A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Upper Elementary

Review: Torpedoed! A World War 2 Story

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Sometimes, in the course of a war, events happen that have repercussions unexpected.  Torpedoed! tells us of one such event, the sinking of the Athenia.  Cheryl Mullenbach, pulls out two children in this sad tale, to bring this story to life for middle school students.  This is a World War II story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children’s Survival at Sea. 

Until I read this book I was unfamiliar with this story, and this book spurred on my curiousity to know, sending me to youtube.  There weren’t a lot of videos about the Athenia, it is an easily forgotten bit of history, what with Germany invading Poland around the same time.

Ms. Mullenbach, doesn’t tell a story as she writes this book, it reads like a text. She didn’t make up a fictionalized story to compell you to read the story, but she grabs hold of two children to help personalize the text that she imparts.   Walking through the days with Florence (age 14) and Russell (age 11) does a great job of helping us to see how the war affected the lives of innocents.  We were able to see how the war caused unexpected disruption and hurt families. 

Images dot the pages from back in the day, bringing to the life the reality of what these individuals needed to deal with. 

I appreciate the time that Ms. Mullenbach took to organize this book in a logical manner.  Walking us through the planning, the travel and the thought processes. She closes off with a good bibliography complete with time line.  

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, this book was different than I expected, and that’s not a bad thing.  I fully expected a fictionalized account, a story, not a middle school textbook.  It was a good read that I suspect your students would enjoy reading.  This is a concisely written factual book that  shows the repercussions … in the immediate (the sinking of the ship, the loss of lives) and in the Long-term (Nuremberg trials).  Torpedoed is written at a middle school level without a lot of extra drama. It would be an excellent book to start off a study of World War II.  The graphics that fill the pages helped to round out the story and showed well what things were like during the War.  Good book.  

Torpedoed!  A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship
      and Two Children's Survival at Sea.
Cheryl Mullenbach
Chicago Review Press
Hardcover, 176 pages
World War 2, U-boats, Sinking Ship, Adventure, non-fiction

Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where to find it?  Amazon link.

Other books on the wars that I’ve reviewed?  We will not be silent.  Prisoner of Dieppe.   Once was a time.

Review: Betty Before X

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Do you know one of the good things about going to the ER?  It gives you a chance to read an wonderful middle school book. It’s good to read while you wait you know?  The book in this case is Betty Before X.  Ilyasah Shabazz with some help from Renee Watson. 

Betty is a young negro girl who for the first few years of her life was raised by her auntie.  She then moved in with her momma, new siblings and momma’s husband.  She moved out of the south to Detroit in 1945.   Betty isn’t sure of her momma’s love, or her momma’s want of her, and thus the story unfolds, spilling out into school, church and community. 

This is a story that has real pain and sorrow in it, but it isn’t kept at the forefront of Betty’s life.   The forefront of Betty’s life is the Lord and seeing the blessings he has provided.   This book had so many blessings along with hidden questions and ideas in the heart of this girl child.  Hardships she needed to face up to, but life that she needed to live.

Most of this book is just about Betty, as a youngster, growing up.  What helped to formulate her mindset and shaped her day to day life.  A book that draws middle school students into the life of a black child in Detroit in the mid-1940’s. 

The largest part of the book is simply black and white. Numbered chapters that varied in length, it is divided into six sections, the first five containing a quote and a set of years.   Just like you see below. 

 

At the close of the story, we find the image to the right, after the image we find a section talking about characters and places in Betty’s life, as well as an timeline overview of her life.  Betty grew up to become the wife of Malcolm X.   In the story we are introduced to ideas that are more fully explained her without the ease in telling that you’d find in a story.

 

This quote from the book just sits with me… making me wonder… where do uncried tears go?

My thoughts:

I really appreciated that this was a book filled with looking for the positive even amongst the hard things of life.  Not diminishing the hard things, but not making them a point of hate or anger, just a longing for something more and better and seeing the good in what you have.  This makes it an easier read of black history that I would want my middle schooler to read.  The close of the book doesn’t skirt the truth, it gives the facts so that we know the behind the scenes of the story.  Sharing them so we know the pain of that time, a knowing of the history.   If you pick this book up, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and learn much! 

Betty Before X
Ilyasah Shabazz with Renee Watson
Farrarr Straus Giroux
Trade paperback, 256 pages, 
Middle school, Upper Elementary, Fiction, Black History

Reviewed for: Raincoast books. 

