This is another fictional tale about the lives of historical people--in this case Leonardo da Vinci and his servant, Salai. Salai is only known throug...moreThis is another fictional tale about the lives of historical people--in this case Leonardo da Vinci and his servant, Salai. Salai is only known through a few references in Leonardo's papers. The earlier ones refer to him as a thief and general scoundrel, the later ones have Leonardo giving him money and remembering him in his will. Ms. Konigsburg weaves a tale in an effort to connect the two faces of Salai and, more importantly, to try gain some insight on what the mind of one of the greatest geniuses of history was like. It's a nice book, but in the end I felt like rating it as waiting room material. I don't know if it's just because today's a rainy day and I'm feeling somber, or if maybe I've just been reading too much historical fiction.(less)
Well, it looks like my daughter is going to get an introduction to historical spin. I've been reading through her assigned schoolbooks, and a couple o...moreWell, it looks like my daughter is going to get an introduction to historical spin. I've been reading through her assigned schoolbooks, and a couple of days ago I finished The Second Mrs. Giaconda, a story based on the life of Leonardo da Vinci. This current book is next on the reading list and is a more conventional biography of the man. The names are the same, but the personalities and relationships must have been changed to protect the innocent or something. The Giaconda book presents a cast of mostly likeable characters. The Leonardo biography, in contrast, portrays most of those folks rather negatively. Even Leonardo himself is shown to be a bit of a loser. One can't help but portray him as a genius, of course, but in the biography he comes across as a man hungering for recognition and struggling to pay the bills. So which book is right? I haven't a clue. I'd have to do my own historical research to find out who's playing spinmeister and who (if anyone) is playing straight. (My guess would be that this book is more accurate, but that just shows my bias to trust a book labeled non-fiction over a fictional one.) Anyway, such questions aside, Leonardo da Vinci is a nice, simple biography of one of history's greatest thinkers. It's not a book I devoured eagerly, but would certainly serve as waiting room material.(less)
Don't be fooled by the cover. This is a biography of Martin Luther, first published in 1962. When the movie came out, CPH republished the book, illust...moreDon't be fooled by the cover. This is a biography of Martin Luther, first published in 1962. When the movie came out, CPH republished the book, illustrating it with a number of stills from the film--including the front cover picture where Dr. Luther looks like he's going to hit you with a big honkin' Bible. (Maybe they were thinking that it was a good way to illustrate what the Reformation did to European Christianity.) I wonder if it was an attempt to capitalize on the film to sell more books or if the book was meant to push the film. Anyway, I suppose it doesn't matter. This book is better than the movie, but not as good as Here I Stand which is a Luther biography for an older audience. This covers all the high points of Luther's life, but the writing seemed a bit flat. Many of the other biographies that we've had to read for school are much more enjoyable to read. I guess Sonlight curriculum just raises one's standards. Still, even if Luther is mere waiting room material, it does do its job and tell the story of this influential man.(less)
When I picked this book, the next in line for my daughter's school reading, I groaned inwardly. "Not another renaissance book! I'm getting sick of the...moreWhen I picked this book, the next in line for my daughter's school reading, I groaned inwardly. "Not another renaissance book! I'm getting sick of the renaissance! The renaissance is overrated!" he said, swiping a line from Terry Jones. But dutiful homeschooling dad that I am, I read it anyway, bracing myself for another tedious account of betrayals and beheadings and other such royal shenanigans. I was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Meyer did an excellent job of drawing me into the story of young Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and heir to the throne... until ol' Henry decided that he really needed a son and tried to divorce Mary's mother. By viewing the court intrigues through Mary's eyes--the viewpoint of one getting screwed over by all this royal b.s.--the historical story is given an emotional punch that made me want to finish the tale and root for the young princess. (It's only in the afterword when I was pulled back to reality and discovered that poor Mary had her own bloodthirsty streak.) Anyway, this is a somewhat strong tale for the young'uns, but one that makes the reader care about the people involved. Check it out.(less)
Most of the time, sequels are annoying. They try to capture the appeal of the original work, but usually just end up being a lesser remix of the same...moreMost of the time, sequels are annoying. They try to capture the appeal of the original work, but usually just end up being a lesser remix of the same elements. I tend not to have high expectations when I start reading a sequel. How much lower expectations I should have had for this book, which is the first book of a whole series of sequels to the Little House series. Fortunately, this is one of the rare cases when a sequel is worth reading.
