1900s Books

The Wednesday Wars

Gary D. Schmidt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero in THE WEDNESDAY WARS—a wonderfully witty and compelling novel about a teenage boy's mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year.

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn't like Holling—he's sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

Kit an American Girl (6 Book Set)

Valerie Tripp

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Quality reading for any preteen! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I just bought this set for a neighbors daughter and she hasn't been able to put them down. She is on book six and looking forward to the new movie coming out. It is a beautiful compilation of stories that go to the heart of any young girl. Ann Clarke, author of People Are So Different! based on tolerance and understanding.

Books 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The American Girl boxed set came in the amount of time promised and was in great condition. The price and shipping were both very reasonable. Will definately purchase more in the future

Great set of books for young girls and young at heart. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great set of books for young girls and young at heart. Kit Kittredge is believable and this series teaches kids about the Great Depression without making it too depressing or sugar-coating it in any way. An excellent series!

My 5-year-old really loved these books 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My 5-year old daughter is fairly persnickety about what I read to her. We've tried other chapter books, including Disney's Fairy Series, Alice in Wonderland, L. Frank Baum's "OZ" books, and Peter Pan. This is the first that she's really connected with.

Kit is a strong role model for girls, modeling intelligence, hard work, and kindness in a way that doesn't seem fake or contrived. I admit that I bought the books just to better illustrate the movie, but I'm sold. I intend on buying more of the American Girl series to share with my little girl.

Esperanza Rising

Pam Munoz Ryan

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Features:

• Made with the Best Quality Material with your child in mind.
• Top Quality Children's Item.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 313 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very good book ! Good message to youth. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This was simply a good read for youth or perhaps for anyone. The story sent out a message concerning discrimination, learning and coping with change, and growing and evolving into a stronger human being. Thumbs up !

Reads almost like a song 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I did not expect this book to amaze me as much as it did. Maybe it's the fact that this is based on the true story of the author's grandmother, but this book is written with such heart and love it will set you weeping. At the same time, it's beautiful, touching, and rich in inspiration and the human spirit.

Esperanza is a girl who lives the life of a princess in Mexico. However, the fairy tale syndrome strikes her when her father dies. Her cruel uncle demands her mother marry him, so Esperanza, her mother, grandmother, and the family of trusted servants head for the boarder of the United States where their life is utterly turned around.

No longer is Esperanza a princess, but a girl who has been given the opportunity to truly find herself in a brand new and terrifying world of workers and poverty.

Maybe some people would not want this piece of history romanticized, but the author reveals a certain beauty of just how incredible these people were in what they did.

It's edgy, romantic, and thorougly inspirational. The writing is almost like poetry.

Editorial Review:

Notable Children1s Books in Paperback

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin Modern Classics) (Puffin Modern Classics)

Mildred D. Taylor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 461 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In all Mildred D. Taylor's unforgettable novels she recounts "not only the joy of growing up in a large and supportive family, but my own feelings of being faced with segregation and bigotry." Her Newbery Medal-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry tells the story of one African American family, fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty, and betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan, growing up protected by her loving family, has never had reason to suspect that any white person could consider her inferior or wish her harm. But during the course of one devastating year when her community begins to be ripped apart by angry night riders threatening African Americans, she and her three brothers come to understand why the land they own means so much to their Papa. "Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You ain't never had to live on nobody's place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, you'll never have to. That's important. You may not understand that now but one day you will. Then you'll see."

Twenty-five years after it was first published, this special anniversary edition of the classic strikes as deep and powerful a note as ever. Taylor's vivid portrayal of ugly racism and the poignancy of Cassie's bewilderment and gradual toughening against social injustice and the men and women who perpetuate it, will remain with readers forever. Two award-winning sequels, Let the Circle Be Unbroken and The Road to Memphis, and a long-awaited prequel, The Land, continue the profoundly moving tale of the Logan family. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Betsy-Tacy

Maud Hart Lovelace

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wonderful series of books, however... 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

I was recently reminded of the Betsy-Tacy books I loved so much when I was a young girl. You can not imagine my horror at seeing the current editions' illustrations of the girls, though. Part of the original books' charm was the simple illustrations. Whoever decided to change them should be ashamed. Ashamed and fired. Seriously.

Contact me if you want to join a campaign to have the real drawings returned to future editions of these timeless classics so many of us loved so much.

Editorial Review:

Best Friends Forever

There are lots of children on Hill Street, but no little girls Betsy's age. So when a new family moves into the house across the street, Betsy hopes they will have a little girl she can play with. Sure enough, they do--a little girl named Tacy. And from the moment they meet at Betsy's fifth birthday party, Betsy and Tacy becoms such good friends that everyone starts to think of them as one person--Betsy-Tacy.

