be why it's not only used by Beautiful Feet, but by so many others, including, Ambleside Online in Year 6, Simply Charlotte Mason, Sonlight, TruthQuest History, and Veritas Press to name a few.

Alexander the Great...

We wrapped up Ruben's study of Greece with Alexander the Great by John Gunther. This classic Landmark book was a fabulous read. I was very intrigued when Gunther mentioned Plutarch as a source throughout. It made me want to further our study by reading Plutarch, which is something I've noted for future studies.

Was Alexander, in deed, great? Alexander was charming and intelligent. Around age fourteen, he tamed a wild horse that no one else could master. He was tutored by Aristotle until the age of sixteen. Alexander was a strong leader. He conquered what was nearly the entire world in his time. However, as Gunther points out, Alexander couldn't conquer himself. He was full of pride and at times, considered himself a god. Alexander was quick to anger and in one of his outbursts, he killed his best friend, which he much regretted later. Alexander became a drunkard and eventually "turned into a maniac."

Alexander's end was that of a man who, for good reasons or bad, had conquered almost the entire world, but who had never been able to conquer himself. The conquest of self is the greatest victory of all, but Alexander even when he was at the height of his power had never been able to achieve it. (Chapter 19)

Alexander's pride went before his fall. After a celebratory feast, at which he indulged and drank all night, he developed a cold and high fever. In less than two weeks, he died at the young age of thirty-two after reigning for twelve years.  Alexander never mastered self-governance, which according to Gunther, "is the greatest victory of all."  In the end, one is left to argue that maybe Alexander was not that great.

Alexander the Great by John Gunther has more recently been republished by Sterling in a paperback form. It is a suggested read in Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ and TruthQuest History,.

Boy of the Pyramids...

As part of Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ, I recently finished reading aloud Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones to Ruben.  I first read Boy of the Pyramids six years ago.  It was a Simply Charlotte Mason recommendation at that time for grades 1-3.  I remember RileyAnn and I both loving it.  Ruben didn't remember the story so it was fun to re-read with him.

Boy of the Pyramids tells the story of Kaffe, a wealthy ten-year old Egyptian boy and his slave Sari.  It is a mystery set in Ancient Egypt.  Aside from the mystery, there is historical value in which we learned about different aspects of Ancient Egyptian life, including building of the pyramids, the flooding of the Nile River, transportation, geography, pharaohs, slaves, and servitude.  There is mention of Ancient Egyptian gods and certain beliefs about death from that time period, but it is not sensationalized, nor the heart of the story.

I love Jones' book because, like The Golden Bull, it's simple and gentle enough for young children studying Ancient Egypt.  Yet, it's not at all dumbed down.  Boy of the Pyramids is a great example of a living book that I anticipate reading a third time with Levi when he studies this time period.  It is also a TruthQuest recommendation for grades 3-8.

The Golden Bull...

Last week we finished reading The Golden Bull, A Mesopotamian Adventure by Marjorie Cowley.  I've found it extremely difficult to find a worthy book set in ancient times that is appropriate for children so I was intrigued with Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ Mesopotamian pick. Upon finishing, I was not disappointed.  It was a great read!  Not only was the book appropriate, but it was clear that the author did her homework, making it appear authentic.

The Golden Bull is a story of parental love and sacrifice, of sibling rivalry overcome, and history in a culture over 5000 years ago.  When a severe drought ravages the land, a father sends his children to an ancient city to survive.  The children, Jomar and Zefa, quickly learn of the dangers that await them.  Not only is there historical value in this story, but character lessons for modern day.   The Golden Bull is a touching story of survival.

Cowley's action adventure is written at a relatively low reading level, yet packed with a multifaceted story that even held my adult attention.  Ruben was interested right from the beginning.  I was not only pleased with Cowley's story, but the logistic layout of the book.  The thirty-three chapters are short, making the story move quickly.  There was ample white space in the margins and a larger font, making it easily readable.  Due to the layout, when we read The Golden Bull at bedtime at the end of a long day, it did not tire my eyes.

Overall, I recommend The Golden Bull when studying ancient history with elementary students.  It is a book that we will keep on our shelf for future readers.

The Secret Garden....

Our final Socratic Book Club read was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  It is a lovely story of overcoming one's negative thoughts.  The Secret Garden also shows how a child's love can heal the emotional scars of the adults around them.  It was a fabulous book to end the club with!