Little House on Rocky Ridge is the first volume in the series that chronicles the childhood of Rose Wilder Lane, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter. It picks up after the Little House series with the Wilder family leaving DeSmet, South Dakota in the middle of a drought and heading down to Missouri to try and build a better life there. In one sense, it is a rehash of the elder series in that there are many descriptions of daily life in the 1890's. In another sense, it's a new chapter in Laura's life, even though the focus of the book is on Rose's experiences and perceptions. I don't know whether Laura will continue to figure prominently in the series, or if she will fade to the background as Rose grows up and moves out on her own. But I intend to check it out and let you know. Both as a transition from the old series and an introduction to the new one, this book is well written and a pleasure to read.(less)
This is the second volume of the Little House: The Rocky Ridge Years series, telling the tale of Rose Wilder, the daughter of Almanzo and Laura Ingall...moreThis is the second volume of the Little House: The Rocky Ridge Years series, telling the tale of Rose Wilder, the daughter of Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Essentially it's more of the same--a peek into the life of folks trying to eke out a living by farming in Missouri in the 1890's. It's enjoyable reading--excellent waiting room material--but there's nothing that compels one's readership.(less)
With a title like that, you'd think this book was some sort of fantasy novel, maybe one where a kid falls into a world of good nutrition or something....moreWith a title like that, you'd think this book was some sort of fantasy novel, maybe one where a kid falls into a world of good nutrition or something. Well, it's not. Instead, this is the 3rd volume of the Little House: The Rocky Ridge Years series. The story of the Wilder family continues, describing life on their farm in the Ozarks and the events in their lives. It's enjoyable reading, though nothing outstanding. One thing I noticed in this one is some of the subtle differences between Mr. MacBride's storytelling and Laura Ingalls Wilder's. The Rocky Ridge Years tends to read a bit less sheltered than the original Little House series. Rose's crush in this volume and the jealousy that accompanies it is played out a bit more than a similar event in Laura's life might have. There's also a better sense of historical context. While reading the Little House series, I couldn't have told you when the events occurred other than sometime in the 19th Century. (Well, save for the few times when a date is mentioned.) In Apple, you have scenes where the Wilders--children of staunch unionists--refrain from joining their Missourian neighbors in singing "Dixie" and where the town folks send campaigners for William McKinley on their way with some Democrat hospitality. Anyway, it's certainly worth checking out.(less)
(For some reason the Rainmakers' song "The Other Side of the World" has been running through my head ever since I picked up this book.) This is the fo...more(For some reason the Rainmakers' song "The Other Side of the World" has been running through my head ever since I picked up this book.) This is the fourth book of The Rocky Ridge Years series, chronicling the life of Rose Wilder in the 1890's. It's another book that's enjoyable to read, though not compelling. It's good waiting room material. Reading a straightforward biography of Rose Wilder Lane might be quicker than reading through this series, but I think this way is a lot more fun.(less)
In this fifth volume of the set, The Rocky Ridge series seems to take a turn. Storywise, Rose Wilder and her family are forced by a poor harvest and p...moreIn this fifth volume of the set, The Rocky Ridge series seems to take a turn. Storywise, Rose Wilder and her family are forced by a poor harvest and pressing bills to move from their farm to a house in the town of Mansfield, Missouri. It's an adjustment for the family as they experience the joys and burdens of "city" life. But the book also has a healthy dose of political commentary as the Wilders and their neighbors react to and comment on the Spanish-American war. It's a marked change from the original Little House books which seem totally centered around the Ingalls family's life and immediate surroundings. It's also a lesser departure from the earlier Rocky Ridge books, which were somewhat centered on the farm. Why this change occurs, I don't know. It could be due to the fact that the author, Roger Lea MacBride, died before completing the manuscripts for this and the subsequent three volumes of the series. Perhaps either his ghost writers injected the political slant into the series or they failed to edit out political comments that Mr. MacBride had always put into his rough drafts. Or it could be that Mr. MacBride is trying to reflect the times at the turn of the 20th Century, when the telegraph and improved transportation brought the outside world a bit closer to mid-America. Or maybe it's just an honest depiction of Rose Wilder's own awakening social conscience. Whatever the reason, it doesn't make the book bad, just different from its predecessors. The Wilders and their neighbors are still the same admirable characters and it's still interesting to see what happens next. Check it out.(less)
