A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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What Did I Read in April

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So a friend of mine was doing this, and I thought it an excellent idea.  She was sharing the books she was reading over the course of the previous month.   Isn’t that a great way to meet new books?  So just what did I read in April, and what did I think of them?  Won’t you come along and see? Perhaps you’ll meet a new potential favourite, and then share one with me? 

Just so you know Affiliate links will be used in this post. 

What Did I Read in April

Books I read for fun and learning!

Admittedly, a lot of the books I read lately are books that I listened to.  I have the audible app and thoroughly enjoy having it.    I so love getting a new book every month, and every day I get an email suggesting a new book at a discounted price.  I’ve met some excellent books that way!

Books that I have listened to are:

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin.   I loved this book.   It was somewhat predictable so if I walked away and missed 30 seconds I didn’t fuss about it.  But this historical romance was a romance of books and helping others.  Was there personal romance yes, but it was definitely secondary to the romance of books. It was all about reading them, sharing them, organizing them, and discovering them. 

It takes place in London, during WW2 of which there are a plethora of books lately.  I loved the history and the look into the everyday lives of men and women during this time period.   I enjoyed how the love of books infused the storyline.  Well done.  

The Dragon’s Blade Trilogy by Michael R. Miller.  Now this book I started a fair bit ago.  I love fantasy, I adore fantasy with dragons in it.  It’s just a genre I really like.  But this one was odd.  It took me until the second book in this trilogy to really connect with the characters.  I started to become invested in the life of the main character and some of the perifery ones.   I even cared about a good “bad guy”.  

Why was it a struggle?  It’s VERY wordy.   Oh my, the author could go on and on and on.  But once I was invested, I was very persistent in listening all the way through.   The end was a bit preachy, but thought-provoking.  It’s a story where the good guys need to sacrifice to help those in need, and that was good.  So it’s a bit of a mix, but overall I liked it enough that I checked out other books he’s written. 

And I’ve started the following: 

Women in White Coats.  This is the history of women doctors in Europe and North America.  This is a history textbooky, but also storyish.  You feel like you are getting to know the characters which is good.  Makes the history seem more real you know? 

I am George.  This is about the history of black pullman on the trains.  So far, very interesting.  It is not a story, it is more a retelling of history … like a textbook sorta.  It’s making me ask questions.  For instance, is it prejudiced to not envision a multi-cultural society?  Sometimes people are so used to the way things are that to see something beyond that is not possible. 

Physical books that I am into. 

Currently reading An Encounter Easter.  I take this to work for a short devotional time at work.   I expect I’ll work my way through the entire book and it will take me longer than the 50 days of Easter.  🙂 

Gentle and Lowly.  This book by Dane Ortlund is an excellent read, drawing me into the very heart of Jesus.  It is making me think deeply.  I am very much taking my time going through it.  Thus far it’s a book I feel like I was meant to read.  GET IT! 

Books Reviewed

Books I posted for reviews

Like always, I love to share my thoughts about a wide variety of books.   I receive books from a few different places, each with their own focal points. 

Teaching Books

  • The Perfect Rejection Resume. I think this book would be helpful in a college and careers class.
  • How to Homeschool.  The author covers a lot of concerns with homeschooling.  Shares a lot from his own homeschooling journey.  Wasn’t my style, but a good book none-the-less. 
  • Sheltering Mercy. A book of prayers as free verse. Based on the Psalms.  I am using this book almost every weekday. 
  • Food Triggers.  Learn how to gain control of your food by knowing what triggers you.  A helpful book.  Go read my review. 

Fiction for middle school through adult

Picture Books

  • Be a King.  Using the ideals from King’s life to encourage change. A good conversation starter book. 
  • Our World is a Family.  Consider the needs of immigrant families and help them feel at home.  I found this book to be well done.

Be a King

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Be A King) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

Are you studying the story of Martin Luther King Jr.?   If so, I have a picture book for you to stimulate the minds and hearts of young people to follow in his footsteps.  With full-colour illustrations and poetic text, discover key moments in his life.  Be inspired to stand up for what is right!

