Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 38

Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

Call it Courage (c) 1940 by Armstrong Sperry
I first heard the story Call It Courage when it was read to me by a teacher when I was in elementary school, and fell in love with it. It is a great story that teaches young people that they can face and overcome their fears; that despite post traumatic stress, as Mafatu experienced when he lost his mother because of a hurricane, young people (and not so young) can still face the things that they fear, and they CAN overcome those things. 

Mafatu faces not only an unpredictable ocean, he has to struggle with other things, living and non-living to overcome his fear. Like a frightening stone idol on the island he lives on for a while, a hammerhead shark that is after his dog Uri, and fearsome "eaters of men" cannibals who come after him!
The story is also wonderfully informative about the culture of the South Pacific, and I enjoyed learning that information when I was small. I continue to enjoy the story today, and recommend it to readers both young and not so young.

Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts

Racing the Sun (c) 1988 by Paul PittsSchool will be beginning soon, which means soon my students will be writing essays, reading and comprehending news articles, and reading literature.

The freshman, every year, beginning the fall by reading a small book that was published in 1988, and which tells the story of a young man named Brandon Rogers. He's middle school aged at the time, living along the Wasatch Front with his parents. He is full Navajo, but hasn't had much of a chance to learn about his culture. This all changes when his grandfather moves in with them, and shares Brandon's room.

It's a great book for young people, and it teaches the value of family, culture, traditions, and keeping the old ways alive while living in a modern world. While I read it every year with my students, I haven't gotten tired of it because of the great story, the skillful writing, and the message that it teaches.

I recommend it for any one who enjoys a good story about young people learning who they are, and the value of family and learning to care about others.

Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough

Who was Harriet Tubman? (c) 2002
by Yona Zeldis McDonoughWho Was Harriet Tubman? is an interesting and educational biography illustrated by Nancy Harrison and written by Yona Zeldis McDonough for elementary aged students about the life of Harriet Tubman.

Her life was very remarkable. She started life as a slave. When she was in her early teens, she injured very badly  by a brick that hit her in the head. She recovered, but suffered the rest of her life with several issues related to her head injury, including sometimes falling asleep without any warning.

Despite this, she was able to escape slavery and make it to freedom in the north. She went back many times to help others escape, and when the Civil War took place, she helped in that, as well.

The book details her life in a way that young readers can understand, but it is also educational for adults as well.

I recommend this book to anyone, from elementary age to adult, who enjoys learning about history, and wants to know more about Harriet Tubman's life.

My Newest Book, Raccoons and Rabbit Holes

Raccoons and Rabbit Holes (c) 2018I am so excited to announce that my most recent book, Raccoons and Rabbit Holes has just come out!
 Raccoons and Rabbit Holes is a middle grade novel with three friends, Jax, Julie, and Ani, who go exploring near an old house in the woods that local legends say is haunted. They don't believe in ghosts, but when they meet a raccoon that's acting strangely, they know something wild is about to happen! Especially when Ani slips down a giant rabbit hole that wasn't there before, and Jax and Julie have to get her out! Before they know it, the three kids find themselves transported back in time to the antebellum south, with no idea how they're going to get home!And how can they get home, with bounty hunters riding around in the woods looking for escaped slaves? And what happens when the kids run into a group of people who really are trying to escape slavery?

All Shook Up performed at the Midvale Performing Arts Center

All Shook Up, performing at the Midvale Performing Arts Center, is a humorous modern take on Shakespeare's 12th Night.The book was written by Joe Dipietro, and the play features the songs of Elvis. It features a wide cast of characters all looking for love, and follows them through their hilarious adventures and misadventures as they each work toward their own goals. One of the main characters, Natalie, even goes to such lengths as dressing up like a guy so that the man she's interested in will start paying some attention to her if she's one of the guys!


The cast did a fantastic job. Each member of the cast and ensemble is very talented. My favorite character, I think, was Sylvia, performed by MeriLynne Michaelis. She can really sing!

There is a little bit of crass humor in parts for those who would want to be aware of that. I recommend the play to anyone who enjoys funny romantic comedies, and fans of Shakespeare who would appreciate the similarities between this play, and 12th Night.

The play will continue to be performed July 16, 19-21, and the 23rd. All performances begin at 7:30 pm.

The Dollar Ridge Fire

A Big Thank You to the Volunteers,
Red Cross, Fire Fighters, and 
First Responders that truly "Rocks"!The Dollar Ridge Fire has been burning since July 1, and is impacting people in my community. My own town is not in danger, which is good, but other people have been evacuated from their homes, and there have been many structures burned because of the fire. The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office, Fire Fighters battling the blaze, The Red Cross and so many people have been great, and the community has been so kind as people have generously donated food, tents, flashlights, batteries, and countless other important and necessary things to the people who have been evacuated from their homes because of the fire.

