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

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

Across a Dark and Wild Sea

Reviewed by Diane Pendergraft
This is the story of Columcille (koll-m-kill), an Irish monk who lived in the 500s A.D. Though he’s born during a time of darkness and general ignorance, he attends a monastery school and learns to read and write. He becomes a monk, a scribe, and a poet. In the Author’s Note, Brown says Columcille established monasteries at Derry, Durro, and Kells. Read the full review