Be a King

The Basic Details about “Be a King”

You’ll find Be a king: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Deam and You to be a full-colour illustrated picture book of 40 pages.  It is written with 4-8 year olds in mind, but I think you easily use it with older children to spawn good conversation.  It is not written so much to be a history book, but more to promote Mr. King’s ideology about a world of equal rights.  Racial and prejudice themes are very much part of this book written by Carole Boston Weatherford.   The illustrations frequently feature Mr. King’s profile as well as people of a variety of races, religions, and genders.   Published by Bloomsbury USA Children’s it comes in hardcover, paperback and on kindle. 

I am reviewing a softcover version on behalf of Raincoast Books.  

Learning the Specifics

Be A King seeks to draw us into the mindset of Martin Luther King Jr.   It does this by repeating “you can be a king” on every page.  Three lines of focused text encouraging the reader to stand up to bullies, be helpful and kind, dream big, answer your critics, stamp out hatred and stand for justice among others. 

Illustrations frequently show what you shouldn’t have happen, or what you shouldn’t let stand in your way of doing what is good and right. Some of these pages are in full colour.  Other pages use white space to show progression in action. 

You will find children of different races, religions, genders and abilities featured throughout, with some pages with adults only. One page featured an empty bus which I think gives teachers an opportunity to speak about Rosa Parks and her stand.   So many conversation starters to be found within 40 pages.

So what did I think?

A bit of a mixed review today.

There was much I liked.  I liked the cross-section of race and gender included on almost every page. It was great to see the inclusivity and the encouraging attitude for being helpful and kind.  The continuing refrain “You Can be a King” as an incentive to be more than what you are pushing us to follow a good leader.  Seeing illustrations demonstrating ways to be better is fantastic and provides excellent talking points with children. 

What I disliked… messages that seemed unconnected.  Like protest signs saying “Shop Local”, what does that have to do with equal rights or Martin Luther King Jr?  I also found myself querying, just what is meant by the “equal rights for all” message and wanted to know more.  Equal rights for all, doesn’t always mean what you think it does, and how do you start the conversation if you don’t really know what the author is meaning? I also strongly disliked the “follow your own conscience” message.  That’s not a good way to indicate good motives or ideals if you don’t have a solid standing.  Just rubs me the wrong way.   I just wanted something more in-depth I guess.   Particularly if it proposes to be about Martin Luther King Jr.  Most of this picturebook could have been about any activist in the equal rights community. 

A firm appreciation for the author’s note at the close of the book providing more depth to this picture book.  It’s good to know more details about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life.   It gave some needed information that was lacking elsewhere. 

Black history is part of our history and we should want to learn more about it.  Use this book to start conversations with your students today!

Until Leaves Fall in Paris

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Until Leaves Fall in Paris) through Nuts About Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂 

It’s kinda funny, it’s kinda sad… but I enjoyed this book so much that when my mom recently had a surgery I happily lent her my copy of Until Leaves Fall in Paris.  It wasn’t til I was going to write this post that I realized that I hadn’t taken pictures of it!  GAH!!   AND I told her when she was done she could pass it along to one of her friends!  What to do?  What to do?  So I wrote on the Facebook page of Nuts about Books about my dilemma and a lovely gal named Christina Fleming came to my rescue.  I’ll note which photos are from her and which ones I got after a quick stop at Mom’s on Saturday.  

until leaves fall in Paris
Christina Fleming (book image)

The Basic Details

So, Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin is quietly romantic story taking place in Paris during WW2.  The Germans have moved in and life has become difficult. Lucie and Paul face individual difficulties of their own, and work in their own way to fight against the invasion.   This historical Christian romance runs at 416 pages and is published by Revell Books.   I am reviewing on behalf of Nuts about Books.    

You may recall another Sundin book I reviewed When Twilight Breaks. Ms. Sundin’s style is quite similar from book to book. 