Where to find: Amazon Link.

 

Review: Ellie, Engineer

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Ellie, Engineer.  What can I tell you about a young girl who likes to build and create?  This lovely little easy read chapter book contains: One Ellie, one toolbelt, one skirt, one sketchpad and one very active mind along with one friend with a birthday coming up.  Then a mishap happens….

… and then another…. and then… well you know what.. I can’t tell you the WHOLE story. 🙂

Friendship and engineering fill the pages.   Truthfulness and dishonesty place close seconds.  Will Ellie and Kits’ friendship handle the tests put to it?   Will new friendships become needful? Will Ellie lose it all in the end or will more be gained than could be even dreamed of?

An easy read chapter book with decently developed characters.  It was a fun read with a handy “these are an engineers tools” section at the close of the book.   Ellie’s sketches filled several pages throughout the book.

My Thoughts:

I laughed more than once.  🙂  I think it’s geared more 8-10 years. It was a good story filled with all sorts of engineering tasks and explanations about how a youth could engage in engineering tasks.   I love the list of tools at the close of the book. A fun read with short chapters and sketches that add well to the story. 

Ellie, Engineer
Jackson Pearce
Bloomsbury Kids
Softcover, trade paperback, fiction
ages 8-12
Engineering, girls, creativity, 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where to purchase: Amazon Link.

Review: NKJV Study Bible For Kids

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Theme bibles are all the rage you know?   We have bibles for kids, women, men, boys, girls, outdoor bibles, readers bibles… bibles of all shapes and sizes, translations and focus groups.   That’s not necessarily a bad thing you know?  Because helping people read God’s word is one of many steps that can help reach lost souls for the Lord.    We have so many, you might ask, why do we need more?  For this simple fact: We don’t know if THIS translation or THIS style will reach even one more person for the Lord.   So today I bring you a really colourful bible called “NKJV Study Bible for Kids”.

Tommy Nelson has come out with a colourful bible to intrigue your children.  The bright colours on the cover attract, and those colours are repeated throughout the bible with the various topical helps they have inserted. Printed on slightly heavier than normal bible quality paper, it is easy to carry for youth. 

Each of the topics is presented in a “let’s make it relevant to the children” manner, from defining more difficult words, to helping the reader to connect with important biblical people.  The NKJV Study Bible for Kids is “The Premier NKJV Study Bible for kids”.

The features/articles include:

Timelines
On Location: Maps
Spotlight: Stories of the Bible – e.g. God’s Gift to Joseph, Living Wisely
Starring Rolls: Profiles on major people of the Bible – e.g. Deborah, Eunice, Stephen, Samuel
Action!: Articles on day-to-day articles that are relevant to kids – e.g. Learning, community, obedience
In Focus: Definitions
Epic Ideas: Info on must-know topics – e.g. God keeps promises, God loves honesty, The Scarlet Cord

What I liked:

What I like in the NKJV Study Bible for Kids, is the myriad of helps contained within the pages.  850 different topic boxes under such headings as “Behind the Scenes”, “Spotlight”, “Action”, “Epic Ideas”, “Starring Roles”, “In Focus”, “On Location” and “Time Lines”.   You will also find a dictionary/concordance, an index for all the topics, and a quick reference section.  The scripture reference is on the edge of each page which is rather helpful.

I liked how each topical area is clearly delineated as to the focus and separating it from the text of the bible. 

I liked the fresh look of the cover, seriously.. all those colours intermingling on the cover.. just seemed bright and cheerful to my eyes.  🙂

Things I wasn’t as keen on:

Each page is outlined in colour. Just wasn’t my thing, I prefer clean edges in my bibles for ease of note taking. It is quite pretty and eye-catching so it might be a draw for some… and it does fit with the theme of the cover so THAT’s a good thing.  🙂

NKJV Study Bible for Kids - 
     The Premier NKJV Study Bible For Kids
Tommy Nelson
Study Bible, 
Trade Paperback, 

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers. 

Where you can find it: Amazon Link.

 

Review: Egyptomania

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Ah… who doesn’t love the study of ancient Egypt?  The study of the government, the tombs, their love of cats, mummies, and the ancient gods.   Egyptomania is wonderfully illustrated by Emma Giuliani (graphic designer and illustrator living in Paris) and written by Carole Saturno (French children’s author who also writes history and travel guides).   Lift the flaps and open wide pages to delve deep into the life of Ancient Egypt.

