Book Review: Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt

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Synopsis

Before jumping into the synopsis of Just Like That, it should be said that there is much in this novel that will make more sense and be more impactful if you have first read Wednesday Wars as this story begins just months after Wednesday Wars ends..  This is not essential but would certainly be my recommendation.

Now, on to the story.  When 8th grader Meryl Lee Kowalski is sent off to St. Elene’s Preparatory Academy for Girls in the fall of 1968, her world is already in turmoil. There she encounters the world of upscale privilege, boarding school tradition and the notorious “inner rings” of established groups driven by prestige, gossip and arrogance. Running north and parallel to Meryl Lee’s story  is Matt Coffin, who finds himself surviving on the Maine coast near St. Elenes with a pillowcase full of $100 bills and the daily fear of being found by the criminal he took it from.  When their paths cross under the watchful eye of the school’s mysterious yet kind headmistress, they both begin a journey toward renewal and growth – for them and for all those whose lives they touch.

Review

Just Like That is another masterpiece from Gary D. Schmidt.  Filled with adventure, mystery and deep lessons about friendship, accomplishment and what it means to be a good person, this book will surely be a family favorite for all who read it.  Meryl Lee actions bely a heart tuned to truth and justice and her pursuit of all that is right and fair and good will be an inspiration to any who journey with her.  She shows again and again the power of small acts of kindness. Exquisitely written, the story will suck you in so that you don’t want to put it down.  Everything about this book is wonderful!

  • Ages: 10 – 99
  • Awards: None
  • Pages: 403
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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By Aaron G Myers

Textbook or Historical Fiction? The Genevieve Foster Collection

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Genevieve Foster was a children’s author and amateur historian who wrote through the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies.  Her “Genevieve Foster Collection” is her most famous work, and her most intriguing.  The books included in the collection are George Washington’s World, Abraham Lincoln’s World, Augustus Caesar’s World, The World of Captain John Smith, The World of Columbus and Sons, and The World of William Penn.  

A fascinating mixture – one part textbook and one part fiction – the collection is written in the third person from the point of view of various historical persons all around the globe living during the lifetime of the title character.  

The books are divided into segments. For instance in George Washington’s World, the sections are:

  1. When George Washington was a Child
  2. When George Washinton was a Soldier
  3. When Geroge Washington was a Farmer
  4. When George Washington was a General
  5. When George Washinton was a Citizen
  6. When George Washington was President

The book covers the major historical events and figures that ran through Washington’s lifetime and draws connections and parallels between them. Some subjects are only brushed over, where more main events, including the timeline of the book’s namesake, are featured repeatedly.  

In terms of an educational viewpoint, the books are a fantastic idea. They show, much better than any textbook, the way events and historical figures are connected and demonstrate that history is a story, a stream of events rather than a never ending trail of unrelated incidents.  

The books also personalize historical figures in a way that makes them more relatable to readers.  For instance, Augustus Caesar’s World starts off with a scene of young Octavius (later to become Augustus Caesar) stargazing with his friends.  It’s a fictionalized account of Octavias showing him as a real person not just a colossus of history.  

With this balance between fact and fiction some historic accuracy is undoubtedly lost but the main facts and dates of the era are accurate and the creative elements are informed by historical knowledge of attitudes and customs of the times. In this way, historical figures are shown to be real, tangible people, with some of the same problems all everyday people face.

The Genevieve Foster Books unlock history in a way that is interesting, fascinating, and very informative, not only picking up on main events but also on some lesser-known peoples, places, and incidents that are harder to find in mainstream textbooks. Each book is also filled with regular drawings and diagrams to help bring the content to life. In this way, the Genevieve Foster collection creates an avenue for learning history not often considered, but in my opinion, just as educational and much more engaging than the conventional textbook.

The Genevieve Foster Collection is a fantastic addition to any homeschool library and the perfect gift for any child who is a budding history lover.