I have mixed feelings about this book, the sixth volume of Little House: The Rose Years series. (It used to be called The Rocky Ridge years until they...moreI have mixed feelings about this book, the sixth volume of Little House: The Rose Years series. (It used to be called The Rocky Ridge years until they decided to make the Little House spin-offs span five generations.) In it our heroine, Rose Wilder, becomes a teenager. She's moody, rebellious, and generally not as lovable as the Rose of years gone by. The minor characters have also changed. You see less of the friends and neighbors from Rocky Ridge farm and more of the townfolk of Mansfield, Missouri. The town seems to have a greater percentage of jerks than the surrounding countryside. On the plus side, Rose steps aside for a couple of chapters as the story follows her mother Laura (confusingly called Mama) as she travels back to South Dakota to visit her parents and sisters. Technically, it's bad storytelling to change the focus like that. But since my interest in the series stems from my enjoyment of the original Little House books, the two chapter departure only seems good and right. Anyway, when one follows a series, you have to be a bit more tolerant of volumes that aren't quite as good as the rest, so I'd have to advise folks to check this one out.(less)
In the seventh volume of Little House: The Rose Years, Rose Wilder spreads her wings and spends a school year with her aunt down in Crowley, Louisiana...moreIn the seventh volume of Little House: The Rose Years, Rose Wilder spreads her wings and spends a school year with her aunt down in Crowley, Louisiana. Those months serve to expand her social consciousness as she experiences life in a bigger city, with different types of people. On one hand, I missed all of the familiar and lovable characters from the previous books. Part of me mourned as Rose drifted away from her parents' values and lifestyles. But on the other hand, I am a child of the 20th Century. I can relate to many of her feelings. And there's the pure fun of exploring life in Louisiana through Rose's eyes. This one's a volume to check out even if you haven't been following the series.(less)
This last volume of Little House: The Rose Years sees Rose Wilder truly on her own. She returns home to her parents' farm after her high school gradua...moreThis last volume of Little House: The Rose Years sees Rose Wilder truly on her own. She returns home to her parents' farm after her high school graduation and year in Louisiana. Life is relatively comfortable, but boring. She's in love, but her beau has yet to propose--he's trying to make a good enough living as a telegraph operator to support both a wife and his widowed mother. When he lands a job in Sacramento, California, Rose is despondent. She finally acts on an old idea of learning telegraphy herself. With her parents' help, she heads off to Kansas City to a telegraphy school. From there she struggles to overcome various challenges to make a new life for itself. It's an interesting tale, one worth checking out, though I didn't find it a very satisfying one. The book tries to make a connection between Rose's experience and the pioneer heritage of her parents and grandparents. While I concede that there is a connection, it seems more like she's trading in the pioneer values so prevalent in the previous books for ones that are more urban and 20th Century. Maybe I can't appreciate it because the series is starting to move from a setting that is, for me, a fantasy to one that is all too familiar and real. Or maybe it's because I've read Rose Wilder Lane's biography and know that Bachelor Girl's happy ending is still many years away from "happily ever after".(less)
This one's a little biography of Christopher Columbus, written for middle school students. It focuses on Columbus' drive, first to become a sailor and...moreThis one's a little biography of Christopher Columbus, written for middle school students. It focuses on Columbus' drive, first to become a sailor and then to find backers for his plan to reach the Far East by sailing westward. The book features Columbus in a positive light, obviously, though it is fair in recounting his acceptance of slavery and general arrogance. While I would only consider it waiting room material, it does serve as a good biography to introduce one to the life of this influential figure of history.(less)
This is a fictionalized account of the story of Mary Jemison, a young teenager who was kidnapped by the Seneca Indians in the year 1758. Back then, th...moreThis is a fictionalized account of the story of Mary Jemison, a young teenager who was kidnapped by the Seneca Indians in the year 1758. Back then, the custom among the Seneca was to kill or kidnap a white settler for every one of their own people who were killed by the invading pioneers. Indian Captive tells the tale of Mary's capture and her subsequent adjustment to life among the Seneca. I found it to be a fascinating tale, as Mary moves from terror to sorrow to finally finding a place in her new community. To my thinking, the whole concept of an "indian captive" is barbaric, yet the practice does contain an element of justice. The whole book reflects the tension well. The Seneca endeavor to make Mary feel loved and welcome, yet that can't erase the harm they caused by killing her family and kidnapping her in the first place. That Mary finally is able to accept her new people despite their transgressions is an accurate reflection of what it means to live with the flaws of one's family, friends and neighbors. I will definitely look to find a copy of Mary Jemison's actual memoirs once I get back to the States. Until then, I'll just have to make sure this book stays on my shelf.(less)
