Plumfield Moms

An A From Miss Keller

Reviewed by Sara Masarik
I discovered An A From Miss Keller while searching for all of Patricia Polacco’s autobiographical books, and it is one of the most moving stories I’ve read in this collection. Polacco’s autobiographical works highlight the profound influence of teachers in her life, and this book fits beautifully into the chronology of those stories, showcasing another mentor who played a pivotal role in shaping her. Read the full review

Abraham Lincoln's World

Reviewed by Edward Garboczi
Abraham Lincoln’s World follows Foster’s approach by focusing on the life of this famous President, 1809 to 1865. We learn much about this incredible man, since Foster uses abundant original sources and actual quotes. Lincoln’s life was an exciting one, culminated by the American Civil War and his assassination. But so much else happened around the world in those years. Princess Victoria was born, grew up, unexpectedly became Queen of England, married, had a wonderful family, and was widowed during Lincoln’s lifetime. England’s empire, economy, technology, and the form of its democracy also changed greatly in those years. Japan opened itself to the world, Napoleon of France was defeated – twice, and there were many revolutions across Europe and South America. Railroads swept the world, along with other advances in science and technology, and Florence Nightingale changed nursing and thus revolutionized medical practice. Missionaries went to Africa and other places and Germany and Italy became united countries. Charles Dickens lived almost the exact same years as did Lincoln (1812 to 1870) and produced all his great books in Lincoln’s lifetime. When Lincoln was a young man, Texas gained its independence from Mexico. Read the full review

The Accident

Reviewed by Sara Masarik
This book requires some special notice from parents. When Christoper and Bodger are out for a walk, Bodger runs into the road and is hit by a truck. He dies on impact. The rest of the story deals with Christopher’s very real grief. I appreciate this story because it is very well told, is thoughtful and gentle, and has the power to teach empathy to our young ones. Sensitive readers may struggle with this one, but the average reader will likely do well with it. The death scene is quick and non-graphic. The story continues in the next book. That said, this book could be easily skipped without diminishing the reader’s enjoyment of the series overall. Read the full review