  • Ages: 8 – 99
  • Awards: Four time Newbery Runner-Up
  • Pages: 300 – 400 pages
  • Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

The Collection

By Malachi L. Myers

Book Review: The Twenty One Balloons by William Pene du Buis

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Synopsis

When Professor William Sherman’s hot air balloon begins losing air in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the daring explorer is sure his end has come.  However, by chance winds and a bit of luck Sherman finds himself saved, washed up on a remote Island.  Within only a few minutes of arrival Professor Sherman discovers that the island is inhabited, and not by Polynesian natives but men in fine silk suits and women in gorgeous European gowns, a magnificent and glowing people whose likes the Professor has never seen before.  Professor Sherman has landed on the Island of Krakatoa, an Island made completely out of diamond.  Fueled by the world’s largest diamond reserve, the secret civilization of Krakatoa is the most luxurious and technologically advanced nation on the planet.  Sherman marvels at the wonders of Krakatoa, but the more time he learns the more he fears that he may never leave the glittering Island paradise.   

Review

The Twenty One Balloons may just be one of the most unique, the most niche novels ever written.  It is so out of the ordinary in almost every way, that it leaves me thinking about it to this day.  The Twenty-One Balloons is written in a somewhat old fashioned, autobiographical style, written from the perspective of Professor Sherman giving a speech about his years on Krakatoa to the people of San Francisco.  The author spends a lot of time detailing the various marvels of Krakatoa, painting a fantastical dream world for the story.  Most interesting are the author’s detailed descriptions of the interesting technological innovations of the Island.  As far as the flow of the story goes, the book is not at all standard, with a plot that starts fast, almost completely halts and then picks up again with a shocking twist at the end.  The characters are somewhat formal but very interesting, but it’s really the setting that clinches it all.  The book is something that might be called a gem; its uniqueness is hard to match.  If you want a fast read this book is not for you, but if you are looking for a book that is alien, odd, something to pique your curiosity, then I would highly recommend The Twenty One Balloons to you.  

  • Ages: 9 – 99
  • Awards: Newbery Medal Winner
  • Pages: 192
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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By Malachi L. Myers

Book Review: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

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Synopsis

After his father takes a job as an electrician and guard, Moose Flanagan and his family find themselves living on the rock, the famous island home of the even more famous prison of Alcatraz. While Alcatraz is home to famous prisoners like Roy Gardner,  Machine Gun Kelly, and Al Capone, Moose soon discovers that his biggest problems will come from his friendship with the warden’s conniving daughter Piper.  Her scheme to charge students at their on shore school for the opportunity to have Al Capone wash their clothes is soon discovered by the warden thrusting Moose into the complicated and confusing realities of friendship.  His other challenge is his mom’s quest to find the very best help for Moose’s older sister Natalie who today would probably be diagnosed with autism.  As Moose is forced to watch over his sister while simultaneously trying to win and keep friends, he battles to maintain perspective, understand his friendships and care for his sister who has unwittingly become friends with one of the convicts. In a last ditch effort to help his sister get into the Marinoff P. Esther School for people with special needs, Moose, with the help of Piper, writes a letter to Al Capone asking him to pull some strings to make the school accept her. 

Review

Al Capone Does My Shirts is a fantastic story that I really loved.  The pacing of the plot is perfect – never too fast and never dragging. The characters are well developed so that I grew to despise Piper and even struggled to allow her grow through her immaturity and become a true friend for both Moose and for Natalie. The myriad of themes that Moose has to wrestle throughout ring true to the life of any pre-teen working to fit into a new school and neighborhood – even if Moose’s neighborhood includes maximum security convicts like Al Capone.  As a historical fiction, the story was well researched and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s note at the end which included three interviews with people who were children on the island during the era of the story. Themes of friendship, family dynamics, right and wrong are all interspersed with a healthy dose of humor making this a rich tale that was touching and fun to read.  