Checking out the Until the Leaves fall in Paris more closely

I am MOSTLY tired of reading romance novels, but add some interesting history and don’t make the book all about the romance, and you’ll hook my interest.  I love how Sundin weaves together this period in history within the angst human relationships.  Imagine how difficult it would be to be trying to run a business within a war zone.  To balance the need to protect one’s family while fighting in whatever way you can for the good of people.  So many difficult decisions to make, while enduring the judgement of others.  Tough times.  Yet, in the midst of it, girl meets boy and despite the difficulties… are intrigued with each other and find ways to help the other.   So interesting don’t you think?

Reviewing on behalf of Nuts About Books. 

Christina Fleming image

Though my tired eyes would have at times preferred a larger font, this was by no means a difficult book to read.  The language flowed easily, and the font really wasn’t too small.  🙂   The timing was well done, the details educating, and the story endearing.   Well worth sharing with one’s mom-in-law and her reading friends.  🙂   I know it will make the rounds. 

Add it to your shelves?

If, like me, you have a fondness for historical fiction, and don’t mind a bit of romance, you will enjoy Until Leaves Fall in Paris.  Faith is a part of the story, and we are reminded that God came for sinners, not for the righteous.  Themes of prejudice, racism, and following one’s conscience play a big part in this well-written novel.  I found myself wishing as I read it that they will find a good way to work it all out. 

Parts of this novel were a little predictable.  After you, you can’t have one of the main protagonists die! So you would expect escapes and rescues to work out right?   It’s part of the romance of it all, don’t you think?  You need to have a happy ending!  🙂

Fallout: Spies, superbombs, and the ultimate Cold War Showdown

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Fallout) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

The Cold War was a chess game between two world powers that lasted from 1946 to 1991.  It was a time of spies, nuclear threat, and the race to space.   Steve Sheinkin races us through the cold war in his book Fallout.  Learn how a series of unfortunate events lead us to the brink of nuclear war and the determination of a submarine captain to hold to his orders that kept us from it. 

fallout: spies, superpowers, and the ultimate cold war showdown.

What I am reviewing

Raincoast books, in conjunction with Roaring Brook Press, sent me this magnificant hardcover middle school read.  It is entitled Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown.  Centering around the Cuban Missile Crisis we are introduced to spies, the superpowers of the USA and Russia, and see heroes in action.   Mistakes happened, the vagaries of life brought near crisis, and determination to do better was seen.  Steve Sheinkin, through the use of carefully crafted words and good images paints us an overall picture of this time in history. 

 352 pages which have been divided into three parts along with an epilogue.  Written for youth 10-14.  Categories are Non-fiction, history, military and USA history. 

 I’ve reviewed a couple other Steve Sheinkin books in the past.  Mr. Sheinkin’s writing is well suited for middle school readers.  Providing enough action combined with fact to make for a fast-paced, enjoyable read.

Digging Deeper into Fallout

Fallout is a chapter book divided into three parts.  The introduction with the paperboy and the mystery of the hollow coin is fantastic.  It added a very personal spin to a book with a variety of interesting characters.  I learned so much!  It did feel like an overview especially since I know there was so much that happened during the Cold War. The overview aspect did not detract since the focus was on the Cuban Missile Crisis.  It has left me hungering to learn about the Cold War though.

Most of the book is text.  I loved the personal touches added, like understanding Kennedy was a man who lived in pain, or that Khrushchev loved playing chess.   There were lots of names and dates and activities. I did occasionally get a bit mixed up, but overall the timeline was very smooth. In fact I would have loved if a simple timeline had been included.  You’ll find a great bibliography and source notes included. 

Not only will you find photos scattered throughout the text, you’ll also find images dividing up each of the sections.  I love having all the players in front of me.  Knowing what people look like helps make history easier to remember. don’t you find?

Add it to your shelves?

Do you like history, get this book!

If you are studying USA history and just need an overview book for middle or high school, get this book!  You’ll find it quite suitable to a homeschool unit on the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Or perhaps, you just find the cold war an interesting time in history, get this book!

Or maybe, you have a highschooler who likes to write essays.  Using this book as a launching pad for ideas might help fill an Language Arts credit. 

