Young Pioneers
by Rose Wilder Lane will seem familiar to anyone who has read the Little House books, though written for an older audience. Young David and Molly stake a claim, facing grasshoppers, blizzards and loneliness. It's well written and enjoyable. I was particularly struck by how little Molly had to do during the winter. She had one book of Tennyson poems and very little else to occupy her mind. Sometimes I think weathering a winter of blizzards in a cozy little house on the prairie would be wonderful, given enough food, an Internet connection, a Kindle and an iPad. I would have made a poor settler's wife in her time, though. (library copy)Francis: The Journey and the Dream by Murray Bodo (a review for The Catholic Company)
Chalk Box Kid
by Clyde Robert Bulla is the story of Gregory's move to a new home and a new school. Things don't start out so well for him, but his creativity and artistic endeavors ease his transition. This is a fine early reader (much below First Son's reading level), but I didn't feel like it was great. (library copy)I think it's kind of funny I commented on September's list that it was so short -- and here's October with even fewer! I am, however, in the middle of about seven books. I think that's complicating the finishing part.