  • Ages: 8 – 99
  • Awards: Newbery Honor; California Young Reader Award
  • Pages: 215
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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By Aaron G Myers

Book Review: The Avion My Uncle Flew by Cyrus Fisher

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Synopsis

After an accident on his Wyoming farm that leaves  twelve year old Johnny Littlehorn on crutches, his French mother decides to send him to France, where hopefully better Doctors and fresh air can cure him.  Johnny is not happy to go to France and even less happy when he finds he must spend the summer with his Uncle in the sleepy little village of St. Charmant. However, once he gets there things soon begin to change.  Johnny is fascinated by the “Automatic Airplane ” his Uncle is building, and begins to grow suspicious when mysterious strangers from Paris seem to have followed him to the village.  With the help of his new friends, Johnny begins to uncover what might just be a Nazi plot, and learns how to overcome his injury and the impossibility of the French language.  The Avion My Uncle Flew is a fun, fast paced story of spies, secrets and sabotage set in the French countryside in the years following the Second World War.  

Review

This was one of my favorite books through middle school. The story was exotic and fresh, yet captured my imagination with the same themes of boyish adventure that can be found in classics like Tom Sawyer or Treasure Island.  The themes of overcoming adversity, friendship and discovery run thick through the pages of this book, and set against the backdrop of a serene Alpine village, the book creates a story world that is hard to get out of.  I thought the characters were all exceptionally well developed and the plot, although breakneck and at times somewhat “coincidental”, was well woven and kept me at the edge of my seat.  I found the elements where Johnny had to learn French particularly interesting.  Along the way you might just pick up a few French phrases yourself.  The parts of the book where Johnny is injured and must push through his pain towards recovery could be encouraging to those battling an injury of sickness.  While the main plot is serious, the author maintains a strong thread of humor through the entire narrative.  Overall this book had the makings of a classic – timeless characters, unique setting and a fascinating plot.  I would highly recommend it. 

  • Ages: 9-99
  • Awards: Newbery Honor
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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By Malachi Myers

Book Review: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

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Synopsis

  It all started because Holling Hoodhood was a Presbyterian.  On Wednesdays, a bus came from the Temple Beth El to take a load to Hebrew School and an hour later the bus from St. Alberts to take the rest of the class to Catechism and Holling was left alone with Mrs. Baker all day long.  At first it was a struggle, having to clean the chalkboards and take out the trash but then Mrs. Baker decided that it was about time that Holling picked up Shakespeare.  Through the book Holling Hoodhood must struggle with track, bullies, an annoying sister, unrealistic expectations from his family and of course Wednesdays with Mrs. Baker.  Hilarious to the breaking point yet touching and heartfelt this book is a wonderful blend of humor and heartbreak, showing what it was like growing up in one of the most infamous decades of American History.  

Review

There are very few books that can be both flamboyantly hilarious, and deeply touching at the same time and this book is definitely one of them.  When I read this book I can’t count the amount of times I laughed out loud, while other parts of the book brought me close to tears.  The characters are exceptionally well developed, the voice of the protagonist, Holling, in particular is very defined (I swear I could pick Holling out in any book I read, even years later) and the themes are powerful and deep.  The book is not very plot driven so don’t expect any shocking revelations or high speed car chases, but what the book does offer is a peek into the life of a boy living in the 1960’s, a school story, yet in some ways, much more.  In that aspect it does not disappoint, the book feels genuine, as if the author spent hours carefully crafting every page and the humor is killer.   I would recommend this books for all ages. It is a timeless piece that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.  

  • Age:  7-99
  • Awards: Newbery Honor
  • Stars:  Five out of Five 

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Written by Malachi Myers

Book Review: Refugee by Alan Gratz

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Synopsis

Refugee is the story of three kids, Mahmud, Isabel and Joseph, separated by time but connected by a common experience.  Mahmud, a boy who only wants peace, leaves a nightmare in his homeland Syria, to seek a better life in Europe.  Isabel, an ambitious girl who dreams of playing the trumpet, flees Castro’s Cuba in a small raft, with the hope of reaching America.  Joseph boards the ocean liner, St. Louis to leave the life of persecution in Nazi Germany to seek asylum in Cuba, and hopefully, put together the pieces of his broken family.  Although each of their journeys is different, the common thread of the refugee experience weaves through them all, showing what it’s like to risk everything for a chance of a new life.  