The Secret Garden is set primarily in Yorkshire, England shortly after the turn of the 20th century.  Mary Lennox, a spoiled and selfish girl, is orphaned at age 10 after a cholera epidemic in India.  She is then sent to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, whom she has never met.  Upon her arrival at the Craven's one hundred room manor, she expects staff to wait on her much like in India.  However, Mary is confined to two rooms and told to amuse herself.  She is befriended by lowly good-natured maid Martha, who tells her about the late Mrs. Craven and the gardens.

Eventually, Mary's childlike curiosity gets the best of her and she wanders outside.  In Archibald Craven's grief ten years prior, after his young wife died suddenly, he abandoned her garden, to which no one was allowed to enter.  Mary has heard tell of Mrs. Craven's special rose garden, but it is walled off and no one seems to remember where to find the entrance.

Then one day, Mary finds the buried key and a robin leads her to the door, which is in an overgrown tangle.  She secretly begins to breathe life back into the garden with the help of Martha's brother Dickon.  Along the way, Mary also discovers the source of the crying sounds in the night, but I must not give away the rest of the story, as it's a book that should be read by everyone young and old.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry...

The more I read, the more it takes to impress me.  I've noticed that I am pickier than I used to be about what constitutes a good book.  But every now and then, I still come across one.   Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor is one of those great books.  It is the story of an African-American family's struggle in the deep south during the Great Depression.  It is a book about racism.

Though Taylor's subject matter is heavy, her story is engrossing.  The characters are deep, sympathetic, and multi-faceted.  Taylor develops them in such a way that we see their person-hood come to life.   Throughout the struggle and hardship, there is growth.  I used one such example a couple of weeks ago in A Matter of Principle.

It is my understanding that Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is part of a series Taylor wrote, with it being a middle book chronologically in the series.  I have not read other books in the series, but I know RileyAnn was immediately investigating them and plans to read more at some point.  I have seen Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry on many book lists including, Sonlight and TruthQuest, but of course, we read it as part of our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study.  When studying American history, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor is not to be missed!

Gladys Aylward...

Gladys Aylward was an amazing woman!  After reading her autobiography, written in conjunction with Christine Hunter, as part of our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study, I have a much greater appreciation for her life and work.  This Little Woman put her faith and trust in God to provide not only for her needs, but the needs of the children He entrusted in her care.  I remember reading a bit about Aylward from Hero Tales through Sonlight when Riley was in Kindergarten or first grade, so her name was familiar to me.  However, Gladys Aylward, The Little Woman really brought her story to life.

After reading the book, we did watch The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman.  The film was good as far as movies go, but it was not an accurate portrayal of Aylward....definitely not in accordance with her autobiography.  I was a little disappointed, particularly with the romance Bergman developed throughout her role of Aylward's mission work.  It was surely made for Hollywood.  If you have to pick between the two, I would highly recommend the book over the movie.

Below are some of RileyAnn's notebooking pages she created during our study of Gladys Aylward...

Robinson Crusoe...

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe or Foe, as was his birth name before he changed it to sound more aristocratic, was our March Socratic Book Club read.  Though nearly 300 years old, this great adventure tale still appeals to modern readers.  It is the story of shipwreck and survival, man against nature and man against self.  

In opposition of his father, Robinson Crusoe leaves home to find adventure at sea.  He is shipwrecked, captured by pirates, sold into slavery, eventually escaping, and becomes a prosperous land owner in Brazil. However, his success is not enough, for he sets sail from Brazil to Africa to participate in the slave trade.  While enroute, he is again shipwrecked.  Being the lone survivor, he makes his way to an uninhabited island.  It is here, he spends the next 28 years of his life.   

Weaving between first and third person narrative, Defoe keeps the reader's attention during those initial years of Crusoe being marooned. Like any masterful storyteller, Defore also uses a variety of literary devices, including vivid description, metaphors, similes, contrast, foreshadowing, and flashback. to make his story more interesting.  I was totally pulled into Crusoe's struggle.  The author writes,

I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away upon that island without being driven, as is said, by a violent storm. quite out of the course of our intended voyage, and a great way, some hundreds of leagues out of the ordinary course of the trade of mankind, I had great reason to consider it as a determination of Heaven, that in this desolate place, and in this desolate manner, I should end my life.  The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections, and sometimes I would expostulate with myself, why Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures, and render them so absolutely miserable, so without help abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.  