As of today, the fire is not spreading east, which is good news. But it has still moved some toward the west, which may impact structures and property near Strawberry Reservoir.

One good thing that has come out of this fire, is that I have learned I live in a very kind, and generous community. Bad things happen in the world, but there are still good people out there who are glad to step forward and help their neighbors where they can.

Check out information about the Dollar Ridge Fire, and other fires burning in Utah, on Utah Fire Info's Facebook Page.

The Sands of Nezza by M. L. Forman

Sands of Nezza (c) 2014
by M. L. FormanAdventurers Wanted: Book 4, The Sands of Nezza by M. L. Forman is a fun fantasy adventure for kids from upper elementary grades through junior high and high school. Alex Taylor, the main character, is tasked with the goal of rescuing a friend from an unjust imprisonment in Nezza. The friend had gone with a team of adventurers to rescue the rightful king, Rallian, and had been taken prisoner. So Alex sets off to rescue them all.

What follows is an exciting and dangerous adventure battling sand serpents, and wicked, power-hungry lords and their minions.

The story is fast paced with little time for the reader or the characters to get bored. I recommend this book to young readers, and anyone who enjoys reading adventure stories geared toward young readers.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss

Swiss Family Robinson (c)1812
by Johann WyssThe Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss is a fun, adventurous classic with lots of action and excitement.
It was first written in 1812, and translated into English in 1814.

It is the story of a family, dad, mom, and four sons who are shipwrecked on a deserted island and who have to make the best of things waiting for help to arrive.

They had the luck to have quite a few domestic animals with them on the ship when it ran onto rocks, but none of the crew of the ship survived. The crew abandoned the family on the ship and took to lifeboats in the storm, and since we never hear from the crew again, we, and the Robinson family can only assume they all drowned.

During their time on the island, they find and tame many wild creatures, and even rescue a young lady who is also shipwrecked on another part of the island.

While I found it a little farfetched that an island would have so many different kinds of animal life, from penguins to ostriches living natively on the island, I didn't let that bother me, and simply enjoyed the story. I believe that anyone who enjoys a good adventure story, especially one that involves people using ingenuity and cleverness to adapt themselves to their new environment, and their new environment to themselves, would enjoy The Swiss Family Robinson.

The Drowsy Chaperone, presented by The Midvale Arts Council

The Midvale Performing Arts Center The Midvale Arts Council is finishing up presenting a hilarious musical, The Drowsy Chaperone which has played since the 8th at The Midvale Performing Arts Center. The Drowsy Chaperone is a hiliarious musical, a story within a story, as we first meet The Guy in The Chair, a character in the present who addresses the audience as he listens to The Drowsy Chaperone, a story on a black vinyl record.

The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin,
Don McCellar, Lisa Lambert,
 and Greg MorrisonThe Drowsy Chaperone takes place in the 1920s, and is filled with music reminiscent of that time period. Part of the conflict is that Janet, an actress, is about to get married to Richard, and is going to give up her acting career to do so. But that's only a small part of the story! Throw in her chaperone, who isn't a very good one, a director, two gangstas posing as pastry chefs, and a whole host of other characters, and we get a delightful story that doesn't let up until the end!

The cast and crew at The Midvale Performing Arts Center did a great job, and I am confident that they will perform many excellent productions in the future! I hope I can go see more!

The Drowsy Chaperone was written by Bob Martin and Don McCellar with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. The original story was first written in 1997, and, following alterations, opened on Broadway in 2006.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi (c) 1880, 1881 by Johanna SpyriHeidi by Johanna Spyri, first published in two parts between 1881 and 1882, is a delightful children's story about Heidi who comes to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Alps when she is just five years old.

Her grandfather is a bit bitter toward the world, but soon warms up to his little granddaughter, and the two become good friends. Heidi loves the mountains, and the little goats her grandfather owns, which are goat-sat every day in the spring and summer by Peter who takes all the goats of the town up to the pastures near where Heidi and her grandfather live. These two become good friends as well, but when people start to think that her grandfather is a poor guardian for her, and then come and take her away to live in Frankfurt with a young girl who is confined to a wheelchair and her caretakers, what does Heidi do?

Clara, her new friend is very sweet and kind, but Heidi still misses the mountains and her grandfather. Will she ever be able to get back to them, and will Clara ever grow strong enough to leave her wheelchair?

I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to readers young and old who enjoy stories of childhood and happy endings.