You won’t regret it.  Fallout by Steve Sheinkin is well worth reading for it’s thorough overview of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the events leading up to it.  It’s a fast-paced, intriguing moment in history.  Spies abound, heros exist, and history weaves together.  

So Many Beginnings

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (So Many Beginnings) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Did you like the book Little Women?  If so, So Many Beginnings is just the book for you.  This particular book is written with an African-American point of view, during the American civil war.  You’ll find yourself immersed in the lives of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy along with their momma, and their own twists of the character. 

so many beginnings

The Basic Details

So Many Beginnings: a Little Women Remix. This is the second in a series of remixed classic books.  These remixes allow you to enjoy a classic book from a different perspective.  It’s a rather neat idea.   Bethany C. Morrow  does a really good job of copying the form and story of Little Women.   Fiewel and Friends, published a beautiful hard-cover book, for the 13-18 year old range, with 304 pages. 

Learning more about So Many Beginnings

Just as in Little Women, in So Many Beginnings you’ll find Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.   Four young ladies and their momma living our their lives.  Meg a teacher, Jo a writer, Beth a sewer and often sickly, and Amy a free-spirit.  We are led into the drama of their lives. 

Well-developed characters fill the pages. I found that I understood Jo better in this book than I did in the original Little Women classic.  You won’t find a lot of adornment in the pages.  Occasionally a page break could be found. 

This is a lovely book to hold in your hands with a comfortable font.

The familiar storyline draws you through.  You’ll find the characters a bit different, the style is the same, but the story takes a different turn in areas.  

Should you Get it?

I have to be honest.  As I was never a fan of Little Women, I approached this historial novel with some trepidation.  I wasn’t wildly enamoured, but I know so many people who LOVED Little Women, that I wanted to tell you about this read.  This book would SO suit that audience.   Honestly, if you love the style and story of Little Women, Bethany C. Morrow will NOT disappoint you in this novel. And just so you know, wildly enamoured or not, overall… a good read. 

What did I like?  I loved the different perspective. My enjoyment of the historical aspect, of seeing the world out of African-American eyes, was significant.  I love learning about different aspect of wars that I didn’t know about before. To see a side of history, with some of those little things that make history come to life, that I so much appreciate. 

So many beginnings is rift with those little details. 

So…. if you are a fan of little women… read this book.  You’ll enjoy it.

If you want to see a side of the civil war that perhaps you haven’t seen before, read this book. 

And/or if you want to catch a glimpse of freed slave lives in the 1860’s, you’ll see it here. 

The Lines Between Us

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Lines Between Us) through Nuts about Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

As I was reading The Lines Between Us, a book I very much enjoyed, I kept thinking… what a cleverly crafted book.  The challenge of being a conscientous objector in the midst of a war.  The vitriole shot at them. the misunderstandings, the beatings some of them took, and the family separations. 

I can’t imagine having to make that decision, and so many simply didn’t take the time to even try.   Some registered with the Civilian Patrol Service filling vital needs in the USA during the wartime.  So many men were off fighting so some conchies (as they were called) filled needed positions… one of those positions… being a smoke jumper.  Smoke jumpers fought wild fires in forests.  Imagine if they didn’t fill those positions… the sheer amount of damage of fire could cause eh?  And yet… that needfulness wasn’t truly seen.   And so we get The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green.

The Lines Between us

The Basic Details and Plot

One thing you need to know is the Lines Between Us, as much as it is based on history, it is still a novel.  A well-written novel by Amy Lynn Green.  This novel is thought provoking.  Through internal thought and external conversations, we can see how the lines between a conscientous objector and one willing to fight aren’t as opposed as one might think. 

Bethany House Publishers published this intriguing story in August 2021.  Running at 384 pages, this WW2 novel dealing with American history is geared for an adult audience. You’ll find that faith plays a role on both sides of the issue.  In the midst of all this a mystery needs to be solved.  What really happened to Jack?  Can Gordon (his best friend) and Dorie (his sister) figure out what really happened? 

I am reviewing on behalf of Nuts About Books. 

