Book #41

We just finished the second book in the Wizard of Oz series called "The Marvelous Land of Oz".  I don't know if you watched the movie Return to Oz when you were a kid, but parts of this book reminded me of that movie--some of the characters and some of the magic.  It made me want to find it and watch it with my kids. 

After writing "The Wizard of Oz" Frank L. Baum said that he wouldn't write another Oz story.  He received lots of letters asking him to write one.  After one letter from a young girl he said that if she could get 1000 people to write saying they wanted another Oz story he would do it.  This story is proof that he lost that bet. 

In this story we see the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman again and are introduced to new characters--Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug and the Gump.  They travel around the land of Oz in an attempt to save the Emerald City from the army of revolt and search for the rightful heir.  I enjoyed the story, but didn't think it was as well written as the first book. 

Book #40

"Son" is the 4th book in "The Giver" series by Lois Lowry.  This is an interesting series.  "The Giver" was written over 20 years ago and at the end you think the story is over, but in in 2000 Lois Lowry wrote a sequel called "Gathering Blue" and a 3rd book called "The Messenger" in 2004.  Again, we thought that was the end, but just last year she released "Son".  Who knows if that will be the last? 

The story starts in the same place as "The Giver" and ends in the same place as "The Messenger".  Claire is assigned to be a birth mother, but there are complications and after giving birth via C-section she is reassigned to another occupation.  By chance Claire does not resume her daily pill taking and therefore has feelings.  She feels attachment to her baby.  If you've read "The Giver" you understand how different this is for people in this community.  Claire's baby is Gabe, the boy that Jonas (from "The Giver") runs away with.  Claire runs away, too, in search of her son and after much adventure, learning and sacrifice she is reunited with him. 

I've mentioned before how much I love reading books from another character's point of view.  The first part of the story is this way.  I thought that we would get to see how the community survived after Jonas left, but was still pleased with the direction the book went.  Maybe Lois Lowry will write another book that watches the people in the community deal with the memories. 

Book #39

My sister and I like to read books together so that we can discuss them and sometimes having a buddy/accountability partner helps me to finish tough books.  The latest book we read was "Ender's Game".  She read it for a book club and knew that I wanted to review it before I read it to my kids so she asked me to join her.  I love this book, but my kids aren't ready for it. 

It's funny how each time you read a book, you learn something different.  The first time I read it, I was intrigued.  I enjoyed it, but didn't really get it.  The second time I read it, I understood so much better the battle scenes.  This time, the leadership stood out to me.  The way Ender watched others and learned how to be a good leader. 

Some leadership skills I learned from Ender:
1. It isn't how you solve problems, but why.
2. A leader settles their own problems.
3. A leader knows what to do and what not to do by learning from others.
4. A leaders also knows what to do by trial and error. 
5. A leader evaluates their knowledge and understands how to apply it.
6. A leader often takes "the road less traveled."
7. A leader acts like a leader.
8. A leader asks the right questions.
9. Sometimes a leader has to act alone.
10. A leader must "stand strong" even when everything stands against him.
11. A leader gains trust.
12. A leader is not a manager--a leader must be in the trenches.

Ender realized that he had power, but it was "a power born of excellence, not manipulation."  He had respect and admiration from his crew.  He learned how to lead them. 

I don't know if I'll watch the movie.  I'm always disappointed in the changes made, but it might be interesting to see how they do the battle scenes. 

Book #38

"We're off to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of OZ!"  I broke out in song several times as I read this book aloud to the kids.  What a fun story, even thought it isn't the same as the movie I grew up watching and singing along with. 

Dorothy is carried by a cyclone to the land of OZ and befriends some strange characters--the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.  They make their way to the Emerald City in hopes that the wizard will give them their deepest wish.  The irony of their wishes is that 3 of them already have what they want.  The Scarecrow wants brains, but his ideas along the trip show that he already has brains.  The Tin Woodman wishes for a heart, but he is always kind and thoughtful to all the creatures.  The Cowardly Lion desires courage, but often shows courage and bravery in the face of danger.  Even Dorothy has the ability to get back to Kansas the whole time, she just doesn't know the power is contained in her silver shoes.  The 4 friends go on many adventures and overcome many trials, but in the end, they all get what they want.

I can't remember if I already knew there were more books about the land of OZ or if I learned it from friends who were reading the series.  I decided it would be a fun series to read.  Most of the kids have already read the first book, but I decided to start there anyway for the benefit for the youngest two.  They loved it and all are looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Books #36 and #37

On our recent trip to Utah we listened to and finished a couple of audio books.  The first was a fun one called "The Beloved Dearly".  It was about a clever boy who was always coming up with ways to earn money.  Unfortunately his father didn't like his schemes and forbade him from continuing.  The boy decided to make one last attempt and builds a business burying neighborhood kids' dead pets.  In the process he builds a pet cemetery, learns how to make and keep friends and earns his dad's understanding.  Most of us enjoyed the story.   





The other story was a little more thought provoking--"Bread and Roses, too".  It is a story about the 1912 factory strike in Massachusetts.  It made me think about factory conditions and wondered if strikes could really change them.  I questioned the government involvement and the unions.  I felt sorry for the families, especially the children.  And I felt grateful that we don't live in that kinds of environment.  Mostly Jonathan and I listened to that one, but the kids quietly played or read or listened. 

Book #35

I will often download audio books for the kids to listen to during quiet time.  Awhile ago they began listening to "Maniac Magee", but turned it off about half way through because they didn't like it.  They couldn't tell me why.  After a recommendation from my aunt we decided to try it again, only this time with me reading it aloud so that if there were any questions or concerns I would be there to address them. 

The story is about a young, white boy (Maniac) who runs away and ends up in a small town that is divided--east side blacks, west side whites.  At the beginning, Maniac is unaware of the segregation and lives on the east side with a black family.  But because of racial tension he runs away again.  He bounces from family to shelter to family to shelter, always searching for a place to call home.  He ends up being friends with kids and families from both sides and tries to get them to see that we are all people--no matter the color of our skin. 

Book #34

A young girl named Minli lives with her Ma and Ba in a poor village at the bottom of Fruitless Mountain.  Ma thinks their family has poor fortune.  They work all day in the rice fields and come home to a tiny house to eat a bowl of rice.  Ba tells stories and Ma frowns.  One day Minli buys a gold fish and everything changes. 

Minli begins an adventure to change her fortune.  Along the way she makes a friend, listens to stories, meets interesting people, learns the true meaning of happiness, understands what fortune is, and reunites a family.  Her parents learn to trust Minli, and they also discover that they had fortune all along. 

The kids and I read "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin as part of our kid summer book club.  We had a great discussion--each of the kids asking questions or sharing their favorite part of the book.  There was a lot of thinking involved.  After the discussion we played a game.  I was lucky to find this book.  We all enjoyed it and learned a lot.