As I'm homeschooling my girls, I sometimes come across a book or lesson that makes me think that my own education has been lacking. That happened agai...moreAs I'm homeschooling my girls, I sometimes come across a book or lesson that makes me think that my own education has been lacking. That happened again as I read this book. The Kidnapped Prince is the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, an African slave in the late 18th Century who won his freedom, got an education and published his story. (Take that, all you bozos who said that Africans were inferior to whites!) Why wasn't this book required reading back when I was in school? Well, one reason is that this is an adaption of Equiano's autobiography. Ms. Cameron edited the story down a bit and rewrote the tale in a language more understandable for us 21st Century types. Anyway, I'm a strong believer in reading first hand accounts of history, and since slavery is such an important aspect of American history, I would recommend that any parent let their child check this one out. Me, I'm going to go look for the original work, to see what I might have missed.(less)
This is a cute little book recounting the life of Patrick Henry. Since it's a kid's book, it makes for light reading, but it does give a good snapshot...moreThis is a cute little book recounting the life of Patrick Henry. Since it's a kid's book, it makes for light reading, but it does give a good snapshot of Henry's personality and accomplishments. (Well, at least it matches the few grown up history books I've read about the era.) What really makes the book, though, are the illustrations by Margot Tomes. Her drawings make the bold statement, "Now here is a character!" Even if you don't have kids, it's a book worth checking out for a good fifteen or twenty minutes worth of fun.(less)
This one was a surprise--a book used in the Sonlight curriculum that's bad. I mean, it's not burn-this-book bad, but it is pretty poor waiting room ma...moreThis one was a surprise--a book used in the Sonlight curriculum that's bad. I mean, it's not burn-this-book bad, but it is pretty poor waiting room material. The book is a peek at the life of John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism. The tale is told from the view of a young boy, Robert Upton, who encounters Wesley and gradually joins the movement. What makes the book so poor is bad storytelling. Wesley's life is only partially shared through narrative. There are many times when the action consists of Robert listening to other people chatting about some point or another that Ms. Vernon wants to share with her readers. The character of Wesley himself, a man who must have been quite a personality, is quite two-dimensional. About the best thing I can say about the book is that it's short. Do yourself a favor. If you don't have to read this one like we do, pass it by.(less)
The problem with a lot of our history lessons is that you learn a lot of names, but you never get introduced to the people. I suppose that's one reaso...moreThe problem with a lot of our history lessons is that you learn a lot of names, but you never get introduced to the people. I suppose that's one reason why I enjoy reading biographies. Anyway, this is a kind of biography. Technically, it's historical fiction, but a lot of it is based on source materials. The book tells the tale of a few years in the life of Betsy Balcombe. During her teens, she was living on the island of St. Helena when the deposed emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled there. Napoleon and Betsy became friends of sorts and years later she wrote a memoir of that time. This isn't that book however. Ms. Rabin admits that she refrained from reading Betsy's work while writing her story in order that she might craft her own take on Miss Balcombe's character. Since I haven't read the memoir, either, I can't comment on whether Ms. Rabin made a mistake or not. I do know, however, that Betsy and the Emperor is an enjoyable piece of historical fiction. One of those good books that makes one want to delve into some of the real history behind it. So check this one out first, just in case the real story isn't as entertaining.(less)
This is one icky book. It's a history of the smallpox vaccine, so it's always talking about diseases and blisters and pus and... well, icky stuff. As...moreThis is one icky book. It's a history of the smallpox vaccine, so it's always talking about diseases and blisters and pus and... well, icky stuff. As far as readability, the book is only waiting room material. But it is chock full of historical information. It tells a story that I never got in history class--one that is as significant to our modern age as the Boston Tea Party or the arrival of the Pilgrims.(less)
This one's a pretty straightforward biography for kids about Paul Revere--famed silversmith, patriot and horseman. What more can I say? It's well writ...moreThis one's a pretty straightforward biography for kids about Paul Revere--famed silversmith, patriot and horseman. What more can I say? It's well written (and includes Longfellow's poem about Revere's famous ride), but since it's for kids, I only found it to be waiting room material quality. Your child might rate it higher.(less)
This one is a biography of George Washington, written and colorfully illustrated for children. It's short, easy to read and has lots of pictures. If t...moreThis one is a biography of George Washington, written and colorfully illustrated for children. It's short, easy to read and has lots of pictures. If that's not waiting room material, what is?(less)
