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JoyF
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| Posted: Jan 24 2006 at 9:16pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone have any thoughts on using Gloria Whelan's books for history supplements? I've enjoyed reading "Angel on the Square" and the companion books to it; "The Impossible Journey" and "Burying the Sun". Her latest in this series is due out in February. I thought these were good introductions to Russian history of the 20th century. I haven't seen any info about her writings on Catholic homeschool pages (except the picture book "The Miracle of St Nicholas"), so I wanted to see if anyone had opinions on her works from a Catholic view.
Thanks!
Peace in Christ,
Joy Foster
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: Jan 26 2006 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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Joy,
We enjoyed her book Listening for Lions during our Africa study. I am thinking of using her books as we study geography.
__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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teachingmom
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Hi Joy,
I am just getting back to answering your question. I had noticed a Gloria Whelan book about our current history topic -- War of 1812 -- right after you posted your question, so I checked it out and began pre-reading it. The book is Once on this Island and covers the War of 1812 from the viewpoint of a 12 year old girl who lived on Mackinac Island on the Great Lakes. I really liked the book and will have my older girls read it. It was well written and engaging. The story deals with the relationships between the island inhabitants and the British soldiers who had taken control of the fort and the Indians who fought along with the British. The main characters are Catholic, and this is probably the first novel of American history that I've read that tells the story from a Catholic viewpoint. So many of the early settlers we've read about are Protestant that I found it very refreshing to read the references to the Catholic Church and the priest.
Hope that helps a bit.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Mary G
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| Posted: Feb 09 2006 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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Irene,
I'm not Joy but thanks for the great review. This sounds like one to add to our ever-growing pile. YEAH!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Mary G
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And I just saw she has one titled Silver about sled dogs in Alaska. This will be great for our Iditarod unit.....
we love her St. Nicholas book and Angel on the Square is on sale at Amazon.
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Kathryn UK
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I just received two of her books from Amazon to read with my older dd when we start studying Asia - Chu Ju (set in China) and Homeless Bird (India). I skimmed quickly through Chu Ju and it looks good. The heroine is a teenage girl who leaves home to avoid her new born sister being sold so that her parents can try for a son without breaking the government's two child policy. Ultimately she succeeds in making a new life for herself. The book would make a good starting point for discussion - as well as illustrating the horrendous effects of "population control", it also includes characters who are arrested and imprisoned for championing freedom of speech and reading literature banned by the government. I haven't looked at Homeless Bird yet, but it is the story of a girl pushed into an arranged marriage at thirteen, only to be widowed and find herself an outcast. If Chu Ju is anything to go by, Gloria Whelan treats difficult subject matter very sensitively. I think both books would make good reads for older girls (say 11 or 12 up?), but would definitely come into the "read and discuss" category.
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Kathryn
Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
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teachingmom
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Mary G. wrote:
Irene,
I'm not Joy but thanks for the great review. This sounds like one to add to our ever-growing pile. YEAH! |
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And I should add that when I was on my library's website earlier, I noticed that there are two sequels to Once on this Island. I've reserved them now too.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Gloria Whelan books
