The Witch of Blackbird Pond

                                                                                                  By Elizabeth George Spear 


    This Newbery Award winning book is a classic story that is well worth the read.  Young Kit has no where to go but to her Aunt's house in the New England Colonies.  Her non traditional upbringing on the island of Barbados has ill prepared her fot the harsh reality of the cold Connecticut winter.  The harsh weather is nothing compared to the strict Puritan community of Wethersfield.
     Kit does not fit into her adoptive family her town.  She was raised in love and kindness and quickly comes in contact with stern Puritan beliefs.  She finds some solace in the home of Hannah Tupper, a Quaker that lives nearby.  Even though Hannah is believed to be a witch, Kit continues to visit the pond and befriend the lonely woman.  This little shack in the marsh becomes Kit's sanctuary which she shares with the frightened Prudence.  Her staunch support of the widow Tupper comes to a head when Hannah is believed to have cast a spell on the town and many are sick and dying.  Kit saves her friends life, but puts her own existence in jeopardy.  By her acknowledgment of the friendship with Hannah, Kit is brought up on witch charges, arrested and brought into the lecture hall for arraignment.  Nat comes to her rescue and Kit is free to return to her family.
     Through this ordeal, Kit comes to a couple of realizations, one William is not the man for her, she knows who she loves and where she wants to live, now is the time to set her future in action.
     This is a story about the plight of early American colonists, the inequality of women and how one strong girl stood up for her own future.  Even though this is not a true historical fiction, it is a very good read. I would give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5.  Even though I enjoyed it, now sure how many young ladies will enjoy the story.  Definitely, do not feel that it would be attractive to most young men.  It is an interesting read, however, and is well worth a look into early colonial America.

Link 

Witch trials in the United States

The Caribbean Trade

Elizabeth George Speare

Colonial Connecticut

Falling Over Sideways

                                                                                          By Jordan Sonnenblick


     What an awesome story and a great way to look at a family tragedy.  Claire is definitely a character full of middle school drama.  It's hard to be the youngest with a perfect older sibling.  Nothing seems to go Claire's way, school, dance, friends and family life.  Nothing ever seems to go the right way for Claire, But her world is forever changed when her outgoing, creative dad the author has a stroke right in front of her. and she is alone.  She can not contact her mother and she has to call 911 and help her dad.  Due to her quick actions her father lives, but a stroke can be a debilitating health condition.
     Now on top of all of the other middle school drama, Claire has lost her father, he is a shell of what he used to be.  The emotions are overwhelming.  Claire's father is unable to communicate in a normal fashion, and has other deficits.  His road to recovery is going to be long and difficult.  He does slowly begin to recuperate, but has a second health crisis when he contracts pneumonia from attempting to swallow his Thanksgiving "Feast".  Of course Claire happens to be in her crazy Science class and they are in a lockdown when she gets the text message.  This does not go over well with the teacher who takes Claire's phone away, among some straight up rebellion from her classmates.  The teacher slaps Claire and the whole group has to meet with the principle the following day.
     Eventually, Claire's father returns home from the hospital, a little bit healthier and Claire becomes his inspiration for rehabilitation.  She is instrumental in motivating him to try to do his rehab exercises.  The school year ends and Claire normally would be looking forward to her dance recital and her first participation in the father daughter dance, but how can she look forward to something that is not going to happen?  How can she expect her father to dance, he can barely walk.  Her brother volunteers for the duty and Claire is able to participate in the number, but not how she had envisioned this landmark event.
     This book was a great read.  I really resonated with me on multiple levels.  As a realistic fiction story the characters and events were spot on.  The author, did an incredible job describing feelings and circumstances in a careful and touching voice.  As an individual that has had a loved one suffer a stroke, I was touched with how close the descriptions were to reality.  I am giving this book a 5 out of 5 and feel that it is appropriate for anyone over 5th grade on.  This is an incredible empathetic read and multifaceted in tone and nature, many teaching points.

Links 

Author: Jordan Sonnenblick

Symptoms of a stroke

Stroke Rehab

What is a stroke?