But something always returned swift upon me to check these thoughts, and to reprove me; and particularly one day, walking with my gun in my hand by the seaside, I was very pensive upon the subject of my present condition, when Reason, as it were, expostulated with me t'other way, thus: "Well, you are in a desolate condition, it is true, but pray remember, where are the rest of you?  Did you come eleven of you into the boat?  Where are the ten?  Why were they not saved, and you lost? Why were you singled out?  Is it better to be here, or there?"  And then I pointed to the sea.  All evils are to be considered with the good that is in them, and with that worse attends them.  

Then it occurred to me again, how I was furnished for my subsistence, and what would have been my case if it had not happened, which was an hundred thousand to one, that the ship floated from the place where she first struck and was driven so near to the shore that I had time to get all these things out of her; what would have been my case, if I had been to have lived in the condition in which I at first came on shore, without necessaries of life, or necessaries to supply and procure them?

Here, we see Crusoe attempting to rationalize and tame his thoughts.  For the first few years of his abandonment, he continues to wrestle with his fate. At one point, he makes a list of the good and evil of his circumstances, "And as my reason began now to master my despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish my case from worse; and I stated it very impartially, like a debtor and creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered..."  

Over time he takes up the Bible and begins reading it on a regular basis trying to find purpose and meaning in his condition.  Finally, after multiple fits of "ague", Crusoe accepts Christ and his lot.

Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my mind being entirely composed by resigning to the will of God, and throwing myself wholly upon the disposal of His providence.  

From that point on, he not only tames his inner self, but also conquers the physical realms of nature.  He depends on God's provisions and learns to work the land instead of against it, making a comfortable home and life for himself.  Eventually, Crusoe even embraces the simplicity and solitude of life on the island.

Then one day, Crusoe sees a lone footprint in the sand on the shore.  He is both happy and afraid as he realizes the island has been visited by cannibals.  However, many years pass before he actually sees them.  I will not give away the second half of the story, but encourage you to read Robinson Crusoe for yourself, which by the way was originally titled, The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver'd by Pyrates.

If you are fortunate enough to come across a Charles Scribner copy of Robinson Crusoe, pictured above, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth, I would recommend it as the illustrations are fabulous and add to the antiquity of the story...

My only caution is that the illustrated copy does not include the full ending, so I did finish the book reading from my Watermill Classic paperback, which included approx. 40 more pages.

This review of Robinson Crusoe will be included as part of my 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge in the Adventure category.

Rascal...

I didn't know much about Sterling North, nor his book Rascal when we began reading as part of our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study.  But, once we started, I was delighted to learn the story took place in our native Wisconsin and was based on a true story.

Rascal is a coming of age story about Sterling North in his boyhood.  Sterling's mother is deceased and his father travels a great deal, leaving Sterling to fend for himself.  One day, Sterling and his friend Oscar find an orphaned baby raccoon and decide to take it to Oscar's house, where his mother nurses it with a wheat straw.  Oscar's parents don't allow him to keep the raccoon so Sterling ends up taking it home.  He names him Rascal.

The story covers a one year period and is primarily concerned with Sterling's adventures with and love for Rascal.  As Rascal grows he becomes more of a nuisance and Sterling has to decide whether or not to keep him.  There's so much more to the story, but I don't want to give it away for those who've not yet read it.  I will suffice to say, that it's a wonderful book for boys, as well as your nature and animal lovers.  Though some history is involved since the story takes place at the end of WWI, I thought there was just as much or more science involved.

After reading the book, we did watch the 1969 Disney DVD.  Unfortunately, the book and movie are totally different.  Of course, the book was better and I would highly recommend reading it before watching the movie.  On the other hand, the film is great for family movie night.  It really was enjoyable for young and old.

Miracles on Maple Hill....

We read Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen for the February 5th/6th Grade Socractic Book Club discussion.  It was a much easier read than some of our other choices, but a delightful story just the same.

