Book Report

If there is one thing we love more than anything else it is BOOKS.  We can never get enough, together we listen in the car, mom reads in the house, separate we all have our books (fiction and nonfiction).  Recently, we finished three books together and loved all of them.  So many things to learn from books if you allow them to help you become.  Yes, three is an exciting number but just listening/reading three books is only an achievement.  Discussing them, absorbing them, and learning from them helps us to become kinder, smarter, more sensitive and prepared for life's challenges.

Milkweed is a 2003 young adult historical fiction novel by American author Jerry Spinelli. The book is about a boy in Warsaw, Poland in the years of World War II during the Holocaust. Over time he is taken in by a Jewish group of orphans and he must avoid the German troops (or "Jackboots") while living off the streets with other orphans. The story narrator is the boy in the future living in America recalling his past experiences 

We loved, Stop Thief, Stupid, Jew, Filthy Son of Abraham, Misha and finally Papi Noodle.  This orphan boy had many names that he answered to and went from a naive young boy to an elderly man that had experienced a life that taught him things about human kind that the kids and I are convinced he really would have rather never known. 

This book above all things learned, taught us about true heroes and knowing all you can about the people and things you look up to before you profess your legions and desire to become.  Misha, was ignorant and picked up everything from parades of Jack Boots and the excitement that followed to observing his friends putting others first.  Both things intrigued him, he wanted to become a Jack Boot and now gave a portion of his stolen items to those in need.  By the end of the story the truth of both showed themselves, the Jack Boots were not men to look up to and Misha despised them and their treatment of his Jewish friends.  Giving and serving others became who Misha was, to the orphans, to his new family, to his street friends, Misha built lasting friendships with those he served. 

GREAT BOOK, we highly recommend it.

The last thing Harry ?Dit? Sims expects when Emma Walker comes to town is to become friends. Proper -talking, brainy Emma doesn't play baseball or fish too well, but she sure makes Dit think, especially about the differences between black and white. But soon Dit is thinking about a whole lot more when the town barber, who is black, is put on trial for a terrible crime. Together Dit and Emma come up with a daring plan to save him from the unthinkable.

Set in 1917 and inspired by the author's true family history, this is the poignant story of a remarkable friendship and the perils of small-town justice

Wow, there is nothing like putting yourself in the year of 1917 and being part of a black girl and white boys growing friendship.  This is history that you hope will never repeat itself, in our lives from reading we have put racism into our junk pile and do all we can to except love and make friends with all of God's children.  This books helped us to become more courageous despite our age or abilities, anything is possible when your heart and mind is set on it.  Whatever little or big contribution that we can give to the bettering of our society will make a difference if only within our own circle of acquaintances. 

We listened to this one in the car and despite gas prices we would take turns coming up with places to go just so we could listen.  Every once in awhile someone would say, I feel like driving to the library, the far one.  We would all agree, quit what we were doing and jump in the car. 

Our brainy friend Emma (from the book above), told us about Treasure Island, The Secret Garden and Tarzan.  OK, she may have been telling Dit but we grew to love her and her stories about the books she has read.  We decided to add these books to our list.  We have already read Treasure Island and some of us finished listening to Tarzan in the car, the rest of us fell asleep.  Not because the book wasn't exciting we were just dead tired from vacationing.

Treasure Island: Dad listened to this book with us and it was fun having him in on our discussions.  I had no idea there were so many good Classics for boys in the process of growing into youth.  It has helped us to understand that our children need to experience as much as possible to help them become the people God attended them to be.  I am a firm believer that many of these things can be learned through books.  Discussing this book and seeing how Jim Hawkins changed and found strength within helps us to know that when needed our courage is there, dig deep and be confident in yourself.

Matthew and his dad finished listening to this book and both were a little disappointed with the ending.  Makes me nervous to finish it, I love a good ending.  This is a Core Phase book....

• right and wrong
• good and bad
• true and false
• relationships
• family values
• learning accountability
• the value and love of work

We can't wait to read more books in the series.

Next on our list....

We hope that you love reading as much as we do.  The TJED key to Leadership Education, Classics not Textbooks has changed not only our educational goals but our pattern of living.  Happy Reading!!
SEVEN KEYS, CHECK IT OUT http://www.tjed.org/about-tjed/7-keys/