This book is one of the Children's Victorian Classics. What this means, I don't know, because surprisingly enough, there is no advertisement in the bo...moreThis book is one of the Children's Victorian Classics. What this means, I don't know, because surprisingly enough, there is no advertisement in the book listing the other "classics". I have a suspicion that the series is not comprised of true classics that have continued to be published through the decades, but rather tales of strong moral character that certain Christian groups have decided to resurrect. Anyway, I'm not inclined to find out. Mary Jones & Her Bible isn't a horrible story, but it's nothing better than waiting room material. It's the tale of a girl who was born and raised in Wales around the turn of the 19th Century. She was a pious girl, of pious stock, who developed an intense desire to own her own Bible. The story details her nascent interest in scripture, then goes through her endeavors to save up enough money and purchase her own Bible. There are a couple of interesting folks involved in this story, but it's one of those tales where the good guys are all perfect and the bad guys... well, there aren't really any bad guys in here. I don't know if that's typical of "Victorian" literature, or it's just the style that appeals to this particular publisher. Whatever it is, it makes for a story that's morally uplifting, but a tad boring.(less)
This one's another pioneer girl tale. I'm getting tired of pioneer girl tales, so I probably won't rate this as high as it may deserve. I suppose that...moreThis one's another pioneer girl tale. I'm getting tired of pioneer girl tales, so I probably won't rate this as high as it may deserve. I suppose that's the burden I must bear, being the father of daughters and reading their books and all. I suppose I could wish I had sons, but with my luck, they would have taken after their mother and liked baseball. But I digress. We were talking about this little pioneer girl, Anne Hamilton, whose family has moved to the Western frontier. In this case, the frontier is western Pennsylvania, in the 1780s. One unique thing about Anne, as a pioneer girl character is that she doesn't like being a pioneer. She's longing for the good ol' days back in Gettysburg, where she had things like a friend her own age (and gender) and windows in her home. Beyond that, and a surprise at the end of the story, the tale is pretty standard pioneer girl stuff. Overall it's well written with likable characters. Ms. Fritz's writing does draw one into the story. The story is based on a real person, so there is also the nice touch of finding out what eventually happened to the characters after the end of the tale. Anyway, I would rate this one as waiting room material but as I said, I'm kind of biased against the genre, so take my opinions with a grain of salt.(less)
This one's a simple biography of Benjamin Franklin. Like most juvenile bios, it's pretty simplistic and positive. In the case of Ben Franklin, I think...moreThis one's a simple biography of Benjamin Franklin. Like most juvenile bios, it's pretty simplistic and positive. In the case of Ben Franklin, I think that causes the work to suffer. Franklin was a very accomplished man. Since he did so many things and space in the book is limited, the book occasionally degenerates into a list of his accomplishments, with only the most minimal story to carry it along. That alone makes the story of this most interesting man into mere waiting room material.(less)
This must be my day for depressing books. This morning I finished Nory Ryan's Song and tonight I finished Mao. This book is one that shook my faith. N...moreThis must be my day for depressing books. This morning I finished Nory Ryan's Song and tonight I finished Mao. This book is one that shook my faith. Not my faith in God, but rather the belief I have that truth will win out in a person's lifetime. It's a belief that charlatans will eventually be exposed, the incompetent eventually replaced and the tyrants eventually overthrown. According to this biography, Mao Zedong is all three. He's presented as a power hungry slob who sacrificed millions--comrades and strangers alike--in his quest for power and glory. And many of those dreams failed, in part due to the poor management and understanding of Mao and his cronies. I was not very far into the book when I started hoping that someone would take a gun and just shoot the jerk. Of course, Chairman Mao died in his bed and is still hailed as a great man. (He even has his picture on all the money!) It just ain't right. Anyway, though I would say that this book is worth checking out, I should also say that this book has a definite bias. Ms. Jung and Mr. Halliday really have nothing good to say about Mao and at times it seems like they're reaching as they recount Mao's transgressions. (For example, they speculate that "Mao may have helped cause Stalin's [fatal] stroke." Pure speculation, methinks.) Still, if even half of what they claim is true, Mao should be replacing Hitler as the evil icon of the 20th Century.(less)