When her father returns from the war, a POW suffering from what appears to be PTSD, Marly's family retreats to Maple Hill.  Her grandmother's old house in the country and her mother's childhood haven, look to be the perfect place for father's recovery.  Upon arrival, they are met by Mr. Chris, an old neighboring farmer who believes the first miracle of the year is sap rising and maple syrup making.  Over the course of the year as the seasons change, miracles do happen on Maple Hill.

This delightful coming of age story will warm your heart.  It's set in rural Pennsylvania, post WWII.  The flora and fauna of Maple Hill aid in father's recovery.  Miracles on Maple Hill is a reminder of hope and the importance of family and friends in times of adversity.  The making of maple syrup is also a perfect fit for a great spring read!

The Singing Tree...

The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy happened to be the third title we've read by this author.  Many years ago we read The Chestry Oak and for Christmas 2014 we read A Tree for Peter.  Early on RileyAnn mentioned the fact that all three Seredy books we've read had something to do with a tree.  I found this to be an interesting connection, however, I'm not sure whether or not there was purpose to Seredy's titling.

Anyhow, The Singing Tree takes place on the Hungarian plains during WWI.  It not only covers the war, but is also a coming of age story for Jancsi and his cousin Kate.  When their fathers are sent off to war, the children learn what it is to grow up.  They not only have the responsibility of a farm, but also neighbors and family around them.  When it's been decided they will house six Russian prisoners of war and six semi-orphaned German children, they learn valuable lessons about peaceable relations with the so-called enemy.

As with other Seredy books we've read, there are a variety of themes and story threads woven throughout.  From our experience, I can't imagine that you'd be disappointed.  Seredy is a fabulous story teller and her illustrations are like no other.  In fact, she considered herself an illustrator and not an author, stating something to the effect that her stories simply gave her an excuse to draw pictures.  Ironically, Seredy was born in Budapest, Hungary.  Although most of her books were written in English, it was not her native tongue.

As part of the Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study, while reading The Singing Tree, the kids were assigned a character sketch.  The following is the work of Ruben...

Ruben’s Character Sketch of Lily

February 1, 2016

Lily was very mean.  Her father was Judge Kormos.  He sent Lily to boarding school because her mother was sick.  Lily returned and one day they went to a wedding.  The Nagy’s were there and Lily didn’t get along with Kate Nagy.  Lily didn’t want to dance with Peter and she called him a bad name.  Kate stepped on Lily’s toe, which started a fight.  Lily fell into a hay pile in Varadi’s barn and Kate locked her in. 

Eventually Lily’s disappearance was discovered.  Judge Kormos admitted his struggle rearing Lily and Marton Nagy asked if Lily could spend the summer on this farm.  Judge Kormos thought it was a good idea.

Lily went to live at the Nagy farm.   At first, she didn’t like it, but after a while she didn’t want to leave.  Lily liked the animals and people.  By the end of the story, Lily matured into a young lady.  She was kinder and more helpful.  

The Hobbit...

I have always detested fantasy, whether it be books or movies, it just isn't my genre.  I struggle to get into something that can't really happen.  To some, it may seem narrow minded.  Although, once you're over forty, you care less about what others think...ha!  On the other hand, I didn't want my disdain to sour our children's taste for fantastical literature.  So, I chose The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien for our January Socratic Book Club discussion.

Because I've heard many sing praises of Tolkien and it was on the Ambleside Online Year 6 Literature list, I figured The Hobbit was as good a choice as any.  And, I must say, I was not disappointed.  Actually, I was utterly surprised and quite pleased.  Tolkien did not disappoint.

The Hobbit was originally published in 1937, while J. R. R. Tolkien was a professor at Oxford University.  In late 1932 when he finished the manuscript, he lent it to friends, including his co-worker, C. S. Lewis, who encouraged him to publish his work.  Both Tolkien and Lewis studied and taught the literature of medieval romance.  According to an article at Christianity Today...

The two friends were interested in the literature of the romantic period because many of the poems and stories attempted to convey the supernatural, the "otherworldly"—and thus provided a window into spiritual things. Lewis explored romantic themes like joy and longing, and Tolkien emphasized the nature of people as storytelling beings who by telling stories reflect the creative powers of God. But they both rejected an "instinctive" approach to the imagination. Many romantic writers were interested in a kind of nature mysticism. They looked within themselves and at the world around them and sought flashes of insight into "the nature of things"—illuminations of truth that could not be explained, reasoned, or systematized. But Lewis and Tolkien insisted that the reason and the imagination must be integrated. In any understanding of truth, the whole person must be involved.