Review

I personally thought Refugee was a great book.  There are very few books that describe the refugee experience and this book did it masterfully.  I found it slightly melodramatic at points, but in the context of the plot these scenes were not particularly disruptive.  The characters were equally compelling and all three storylines equally interesting, something that is often lacking in books with multiple main characters.  The book was riveting, the plot and the characters developing at about even rates.  I also liked that although the three stories are separate, they all come together at the end, making the book feel more connected overall.  The author does a wonderful job of capturing the cultural aspects of each of the stories.  The diversity of the stories was also nice, helping break up the narrative. Mahmud’s journey was very much a modern refugee experience, Isabel’s more of a survival thread, as her family floats towards Florida on an overcrowded raft, and Joseph’s almost the opposite of a typical refugee tale, as his family travels from Germany to Cuba on a luxury liner.  However the themes of fear, mistrust, confusion and loss echo through all three storylines.  Overall, it was a wonderfully woven book.  Although written at a middle grade level, it would also be a fascinating read for adults.  Some thematic elements and intense scenes may not be appropriate for young or sensitive children.  

  • Age: 12-99
  • Awards: None
  • Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Written by Malachi L. Myers

The Screwtape Letters: A Reflection

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The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis, is a collection of letters between two fictitious devils, “Uncle Screwtape” and his nephew “Wormwood”. This insightful little book follows the letters of advice from Screwtape, higher up in the satanic ranks, to Wormwood, a tempter on earth, on the methods and tricks to steer his patient away from the enemy “God and his kingdom”. This book, like no other, lays out all our tendencies and failings as human beings, while at the same time giving you, as a reader, incentive to rise above them. It opens your mind so vividly to the exponential power and light of Christ, that it can not help but bring you into the ever so real struggle between the kingdoms of Good and Evil, even if only in little ways. As a review in the New York Times put it, “Somewhere in the inferno there must be a considerable annoyance.” 

One of the biggest reasons I think The Screwtape Letters is such an effective and powerful book is because it is written from the devil’s perspective. In this form the book captivated me in an entirely original way. It gave me the powerful feeling of understanding, it was like a breeze in the fog, temporarily forcing me to face the distance. I really believe it is one of the most brilliant books written. The whole idea of Screwtape writing letters on the finer points of temptation to his nephew Wormwood, combined with an opportunity of sitting down with the edited thoughts of one of the greatest Christian thinkers, had an amazing effect on me. The result was, an opportunity for me to clearly face my faults and to see my potential.  By having the stereotypical perspective on Christianity reversed, I had the wholehearted satisfaction of feeling I was in some way outwitting the devil. This in particular had such an effect on me, that in recent weeks when had I found myself frustrated and about to lose my temper or discontent and snappy I would suddenly realize the benefit this would be to Screwtape, which would instantly cause me to check my behavior, and than to smugly feel I had outmaneuvered his trap, muttering under my breath a gleeful cry of “Not today Uncle Screwtape.” 

There were so many sections of this book that either introduced me to a completely new thought or concept, or phrased in clear English a foggy picture I might have otherwise never clearly understood. For example one of the points which hit me as a literal prescription to one of my biggest problems, which is me constantly over analyzing of the past, is the part where Screwtape says of God that, “His ideal is a man who, having worked all day for the good of posterity (if that is his vocation), washes his mind of the whole subject, commits the issue to heaven, and returns at once to the patience or gratitude demanded by the moment that is passing over him.” Too often I completely miss out on the present by indulging myself in a degrading self critique of every instance where I messed up in the day. I don’t commit these instances of failure, that I was probably the only one to notice, to heaven, then wash myself of them like God wisely says to do. Instead I dig through them all and let them define me. I dont give myself the love or grace God offers me. I unfairly give the past the power to cheat the present. 

