Posts

Showing posts from May, 2015

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Image
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox, a young girl whose parents died of cholera in India, leaving her in the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, a man she has never met or heard of. She arrives at Misselthwaite Manor an unattractive, unappealing, spoiled little girl who had never even dressed herself in her 10 years of life. Mary is left in the care of Mr. Craven’s housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock and her housekeeper, Martha. Mrs. Medlock informs Mary that the manor is full of rooms with locked doors that she cannot explore. Martha pushes Mary to explore the grounds outside, emphasizing that Mary needs fresh air and sun. Spring is coming and the moor outside of the manor is more appealing to Mary than she ever imagined. The story of a garden not touched for years has grasped Mary’s attention and she begins searching for the key to what can become her secret garden.                  “Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does y

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Image
Wonder by R.J. Palacio                 There is something about this novel that really sits with me. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Wonder . I had heard great things about this novel and how moving it was so of course I was hoping this would be a great story. I personally didn’t feel disappointed at all. Wonder is a novel about a young boy named August Pullman who was born with a facial disfigurement that caused him to have over twenty surgeries in his young life. He has been homeschooled his entire life and his mom thinks now is the time for him to go to an actual school. He’ll be starting the 5 th grade in the fall at Beecher Prep Middle School. Over the course of about a year, readers observe the different obstacles that August has to face simply because he was born differently.                 August was such a great character. He was funny, witty and very self-aware. In his position I would guess you would have to be. If every day you left your house and people

Diana: Story of a Princess by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig

Image
Diana: Story of a Princess by Tim Clayton and Phil Craig                  For my birthday in 1997, I had a sleepover in a tent in my backyard. I remember waking up very early in the morning, it was still dark out, going into the house and seeing my mother awake on the couch watching Princess Diana’s funeral. I knew then that she was beautiful, royalty and had died tragically in a car crash. I also knew that she had been married to Prince Charles and had two sons. I remember the purple Beanie Baby that was released in honor of Princess Di. I remember everyone had great things to say about her. I have always been fascinated by her because so many people said they loved or admired her. Diana: Story of a Princess was a very interesting biography. Interesting because it takes into account not only the life of Diana but the way she was portrayed in the media. It answered the questions I had regarding the woman I witnessed my mother crying over.                 So what did I le

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Arthur Pyle

Image
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle                 I’m not sure when I first heard of King Arthur. It could have been while watching “The Sword in the Stone” or I might have seen it randomly while watching TV. All I know is that I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t aware of King Arthur, his knights, the round table and his Queen Guinevere. I’m surprised that it took me this long to actually read Pyle’s account of King Arthur but I’m glad I waited till now because I’m not sure if the younger version of me would be able to appreciate it. The Story of King Arthur and His Knights is really a collection of stories that focuses not only on King Arthur’s life but the life of many of those in his court. It has a language that is reflective of medieval times and stories that include fairies and acts of chivalry.                 Here’s what Pyle’s stories about King Arthur did: make me want to learn more about the Arthurian Legend. That is a good and a bad th

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story by Barbara Leaming

Image
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story by Barbara Leaming                 “Do you want to hear?” That was the statement Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy said many times after the assassination of her husband John F. Kennedy, before she would recount the details of the shooting. The details regarding her blood stained clothing, the moment she saw the bullet strike, the feeling of not wanting to leave his side would all be relayed back to the person answering that question as she constantly relived that fateful moment on November 22, 1963. But what is there to know of the woman before she married the man who would be present? In this biography Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story Leaming details the life of Jacqueline Bouvier in the years before she considered being a wife during a time when she rallied against entering into a predictable marriage. Leaming details Jackie’s decision to pursue Jack and the political decisions behind his marrying Jackie.