Early in the story, I fell in love with Bilbo Baggins.   His quest for courage and character made him a sympathetic "Everyman" protagonist.  Despite his reluctance to entertain the dwarves and go along on their adventure, he remained hospitable and warmhearted.  I found the loyalty of his character very appealing.  He was honest and steadfast in doing what was right even in difficult situations.

The Hobbit made for wonderful conversation with the kids since we all read it together.  Actually, we listened to the majority of it on audio.  I must confess the narrator, Rob Inglis, was what first drew me into the story.  His voice and ability to dramatize the characters was absolutely fabulous!!  Just take a listen here to see what I mean.

In addition, if you'd like to hear a bit of Socratic discussion, hop on over the Center for Lit and listen to their Junior High Lit class discussion.  It is about two hours long so be sure you set aside some time.  The first hour is a bit slow, but the second hour is much better and hopefully will give you food for thought.

SPOILER ALERT!

RileyAnn was very disappointed when Thorin Oakenshield died.  I personally didn't really feel that bad.. This led to a great conversation about his character and good versus evil.  I believe Thorin had to die given his greed.  This gave the treasure and Lonely Mountain to Dain and the dwarves of the Iron Hills.  After all the years of oppression, they were finally able to overcome.  She totally understood.  We were both heart warmed with Thorin's farewell to Bilbo on his deathbed.  In the end, there was forgiveness for an honored friendship.

Since finishing the book, we are working through The Hobbit DVD's.  I had no idea it was going to be a 9 hour venture.  We just finished The Desolation of Smaug and so far have not been disappointed.  Peter Jackson's tale has held fairly true to Tolkien's treasure.  Of course, it's made for Hollywood so the special effects can be a bit much, but the story itself is good.  However, I would definitely read Tolkien's original work before watching the movies!!  There is something very special about developing images in your own mind's eye.

The Hobbit is a Sonlight recommendation in addition to AO.  Since reading the book, I can finally understand the fascination.  Tolkien's fantasy novel is definitely not to be missed.

By the way, I'll be linking this post to the 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge as my Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Dystopian Classic.

Sergeant York, A Humble Man of God....

We finished reading Sergeant York by John Perry as part of our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study.

When Sergeant York came home to a hero's welcome in 1919, his was the biggest ticker-tape parade in New York history up to that time.  Day after day his name appeared in the New York Times.  He was an international celebrity.  Today most Americans younger than fifty have never heard of him...  (p. 157)

Sadly, I was among most Americans younger than fifty who had never heard of Sgt. Alvin C. York.  This line in the story really bothered Ruben as York's character had a huge impact on him....really on all of us.

York was a humble backwoods farmer from TN, who turned from the grips of alcohol to God.  He not only singlehandedly broke up a machine gun nest and captured 132 German soldiers toward the end of WWI, but his speeches helped rally people in support of the U.S. entering WWII.  Upon his return from WWI, he fought relentlessly for the education of poor children in TN.

Perry's book is part of the Christian Encounters series.  His story is told from "exclusive interviews with the sergeant's three surviving children and information drawn from battlefield eyewitness reports and original film studio archives...".  There are excerpts from York's personal journal throughout.

As part of the BF final project after reading Sergeant York, Ruben dictated a biographical sketch to me while I typed.  Then he and I worked together to finalize the following...

Alvin C. York was born in Pall Mall, TN on December 13, 1887. He grew to be a backwoods farmer and hunter. In his early years, he was a drunkard, but after his father died, at his mother’s request, he became a Christian. York started going to church and met Pastor Pile, who became a close friend to him.

In 1917, York was drafted to serve in the army to fight against Germany during WWI. He didn’t like the thought of going to war and killing people, but after he thought about it for a while, he felt God was calling him to go to war and fight for his country.

I wouldn’t like to go to war and fight other people. I wouldn’t like the thought of getting killed. God tells us in the bible, “Do not kill.” However, I think York did the right thing by going to fight for his country.

York served in France. On October 8, 1918, he became famous for the battle at Hill 223. It was here, he encountered a German Machine Gun nest. York killed 20 German soldiers and captured 132 more. He also took 32 machine guns. From that day forward, York became an international hero and was awarded Medals of Honor. He declined fame and fortune and just wanted to get back home to his family and farm in Tennessee.