Another passage that stuck out to me is where Screwtape says God, (the enemy in the book’s context) “wants to bring the man to a state of mind in which he could design the best cathedral in the world, and know it to be the best, and rejoice in the fact, without being any more (or less) or otherwise glad at having done it than he would be if it had been done by another.” This passage is by far my favorite. Everytime I read it, it creates wonder in me, adding glorious details to my painting of what hope looks like. It speaks to me of a wonderful invitation, to begin a journey, a journey towards a kingdom that is full, but always has room for one more. Where people build cathedrals and know they are just right. As the passage goes on, it adds that, “The enemy wants him, in the end, to be so free from any bias in his own favor that he can rejoice in his own talents as frankly and gratefully as in his neighbors talents or in a sunrise, an elephant, or a waterfall. He wants each man to recognize all creatures ( even himself) as glorious and excellent things.” I love the fact that we were created to create and to someday have the kind of perfect love for our neighbors and ourselves, that we can say of what we have done, that, “It is good.” 

I think The Screwtape Letters is an important book to read. It has equipped me with answers to so many questions I have had and given me no choice but to confront myself honestly and begin to intentionally seek out my problems. It has opened my eyes to so many temptations I fall into daily but at the same time I see the incredible grace and love God has for me more than ever before, so rather than being discouraged I feel grace. Being reminded that if I fall I will be caught has filled me with the courage to keep on leaping forward. As C.S.Lewis says so well in his book, “He wants them to learn how to walk . . . and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles.”

  • Age: 14-99
  • Awards: None
  • Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

By Sonora Myers

Boo Radley Book Reviews: An Introduction

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Books are a part of our life. We started reading aloud with our two kids before they were probably ready to enjoy the stories we wanted to read with them. We soon fell into a nightly rhythm of reading aloud as a family that lasted for nearly a decade. We rarely missed an evening and more often than not, stayed up too late reading “just one more chapter.” We read aloud or listened to nearly 100 books in the course of our childrens’ childhood. Our oldest was sixteen when we read our last story together, Gary Schmidt’s Okay for Now.

We never really read to our kids. We read with them, all of us gathered in the living room or crammed into the van enjoying whatever story we had discovered. It was a shared experience, an experience that regularly weaves itself into conversations and our collective memory as a family. All of us talk fondly of the days we read together and of the books that carried us through whatever season we happened to be passing through. We read alone as well of course and all told we have enjoyed hundreds of stories and have found that our favorite books are often those classified as youth fiction.

Boo Radley is a character from a book we all would say is one of our favorites, To Kill a Mockingbird. While not youth fiction, the name creates a catchy title for a blog about good books. Boo in child like faith kept a protective eye on Jem, Scout and Dil as they enjoyed youthful adventures on the streets of Maycomb. Our hope is that Boo Radley Book Reviews will be a blog that can guide you toward good books for you and for your family, books that nurture goodness, truth and beauty. We will mostly review and recommend books that are classified as youth fiction. We’ve found them to bring to life deeply rich stories without the baggage of teenage and adult themes that so often crop up in young adult novels. We were blessed with the so many good recommendations from friends and we want to do the same for you.

And who are we you may ask? To be precise we are Aaron, Consuelo, Malachi and Sonora Myers. Aaron was an English teacher but now works in full time Christian ministry. Consuelo was an ESL teacher and then homeschooled both kids up through high school. She is also an all around creative, making music, art, poetry and beauty where ever she goes. Malachi and Sonora are our two kids who are blooming into young adults and lives of their own. We’ll all take turns writing and sharing our thoughts about the books we’ve read and are reading.

As we recommend books, we’ll also use affiliate links. If you should choose to click on a link and buy a book, we’ll receive a small commission. It won’t change the price for you, but it will earn us a bit of passive income. Just another small way to help us cobble together a little extra income as we journey through life.

Thank you for reading. We hope we will be able to help you find good books for you and your family that will enrich your lives as much as these stories have enriched ours.

Be blessed and happy reading!

Written by Aaron Myers