This is one of those books that just sucks me in and causes me to neglect my daily chores to read just one more chapter. I wasn't expecting this, real...moreThis is one of those books that just sucks me in and causes me to neglect my daily chores to read just one more chapter. I wasn't expecting this, really. I mean, I like Walt Wangerin's work, but I'm not a big fan of his. But then I just devoured this book. The reason, I suspect is the source material. Paul is a fictionalized tale of the life of the apostle Paul. As such, it naturally draws its plot from the Bible, from the book of Acts. In my opinion, Acts is the most readable book of scripture, so it makes sense that I would also enjoy reading this one. Mr. Wangerin embellishes the tale with appealing characters--fleshing out the names of those early saints into people whom you might encounter in your own church. Of course, the tale is also enhanced by liberal quotes from Paul's letters, dramatized to give a sense of how Paul's own understanding and teaching might have developed. Perhaps I should give this book another reading, and pay closer attention to the book's theology instead of just the literary aspects. Maybe it would make it less enjoyable. Either way, I think I'd like to get Paul on my shelf.(less)
This book is three biographies in one, telling the tales of three Native American leaders. Well, actually, using the word "biographies" might be stret...moreThis book is three biographies in one, telling the tales of three Native American leaders. Well, actually, using the word "biographies" might be stretching it a bit. The focus of the book, and the common theme of the three stories, is how those leaders attempted to keep the United States government from stealing the land of their respective peoples. The book starts out with the story of Osceola, the Seminole who gave the U.S. Army a run for their money through the Florida swamps in the 1830s. Next is the story of Tecumseh, who tried to unite the tribes east of the Mississippi in the 1810s to resist the flood of white settlers invading Indian lands. The final story is that of Cochise, the Chiricahua Apache who was equally competent in keeping peace or making war in the 1860s. Each story was interesting to read, even if they did make me feel ashamed to be an American. Even though the tales are simplistic from an adult point of view, I think it's worth checking out, either for a quick read or to share with the kids.(less)
One week before we leave China and I am reduced to reading the extra books my kids have brought from home. The English library on campus is closed; al...moreOne week before we leave China and I am reduced to reading the extra books my kids have brought from home. The English library on campus is closed; all the books we've been able to borrow from friends have been returned. We certainly don't want to buy any of the simplistic tomes we can obtain in our town here, because we have quite enough to pack. So I'm reading books like this one. I should say rereading, because I actually first read this back around when I was in grade school. (I grew up in Illinois, where one can't avoid reading about Lincoln.) I had pretty much forgotten everything about it except for the footprint incident, so I could approach it afresh. It was nice enough to read, for a kids' book. It focuses mostly on Lincoln's childhood and young adulthood. Once he gets to Springfield the book picks up the pace and starts to skim over his political career, ending when he heads to the White House. I don't know how accurate it is, but instead of the biography of a great man, it comes across more like the biography of a likable fellow who just manages to become President. But as far as waiting room material is concerned, you could do a lot worse.(less)
I found this one to be a rather unusual slave story. It's the true tale of Amos Fortune, a chieftain's son who was captured and enslaved around 1725 a...moreI found this one to be a rather unusual slave story. It's the true tale of Amos Fortune, a chieftain's son who was captured and enslaved around 1725 and brought to New England, where he eventually purchased his freedom. One thing that's unusual is that it's set in New England. I'm used to the American myth that Massachusetts is the bastion of liberty, where everyone is a born abolitionist. In the early 18th Century, that wasn't the case. Another unusual twist is that the story is rather lacking in passion. While Mr. Fortune desires freedom, he's portrayed as living a quiet and humble life as a slave, methodically working to amass the money needed to purchase his liberty. He takes the racism in his society in stride, always taking the high road. Of course, this was written in 1950's, back when everybody was supposed to shut up and get with the program. Especially if your skin is dark. But despite being too soft on slavery, it's an interesting look at a noble and admirable man.(less)
This is a mostly true tale. While researching the Oregon Trail--the route many settlers used to travel overland to the west coast in the mid 19th Cent...moreThis is a mostly true tale. While researching the Oregon Trail--the route many settlers used to travel overland to the west coast in the mid 19th Century--Ms. Van Leeuwen came across the memoirs of Mary Ellen Todd, a woman who had traveled the trail as a nine-year-old back in 1852, as recorded by Mary Ellen's daughter. It was a fascinating account and, in order to make it more readable to a modern audience, Ms. Van Leeuwen rewrote the tale, fleshing out details with her own imagination and the accounts of other pioneers. She did a good job. The story drew me in and I started wondering how the characters would fare as they made the arduous journey. It's a tale well worth checking out.(less)
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