The Beaded Moccasins: Thought-provoking, YA or not

Lynda Durrant's The Beaded Moccasins: The Story of Mary Campbell, classified YA (young adult) historical fiction, certainly makes a dandy diversion for young female readers - say, 10 and up - and a lovely choice for parents (ok, Moms) to read aloud to their daughters. But if you like US Colonial history, or wish to think deeply about what family is and what that means, don't look for a preteen excuse to read this book. March right up to the library shelf and grab it.


The story in a nutshell
Taken captive on her 12th birthday, the book follows Mary as she walks from Eastern Pennsylvania to the banks of the Cuyahoga River with the Delaware tribe who planned to make her one of their own. Along the way - for more than a year - Mary struggles with what family is, and what it means to be who she is. The author carefully tells a tale of assimilation and growing up, brilliantly blended into the historical backdrop of colonial expansion. The story is gripping and well-told; the author's excellent research provides an accurate setting and many exquisite details.


Field Trip with the Author!
Lynda Durrant will be on hand to chat with hikers, historians, writers, and just plain ol' fans at Mary Campbell Cave, in Gorge Metropark on Saturday, October 22. We'll meet at 11am at the marker to the cave, and once we're all talked out, I plan to hike the park's namesake trail - it's a beauty. Won't you come, too?  Don't miss your chance to get even more insight into Mary Campbell's experience, a fascinating era in US history, and a little exercise on one of NE Ohio's prettiest trails.

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Attention book clubs: I've always thought this title would be the perfect selection for mothers and daughters to read together; it's certainly ideal for moms, in general, and it offers a great historical perspective on parenting.

Summer Reading Assignments - all done?

Whoooooooosh. There went summer. 'Fess up. Have you (or your kids) finished summer reading assignments yet? My HS sophomore is still wading through To Kill a Mockingbird. I can't fault her for a slow start; I only just read it myself. So, at least I can offer encouragement...

What about in your house? Has everyone read what they were supposed to? Including you?

Best history book I ever read: How Soccer Explains the World

Franklin Foer's "unlikely theory of globalization" doesn't explain everything (like how to achieve world  peace), but I give him an A for effort.

  NOTE: This review was updated February 2017, 

as I realized this is STILL my favorite history 

(and soccer) book. I hope you check it out at 

a library or bookstore near you! 

I recalled much of it while enjoying the Women's World Cup, and like to think reading it helped to widen my world view. I think anyone who follows MLS here in the states - even peripherally - would appreciate this 2004 release, reissued in paperback in 2010.

Foer offers an interesting perspective on modern world history, using the beautiful game as his lens.

The author, editor-at-large for The New Republic,

"...takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything else." 

(I don't use back cover blurbs unless they're accurate. This one is.)

Foer knows and loves the game but doesn't let that get in the way of the story, which he wrote like a reporter, through interviews with thugs and stars and elected officials and wives and friends of thugs and stars and elected officials, an enviable amount of globe-trotting and other good old-fashioned research techniques.

The writing is smart and accessible (a delightful combination) and as timely today as when it was published, seven whole years ago. Foer also has a much better vocabulary than I do, which I always appreciate. I had to pull out my dictionary a few times (how often do you use the words inveigh, obeisance, or pogrom?) and found he wasn't just using a quarter word when a nickel word would do.

In short, I wish Foer had written my history textbooks; I think I'd have learned more. I highly recommend How Soccer Explains the World for those who have ever read anything else about futbol, as well as for anyone who appreciates fresh insight on global relationships and the world of sports.

As for Mr. Foer, I'm pretty sure he's hoping Barca has a shot at the next World Cup, and in the meantime, I hope he's working on another book. He's pretty good at his game.

Summer Reading & Activities for Kids

If your kids love history, science, and hands-on projects related to either (or both) hightail it to the HANDS-ON BOOKS blog for a slew of great recommendations from three award-winning authors.

If your kids' (or your) craftiness is a little less lesson-oriented, consider an origami book for rainy-day activities.

And even if your kids (or you) are neither crafty nor especially interested in art, I challenge you not to like The Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen. A magnifying glass is attached to the beautiful book, which starts off as something like a Cyberchase episode, with a comic-book style two-page panel featuring a panicky call from the nightwatchman at the museum of art. Forgeries have been found in place of the museum's priceless paintings! It's up to readers (recommended for ages 7-10) to spot the differences and figure out which gang is responsible for which forgeries. Both of my kids and I have thoroughly enjoyed this gorgeous book - which is still in surprisingly good condition.

Because of its engaging quality, portability, and durability (the original magnifying glass is still attached to ours!) it's an excellent book to pack in the car and definitely worth the space even if you're packing for a plane trip.

Happy reading, all summer long!



discuss ----> do your kids like books that include activities? do you?

Reading Levels - Lexiles better than Grade Levels?

OK, in concept, the Lexile Framework for Reading sounds great. But in practice, it's ain't great yet. Why? Because only about 16 states are using it. If you're in one of those 16 states, lucky you. Maybe you understand what BR means and those letters lead you to books that are just right for your little readers.

I'm not so lucky. Fortunately, I just found Scholastic's Teacher Book Wizard page, which is better than a translation of the Lexile scale; it's an online tool that can quickly help you find books your child is likely to like, or challenge him, or both.

In case the link above isn't "live," here's the full url:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewCustomSearchForm.do?RowsPerPageOptions=10&RowsPerPageOptions=50

If you've got kids, I bet you'll find it useful. Keep 'em reading!

PS: Thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill, award-winning author of Not Yet, Rose and several other children's books, for mentioning the confusion surrounding the Lexile Framework.