Hi everyone, welcome to sunny November! This first bookish booklist has a selection of tween reads that taught me not just hard truths, but also historical facts that somehow were not covered during my schooling years! You know the drill folks, press below to see what’s in store this week…
Yes, these are all historical reads but please bear with me as they have some amazing stories and characters.
My first read is set during the Klondike gold rush during the late 1800’s. In Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine by Caroline Starr Rose (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2017) we’re thrust into the lives of eleven-year-old Jasper and his older brother, Melvin. They’re both been desperate to get away from small town Kirkland, in Washington – to seek out adventures and riches beyond their wildest dreams. When the Klondike gold rush starts, both brothers find themselves on a steamer headed for Alaska following people just like them hoping to strike it rich. Once there, they hear about clues of a forgotten stake left by an old coot of a miner called One-Eyed Riley. In this high adventure read we find ourselves transported into the snow-clapped Alaskan wilderness during that gold rush era. Along with a colourful cast of supporting characters, Jasper and Melvin’s tale of courage kept me gripped. Since my knowledge of the Klondike gold rush was limited, I learned quite a bit about it from this read. The author had done a good job at describing the reality of those times while layering it with themes of courage and loyalty. I really enjoyed this read and would recommend it for anyone!
The next read, Lemons by Melissa Savage (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017) takes us to a tiny town in California where we meet Lemonade Liberty Witt. Set somewhere during the 70’s, Lem is forced to live with the grandfather she’s never met in Willow Creek. Meeting eleven-year-old quirky Tobin Sky, the CEO of Bigfoot detectives Inc, Lem is hired to be his assistant for the summer. The two children set out on an epic adventure to capture the elusive creature on film, but Lem and Tobin’s big discovery ends up being more earth-shattering than they ever dreamed! In this debut novel, Melissa Savage not only gives us a rollercoaster of a read in the mystery and adventure the characters face, but she also discusses the grief that is felt when a young child loses a parent in a loving and gentle way. Sure, the additional Bigfoot mania that hit that part of the US highlighted here is interesting to learn about, but for me, it was how both Lem and Tobin dealt with their individual losses that was interesting. I really enjoyed reading of the growing bond between Lem and her grandfather Charlie. If you’re looking for a funny read, this will surely tick that box!
The American Civil War was a time period I had only seen in TV shows and movies, so as I read Calico Girl by Jerdine Nolen, (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017) I knew I would end up learning quite a bit about it. What I didn’t account for was the powerful impact it would have on my view of that historical event. This tale begins in 1861 in Virginia as the Civil War begins. Twelve-year-old Callie Wilcomb’s family are slaves but this war gave them hope for freedom one day. As Virginia ratified their vote to secede from the union, in May 1861, many slaves and their families fled to a Union outpost offering refuge to slaves. This story tells of Callie’s arduous journey there and her dreams of becoming a teacher after attending school for the first time. Based on true accounts of the Civil War, Nolen gives us a story of family and bravery along with a part of history that not everyone knew of. This challenging read had me reaching for tissues as well as shaking my head at the prejudice and injustice of that time. Despite the cruelty described, I found hope in how Nolen depicted real-life heroes. A good read for maybe older readers.
Best quote: “Learn everything you can, so that you can bring that wisdom to others.”
This next read was another one from around the same era. The River Between Us by Richard Peck (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2003) takes the reader to a small town in Illinois where we meet thirteen-year-old Tilly Pruitt and her family. They’ve been living in a muddy little town fearing the approach of the Civil War, except for Tilly’s twin brother, Noah. He had been marching and drilling with the other boys in town – all of them ready to soldier, some for the North, some for the South. When the Rob Roy from New Orleans docks at the landing, two remarkable figures come ashore: a glamorous young lady in a rustling hoop skirt and her darker, silent servant. When Tilly’s mother invites the pair to board at their house, the whole world shifts for the Pruitts and their visitors. This was one read where the female experience of the Civil War has been expertly crafted. Every chapter was richly described and you can’t help being transported into the story. I loved hearing how young Tilly viewed the world around her and as her friendship grew with Delphine, she began to understand about life in New Orleans, especially for the African Americans living there. You learn quite a bit about the laws back then in this read. For me, some content felt a bit mature but overall it was an amazing read!! It’s no wonder that Peck won the Scott O’Dell award for this story in 2004!
My last story is The Safest Lie by Angela Cerrito (Holiday House, 2015) that takes readers to the Second World War era. We meet nine-year-old Anna Bauman, one of the Jewish children who Jolanta (code name for the real life World War Two Resistance spy Irena Sendler), smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto. Anna is given a new name and false papers. She must keep her true identity secret, first at a Catholic orphanage, and then with a foster family. Ironically, she discovers that the most difficult part isn’t remembering her new identity, but trying not to forget the old one. Anna’s story, suspenseful and deeply moving, shed light on yet another aspect of the Holocaust: rescued children who lost not only their loved one, but their very identities and Jewish heritage. Although poignant, this tale was quite difficult to read. It tells of a time when the Germans took Jewish children who looked like the version of the pure Aryan away and brain-washed them to be German. Towards the end of this read, you see what the effects it had on those kids – forgetting their family, identity and Jewish heritage. This story, for me, not only speaks on the cruelties of this war, but also on the strength of sacrifice and bravery shown by the Resistance groups to save the Jewish children of Europe. Although sad, this book has a good ending. One of hope and survival. Angela Cerrito’s note at the end along with the picture of Irena and her daughter brought me to tears. This is another that is better for older readers.
I hope you all managed to learn something this week from my booklist, I found myself getting emotional while setting it all up again.
Stay safe and keep reading
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 