York knew Gracie Williams all his life, but when he was a drunkard, she didn’t like him. After York became a Christian, he and Gracie fell in love. After the war, in 1919, they married and went on to have ten children.

York wanted to start a school for backwoods Tennessee children who didn’t have enough money to go to school. York struggled financially throughout his life and nearly went bankrupt trying to build the school.

Finally, after twenty years of declining finances and fame, York agreed to have a movie made in his honor. He wanted to raise money for the school. His only condition was that Gary Cooper must play the role of York.

One month before the movie premiere, York gave one of his most compelling speeches at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. As the world was on the brink of WWII, he encouraged America to fight to keep its liberty. He stated,

“We are standing at a crossroads in history. The important capitals of the world in a few years will either be Berlin and Moscow, or Washington and London. I for one prefer Congress and Parliament to Hitler’s Reichstag and Stalin’s Kremlin. And because we were, for a time, side by side, I know this Unknown Soldier does too.

We owe it to him to renew that lease on liberty he helped us to get.

May God help us to be equal to the test.”

The movie was a success. York earned money to build his school and pay off some debt. America went on to fight in WWII.

After declining health, Sergeant Alvin C. York died on September 2, 1964. Gracie died twenty years later. York’s school is still standing in operation today.

Upon finishing Sergeant York the book, we watched Sergeant York, the movie starring Gary Cooper.  Of course, it strayed a bit from Perry's book, but it was still well done and a great family movie night film.  If you haven't already studied Sergeant Alvin C. York, I would highly encourage you to do so.  Even though Riley and I enjoyed his character immensely, I think he would resonate best with boys.

By the way, Sergeant York and His People by Sam K. Cowan; Sergeant York and The Great War by Tom Skeyhill, and Sgt. York: His Life, Legend & Legacy by John Perry are all listed on A Visual American History Timeline of Books, though I have not yet read them.

The Wright Brothers, Pioneers of American Aviation...

Chapter 1 Learning from Mother 

Susan Wright wasn't like other mothers.

She was younger and prettier than most other mothers, and she liked to laugh and she liked to play games with her three youngest children: Wilbur, who was eleven; Orville, who was seven; and Katharine, who was four.

The other mothers would shake their heads and say, "Susan Wright spoils those children; lets'em do anything they want.  No good will come of it."

But Susan Wright only laughed.  In the summer she'd pack a picnic lunch and she, the two boys, and little Kate (no one ever called her Katharine) would go and spend a day in the woods.  Mrs. Wright knew the name of every bird and she could tell a bird by his song.  Wilbur and Orville learned to tell birds too... 

 ...That was another thing about Susan Wright.  Most other mothers would have thought that this was foolish talk.  Most other mothers would have said, "Oh, don't be silly, who ever heard of such nonsense!"  But not Susan Wright.  She knew that even an eleven-year-old boy can have ideas of his own, and just because they happened to come from and eleven-year-old head-well, that didn't make them foolish She never treated her children as if they were babies, and perhaps that's why they liked to go fishing with her or on picnics with her.  And that's why they kept asking her questions.  

And so begins The Wright Brothers, Pioneers of American Aviation by Quentin Reynolds.   We fell in love with the Wright Brothers after reading this Landmark title as part of our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study.  Inspired by their mathematically gifted mother right from the start, Wilbur and Orville loved building things from the fastest sled in town to the highest flying kite and the fastest bicycle.  But their real dream was to someday fly.  As they grew into young men, they spent years perfecting their plan until one day their dream turned into reality.

While reading The Wright Brothers, several things struck me about Wilbur and Orville Wright.  Aside from their ingenuity, they were diligent, dedicated, and hardworking.  When they set their mind to an invention, it usually always materialized into success.  The boys made enough money from odd jobs to finance their projects/experiments and only occasionally borrowed money short term from their mother and no one else.  In the end, their perseverance paid off.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were also largely self-educated.  After a hockey injury forced Wilbur to drop out of school, he continued to study math and science on his own free will.  He was a mechanical genius who understood how things worked.  Orville dropped out of high school to start a printing press business.  He was a little more of a free spirit and always trying to think of ways to improve Wilbur's inventions. Both boys were avid readers with inquiring minds.

