Book Review Roundup #20
April 9, 2025
Birds in My Backyard by Lisa Donovan
Little Vic by Doris Gates
Pony Rivers is an orphan boy about 15 years old who loves horses. He is especially interested in working around racehorses, and even more especially, one particular horse, Victory, son of the famous racehorse, Man o’ War. So, after the death of his mother, Pony goes to Kentucky in search of the stables where Victory lives. And he gets there just in time to witness the birth of one of Victory’s many offspring, a colt that Pony names Little Vic.
This story is the tale of a boy and the horse he grows to love. Pony is rather obsessed with Little Vic. I grew up around lots of “horse lovers,” and I never did really understand the fascination. However, I can enjoy a good horse book, and Little Vic is that, with a little something extra.
The Lost Queen of Egypt by Lucile Morrison
The Lost Queen of Egypt by Lucile Morrison is a beautifully written novel that brings ancient Egypt to life through the eyes of Ankhesenpaaten, daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti and wife of King Tut. Originally published in 1937 and recently reprinted by Purple House Press with full-color endpapers, gorgeous illustrations, and a hieroglyphics glossary, it’s a perfect living book for middle grade and up. Even better—it’s 60% off during the Purple House Press birthday sale! Don’t miss this chance to own a forgotten gem.
The Sin Eater by Gary D. Schmidt
The Story of Robert Bruce by Jeanie Lang
The Story of Robert Bruce by Jeanie Lang is a fascinating title in the Living Book Press History Shapers series. This beautifully written, action-packed story brings one of Scotland’s greatest heroes to life, offering young readers a rich look at a complex and courageous figure from a pivotal time in British history. With its intelligent prose and manageable length, it’s perfect for independent readers or read-aloud time. Ideal for homeschoolers, history buffs, and librarians seeking to highlight lesser-known but important historical figures.
Left By Themselves by Charles Paul May
Left by Themselves (1972), a short historical novel by Charles Paul May, follows two young girls stranded during a blizzard on an Iowa farm in 1850. As they face practical challenges—and a possible encounter with a runaway slave—readers get a glimpse into daily life on the frontier. Originally a Scholastic Book Club title, this engaging story prompts thoughtful discussions on weather, survival, cornhusk dolls, and the Fugitive Slave Law. With gentle suspense and rich teaching opportunities, it’s a great read-aloud or independent choice for early-grade readers.
Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr
Christina Baehr describes herself at her website as a “cozy Gothic novelist” and in her newsletter as a mother of ten who lives and works in Tasmania. However, The Secrets of Ormdale books are set in Yorkshire, not on the island of Tasmania in Australia. Edith Worms, a clergyman’s daughter and an author herself (of detective novels), travels from London with her parents and younger brother to Wormwood Abbey, the ancestral estate of her father’s estranged family. Father’s older brother has died suddenly, and the estate is now entailed on Father, an inheritance he and the Worms family have no wish to take up. However when the family arrive at Wormwood Abbey, they find that it’s not so easy to give up an inheritance or to ferret out its secrets. Wormwood Abbey is an excellent beginning to a promising fantasy series---with dragons!
Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces is a rich, mythic tale that deepens with every reading. In this book review/educational reflection, Diane shares how revisiting the novel alongside her teen girl students opened new insights into Orual’s journey—from love that consumes to love that gives; from hiding behind veils to seeking truth. The story’s themes of pride, control, and honest prayer spark powerful questions: What false selves do we wear? How does real love behave? This isn’t a formal review, but rather a gentle invitation to wrestle with a complex and beautiful story that reveals more each time it’s read. And, perhaps a suggestion as to how to read this with teens.
Claude by Emma Bland Smith
Discover Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator by Emma Bland Smith—a fascinating picture book that explores scientific inquiry, conservation, and the unique journey of an albino alligator who found an unexpected home. A true story, this one is good for history, science, and the joy of reading a picture book.
Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown
This one, narrative nonfiction for adult readers, deserves a place in your reading line-up or stack or To-Be-Read list, wherever you keep those titles that you are planning to read soon. The book covers the internment of Japanese American citizens and legal residents, but the emphasis is on the service of the young men, Nisei–second generation Americans of Japanese descent–“who volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and were deployed to France, Germany, and Italy, where they were asked to do the near impossible in often suicidal missions.”
Definitely not old news for me. I learned a lot. The story of these men is a lesson in courage and fortitude and persistence that went way beyond my small store of those virtues. There are even a couple of stories that feature peace-making in the midst of war.
The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan by Rita Ritchie
The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan by Rita Ritchie is an exciting tale of courage, culture, and personal growth. When a young boy, raised to hate Genghis Khan, runs away to seek revenge, he finds himself apprenticed to the Khan’s chief falconer. Through his deep love of hawks and unexpected encounters, he begins to see his enemies in a new light. With rich detail, moral depth, and thrilling twists, this out-of-print gem—available as an e-book and audiobook from Bethlehem Books—is perfect for young readers and families alike.