The Civil Public Service

I found this video on youtube that talks about this new-to-me bit of history.  Perhaps you might learn something new as well.  🙂 

Digging Deeper into The Lines Between us

Good characterization fill the pages.  I felt like I would know Shorty anywhere, and I think we’ve all met a Thomas.  Dorie has more depth to her than you’d think.  Gordon is such a solid fellow with a difficult past.  And Jack, such a nice fellow, a peacemaker at heart I think.  Good characters who draw you into history and times so well. 

The story alternates between Gordon and Dorie.   Each new chapter advances the story in some regard.  It is quite easy to follow along. 

Most of the time the text is a standard, easy-to-read font.  Letters home, a play found, and anything special resulted in a change of font.  Sometimes difficult to read, but doable if taking your time. 

I love when author’s add an end note.  Speaking to their inspiration, and what parts of the story are true, or where they did some of the research.  Always fascinating to get a behind the scenes glimpse into history and process. 

Add it to your shelves?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to loan it out to others interested in different aspects of WW2.  I’m so glad my son tuned up my interest in this period of history.  SO MUCH HAPPENED!  I’ve read a number of fictionalized history books about WW2 and have learned so much. 

The Lines Between Us is a thought-provoking good read.  I was glad to take my time enjoying it over the past bit.  I haven’t quite finished it, but hopefully will do so by the time this review is actually up!   Get it, read it, think! 

A good book to add to a highschool students study on WW2. Would make for some good essay questions. 

I know that my thoughts about conscientious objectors was shifted.  I was never die hard against it, as people have their own convictions before God.  But I did have some misconceptions I had to face up to. Knowing about the CPS option, it makes so much sense to provide an alternative for people.  Letting them serve in ways the still help, but don’t violate their principles.  Good stuff that! 

The Nature of Small Birds

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Nature of Small Birds) through Nuts about Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Did you know that after the Vietnam War some 3000 children from Vietnam were adopted by American families?   The Nature of Small Birds tells the story of how life might have gone for one such family. It’s not always an easy read, but it gives a glimpse of history worth knowing about.

the nature of small birds

The basic details for The Nature of Small Birds

The Nature of Small Birds has been written by Susie Finkbeiner and published by Revell books.  At 368 pages, it’s a middling book to read.   Faith is evident in the lives of the characters… seeing that in the Christian school the girls attend, and in the parents devotion to God.  They are nice Christian family trying live out their faith.   I am reviewing this book for Nuts about Books. 

From the Cover:

In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When one of those children announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.

Mindy’s father grapples with the tension between holding on tightly and letting his daughter spread her wings. Her mother undergoes the emotional roller coaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy and her sister struggle to find the strength to accept each other as they both discover who they truly are.

Told through three distinct voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.

What do you get?

Three voices tell the story of The Nature of Small Birds.  We hear from Bruce, Sonny and Linda, three voices of family.  Telling the story of how family changed over the years.  Irene (mom) tells the story from 1975, Bruce (dad) from 2013,  and Sonny (daughter) from 1988.   Good characterization, though Bruce was for me, less defined than the two women. 

You’ll find the text to be an easy-to-read font and a nice size.  I had hubby check to see if he could read it without his reading glasses and he could!  🙂  Occasionally some grey-scale images of leaves break up the text. 

This book was inspired by Operation Babylift.  I pulled a video from YouTube for your convenience if you want to know a bit more about it.   It was news to me!  🙂 

What did I think?

Well, I tried, I really did.  But I could NOT get into The Nature of Small Birds.  The change of perspective all the time, short chapters, the jumping around in time periods. Since it’s not a long book thought I’d be able to zip through it on my lunch breaks at work, but found myself bogged down by the changing voices and varying timelines.  Was there value in how far I got through it?   For sure, I really wish the style had been different as I thought the story important. 

Now I did do some jumping around and it’s a heart-warming story. I loved the care and concern that this family showed for each other. Only one member of the family was difficult, but it was part of who she is.  I know that other reviewers weren’t bothered by the timeline jumping around.  So I suggest you read a few more reviews so that you can be better informed. 

I loved that I learned more about Operation BabyLift and that I gained some insight into why some adoptees struggle even if in a good home.