The Wright brothers were family oriented.  They loved their mother and sister Kate dearly, as well as each other.  Wilbur didn't stop to think twice when folks heckled him about hanging out with his younger brother.  He loved Orville and believed he was one of the few who understood his thinking.  When Orville became ill, Wilbur sat by his bedside and read him books about gliders and flying. Sadly, neither Wilbur, nor Orville ever married or had children.  It appears they were more interested in flying than socialization.

We learned a great deal about the Wright brothers from Reynolds' book.  After reading, Riley and Ruben each chose a different brother and wrote a short character sketch including three character traits exhibited by that individual.  I used some of their ideas in the description above.

Overall, we enjoyed the book.  I look forward to reading it again some day with Levi.  The Wright Brothers is also a TruthQuest History recommendation.

Jotham's Journey, A Storybook for Advent....

I've had Arnold Ytreeide books on the shelf for years, but for some reason I've never used them.  This year seemed like a good time to give one a try.  We are nearly finished reading Jotham's Journey. This Advent storybook reads like an adventure novel.  The kids were captivated from day one.  I particularly like the lesson or commentary at the end, which links bible verses and provokes thought regarding character.

Of course lighting the Advent candles is a novelty the kids also love.  Each night, usually after supper, the kids take turns lighting the appropriate candle(s).  Then I read the assigned pages.  We have brief discussion or they narrate.  They blow out the candles and it's over until the next evening.  The first reading begins on the first Sunday of Advent and the final reading ends on Christmas Eve.  The readings take anywhere from 10-20 minutes each night.  

To date, there are four books in Ytreeide's Advent series. You would only read one per year so this provides four years worth of study.  Jotham's Journey was written and intended to be the first book.  However, each book is independent in and of itself so you don't have to read one to understand the others.

Jotham's Journey is a hit in our home.  Take a look here to see other Christmas books we've read in the past.   What are your favorite Christmas reads?

A Christmas Carol....

Our November Socratic Book Club read was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  I had seen several renditions of the movie over the years, but never read Dickens' actual novel.  Truth be told, this was the first Dickens novel I actually read.

A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge finding the true meaning of Christmas.  Scrooge is cantankerous, crabby, cold hearted, and a down right miserable man.  Then one Christmas Eve, after being visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future in a series of dreams, Scrooge awakens to become a changed man.

Once again, I used SparkNotes as advance preparation for our discussion.  I introduced the term allegory and conflicts such as man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. God; man vs. self, and man vs. society.  I also reviewed protagonist/antagonist and The Five Elements of Fiction: Story Chart.  The discussion was great!  Most of the students were engaged and a couple even had a thoughtful debate in response to a question posed.

A Christmas Carol is an important piece of literature that should be required reading.  Many words and phrases from this Dickens classic have become common language in our society.  "Scrooge" is used  in reference to a miserly person.  We say "Bah humbug" when referring to nonsense.  In spite of the archaic 19th Century British writing, A Christmas Carol has a Lexile Measure of 1080 and should be easily readable by most middle and high school students.

When choosing a copy of A Christmas Carol, I recommend an unabridged edition.  Ours was an old hardback illustrated by Arthur Rackham.   Unfortunately, the spine fell apart while I was reading, but I love the illustrations so much that I plan to keep it and hopefully, someday, repair it.

Also, Adam Andrews from Center for Lit is currently offering a free audio of A Christmas Carol for live streaming.

Overall, we loved A Christmas Carol!  SPOILER ALERT: I will leave you with the final paragraph....

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total-Abstinence Principle ever afterwards; and it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.  May that be truly said of us, and all of us!  And so as Tiny Tim observed God bless Us, Every One!

BTW, I'm using A Christmas Carol as my Classic Novella in the 2015 Back to the Classics Challenge.  

George Washington Carver, A Life in Poems....

Last month, we read Carver, a life in poems by Marilyn Nelson as part of the Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study.  It's a biography of George Washington Carver written as a collection of poems.

From the jacket flap...

Carver was born a slave in Missouri about 1864 and was raised by the childless white couple who had owned his mother.  In 1877 he left home in search of an education, eventually earning a master's degree... 

Carver was quite an amazing man!   In 1877, he was invited by Booker T. Washington to start the agriculture department at Tuskegee Institute.  It was here, that he spent his life seeking solutions to the poverty among landless black farmers.  He was a humble, yet determined botanist and inventor with a bent for art and music.  He was also a gifted teacher that touched the lives of many.

At first glance, one might think Nelson's book is simplistic or for younger students.  On the contrary, there is much depth here and the content in a couple of the poem's includes advanced topics, as in a scene from Goliath regarding a lynching that was particularly graphic.  The Sweet-Hearts also references a suicide.

I had never read a collection of biographical poetry before.  It was interesting.  Now, having read through it once and getting the hang of it, I think it would behoove me to go back and reread it at a later date for more understanding.

All in all, Carver, a life in poems, seems a fitting choice to learn about the life of George Washington Carver.  There are black and white photos throughout the book and dated historic notes at the bottom of several poems.  Carver grew up in a time of great racial injustice.  Throughout which, he made significant contributions to society.   Nelson's collection of poems shows the complexity of Carver's life and times.

Along Came Galileo...

As part of our Beautiful Feet History of Science study, I read aloud Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick.  It was an excellent follow-up to Bendick's Archimedes and the Door of Science.  Bendick's books give a historical as well as science based understanding of her subjects.

In Along Came Galileo, Bendick gives a biographical account of Galileo Galilei's life from the time of his birth to the time of his death.  At the end of each chapter is a quote from Galileo.  One difference between Along Came Galileo and Archimedes and the Door of Science is the experiments.  Archimedes had experiments built in.  Galileo did not.

Overall, I thought Bendick's book was an enjoyable read.  Galileo asked questions and found answers to many scientific issues.  He was not only a scientist, but an inventor, astronomer, and author that was ahead of his time.

Below are some notebooking pages the kids completed throughout our reading...

The Perilous Road...

The Perilous Road by William O. Steele is the story of young Chris Brabson, a boy living in Tennessee at the time of the Civil War.  Chris hates the Yankees and can't understand why his brother Jethro decides to fight on the Union side.  Eventually, Chris spies for the Confederates only to later find out Jethro is a part of the wagon train that's going to be ambushed.  The story takes a major turn when Chris tries to find Jethro and warn him of the upcoming raid, hoping to save his life. Chris gets caught in a horrific battle and soon realizes that nothing is clear cut in war.

Steele's coming of age story was a hit here on the home front.   Ruben was begging for more.  The Perilous Road was the second book we read for our Beautiful Feet Modern American and World History study, following Across Five Aprils.   It is also on the Sonlight and TruthQuest History list.

Below is Ruben's essay on how Chris's attitude changed toward the Yankees over the course of the story...

The Perilous Road

By Ruben

October 5, 2015

    Chris hated the Yankees because he thought they were arrogant and snotty.  The Yankees took Chris’ buckskin shirt and stole the food that he worked hard for.  His brother Jethro joined up with the Yankees and Chris didn’t like that. 

     Chris told his friend, Silas, to get the Rebs.  The Feds were camped in the valley. Chris was feeling bad that his brother may get killed in the valley because he was a wagoneer.  He didn’t know his brother was still in training for a few months.  So, he was going to go to the valley where the Feds were camped to find Jethro and tell him that the Rebs were coming so that he could escape. 

     When Chris went to the Fed’s camp, he met some guys that were talking around the campfire and singing.  One of them bought him some gingersnaps.  One of them gave him an apple.  Chris fell asleep and one of the wagoneers laid him in his wagon. 

     Then the Rebs came and the wagoneer tried to escape, but the wagon he was in tipped over because he was going too fast across a rutted and bumpy field.  Chris escaped into the woods.  He tripped over the leg of the soldier that had bought him the gingersnaps.  The soldier was now dead, lying in the weeds.  He found the soldier that gave him the apple with a wound in his chest.  Chris asked him if he needed anything and he said he wanted water.  Chris found an empty coffee pot and he went to a spring and filled it with water.  He took it to the soldier. 

     Through it all, Chris realized that a lot of the Yankees were just like him.  They liked to hunt and farm.  They had families. 

     Chris eventually got back to his cabin.  His dad and Silas had been looking for him.  Chris told his father everything he had done.  Chris was relieved to hear that his brother was safe and the battle had nothing to do with him.  Chris no longer hated the Yankees.