Betsy and Tacy have lots of fun together. They make a playhouse from a piano box, have a sand store, and dress up and go calling. And one day, they come home to a wonderful surprise--a new friend named Tib.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940's, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

 

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Gennifer Choldenko

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 185 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Murderers, mob bosses, and convicts . . . these guys are not your average neighbors. Unless you live on Alcatraz. It’s 1935 and twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family have just moved to the infamous island that’s home to criminals like notorious escapee Roy Gardner, Machine Gun Kelly, and of course, Al Capone. Now Moose has to try to fit in at his new school, avoid getting caught up in one of the warden’s daughter’s countless plots, and keep an eye on his sister Natalie, who’s not like other kids. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents’ expectations, and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

A Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
People magazine Best Kids’ Book
A School Library JournalBest Book of the Year
A Kirkus Editor’s Choice
A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Children’s BOMC selection

All-of-a-kind Family

Sydney Taylor, Helen John

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 90 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

There's something to be said for a book that makes you wish you'd been part of a poor immigrant family living in New York's upper east side on the eve of World War I. Sydney Taylor's time-honored classic does just that. Life is rich for the five mischievous girls in the family. They find adventure in visiting the library, going to market with Mama, even dusting the front room. Young readers who have never shared a bedroom with four siblings, with no television in sight, will vicariously experience the simple, old-fashioned pleasures of talk, make-believe, and pilfered penny candy. The family's Jewish faith strengthens their ties to each other, while providing still more excitement and opportunity for mischief. Readers unfamiliar with Judaism will learn with the girls during each beautifully depicted holiday. This lively family, subject of four more "all-of-a- kind" books, is full of unique characters, all deftly illustrated by Helen John. Taylor based the stories on her own childhood family, and the true-life quality of her writing gives this classic its page-turning appeal. (Ages 9 to 12)

Julie: An American Girl (American Girls Collection)

Megan McDonald

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Compassionate and Considerate 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Author Megan McDonald and illustrator Robert Hunt have created a memorable character in Julie Albright, a considerate, passionate young girl who is ready to make changes and take changes as they come.

Julie is one of the American Girls, books which offer realistic glimpses into America's past through the eyes of young girls. The Julie books begin in 1974, when Julie is nine years old, and end in 1976. There are six Julie books in all.

The first book, Meet Julie, begins shortly after her parents get divorced. Julie moves to another part of San Francisco with her older sister Tracy and her artsy mom, who opens up a shop called Gladrags below their apartment. Although Julie gets to see her father (and her rabbit Nutmeg, and her best friend Ivy) every other weekend at her old house, things just aren't the same.

By the end of the first book, Julie is a little more confident and a little more content. Though still sad about the divorce, she settles nicely into a pattern with her parents, and she enjoys her new home and her school.

Throughout the course of the series, Julie grows more optimistic and thoughtful. In the second book, Julie Tells Her Story, she is assigned a "Story of My Life" project in class and conducts tape-recorded interviews with her family and friends. Happy New Year, Julie shows how she always finds things to celebrate and appreciate, while Julie and the Eagles finds Julie raising awareness and money for injured feathered friends. Julie's Journey follows her on the wagon train that celebrated America's bicentennial. The sixth and final book in the series, Changes for Julie, considers communication and politics when Julie befriends a hearing-impaired classmate and runs for student body president.

Now I'm happily picturing a grown-up Julie working in politics or education, and wishing there were more books in this delightful series. Like the other American Girls books, each of the Julie books includes vignettes explaining and depicting real-life events that happened in that girl's time period. The vignettes in the Julie books were written and compiled by historians and writers such as Susan McAliley and Nika Korniyenko. With Julie's books taking place in our recent past, parents can easily bring up their own childhoods while discussing these books with their kids.

Editorial Review:

The perfect way to learn about Julie Albright is with a complete set of her six books in an attractive slipcase. Set includes "Meet Julie"; "Julie Tells her Story"; "Happy New Year, Julie"; "Julie and the Eagles"; "Julie's Journey"; and "Changes for Julie".

Molly: An American Girl : 1944 (The American Girls Collection)

Valerie Tripp

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Molly's Surprise (Book 3) 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I think this book was great! I learned that just because your father is out fighting in the war, it doesn't mean that Christmas or any type of holiday has to be ruined. You can still have fun, no matter what. Molly's family still put up their Christmas tree and lights to celebrate. Also, if a box comes in the mail and it says "Keep it hidden until Christmas", keep it hidden and don't ruin the surprise. Molly and her sister and brothers enjoyed sledding in the snow in 1944 like I do now. Then they came back in to enjoy hot cocoa and a warm breakfast, just like I do. Even though it was war time, Molly still got what she wished for.

Good books 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this set of books for my daughter's 8th birthday. She loved them. We read them together. I usually read for us but my daughter read some to me. She really could relate to Molly. Some parts I thought we silly but I am over 30 now. I like how it gets my daughter and myself into history and learning new things. Molly lived during World War 2 and her father, a doctor, was over in England. The family has their problems and miss their dad but keep doing their part at home. Molly is my daughter's new favorite. We have read many of the other American Girl books and will continue!

Penny from Heaven

Jennifer L. Holm

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!

Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!


From the Hardcover edition.