Learn what Ancient Egyptians wore, what’s inside a pyramid, how a mummy is made and so much more by lifting the flaps and discovering the secrets hiding underneath!  You need to check out the details in this well crafted book.

Text is well balanced with images. Written on a level to by understood by upper elementary and middle school students

Timelines included:

 Lift the flaps to experience and learn more about Egypt and her many layers.

Don’t you just love the details in the illustrations?   This is a well-done book that will delight any student of Ancient Egypt.  I learned so much.  It could easily be the start of any study of Egypt, and then use points of interest to explain your research into this culture and time.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, I like this book so much I am leaving it in it’s protective sleeve.  🙂  I just don’t want to risk it being damaged at all.  🙂  Silliness I know.. what’s the use of a good book if you keep it wrapped up?  I just love all the fold outs, lift that flaps, and other treasures to be found within the pages. 🙂   It has been used!  And I’ll bring it out again, but until then.. protective sleeves are good eh?

 
Egyptomania
Emma Giuliani (illustrator)
Carole Saturno
Laurence King
16 pages, ages 6+
Hardcover, lift the flap, history, 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where can you find it?
    Amazon Link.

 

Review: Castle in the Stars

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Suppose, just suppose that man’s first trip, man’s first journey into space happened in 1869 rather than in 1969.   What do you think might have happened?   Just suppose this for a while… and then you’ll have the premise to Castle in the Stars. 

alex alice castle stars

So what do you think a space race in 1869 would look like?
Would there be rivalries between nations?  Would there be kings fighting?  Any involvement of castles or knights or ladies in waiting?  Just what do you think it would look like?

Done in
the graphic novel style, this easy to read book is broken into
chapters.  The graphics are well done, with spots of narrative to
explain background information.

 I loved the colours, they fit really well with the story line…all those blues and greens, the greys of the castle.   Just marvellously done, with a water colour feel eh?

 I found the text easy to read, and believable.  No huge gaps in conversation or plot line as I have sometimes found in graphic novels.   It made sense the way it was all put together.

My thoughts:

All in all, a good book.  It seemed believable to me, what it might look like it days gone by to be racing to the sky.   The intrigue and concerns between people and nations.

I do wish that graphic novels wouldn’t leave me hanging.  It’s like they only give you part of the story in the hopes that you like it well enough to buy the next installment.  Drives me crazy.   I guess the question is this: do I like this book enough that I would like to see part two?  Yes, but if I never finish the story I’m okay with that as well.  

Castle in the Stars: The Space Race of 1869 
Book One.
Alex Alice
First Second
Ages 10-14
64 pages
Graphic novel, hardcover, oversized

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where can you find it?

Amazon.ca: Castle in the Stars
Amazon.com: Castle in the Stars, space race of 1869.

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Review: Sled Dog School

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You know how people often can write best the life that they know? Author Terry Lynn Johnson has owned a team of sled dogs for years so writing a book with sled dogs is a natural fit for her.

The book starts off with Matt, an 11 year old boy, trying to get mail from the mailbox while his younger sister tags along.  He learned he needs to do an extra credit project in order to bring up his grade in school.   School is not a pleasant place for Matt, often teased for being different than the other students, with the smell of the wood burning stove on this clothes.  Matt enjoys the time he spends with the family’s sled dogs.   Matt decided for extra credit he would start Matt’s Sled Dog School.

The rest of the book is filled with how Matt ran the sled dog school, how he learned to deal with difficult people, learn to run his dogs and learn how to actually run a business.  The practical application of doing math, and the help of a friendly bus driver, helped him to learn to do math better, and to see the need to get help in understanding math all the more.


I found the book very interesting even though it’s geared for younger readers. It was interesting to see how Matt’s life changed, so he learned that it’s okay to ask for help, how he learned his strengths and his weaknesses and his ability to get the job done and accept responsibility for what he must.  It was great to see how friendship blossomed when it was expected. It was well written tome.

Sled Dog School
Terry Lynn Johnson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for young readers
197 pages
softcover
7-10 years
Chapter book
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where Can I Find It?

Amazon.com: Sled Dog School.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites